Suitcases closed, holiday mode on! If you're planning a trip to Sicily, there's only one thing missing: our compact holiday guide with all the information you need to make your trip to the largest Mediterranean island an unforgettable experience.
Places in Sicily for every type of holiday
With an area of 25,700 square kilometres, Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and has something to offer for everyone. Whether you're a seaside holidaymaker, nature lover, water sports enthusiast, party-goer, hipster, package holidaymaker or culture vulture. We introduce you to the right places in more detail.
Sicily for beach holidaymakers
One of the most popular tourist resorts in Sicily is located northeast of Mount Etna: Taormina is known for its beautiful beaches, great hotels and exposed location. The town of 11,000 inhabitants between Catania and Messina is situated on a rock about 200 metres above sea level.
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Taormina is known for beautiful beaches and great hotels.
© Source: imago images/YAY Images
Another popular holiday destination is Marina di Ragusa. This is due to the golden beaches with shallow entry and the variety around the town: Everything is geared towards tourism and there are countless restaurants, bars and shops. That's why not only holidaymakers but also Italian sun worshippers come to Marina di Ragusa.
Sicily for nature lovers
If you are looking for a mix of beach, city and nature, Cefalù is the place for you. The small fishing town is known as the gateway to the Madonie nature reserve, the second largest nature reserve in Sicily. If you lie on the beach, you will see vineyards, lemon trees and olive groves in the distance. If you like hiking or cycling, there is an exciting network of paths.
Sicily for water sports enthusiasts
Only 20 minutes away from Palermo, Mondello Beach is a popular meeting place. In the past, the one-and-a-half-kilometre-long beach was considered a meeting place for the rich and famous, but today locals and holidaymakers come there. Mondello Beach is a hotspot for the surfing scene and known as one of the best places in Italy to ride the waves. But bathers also get their money's worth, because the infrastructure is great: there are restaurants, bars and beach clubs.
Sicily for party holidaymakers
To the south of Taormina is the beach of Giardini-Naxos, which is unique because of its location: In the immediate vicinity, you can sunbathe at the foot of Mount Etna and only a few steps away from the ancient theatre of Taormina and the archaeological park of Naxos. It has everything you need: a beach promenade with bars, cafés, restaurants, shops, clubs and lounge bars - and plenty of nightlife.
Giardini-Naxos is a classic seaside resort and particularly popular with young holidaymakers.
© Source: PantherMedia / Valery Vvoennyy
Sicily for hipsters
In the fishing village of Marzamemi, the motto is "see and be seen": once famous for fishing and tuna, the small coastal village has been transformed into a modern and hip holiday resort. The old fishermen's houses of yesteryear now house cool restaurants, cocktail bars and pubs, and there are casual beach bars on the beach.
Sicily for package holidaymakers
On the east coast of Sicily is the city of Catania and one of the longest beaches in Sicily: the 30-kilometre-long Playa de Catania stretches all the way down to Syracuse and is fully catered for guests. The region and the stretch of beach are well-known among holidaymakers, as many hotels and holiday homes are located there. Most of the packages available for Sicily also lead to Playa de Catania.
The deserted beach of Cefalù in Sicily.
© Source: imago images/Peter Schickert
Sicily for Culture Fans
On the southeastern coast of Sicily, you'll find pure culture paired with a beach holiday in the ancient city of Syracuse. Syracuse was once one of the most important metropolises of the ancient world, and today the historic centre of Sicily's fourth-largest city is a Unesco World Heritage Site. On the coast are the popular holiday resorts of Marina di Ragusa, Noto and Marzamemi.
Tips for a Sicily round trip
If you don't just want to chill on the beach on your holiday in Sicily, but want to explore the whole island, you need time and a car. Around two weeks are needed to see Sicily from all sides. A rental car is a must for this, as public transport slows down and complicates a round trip.
Larger cities are connected, but the further away from tourist spots you want to go, the more difficult it becomes. Trains don't run as often during the day, and you often have to change trains. The bus network is better, but more remote places are difficult or impossible to reach.
Stunning scenery in Sicily with the volcano Etna in the background.
© Source: imago images/UIG
A car is therefore the best way to get around Sicily. You can rent a car at any airport, in any major city and in the larger seaside resorts. There are the usual providers, and the prices vary depending on the model. With a little luck, you can rent a car for as little as 10 euros a day (without insurance).
On the way on the island, you have to expect a lot of traffic in the cities and rough roads in the interior. The quality of the roads varies enormously and there are always potholes and bumps.
The best sights in Sicily
Sicily is versatile and, away from the paradisiacal beaches, shows itself to be a treasure trove of wonders. A new exciting sight awaits around every corner.
