Beautiful, mysterious Sicily, with its looming volcano, sparkling azure waters, and hilltop villages, is one of those travel destinations that I have spent most of my life dreaming about. After finally taking a Sicily road trip, I can say confidently that the island was worth the wait⌠and that weâll be working our way through another Sicily itinerary before too long.
The largest island in the Mediterranean truly does have it all: whether youâre looking to lounge on a beach, dive headfirst into the cuisine, explore the Roman (or Greek, or Norman, or Arab, or Byzantine) history, or visit famous Mount Etna, a Sicily road trip has something to offer.
Planning your own trip to Sicily and not sure exactly where to go?
Weâve put together this 10 days in Sicily itinerary for first-timers to the island–this is how to make the most of your first Sicily road trip!
Table of Contents
- Why to Take a Sicily Road Trip
- How We Structured This 10 Day Sicily Itinerary
- A Note on the Language of the Island
-
The Ultimate 10 Day Sicily Road Trip Itinerary
- Palermo: 2 Days
- Where to Stay in Palermo
- CefalĂš: 2 Days
- Taormina: 2 Days
- Syracuse: 2 Days
- Val di Noto: 2 Days
- Other Places to Visit on Your Sicily Road Trip
- Sicily Road Trip Itinerary Map
-
What to Know About Driving in Sicily
- Shop around for your rental car.
- The driving honestly isnât as bad as it is portrayed⌠but itâs not easy.
- ⌠But be sure you have insurance (preferably with no deductible/excess).
- Rent the smallest car you can manage.
- Carry lots of coins.
- Donât underestimate the time it takes to drive between destinations.
- The Best Time to Visit Sicily
- What to Pack for Sicily

Why to Take a Sicily Road Trip
Sicily was made for road tripping: with plenty of wide-open spaces, beautiful natural spots, and tiny towns worth visiting, there are few places in Italy more worthy of hitting the open road than Sicily.
Add in a less-than-ideal public transportation system, and a Sicily road trip quickly emerges as the clear best way to explore the island–but you need to be prepared in order to make the most of it.

How We Structured This 10 Day Sicily Itinerary
You could easily create a month-long Sicily itinerary and still leave the island with stones unturned–but letâs face it, most people wonât have that long to spend on the island.
Our Sicily road trip itinerary is designed to hit all the best spots on the island for first-timers to visit, allowing you to get a taste of many different parts of Sicily: complicated yet lovely Palermo, beautiful beaches, and hilltop villages are all covered, as well as some of the most popular cities in Sicily.
Next to each location, weâve noted the minimum number of full days (so, not counting a day you arrive at 4pm, for example) weâd recommend spending in each location.
This works out to be quick-paced but reasonable 10 day Sicily itinerary–but if youâre lucky enough to have more time to spend in Sicily, you can extend it far longer, both by increasing the number of days spent in each location and adding new destinations (weâll provide some suggestions for those below as well).

A Note on the Language of the Island
Though Italian is the official language in Sicily, Sicilian dialect–which is related and yet distinctly different, to the point where Italian speakers will have a hard time understanding it–is widely spoken in Sicily.
In the destinations covered on this Sicily road trip itinerary, you wonât run into many people (especially those who work with or near tourists) who donât comfortably speak Italian–but if you stop off in smaller towns along the way, youâll start to hear (and even see, on menus and such) more and more dialect.
As for English, well–like most places in the world, you can get by among those working in the tourism industry by using it, but itâll be a bit harder here than in most of Italy.
We strongly recommend learning at least some basic Italian phrases before taking your Sicily road trip–the more Italian you speak, the easier your Sicily travels will be.
I donât speak much Italian, but knowing enough to ask for (and receive) directions, order food in out-of-the-way places, read basic signs, speak with taxi drivers, etc, made our trip a bit simpler.

The Ultimate 10 Day Sicily Road Trip Itinerary
Palermo: 2 Days
The capital of Sicily is known for being a bit of a rundown place–and though in some ways it is, itâs also a beautiful, laid-back, and endlessly engrossing city.
We spent an entire week in Palermo and still werenât ready to leave when it was over, but 2 days in Palermo will be enough to give you a taste of the major sights and start your 10 days in Sicily itinerary off on a great foot.
What to Do in Palermo
Step inside the magnificent Palermo Cathedral.
Dating back to the 12th century and built in a variety of architectural styles, the beautiful and distinctive Palermo Cathedral is one of the most important religious buildings in the city.
Itâs also home to some very unique touches, like a sundial on the floor marked with zodiac signs and an inscription from the Quran on one of the columns near the entranceâboth highly unusual for a Catholic church!

