Sicily
Sicily is a sun-drenched island in the heart of the Mediterranean, known for its dramatic landscapes, ancient ruins, and vibrant culture. From Mount Etna’s fiery slopes to Palermo’s bustling markets, it’s a place where history, flavor, and beauty intertwine. See my personal take on Sicily on my blog page here.
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | This is the travel day. Getting to the airport and taking an overnight flight to Rome. | In flight |
| Day 2 | Arriving in Rome and take an hour flight to Palermo, Sicily. | Palermo |
| Day 3 | Exploring Palermo by foot. | Palermo |
| Day 4 | Leave Palermo by train to Cefalu. Wander the old town of Cefalu. | Cefalu |
| Day 5 | Visit the Cathedral and enjoy the town and beach in Cefalu. | Cefalu |
| Day 6 | Leave Cefalu by train and arrive in Milazzo. Embark on a hydrofoil ferry to the island of Lipari. | Lipari |
| Day 7 | Rent mopeds and explore the island of Lipari. Sunset at Winery at Tunita de Castrello | Lipari |
| Day 8 | Swim on the volcanic beaches of Lipari and take a boat tour to the planet's most active volcano, Stromboli. | Lipari |
| Day 9 | Head back to the mainland via hydrofoil and take the train to Taormina. Wander through the Villa Communale. | Taormina |
| Day 10 | Visit the Teatro Greco. In the afternoon take the cable car down to the beach and explore the tiny island of Isola Bella. | Taormina |
| Day 11 | Visit the towns of Savoca and Castelmola. | Taormina |
| Day 12 | Leave Taormina by train and arrive in Catania. Explore Catania. | Catania |
| Day 13 | Tour of Mount Etna, Europe's tallest volcano. | Catania |
| Day 14 | Rent a car in Catania and drive to Ortigia. | Ortigia |
| Day 15 | Enjoy a day at Fontane Bianche Beach. Dinner back in Ortigia. | Ortigia |
| Day 16 | Visit the Castello Maniace in Ortigia. Drive to the town of Noto in the afternoon. Dinner in Ortigia. | Ortigia |
| Day 17 | Drive to Ragusa on the way stop at beach club for lunch (Carizza Maganuco Beach Club). Exploring Ragusa. | Ragusa |
| Day 18 | Day to relax in Ragusa. | Ragusa |
| Day 19 | Drive to Scalia dei Turchi in the morning. Lunch near the beach. Afternoon at Valley for the Temples in Agrigento | Agrigento |
| Day 20 | Drive from Agrigento to Catania airport. Return car. Fly to Rome. Train to Rome Central. | Rome |
| Day 21 | Explore your favourite sites in Rome by foot. | Rome |
| Day 22 | Taxi to train station in Rome Central. Train to Rome Airport. Flight to home. |
Day 1 - Travel Day
We flew overnight on a transatlantic flight to Rome, Italy.
Day 2 - Palermo, Sicily
Board a flight to Palermo, Sicily via Ryanair. Upon landing we took a shared ride into the city centre. We opted for a shared ride as we read that it is the best way to get to Palermo, and also read on many posts and youtube videos that taxi pricing can vary and change during your taxi trip. The shareride was an easy, quick and cheap way to get to the centre of Palermo. For private transfers, Welcome Pickups is reliable a service that you book and pay for in advance. I highly recommend staying close to Via Maqueda, the main walking street in Palermo. From Via Maqueda, you can easily walk to the main sites of Palermo. Spend the afternoon resting and have your first apertivo of the trip in one of the many bars and restaurants along Via Maqueda or at the Ambassador Hotel for a view of the city from the rooftop bar. Recommended hotels are:
Ambasciatori Hotel - Beautiful 4 star hotel with fantastic roof top restaurant, about a 7 minute walk to Quattro Canti
Hotel Plaza Opera - Beautiful 4 star hotel, about an 8 minute walk to Teatro Massimo. Also with a fantastic roof top restaurant.
Food Tip 🍰🌯: Start your Sicilian food indulgence and have your first cannoli - Sicilian pastries consisting of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually made from ricotta cheese.
Travel Tip: Parking in Sicilian towns can be challenging and for this reason it makes a lot of sense to take the commuter train through most of the coastal towns. Train tickets can be purchased on site at the station at the self service kiosks or online. Online is quiet easy using the Trenitalia website.
Day 3 - Palermo
Explore Palermo. Palermo is a lively, sun-soaked city on Sicily’s northern coast, where Arab, Norman, and Italian influences blend in its architecture, food, and spirit. From the golden mosaics of the Palatine Chapel to the bustling street markets and seaside boulevards, Palermo feels both ancient and effortlessly alive. We spent the day wandering (walking) through this ancient city as your make your way to these famous sights:
Palazzo dei Normanni & Cappella Palatina -Explore the royal palace and the dazzling golden mosaics in the chapel — Palermo’s crown jewel.
