sicily travel programmes

Discover the beauty of Sicily

The ultimate travel guide to sicily, discover the places of the white lotus 2 in sicily, an unforgettable italian experience, fly to sicily and experience the magic, make the most out of your time in sicily, start your adventure in sicily now, unlock the secrets of sicily with our travel ebooks, planning has never been so easy, why bother with holiday planning.

When it comes to Sicily, we know our land as no one else. Let us advise you with the best experiences, tested by locals and beloved by demanding travelers.

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All the time, research, and stress that come with it. Let Time for Sicily make a great plan for you, featuring exclusive travel ideas from true locals.

A WEEKEND IN PALERMO TRAVEL EBOOK

This is our actionable three-day plan for experiencing Palermo , Sicily’s vibrant capital. It is ideal for romantic getaways or family vacations, cutting down hours of tedious research and planning. The guide includes an itinerary covering Palermo historical sites, street markets, and Mondello beach , offering insights into the city’s Arab-Norman heritage , Baroque architecture, and outdoor experiences. This comprehensive guide, complete with user-friendly itineraries and Google Maps , is perfect for those looking to experience Palermo culture, food, and scenic beauty in a short time. The perfect guide for a couple escape holiday to Sicily!

NINE DAYS IN EASTERN SICILY

This is our expertly crafted travel guide for an immersive nine-day tour in Eastern Sicily . It offers a curated itinerary that includes visits to captivating destinations like Catania , Taormina , and Siracusa , as well as adventures to Mount Etna and scenic spots like Marzamem i and the Vendicari Nature Reserve . The guide promises a blend of historical exploration, culinary experiences, and natural beauty, ideal for travelers seeking a comprehensive and enriching Sicilian adventure . It’s designed to provide a balance of guided activities and personal exploration time , making it a perfect purchase for those wanting to deeply experience Eastern Sicily culture, history, and landscapes.

EXPERIENCE THE DIVERSE LANDSCAPES OF SICILY

Marvel at Sicily’s natural beauty, from rugged mountains to crystal-clear water beaches. Each landscape tells a unique story of the island’s geology in the heart of the Mediterranean.

EXPLORE THE SICILIAN CITIES

Wander through the streets of Sicilian cities where history meets modernity. Each city offers its unique charm, culture, and architectural wonders.

DISCOVER SICILY RICH HISTORY

Step back in time and explore Sicily glorious past. From ancient Greek temples to Arab-Norman cathedrals, uncover the layers of history that made the island a crossroads of civilizations.

UNCOVER SICILY ARCHAEOLOGICAL WONDERS

Dive into the archaeological richness of Sicily, home to some of the most significant ancient sites in the Mediterranean, telling tales of the most important civilizations in history.

SICILY AND ITS MOVIES

Follow in the footsteps of filmmakers who have captured Sicily’s beauty on screen. Explore the iconic locations that have graced the silver screen.

SICILY EBOOK GUIDES: YOUR DIGITAL TRAVEL COMPANION

Equip yourself with our comprehensive digital guides for an in-depth understanding of Sicily history, culture, and hidden gems.

TAILOR-MADE TRAVEL PLANS: PERSONALIZED SICILIAN ADVENTURE

Customize your Sicilian journey with our expert local advice. Whether it’s a leisurely beach holiday or an archaeological exploration, create your perfect itinerary with us.

THE WHITE LOTUS SEASON 2 AND THE FOUR SEASONS SICILY RESORT

Discover the allure of Taormina and Sicily through “The White Lotus Season 2”, delving into the most exclusive Sicilian hospitality.

TRAINS IN SICILY: A SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAY

Discover sustainable travel in Sicily through train journeys, uncovering hidden gems next to train stations and the region panoramic landscapes.

ETNA, THE HOUSE OF GODS: A DAY ON THE VOLCANO

Experience the majesty of Mount Etna with suggestions for a day of exploration on this iconic active volcano, a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

SICILY IN WINTER, WINTER HOLIDAYS IN Italy

Explore the unique appeal of visiting Sicily in winter, a distinctive Mediterranean experience with the unique contrast of the mild weather at the beach and the snowy Etna top craters.