Take a walking + food tour in order to see some of Palermoâs best highlights, fast.
Taking a Palermo food and walking tour on one of the first days of your Sicily travels is an excellent way to orient yourself both to the city and to the island as a whole.
Explore historical landmarks, markets, and cuisine while also getting a taste of what Palermo is all about with a fabulous food and walking tour.
We took this fun tour during our trip to Palermo and absolutely loved it!

Visit the mummies at the Capuchin Crypt of Palermo.
From the 17th to the 19th century in Palermo, increasing numbers of people were mummified in these catacombsâfirst naturally, and later intentionally, preserving them for all eternity.
The walls of the catacombs are lined with clothed bodies that have their full skeletons intact, staring down at visitors with sometimes disturbingly aware facial features.
No photos are allowed inside, but I canât impress enough the creepiness of this placeâI think it has something to do with the fact that these people are preserved as themselves that adds an extra layer of disturbing to it all, as opposed to places like the catacombs of Paris where the bones are more or less repurposed into artwork using human remains.
If you find catacombs interesting, we highly recommend visiting these during your trip to Sicily–they are, hands down, the most bizarre and fascinating catacombs we have ever seen.
Palermo Travel Tips
You probably donât need a car here.
Palermo is one of the two major airport hubs in Sicily (Catania is the other), and if you arrive to the island here, we recommend not picking up your rental car until youâre ready to head to CefalĂš–itâll save you both a bit of cash on your rental bill, and a bit of a headache, as you wonât have to worry about parking it.

The easiest way to get from the airport to the city center is the train.
It costs 5 Euros, avoids the hassle of a taxi, and is perfectly comfortable!
Stay in an ideal location, and you should be able to walk everywhere in Palermo.
This is the biggest reason not to kick off your Sicily road trip until after to leave Palermo: here, a car is a liability but doesnât really add much of a benefit.
You can walk between all of Palermoâs best things to do, so opt for that instead!

Where to Stay in Palermo
Budget
Il Lapino â Home to simple rooms (some with shared bathrooms) and located only a 10-minute walk from the Palermo Cathedral, Il Lapino is very well-reviewed and is an excellent place to stay in Palermo for those on a budget.
Check rates & book your stay at Il Lapino!
Mid-range
Ciuri Ciuri B&BÂ â Featuring spacious rooms, included breakfast, and an excellent location, mid-range travelers canât go wrong with a stay at Ciuri Ciuri B&B while in Palermo!
Check rates & book your stay at Ciuri Ciuri B&B!
Luxury
Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel â Boasting near-perfect reviews, Palazzo Natoli is located in the heart of Palermo, just steps from some of the cityâs best highlights. Private balcony views, exceptional customer service, and a delicious daily breakfast are all included hereâif youâre looking for the ultimate relaxing stay in Palermo, this is it!
Check rates & book your stay at Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel!

CefalĂš: 2 Days
Of all the places to visit in Sicily, this is the one outlined on this Sicily road trip itinerary that we personally have the most unfinished business with.
We squeezed a quick visit to CefalĂš into one day, but this magnificent seaside town captured our hearts and absolutely deserves more time than that–as we strolled the streets of CefalĂš, we fantasized about one day returning here for a month!
In other words, donât rush: you wonât regret taking two of your 10 days in Sicily to enjoy this beautiful place.

What to Do in CefalĂš
Climb to the top of La Rocca.
Climbing high over CefalĂš to La Rocca takes less than an hour but rewards you with stupendous views over CefalĂš and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as providing some interesting stops along the way (namely, the ruins of the Temple of Diana).
Be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and ideally, complete this climb in the morning or early evening–the midday sun is brutal up here!
Check out the CefalĂš Cathedral.
Not many villages as small as CefalĂš have cathedrals as impressive–dating back even further than Palermoâs Cathedral, the CefalĂš Duomo is absolutely worth visiting during your Sicily road trip, and if the views at La Rocca werenât enough for you, you can even climb to the top!