Palermo Cathedral (Cattedrale di Palermo) - Climb to the rooftop for sweeping views of the city and mountains.
Villa Bonanno - a peaceful park near the Palermo Cathedral.
Ballarò Market - the famous Palermo food market. Sample arancine, panelle, and cannoli while wandering the vibrant stalls.
Quattro Canti - The historic centre of the city. The heart of old Palermo — grand Baroque facades, fountains, and energy all around.
Piazza Pretoria - The famous statue of nudes, also known as the ‘fountain of shame’, where many homes were destroyed to make room for this statue causing a negative reaction from the public.
Palermo Harbour - a bit out of the way, but still within walking distance, close to the water’s edge observe the famous mural of anti-mafia prosecutors.
Teatro Massimo - One of the largest opera houses in Europe, where the famous stair scene of the Godfather was filmed.
Day 4 - Cefalu.
Less than an hour away by train is stunning Cefalu. Cefalù is a picturesque seaside town on Sicily’s northern coast, known for its golden beaches, medieval streets, and stunning Norman cathedral. Its mix of history, charm, and coastal beauty makes it one of the island’s most beloved destinations. For an authentic experience consider staying in the old town in an apartment/hotel. Experience the maze of narrow cobblestone streets lined with sun-warmed stone buildings, wrought-iron balconies, and fluttering laundry strung between windows, capturing the timeless charm of authentic Sicilian life. Consider apartments/hotels around the street Via Viterani, but not directly on Via Viterani as it can be busy and noisy. Recommended apartments/hotels:
Upon arrive check-in to your hotel and explore the surrounding area. Wander the narrow, winding streets of the medieval old town to find charming shops and buildings. If you are staying in a place with a balcony, purchase a bottle of wine and enjoy the moment of where you are before heading out to dinner.
Day 5 - Cefalu.
A day to explore Cefalu. Don’t miss these sights:
Cefalù Cathedral (Duomo di Cefalù): A magnificent Norman cathedral with twin towers and stunning Byzantine mosaics. Don’t miss the rooftop of Cathedral for stunning views of the town and the sea and inside the chapel.
La Rocca: A steep hike leads to panoramic views and ancient ruins, including the Temple of Diana.
Old Town (Centro Storico): Wander through medieval lanes, charming piazzas, and lively markets filled with local flavor.
Bastione di Capo Marchiafava is a historic coastal bastion located at the edge of Cefalù’s old town, built as part of the town’s defensive walls. Today, it’s a scenic viewpoint perched above the sea, offering panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian coastline and the rugged cliffs below—an ideal spot to watch the sunset or take photos of Cefalù’s stunning seaside landscape.
Lavatoio Medievale: A beautifully preserved medieval washhouse carved into rock and fed by natural springs.
Lungomare Beach: A golden stretch of sand perfect for swimming and sunset strolls along the promenade. This beach also has a touch of Hollywood fame—it appeared as “the beach” in The White Lotus Season 2. While the series’ hotel scenes were filmed in Taormina, there’s no beach directly by the hotel, so this picturesque shoreline in Cefalù served as its stand-in.
Museo Mandralisca: A small but fascinating museum featuring art, archaeology, and the famous Portrait of an Unknown Man by Antonello da Messina.
Watch the spectacular sunset by Largo Eroi del Mare by the pier of the Old Town.
Food tip 🍦 - there is wonderful bakery/gelateria by the front of Duomo di Cefalu called Duomo Serio 1952. Have a traditional Sicilian break there which consists of a brioche and granita before exploring the Duomo. In the evening enjoy a gelato, and let me know if they still have a gelato called ‘Greta’.
Day 6- Lipari
Take the train from Cefalu to Milazzo, a port town where you can board the hydrofoil to the island of Lipari. Depending on where you are staying in Cefalu you could walk to the train station or take a taxi. Once reaching Milazzo, there is public bus that will take you to the port.
Lipari is the largest and liveliest of the Aeolian Islands, located off the northern coast of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It’s known for its volcanic landscapes, charming old town, and role as the hub for exploring the surrounding islands. We stayed at the beautiful hotel Hotel Villa Enrica - Aeolian Charme boasting panoramic views of Lipari town. We quickly found out though that while the town appears to be close to the hotel, it’s quiet a walk uphill. Shortly after arriving we opted for renting scouters to get around for the next few days.
In the evening we went into Lipari town. Lipari town is the lively heart of the Aeolian Islands—small, sun-washed, and effortlessly charming. It rises straight from the sea with pastel houses, a busy little port, and a dramatic hilltop Castello di Lipari watching over everything like an old guardian.
Day 7 - Lipari
The morning was spent exploring some of Lipari’s beaches. The evening was spent admiring the Tyrrhenian Sea sunset views by visiting the Tenuta di Castellaro winery at sunset. Reservations are required.
