Sicily Italy Holidays
Sicily
Holidays
The most extraordinary island in the Mediterranean — a vast, dramatic island of ancient Greek temples, Mount Etna (Europe's most active volcano), the finest beaches in Italy, extraordinary Baroque cities, the best food in Italy and 3,000 years of layered civilisations
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Flight Time
2h 45m from London
Best Time
May to June, September to October
Country
Italy
Suppliers
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Sicily Holiday Guide
Sicily is the most extraordinary island in the Mediterranean — Mount Etna, the Valley of the Temples, Taormina, the finest beaches in Italy, extraordinary Baroque cities and the best food in the country. 2h 45m from London.
May to June and September to October are ideal.
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Popular Areas in Sicily
Average Temperatures
Jan
14°C
Feb
14°C
Mar
16°C
Apr
19°C
May
23°C
Jun
27°C
Jul
31°C
Aug
32°C
Sep
28°C
Oct
23°C
Nov
18°C
Dec
14°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Sicily
Mount Etna, the Valley of the Temples, Taormina, the extraordinary Baroque cities, the finest beaches in Italy and the best food in the country.
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is the most extraordinary natural feature in Sicily — Europe's most active volcano (3,357m), with a dramatic, lunar landscape of lava fields, craters and ash cones, and extraordinary views of the island and the sea. The volcano is accessible by cable car and 4x4 from Catania (1 hour) or Taormina (45 minutes). Guided tours to the summit craters are the finest way to experience the volcano. Etna erupts regularly — the lava flows and eruptions are the most dramatic natural spectacle in Italy.
Valley of the Temples
The Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) near Agrigento is the finest ancient Greek site outside Greece — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with seven extraordinarily well-preserved Doric temples dating from the 5th century BC, set in a dramatic landscape of almond trees and wildflowers above the sea. The Temple of Concordia is the best-preserved ancient Greek temple in the world (better preserved than the Parthenon). The site is the most extraordinary ancient monument in Italy and is unmissable.
Taormina
Taormina is the most beautiful town in Sicily — a dramatic hilltop town above the sea, with the most extraordinary ancient Greek theatre in the world (the Teatro Antico, with Mount Etna as a backdrop — the finest view from any ancient theatre in the world), excellent restaurants, beautiful gardens (the Villa Comunale, with extraordinary views of Etna and the coast) and the most glamorous atmosphere of any town in Sicily. The beach below the town (Isola Bella) is the most beautiful in eastern Sicily.
Palermo & Street Food
Palermo is the most extraordinary food city in Italy — the capital of Sicily has the most vibrant and diverse street food culture in the country, reflecting the island's extraordinary history of Arab, Norman and Spanish influences. The most celebrated street foods include arancini (fried rice balls), panelle (chickpea fritters), sfincione (Sicilian pizza), pane con la milza (spleen sandwich — the most challenging street food in Italy) and the finest granita in the world (almond, pistachio, lemon). The Ballarò and Vucciria markets are the finest food markets in Italy.
Beaches
Sicily has the finest beaches in Italy — the most celebrated include San Vito lo Capo (the most beautiful sandy beach in Sicily, with extraordinary turquoise water), the beaches of the Zingaro Nature Reserve (the most unspoilt coastal scenery in Sicily), the beaches of the Aeolian Islands (Stromboli, Lipari, Vulcano — the most dramatic archipelago in Italy) and the beaches around Taormina (Isola Bella, Mazzaro). The water around Sicily is the warmest and clearest in Italy.
Baroque Cities
Sicily has the finest Baroque architecture in Italy — the Val di Noto (a UNESCO World Heritage Site of eight extraordinary Baroque cities rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake) is the most concentrated collection of Baroque architecture in the world. The most beautiful cities include Noto (the most perfectly preserved Baroque city in the world, built entirely in golden limestone), Ragusa Ibla (the most atmospheric and romantic Baroque city in Sicily) and Catania (the most lively and authentic Baroque city, with the finest fish market in Sicily).
Aeolian Islands
The Aeolian Islands are the most dramatic archipelago in Italy — seven volcanic islands north of Sicily, with the most extraordinary natural scenery in the Mediterranean. Stromboli (an active volcano that erupts every 20 minutes, with lava flowing into the sea — the most extraordinary natural spectacle in Italy), Lipari (the most beautiful and well-facilitated island), Vulcano (with extraordinary hot springs and mud baths) and Panarea (the most exclusive and glamorous island) are the finest. Ferries depart from Milazzo (1 hour from Messina).
Practical Tips
Sicily has two main airports — Palermo (Falcone-Borsellino) and Catania (Fontanarossa). A hire car is essential for exploring the island — the sights are spread across a large area and public transport is limited outside the main cities. May to June and September to October are the best times to visit — July and August are extremely hot (31–32°C) and crowded. The island is large (25,000km²) — allow at least a week to see the main highlights. Book accommodation in Taormina well in advance for peak season.
Explore Sicily on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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