Enjoy being a beach bum.
One of the best things to do in CefalĂš is simply to enjoy its beach that is conveniently located right outside of the old town, where youâre never far from gelato or a granita.
Pull up a stretch of sand, dip your toes in the water, and enjoy the beauty of CefalĂš without stress.

CefalĂš Travel Tips
Savor getting lost here.
The small streets and occasional unexpected sea views give CefalĂš a delightful charm that completely captivated us during our Sicily travels–this small village is worth wandering aimlessly, and due to its small size, itâs impossible to get too lost along the way.

Where to Stay in CefalĂš
Budget
Sweet Home CefalÚ — Located practically next door to CefalĂš’s beach and complete with both a balcony and a small kitchen, Sweet Home CefalĂš gets rave reviews and is the perfect option for budget travelers in CefalĂš.
Check rates & book your stay at Sweet Home CefalĂš!
Mid-range
Marina House — What’s better than a well-reviewed apartment in the heart of CefalĂš? One that’s located right on the water and includes a balcony overlooking the sea!
Check rates & book your stay at Marina House!
Luxury
Casa Barone Agnello — Housed in an antique home in the center of CefalĂš, this impeccably decorated and well-reviewed apartment is perfect for travelers looking for a bit of old-world charm during their trip to CefalĂš.
Check rates & book your stay at Casa Barone Agnello!

Taormina: 2 Days
Taormina is probably the most touristic place on this Sicily itinerary, but that doesnât mean itâs not worth adding to your Sicily travels.
Boasting phenomenal views of both Mount Etna and the sparkling Ionian Sea, great swimming nearby, and an incredible Greek theatre, Taormina is hard not to love.

What to Do in Taormina
Visit the Greek Theatre.
Of all the Greek theatres we have visited in worldâincluding ones in Greece itselfâthis one is by far the prettiest we have ever seen, and a visit here absolutely belongs on your 10 day Sicily itinerary.
On a perfectly clear day, youâll see an epic view of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea behind the theatreâbut even on a slightly cloudy day like when we visited (at least over Mount Etna, that is), the views are still pretty phenomenal.

Take a day trip to Mount Etna.
Want to add a little thrill to your list of things to do in Taormina? Book a day trip to the crater of an active volcano!
On a clear day, the views of Mount Etna from Taormina are fantasticâbut thereâs still nothing like standing on an active volcano with your own two feet.
Whether you want to book a morning hike, a scenic tour, or a full day trip that also includes a visit to the beautiful Alcantara Canyons, youâre bound to find a visit to Mount Etna that appears to your travel style.
Book your day trip to Mount Etna today!
Go for a swim at Isola Bella.
Home to what are widely considered to be the best beaches in Taormina, summer visitors should definitely add a visit to Isola Bella to their Sicily road trip itinerary!
Though you can easily reach the island yourself from Taormina via the cable car, a cruise along the coast paired with visits to the islandâs best swimming spots is an excellent day to spend a hot day in Taormina!
Book your boat cruise around Isola Bella today!

Taormina Travel Tips
Not everything is within walking distance.
In order to visit some of Taorminaâs most popular sights like Isola Bella, and its beaches in general, youâll need to head down to the seaside via cable car.
Check the weather carefully.
If youâre in town for a couple of days and one day looks clearer than the other, use the clearer day to visit Mount Etna (or if you donât want to head all the way to Mount Etna, admire views of it from the Greek Theatre).

Where to Stay in Taormina
Budget
Hostel Taormina â Boasting great reviews and a perfect location in Taorminaâs Old Town, Hostel Taormina is the perfect place for budget travelers looking to keep costs down in what is arguably Sicilyâs most expensive city.
Both private rooms and dorms are available, and a shared kitchen is located in the hostel.
The only downside? No parking optionsâso keep that in mind if you choose to book a stay here!
Check rates & book your stay at Hostel Taormina!