THE LIONS OF SICILY, A FAMILY SAGA IN THE HEART OF PALERMO

Explore the enchanting Western Sicily, inspired by the Disney+ series “The Lions of Sicily”. Dive into the region history, culture, and beauty.

THE SICILY BAROQUE TOWNS OF THE SOUTH EAST COAST

Learn about the beautiful Baroque towns of Val di Noto in South East Sicily, showcasing this unique Mediterranean culture and heritage.

TRAVELLING BY TRAIN IN SICILY: A TRAIN MAP OF THE ISLAND

Get our insights into sustainable travel around Sicily by train, including a helpful train map for planning your journey in Sicily.

SPRING IN SICILY: THE BEST THINGS TO DO

Experience the beauty and culture of Sicily in spring, from stunning landscapes to rich history, art and unique local experiences.

SICILIAN AMERICANS DISCOVERING THEIR ROOTS IN ITALY

Explore the growing trend of Sicilian Americans returning to Italy to rediscover their heritage and cultural roots.

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Sicily Tours & Trips

From delicious ricotta-filled cannoli's in Palermo to adrenaline rush adventures up to Mount Etna in Catania, Sicily has something to suit all types of travelers. Whether you are a foodie, an adventurer or a history-lover, a tour through Sicily can help you discover the island's hidden treasures.

227 Sicily tour packages with 1,364 reviews

• In-depth Cultural
• Food & Culinary
• Hiking & Trekking

Small Group Tour of Sicily: Highlights (Maximum 8 Guests)

We had a fantastic time! The scenery was spectacular, the history fascinating, the food and wine, we really didn’t want to leave.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Small Group Sicily Food & Wine Tour (Maximum 8 Guests)

From the time we lasted until we were dropped off, the whole tour was beyond excellent. The food and wine tours were varied from small plates at different restaurants to large meals at scenic settings. We ate at a seaport and at a farm house (the setting was far from rustic), in markets, and wineries. We had a cooking class where we prepared a traditional Sicilian meal. We stayed in wonderful hotels and had terrific tour guides. The tours were fabulous but they were short enough to allow for sometime to explore on our own. I would highly recommend this well managed and well planned tour.

New Tour of Sicily from Palermo 10 Days

Went everywhere and most of the included meals were great.

Sicilian Secrets - Tour of Sicily 8 days 2024

Great tour overall..

• Coach / Bus

Splendor of Sicily 8 Days Tour - from Catania

The tour was extremely organized and well run. I can't say enough about the tour guide Placido. He was attentive, interested and interesting. Very patient and helpful with any issues. He handled himself very professionally and was polite at all times. Not to say extremely knowledgable about the history of Sicily in particular and Italy in general. I would highly recommend this tour and especially this tour guide.

Sicilian Landscapes: Catania-Catania (8 days/7 nights)

Meals need to be improved, especially dinners. Stop at the mall was waist of time. We were not informed about swimming opportunities so we left our swim attire on the bus.

• £50 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Explore Southern Sicily

I have been traveling for the past 50 years and have visited many countries, I had never taken a tour before my travel mates and I took the the Southern Sicily tour. We chose GAdventures for this trip because the tour group was small, and because the tour visited so many of the major sites in Sicily. We were extremely lucky to have Luca as our tour leader. He was a wealth of information, and his love for Sicily was contagious. Luca took the time to get to know everyone in our small group and that added a personal touch to the tour. I recommend GAdventures tours without hesitation. It was just the best experience!

Sicilian Secrets - Tour of Sicily 10 days from Palermo 2024

Good guides and good hotel and meals. Didn't expect my initial group of 30 to swell to 45 a few days later. Such a large number made visiting sites difficult. Didn't have listening devices for the first 3 days. Couldn't hear guides very well. Didn't expect to have to pay entrance fees. Web site should make that clear. Loved the selection of sited we visited.

Best of Sicily - 8 Days (Small Group Tour)

Lovely tour. Great guides, nice hotels, perfect itunerary.