Day 8 - Lipari
Throughout Lipari town you’ll see many tour operators offering boat cruises to the surrounding islands. One of those island is Stromboli. Stromboli is called the ‘lighthouse of the Mediterranean’. It one of the most dramatic and unforgettable islands in the Aeolian chain—a tiny, conical volcano rising straight out of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It’s famous for its persistent volcanic activity, its black‑sand beaches, and its two charming villages that feel wonderfully remote. Its eruptions are typically small but frequent bursts of glowing lava—known as Strombolian activity—that shoot from vents inside the summit crater.
Travel Tip: Before you travel to Stromoli, I highly recommend watching the 1950’s movie called ‘Stromboli’, as it’s set on the real island of Stromboli. It’s a post‑war drama about a displaced woman who marries an Italian fisherman to escape a refugee camp, only to find herself trapped in a harsh, isolated life on the volcanic island of Stromboli. It blends personal crisis with the raw power of the island’s active volcano. It’s directed by Roberto Rossellini and stars Ingrid Bergman. The 2 later later marry in real life.
Day 9- Taormina
Reverse course from getting to Lipari. Take the hydrofoil back to Milazzo, at Milazzo port take the bus or taxi back to the train station. At the train station or on the mobile app purchase tickets to Messina. Once you arrive at Messina, you’ll need to change trains and purchase a ticket for Taormina. Once you arrive at Taormina-Giardini train station you’ll need to get up the mountain to the centre of town. Taormina has reliable public transportation from the Taormina‑Giardini train station to the town center. The main option is the Interbus service, which runs frequently and takes about 10–15 minutes to reach Taormina’s bus terminal.
Taormina is a hilltop town on Sicily’s east coast. It has dramatic views with the most notable being Mt Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe and stunning views of the Ionian sea. It’s a stunning town, known as the dolce vita of Sicily and the main filming locations of the show, White Lotus season 2. Taormina is steeply built and is known for it’s many staircases, so take not of this while figuring out where to stay.
We stayed in a beautiful Airbnb set about 360 steps above Corso Umberto, giving us a peaceful perch over the heart of Taormina. From the terrace, we had sweeping views of Mount Etna and the Bay of Giardini‑Naxos, and during our stay we were lucky enough to watch Etna’s lava glowing in the distance — an unforgettable sight right from our apartment.
This day was spent exploring the streets of Taormina and a visit to Villa Communale, a lush and nicely keep outdoor garden with sweeping sea views.
Travel Tip: If you looking to go to the beach the was shown in White Lotus Season 2, the one that is ‘part of the hotel’ in the show, it is not located in Taormina. The beach from the show is actually located in Cefalu.
Day 10 - Taormina
Morning - Visit the Greek Theatre of Taormina. The Greek Theatre in Taormina is one of those places that feels almost unreal when you’re standing in it. Carved into the hillside in the 3rd century BC, it perfectly frames Mount Etna on one side and the Ionian Sea on the other—arguably the most dramatic theatre backdrop in the world.
What makes it special isn’t just its age or beauty, but that it’s still alive. The theatre hosts concerts, opera, and film festivals, just as it did in ancient times, with acoustics so good you can hear a whisper from the stage. As the sun sets and Etna smolders in the distance, it’s hard not to feel like Taormina’s entire history—Greek, Roman, and Sicilian—has gathered in one breathtaking spot.
Afternoon - Beach time, take the cable car down to the Isola Bella and the beach. Isola Bella is Taormina’s little slice of magic—a tiny island that feels half wild, half dream. It’s connected to the mainland by a thin strip of pebbled beach that disappears when the tide comes in, so it sometimes looks like it’s floating in the Ionian Sea.
Once the private retreat of an eccentric English aristocrat, it’s now a protected nature reserve, covered in Mediterranean plants and surrounded by shockingly clear turquoise water. Whether you’re swimming, snorkeling, or just staring at it from above, Isola Bella has that quiet, cinematic beauty that makes you slow down and think, yes… this is why people fall in love with Sicily.
Day 11 - Taormina
A visit to a couple of towns near Taormina:
Savoca. Most people know Savoca because The Godfather was filmed here — you can still sit at Bar Vitelli, unchanged and dripping with old-world charm. But even without the movie lore, the town feels timeless: medieval churches, crumbling palazzi, and a peaceful, almost sacred stillness once the day-trippers leave. It’s the kind of place where life moves slowly, bells echo, and you feel like Sicily is whispering its secrets rather than shouting them.
Castelmola is a charming, medieval hilltop village located just above Taormina. Renowned as one of Italy's most beautiful villages ("I Borghi più belli d'Italia"), it offers breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Etna, the Ionian Sea, and the coastline.
This itinerary is currently in progress (Feb/2026), stay tuned for updates.
Day 12 - Catania
This itinerary is currently in progress (Feb/2026), stay tuned for updates.