Mid-range
Hotel Natalina â We had a great time at this little hotel!
The location is a short walk from Taorminaâs Old Town, the included breakfast quite large by Italian standards, and the customer service excellent. The staff helped us park our rental car for free nearby, which we greatly appreciated!
The rooms are large, but a bit datedâthis certainly isnât a luxury hotel, but itâs definitely a cozy enough place to stay while visiting Taormina, and weâd be happy to stay again.
Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Natalina!
Luxury
Hotel Continental â Want to admire the sea views that Taormina is famous for from the comfort of your hotel, while also staying in the lap of luxury?
If so, the Hotel Continental is for you!
Known for its superb location in the heart of Taormina, its views, and its wonderful included breakfast, luxury travelers canât go wrong with a stay here.
Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Continental!

Syracuse: 2 Days
Packed with ancient ruins, beautiful churches, and a maze of quiet streets, Syracuse (or Siracusa) is second only to Taormina in tourism popularity for Sicily vacations.
For your 2 days in Syracuse, we recommend focusing primarily on the island of Ortigia (or Ortygia), which is a small island right off the coast of Sicily (and I do mean right off the coast–no ferry necessary) that is essentially Syracuseâs lovely old town.

What to Do in Syracuse
Check out Castello Maniace.
Located on the far edge of Ortigia, this citadel-slash-castle dates to the 13th century (an earlier castle on the site dated to the 11th) and boasts beautiful views over the Ionian Sea.
Stroll through the small streets of Ortigia.
Ortigia is a charming place, and we found that we loved it most when wandering the streets in search of coffee bars, churches (we stumbled across one with a festival going on inside!), and the islandâs many ruins.
Be sure to make your way to the Piazza Duomo and the Fountain of Arethusa during your wandering!

Marvel at the Temple of Apollo.
Of all the ancient ruins in Syracuse, the Temple of Apollo is considered the most important.
Dating to the 6th century BCE, the temple has served a whole host of functions over the centuries, including acting as a temple to both Apollo and Artemis, as a church (more than once), and as a mosque.
Syracuse Travel Tips
Stay in Ortigia if you can.
This is essentially the old town of Syracuse and is set on an island nearby the main part of the modern city.
Itâs beautiful, easy to get lost in, and delightfully fun to explore on foot, making it the perfect place to stay in Syracuse.
The only catch is what to do with your car, which leads me toâŚ

Choose where you park in advance.
Parking is severely restricted on the island of Ortigia, and on our Sicily road trip we ended up driving in circles for a bit trying to find the right place to leave our car.
Learn from our mistakes and plan carefully beforehand!
Consider visiting the Greek Theatre on your way into or out of Syracuse.
Syracuseâs Greek Theatre is one of its most popular attractions, however, itâs completely across town from Ortigia.
Itâs the perfect place to stop for a quick sightseeing break as you arrive in or leave the city, though.

Where to Stay in Syracuse
Budget
Room Calafatari — Ortigia is peppered with dozens of small, simple apartments that are used as budget rentals, and Room Calafatari is both a great option and the perfect example of what to expect in Ortigia in a budget price range: no frills but a great location.
Check rates & book your stay at Room Calafatari!
Mid-range
Hotel Posta — With a fabulous location overlooking a port and within a short walk of many of Syracuse’s top attractions, Hotel Posta is a prime choice for mid-range travelers on their Sicily road trip.
Personally, we’d be tempted to upgrade to a room with a balcony–those views are just too good to pass up.
Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Posta!
Luxury
Hotel Livingston — With excellent reviews, and included breakfast, and a prime location on the edge of Ortigia (most rooms include a sea view!), luxury travelers (or just those looking for a splurge) can’t go wrong with a stay at 4-star Hotel Livingston during their 10 day Sicily itinerary!
Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Livingston!

Val di Noto: 2 Days
Sicilyâs Val di Noto is littered with stunning Baroque towns, rolling hills, lovely wine country, and some of the best chocolate in the world–in other words, itâs definitely a place that belongs on your 10 days in Sicily itinerary.
What to Do in the Val di Noto
Hop between the beautiful Baroque towns.
Eight of the towns in the Val di Noto are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their incredible Baroque architecture: Ragusa, Modica, Noto, Scicli, Palazzo Acreide, Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, and finally, Catania itself.
Obviously, that is a bit much to cover with just 2 days of your trip to Sicily.
We recommend prioritizing Ragusa, Noto, Modica, and if you have time, Scicli.