Absolute Sicily: Palermo - Palermo (10 days/9 nights)

Very nice tour overall. The tour leaders did not speak English very well or spoke too fast on the PA system of the bus. Destination Italia did not organize our tour very well. We were switched from one bus to another twice with very poor instructions. The local tour guys at each venue were very good, though. The destinations that we went to each day were excellent and so were the meals. For the most part, the hotels were good too. All things considered it was a good value for the money and we enjoyed the trip.

Splendours of Sicily

Excellent sights, youll see more in 6 days in Sicily than 15 days in mainland Italy!

Sicilian Secrets

The trip was well organized. The guide - Placido certainly knew his subjects and was very happy to answer questions. The accomodation was all very good as were the breakfasts. .The group was large and I didn't realise that when I booked. Also you did need to be fit ( I am) but some people found the wakking/steps very difficult

Northern Sicily: Islands & Volcanoes

• Christmas & New Year

Sicily and Malta

My Art Collection has proven to be an outstanding tour operator, delivering an exceptional travel experience. From their well-crafted itineraries to their knowledgeable guides, every aspect of our journey was meticulously planned and executed. Their commitment to customer satisfaction shone through in every interaction. We were left truly amazed and enriched by our journey. If you're looking for a reliable and enriching travel experience, My Art Collection is the way to go. Their dedication to providing unique and memorable adventures makes them a standout choice in the world of tour operators.

• Wine tasting

Charming Sicily Food & Wine Small Group Tour - 8 days

Overall our tour was wonderful. We had a great time. Denise, especially was a very good guide, very knowledgable and personable. The cooking class and our Palermo Street Food tour was, probably my favorites. A few areas that could have been improved upon: - A little more communication prior to the tour would have been reassuring. In this day of fraud it is a little unnerving to send all that money into the internet and not get much of a response. - The final communication, our itinerary, was a definite problem. We were told by Tour Radar that we would receive it 10-14 days before we left. The tour operator (ClickTours/Mossimo) told us we would receive it 8 days before we left. I finally called Tour Radar 6 days before we left

What people love about Sicily Tours

This tour was the very best experience we have ever had traveling overseas. The booking process was seamless and painless. We felt especially grateful that while the group was limited to 8 participants, it was guaranteed to proceed with 2 people. As it ended up, our trip was just me and my husband and we felt so fortunate to have had the attention of the guides in such a personal way. The guides were all tremendous and I am confident that a larger group would have felt equally tended to. Special thanks to our guides and drivers: Denise, Orazio, Roberto, Carlos, Fabio and Massimo. Part of what was truly evident was how passionate they each were about Sicily and how many of them had connections with people at the restaurants, local businesses and attractions that we went to. We felt like we were in such good hands during the time we were with all of the guides. Each tour and activity was enlightening and educational. The included lunches and other meals were top notch. The opening night walking food and wine tour was a great way to kickoff the trip. There were some others who joined us for that portion, and it was most welcome. I don't think it would have been as much fun for the restaurants and enoteca to have just 2 people and the guide show up, and we knew the rest of the trip we would have individual attention. We felt pampered with our lunches on the Mafia tour, at the winery on Etna, in Marzememi and Agrigento. There was never a feeling of penny-pinching, more plush and like what we would have chosen for ourselves! The selected hotels were excellent! Centrally located, each with a fantastic breakfast spread and fun bar/restaurants. We would happily go back to any of them again and recommend them. We loved the scheduling each day and felt like we had a great mix of free time to explore on our own. Lastly, Graziana was out lifeline while we were traveling. She connected with us daily to check in, and to share the next days plan and name of our guide and where they would meet us. She made dinner reservations for us while we were there and provided recommendations that were helpful. We didn't encounter any issues, but felt that we had a ready ally if needed. Massimo also checked in midtrip, so we truly felt like everyone was interested in us having the best possible trip. I cannot wait to return to Sicily. We have recommended Sicily Activities to many people since our return and would book again in a heartbeat.

I can’t say enough good things about our experience in Sicily thanks to Mossimo and his team. Excellent, informative tour guides…Denise, Carlos, Antonio and Sem. The cooking class may have been the highlight, but all of the activities were fun and the pace of the tour, planned activities/free time mix was perfect. Will definitely recommend!

