Your guide to travelling to Sicily in 10 days
There is nowhere in Italy quite like Sicily.
For more than 3,000 years, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards all left their mark here. You’ll see it everywhere. A Greek temple overlooking the sea. A Norman cathedral covered in golden mosaics. Roman villas hidden beneath the countryside. Even Sicily’s food tells the story, with flavours passed from one culture to the next.
It’s this mix of history, landscapes and local traditions that makes Sicily unlike anywhere else. We recommend 10 days to experience the best Sicily has to offer.
Spend 3 nights in Palermo
Palermo is the perfect introduction to Sicily. It’s lively, colourful and full of surprises.
Explore its markets with a local guide, sample the city’s famous street food and visit the magnificent Monreale Cathedral, where glittering mosaics cover almost every wall.
Head into the hills to Castelbuono for a day trip, home to one of Sicily’s most famous family bakeries to taste the iconic fruit cake – the panettone, before continuing to the charming seaside town of Cefalù. Wander the medieval streets, enjoy lunch by the harbour or climb La Rocca for sweeping coastal views.
Head to Corleone, then 2 nights near Sciacca
From Palermo, stopover at Corleone. An interesting part of Sicily known as the birth-place of real life Mafia bosses. Today it shifts away from crime and features an Anti-Mafia Museum. It’s small but genuinely worth the stop, and it sets up the rest of the day well: lunch and a wine tasting at a local winery before continuing to your hotel near Sciacca, a 5-star resort built for slowing down after a busy few days.
Sciacca itself is an easy seaside fishing village to wander when you’ve got an afternoon spare. Take it.
Visit Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples
This is the reason a lot of people have heard of Agrigento before they’ve heard of anywhere else in Sicily. The Valley of the Temples holds the largest and best-preserved Greek temples outside of Greece, dating back to the 6th century BC. There’s a lot of history standing in that valley, and it’s worth having a guided tour to bring its history to life in a way no photographer can.
Stop at Piazza Armerina on the way to Syracuse
If you’re a history enthusiast, we recommend a stop at Villa Romana del Casale, a 4th century Roman villa holding some of the finest collections of Roman mosaics anywhere in the world. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, offering a fascinating glimpse into everyday life nearly 1,600 years ago.
Stay 2 nights in Syracuse, with a full day to yourself
Stay in Ortigia, the historic heart of Syracuse, where elegant piazzas, seaside promenades and ancient ruins are all within walking distance.
You’ll also have time to explore at your own pace. Visit the local market, wander the laneways, explore the archaeological park or simply find a waterfront café and watch the world go by.
Finish in Taormina and Mount Etna
Spend your final 2 nights in Taormina, one of Sicily’s most beautiful coastal towns.
Perched high above the Ionian Sea, its ancient Greek Theatre – the Teatro Antico di Taormina, commands spectacular views towards Mount Etna and the coastline below. Elegant boutiques, leafy piazzas and cafés overlooking the sea make it the perfect place to enjoy your final evenings.
No journey through Sicily is complete without visiting Mount Etna. Travel by a four-wheel drive tour across Europe’s largest active volcano before finishing with a wine tasting and leisurely lunch at a local vineyard, where fertile volcanic soils produce some of Sicily’s most distinctive wines.
It’s a memorable way to finish your time in Sicily.
If you have more time, consider extending your journey to the Aeolian Islands, where volcanic landscapes, crystal-clear waters and relaxed island life offer a different perspective on Sicily.
Aeolian Island Secrets (Sicily)
Just to the north of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea lies a volcanic archipelago. Explore the astonishingly beautiful and extremely varied landscape of the Aeolian Islands.
Experience Sicily with Ormina Tours
Our Sicily Bella Small Group Journey has been designed for travellers who want to experience Sicily beyond the highlights.
Travel with no more than 12 guests, stay in carefully selected four and five-star hotels, including one of Ormina Tours’ handpicked ambassador properties, Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte hotel, and enjoy the insight of experienced Tour Directors and knowledgeable local guides throughout.
Departures are available throughout 2027 from $10,990 AUD per person. Prefer to travel on your own dates? The same itinerary is also available as a private journey, built around you.
Explore the full itinerary and upcoming departures:
Sicily Bella
Beautiful Sicily – historic, bountiful and diverse. Discover the Mediterranean’s largest island with its stunning coastline, rugged mountains, ancient ruins, and warm hospitality.