Admire views of Ragusa Ilba.
Beautiful Ragusa is divided into two sections: Ragusa Superiore (the upper town) and Ragusa Ilba (the lower town).
The views of Ragusa Ilba looking down from Ragusa Superiore may just be some of the best views in this entire Sicily itinerary, which is really saying something!

Snack on chocolate in Modica.
The beautiful town of Modica is world-famous for its chocolate, which boasts a recipe that originally hails from none other than the Aztecs.
The chocolate is created with âcold processingâ, giving it a characteristic grainy texture, inconsistent color, and delicious taste.
Val di Noto Travel Tips
Choose where to stay carefully.
Think about your travel style when you choose where to stay in the Val di Noto: do you want to be the heart of the action? Do you want to be able to do plenty of sightseeing without driving? Would you prefer a countryside stay so that you can easily come and go without worrying about parking or driving through a town to do so?
Personally, we chose to stay in Ragusa for its relative popularity and central location and were very happy with the choice.

Donât try to see more than 1-2 towns a day.
The Baroque towns of the Val di Noto may look very close together on a map, but add in small, winding roads, the hassles of finding a place to park and making your way (often uphill) to the picturesque town centers, and the delights of savoring each spot, and itâs definitely best to limit your movements when possible.
We recommend sticking to seeing 1-2 towns per day in this section of your Sicily road trip itinerary.

Where to Stay in Val di Noto
For the sake of simplicity, we’ve outlined a few well-reviewed places to stay in Ragusa here, but staying somewhere like Modica or Noto will also easily work with this 10 day Sicily itinerary!
Budget
SanVito Hostel — With excellent reviews, a prime location in Ragusa near Piazza San Giovanni, an included breakfast, and a gorgeous terrace offering panoramic views of the Val di Noto, SanVito Hostel is a phenomenal option for budget travelers during their Sicily road trip.
Check rates & book your stay at SanVito Hostel!
Mid-range
Hotel Il Barocco — Cozy and comfortable, this small hotel is located in a 19th-century building in central Ragusa, making it the perfect launching pad for your sightseeing. With excellent reviews and a fabulous included breakfast, Hotel Il Barocco is a reliable choice in Ragusa for your Sicily vacation.
Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Il Barocco!
Luxury
San Giorgio Palace — Located in the heart of Ragusa Ilba, popular San Giorgio Palace boasts very spacious rooms, as well as modern decor and amenities (including a very well-reviewed included breakfast) in a picture-perfect setting, with some rooms that overlook the valley.
Check rates & book your stay at San Giorgio Palace!

Other Places to Visit on Your Sicily Road Trip
If youâre lucky enough to have more than 10 days in Sicily–or you just prefer an even more fast-paced Sicily road trip–there are plenty more incredible places to visit in Sicily to add to your list!
Here are a few more beautiful places to see in Sicily that you might want to add to your itinerary.

Agrigento
The ancient Valley of the Temples outside of Agrigento is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Sicily.
Once a thriving Ancient Greek city, these ruins are remarkably well-preserved and far less crowded than many better-known Greek ruins throughout Europe.
Mondello
Located just outside of Palermo, Mondello is best known today for its long stretch of beach, which is one of the most popular places for beach days for both tourists and locals who are staying in Palermo.
Avola
This laid-back beach town is perfect for kicking back and enjoying long stretches of sandy beach–in fact, if you want a little more swimming to be included on your Sicily vacation beyond whatâs outlined in this 10 day Sicily itinerary, you can even add a quick stop in Avola during your drive from Syracuse to the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto.

Aeolian Islands
Also sometimes called the Lipari Islands, this stunning volcanic island chain is a UNESCO World Heritage site and boasts some of the most magnificent sea views in all of Sicily (which is, as you can imagine, very high praise).
Catania
Located in the shadow of Mount Etna, Catania is Sicilyâs second-largest city and second airport hub–youâll likely fly into and out of either Palermo or Catania (in fact, for this Sicily road trip itinerary itâs easiest to fly into Palermo and out of Catania if you can swing it).
Though Catania is far from Sicilyâs most popular tourist attraction, itâs definitely worth a bit of exploring if you happen to be passing through!
Sicily Road Trip Itinerary Map
Take This Map With You! Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. To save this map to âYour Placesâ on Google Maps, click the star to the right of the title. Youâll then be able to find it under the Maps tab of your Google Maps account! To open the map in a new window, click the button on the top right of the map.
What to Know About Driving in Sicily
Driving in Sicily truly deserves its own post, but here are some essential tips to know before embarking on your Sicily road trip!
Shop around for your rental car.
There are dozens of rental car companies operating in Sicily, all with their own prices and rental agreements. We recommend shopping through Discover Cars in order to search through multiple companies at once.
Not only will you be able to compare prices easily, but youâll also be able to compare rental inclusions (like insurance, kilometers allotted, etc.), which we found varied dramatically among different rental car companies in Sicily!