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is the highest still active volcano in Europe and towers proudly into the sky in the north-east of the island. On holiday in Sicily, an excursion to Mount Etna is clearly a highlight. The closer you get, the more impressive the natural phenomenon becomes. Etna is currently 3330 metres high, has four summit craters and extends over several vegetation zones. In the lower part of the mountain there is a fertile green plain, from about 2000 metres the landscape is characterised by lava rock.
Mount Etna is the highest still active volcano in Europe.
© Source: PantherMedia / Alfredo Steccanel
In the lower area it is possible to hike alone. For an excursion to the summit craters, you need an experienced mountain guide, because exploring the summit landscape on your own is forbidden. However, there are many different tours to Mount Etna: by cable car, jeep, bus and also day trips organised from Catania or Palermo.
The old town and castle hill of Cefalù
The fishing town of Cefalù is located in the province of Palermo and is known as the gateway to the Madonie Nature Reserve, the second largest nature reserve in Sicily. But the real magic lies in its exposed position: the Norman Cathedral of San Salvatore is the town's landmark and sits enthroned on a hill, behind which rises the 270-metre-high Rocca di Cefalù, the so-called Castle Hill.
Beach and old town of Cefalù on the coast of Palermo.
© Source: imago images/imagebroker
Between the cathedral and the sea is the picturesque old town of Cefalù with its medieval alleys. The absolute highlight in Cefalù is a hike up the Rocca di Cefalù, from which you can marvel at the beauty of the fishing village. The hike up the mountain is three kilometres long and takes about two hours.
Old town and archaeological park of Syracuse
Syracuse was once one of the most important metropolises of the ancient world. Today, the historic centre of Sicily's fourth largest city is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Especially worthwhile is a visit to the archaeological park with 2000 years of Greek and Roman history. Here you can walk among temple ruins and tombs and visit a Greek theatre, a Roman amphitheatre and the "Ear of Dionysius" cave.
Syracuse is the fourth largest city in Sicily and is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
© Source: imago images/UIG
In the old town, the district of Ortigia is a particular highlight: the district is located on a small island directly off Syracuse and is connected to the mainland via small bridges. You can see the remains of a Greek temple, the baroque Syracuse Cathedral and a Norman fortress.
The baroque towns of Noto, Modica and Ragusa
On the coast of Syracuse are the popular holiday resorts of Marina di Ragusa, Noto and Marzamemi. However, they not only have paradisiacal beaches and many hotels to offer, but also exciting architecture: as baroque towns, Noto, Modica and Ragusa are Unesco World Heritage Sites.
The baroque town of Noto was declared a World Heritage Site in 2002.
© Source: imago images/UIG
The most famous holiday resort in the region is Marina di Ragusa. This is due to the golden beaches with a shallow entrance and the diversity around the town: everything there is geared towards tourism and there are countless restaurants, bars and shops. Highlights include the Duomo di San Giorgio, Ragusa Cathedral, and the Castello di Donnafugata.
Travel time and weather in Sicily
The climate in Sicily is Mediterranean. This means that summers are hot and dry, winters mild and humid. Sicily is one of the warmest regions in Italy. Temperatures rise as early as mid-February and can reach 20 degrees Celsius by March. Summer begins at the end of May and lasts until October. Average temperatures then range between 23 and 31 degrees Celsius and can easily exceed 35 degrees Celsius from July onwards.
Sun, beach and sea in Sicily.
© Source: PantherMedia / Valerio Rosati
From June, water temperatures reach 21 degrees Celsius, and in summer the sea warms up to 25 degrees Celsius. You can swim in Sicily until October. Because temperatures are highest between June and September, the summer months are considered the classic time to travel to the island. If you want to avoid the tourist crowds, you can also choose the months of May and October.
Getting to Sicily
The quickest way to get to the island is by plane. There are three airports on Sicily: Palermo on the north coast, Catania on the east coast and Trapani on the west coast. Most flights from Germany go to Palermo and Catania.
Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Eurowings mainly fly to Sicily. With them, you can get tickets for as little as 50 euros. Flight prices rise in the high season, so it's worth booking well in advance. March is the ideal booking month.
Mondello is exposed between Monte Pellegrino and Monte Gallo.
© Source: imago images/YAY Images
An alternative to flying is to travel by ferry from mainland Italy. This is recommended for people who want to bring their own car. Departures are either from Genoa to Palermo, from Naples via the Aeolian Islands to Milazzo or from Villa San Giovanni in Calabria to Messina.
If you want to travel by train in a sustainable way, you need a lot of time. From Germany, it takes at least 24 hours and you have to change trains several times.