Excellent tour, very well organised. Nice and clean accomodations . Very comprehensive tour, all the main sites are covered, but some days are really a bit tiring .Soleto's assistance provided before and during the tour was superb. Good value for money.

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Sicily holidays.

For the perfect mix of breath-taking scenery, warm weather and fascinating history, join us on one of our Sicily holidays. Filled with wonderful sights and experiences, charming seaside towns and villages dotted along the coastline, our guided holidays explore every part of it.

Holidays to Sicily

When looking for holidays to Sicily, visiting the mighty Mount Etna – the tallest in Europe and one of the most active volcanoes in the world – must be on your itinerary. We always make sure to include it on our tours, so you can savour the panoramic views over the coast and countryside. The volcanic landscapes, beautiful beaches and crystal blue waters are completely idyllic.

This Italian region has an incredible heritage which we delve into on our Sicily holidays 2024. From discovering ancient Greek and Roman architecture to visiting traces of former civilisations, you will be taken back on a journey of history. Syracuse Archaeological Park, Phoenician settlements, Roman amphitheatres, Greek temples and Aragonese churches; Sicily has a lot to offer for a cultural trip abroad.

No holiday in Sicily is complete without a tour of Palermo. We’ll experience its breath-taking coastal location and many historical sites such as its Baroque landmarks and outstanding mosaics at the Roman Villa Casale in Piazza Armerina. With plenty of leisure time to sample Sicilian cuisine in a typical restaurant, we make sure you get to see and appreciate everything.

The majority of our great value holidays to Sicily from Dublin, Ireland include flights, accommodation, transfers, excursions and award-winning local guides, so you can forget the stress of planning and navigating once you get there.

Select A Guided Holiday To Sicily

€1,349pp €1,229 pp

Sicily & the Aeolian Islands

Fully Guided

Flights & Transfers

€1,589pp €1,559 pp

Highlights of Sicily Including Palermo

€1,799pp €1,759 pp

Discover Sicily - Solo Traveller

Sicily Photography Holiday

Top places to visit & tourist attractions in sicily.

A colourful maze of narrow streets and terraces, teeming with cafés, restaurants and boutiques, Taormina sits atop a steep hill, providing breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Etna. The city’s remarkable Greco-Roman amphitheatre, set into the hillside, is open to the public to view. A cable car service links the town to the shingle and pebble beaches below with warm, shallow waters, ideal for swimming and snorkelling. We’ll get to explore the town of Taormina on a full day trip as part of our holidays to Sicily.

Europe's largest volcano and one of the world’s most active, Mount Etna is situated on the tectonic plate boundary between the continents of Africa and Europe. At over 3,300 metres high, this impressive volcano dominates the landscape of eastern Sicily. Mount Etna and its slopes have been part of the national park, Parco Naturale dell'Etna, since 1987. With alpine forests and deserts of lava on its upper levels, the volcano’s lower slopes are home to vineyards, orchards and even a golf course. On our holidays to Sicily, we’ll visit the top of the mountain for panoramic views of the island.

Founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, the city of Palermo has played an important role in history for over 2,000 years. Today, Palermo is the capital of Sicily and known for its buzzing atmosphere. From the colourful Ballaro market to the impressive Norman Palace and the stunning Palermo Cathedral; visitors to Palermo will be able to see the unique blend of Roman, Norman, Moorish and Byzantine influence throughout the city. On selected holidays to Sicily, we’ll enjoy a day trip to Palermo to take in some of the city’s beautiful sights and fascinating history.

The historic Syracuse archaeological park offers a unique testimony to the development of Mediterranean civilisation over three millennia. The site contains outstanding vestiges dating back to Greek and Roman times, such as the Temple of Athena, a Greek theatre, a Roman amphitheatre, a fort and more. Another interesting feature of the park is the Ear of Dionysus, a limestone cave carved out of the Temenites hill. Legend has it that Dionysus held political prisoners within the cave as the acoustics allowed him to hear their whispered secrets and their tortured screams would be amplified as a warning to others.