The driving honestly isnât as bad as it is portrayed⌠but itâs not easy.
Thereâs no way around it: driving in Sicily has a pretty terrible reputation.
However, ultimately, we walked away feeling that driving in Sicily was easier than expected–but we fully admit this impression is likely partially because of how nervous we were about doing it.
The major roads in Sicily are perfectly well maintained–smaller roads, not so much, so beware of potholes. City driving is the trickiest while traveling between cities on major highways is fairly simple.
Drivers can be a bit aggressive, yes, but we wouldnât say they were drastically more aggressive than in, say, Tuscany.
As much as Sicily has a reputation for being its own world, particularly when it comes to driving, driving in Sicily felt pretty much like driving anywhere else in Italy (which is, admittedly, a harder place to drive than some).
Bear in mind that we are coming at this from the perspective of people who drove daily for nearly a decade and have road-tripped through many countries, including Italy, before. You do need to be a confident, well-practiced driver to comfortably drive in Sicily.
Taking a Sicily road trip if driving makes you anxious, youâre out of practice, you donât like to drive, or youâve never driven outside your home country is likely not the best idea.
Also–this is not the place to learn to drive a manual. Unless you are very confident with one, we recommend paying extra for an automatic transmission.

⌠But be sure you have insurance (preferably with no deductible/excess).
We didnât incur any damage to our rental car in Sicily⌠but when we dropped it off, both rentals parked on either side of us had huge dents in them!
Due to the aggressive driving, small roads, and distances covered on this Sicily road trip, weâd recommend purchasing insurance with no deductible/excess for the time it takes you to work through this 10 day Sicily itinerary–itâs simply one less thing to worry about on the road.

Rent the smallest car you can manage.
Tiny roads. Cramped historic centers. Parking lots where cars are parked a mere inch apart (and the lines denoting where the parking places should be seen as mere suggestions at best–people park over them regularly).
Truly, renting a big car in Sicily is a liability, not a benefit.
We recommend renting the tiniest car you can squeeze your group + luggage into. If the rental desk suggests an upgrade? Turn it down.
Carry lots of coins.
You will pay tolls when driving in Sicily, especially in northern half of the island, so come prepared with a cupholder full of Euros.

Donât underestimate the time it takes to drive between destinations.
There were days that we pulled into our hotelâs parking space exactly when Google Maps said that we would–and days (like the day we had to catch a flight) that we ended up way behind schedule due to road work and an unfortunate accident that we got stuck behind.
Definitely leave yourself plenty of extra time on days that you have somewhere to be at a specific time!

The Best Time to Visit Sicily
July and August are peak tourism season in Sicily, and while the beaches will be warm and the sun shining, itâs best to avoid taking your Sicily road trip during those months if you hope to avoid peak crowds and prices.
Luckily, Sicily is characterized by its brilliant weather that allows for swimming over nearly half the year!
Personally, weâd recommend aiming for a September or early October trip to Sicily if you hope to swim your heart out, and a late April or May trip if you want to avoid the worst of the heat and crowds while still thawing out after a long winter.
Over the winter, lots of small, tourist-focused businesses close and the island, especially in smaller towns, quiets down significantly–but if a slow-paced, off-season 10 days in Sicily itinerary sounds right up your alley, youâll certainly find plenty of peaceful spots to savor.

What to Pack for Sicily
Travel Insurance â We donât ever suggest traveling without travel insuranceâanything can happen, and a fast-paced Sicily road trip is definitely better a case of safe than sorry. We use and recommend Safety Wing for trips to Italy.
Cell Phone Holder — This is especially important if you don’t have a reliable co-pilot: the last thing you want to do is be fumbling with the GPS on your phone during your Sicily road trip. Pack a cell phone holder to attach to the car and you’ll be able to drive much more safely!
Additional Car Insurance — Whether you purchase a policy with World Nomads that covers car rental (only some of theirs do, so double-check!), purchase a policy through the rental car company, or something else, be sure you have coverage: in Sicily, it’s worth the peace of mine.
International Driving Permit â If youâre coming from outside the EU and plan to rent a car in Sicily, youâll need to make sure to acquire an International Driving Permit in your home country, before coming to Italy. It is required for all car rentals in Italy, and while the rental company may not ask, itâs not worth the risk of being refused a car once you arrive or getting a fine if youâre pulled over to be without one.
Pacsafe â We canât recommend our Pacsafe
enough: this travel safe is affordable, sturdy, easy to pack, and will help keep your valuables safe in your hotel room (not that you should need to worry much about theft in Sicily, but itâs better to be safe than sorry!).

Travel Adaptors for Sicily â If youâre coming from outside of Europe, youâll definitely need adaptors for your electronics.
Comfortable Day Bag â We currently use Pacsafeâs sleek anti-theft backpack and love it, but if you donât want to shell out the cash for this trip, thatâs totally understandable. Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sizedâwe used a Northface Jester backpack for years and loved it as well.
Travel Journal â If you want to keep a travel journal, but canât commit to a huge amount of writing each night, I canât recommend the One Line a Day Journal
enoughâIâve been using it for almost 3 years now and adore it!
Money Belt â This is up to you: we no longer use one, but if youâre more comfortable having your passports on your person in Sicily, you can consider bringing one. We used to use this one and had no complaints. These days, we prefer just to leave valuables in our Pacsafe during the day.
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From someone who has family and typically visits for +30 days every other year, you did a very nice job with the article….many, many other wonder ful places to see and things to experience on the island, and the Eolian, and Egadi…..
Thanks Anthony! We can’t wait to make it back and explore more of Sicily.
Oh waooo Its amazing to know these valuable Information provided by you. Next month we have plan to visit Sicily and these information will be very helpfull.
Thank you
Happy to hear that, Josef! Hope you guys have a great time in Sicily. đ
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Wow! That was a very helpful article! I am bookmarking it multiple places so I don’t lose it before our trip in June. Thank you so much for your great tips and very practical advice.
Thanks, Vrinda! Hope you guys have a blast in Sicily!
Quiet a lot of information . One question if not interested in driving then the other options .
Hi Debra!
You definitely can visit Sicily without a car, but it’s a bit trickier than up on the mainland where there’s more train service.
Essentially, without a car your options are to stick with one town or city as a base and use guided tours to visit more rural areas, cobble together an itinerary with train and bus service (doable, but not as simple as in, say, Florence), or sign up for a full multi-day guided tour of Sicily.
Personally the first option falls most in line with how we tend to travel. Taormina is one of the most popular bases for a trip like that, as many cruise ships stop there and there are lots of options for guided tours to Mount Etna, wine country, etc.
AMAZING info, and helpful tips.
Planning a trip to sicily, for 14 days aiming for minimum driving.
Landing in Catania-bus to Taormina-bus to Ortiga-car rent from Syracuse-Noto-Cefalu and fly from Palermo.
Your thoughts? What would you change?
Any tips will be appreciated .
Thanks
Suzanne
Thanks so much, Suzanne!
Sounds like a very reasonable itinerary, and I think you’ll have a great time! Definitely double-check the bus schedules as you go, especially if you happen to be traveling on any Sundays.
If you have time, I’d visit Ragusa and Modica when you’re in Noto (you may already be planning that, of course).
I think you’ll have an amazing trip–enjoy a cannolo for us!
Hi,
Flying into Palermo and flying back to Rome (would like to spend at least 1 day in Rome). With that in mind, the top places to see and duration for a 10 days which include the arrival date. Thank you very much đ
Hi Claudia,
Are you looking to spend that time traveling overland from Palermo to Rome, or are you wanting to spend most of your time in Sicily and then fly to Rome at the end of your trip? There are so many possibilities!
Either way, I’d recommend 2 days in Rome instead of one in most cases–it’s a enormous city, and one of our favorites in the world! We have itinerary suggestions for both one and 2 days in Rome, if you want to see how much you can cover: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/one-day-in-rome-in-a-day/