Sicily Tour Highlights

• Stay in the relaxing beachside resort of Giardini Naxos. 
• See the iconic Mount Etna and Ancient Greek Theatre in Taormina. 
• Enjoy a full day excursion to Syracuse and discover its UNESCO Archeological Park. 
• Take a boat trip to explore the Aeolian Islands, including Lipari and Vulano.
• Visit charming towns of Savoca and Forza D'Agrò, which were used as filming locations in the classic film ‘The Godfather’.
• Uncover more of the vibrant city of Palermo, the capital of Sicily. 

Sicily Holiday FAQs

Do sicily hotels provide entertainment and is free wifi available.

In Sicily, WiFi is free in most restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels, but in hotels it may be free of charge in the public areas only. Some resort-based hotels in Sicily feature live entertainment, but do check your hotel facilities. During the summer months, musical entertainment can often be enjoyed at pavement cafes and outdoor public spaces in Giardini Naxos, Taormina and other towns along the coast.

Can hotels in Sicily provide meals to suit my dietary requirements?

When notified in advance, Travel Department can inform our Sicily hotels of  your dietary requests, such as gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan foods.Please note that choices may be limited compared to the offering found in hotels at home.  

Is there a dress code at my hotel or going out in Sicily?

For restaurants and hotel dining rooms you can dress casually, but we suggest you avoid wearing “beach wear”, such as shorts and flip flops. When visiting churches and holy places, cover up bare flesh; shoulders, chest, legs.

I have walking difficulties, is a holiday in Sicily suitable?

Our guided tours in Sicily will involve periods of walking and standing, at times on uneven or cobbled surfaces. There will be steep inclines or steps to negotiate at certain locations and early morning starts for some excursions. A reasonable degree of health and mobility is required. For all our tours we have an  activity level guide  to help you decide which holiday suits you best.  For specific advice regarding our Sicily tours and to discuss any special needs, please contact us directly and we will be happy to assist you.     

What are the most popular food and drinks to try in Sicily?

Sicilian food is similar to mainland Italy, but there are more influences from its Greek and Arab neighbours. When you fancy a snack, try the Arancini, tasty fried rice balls filled with various ingredients, from meat to mozzarella. For bigger appetites, freshly caught seafood is always a good choice, or try a local pasta favourite; Pasta con le Sarde – made with sardines, fennel, pine nuts, raisins and toasted breadcrumbs in olive oil. Cannoli, a rolled pastry filled with ricotta and candied fruits is a classic Sicilian sweet treat. Accompany your meal with a robust Nero d’Avola or a light Grillo, just some of the excellent wines produced on the island. To finish, enjoy a glass of Marsala, Sicily’s renowned fortified wine.

When is the best time to visit Sicily?

Early July to the end of August is peak tourist season and visitors can expect a lively atmosphere at the beach resorts as well as very hot, sunny weather. May to June and September to October are ideal for relaxing and sightseeing in Sicily, with fewer crowds at the coast, plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the region of 25-30C.  

Is Sicily a good holiday destination?

Sicily's chequered past has resulted in a rich and unique culture, with traces of former civilisations including Roman amphitheatres, Greek temples and Aragonese churches waiting to be discovered throughout the island. North of the island lies the Aeolian Island archipelago, a group of volcanic islands that exhibit incredible natural beauty, earning them a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Both Sicily and the Aeolian Islands still have some active volcanoes, the most famous being towering Mount Etna. Sicily also has charming seaside towns and villages located along the coastline; it’s one of the best places to experience an authentic Italy holiday . 

Reviews, Travel Advice, & Tips To Inspire Your Next Sicily Holiday

Inspiration by country guest travel writers, experience sicily – a holiday you can’t refuse.

• Michelle Jackson
• 02 November 2020

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On a Trip Through Sicily, Old Secrets and New Surprises

By Erin Florio

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

For Condé Nast Traveler' s Iconic Itineraries , we partner with our travel specialists to create classic trips through our favorite destinations that showcase the difference it makes to travel with the help of an expert.

Two hours after arriving in Palermo , I am standing inside the Galleria degli Specchi at the Palazzo Gangi, beneath centuries-old chandeliers, surrounded by gilded everything. The mirrored walls and ceilings, the velvet curtains, the opulence of it all reminds me of Versailles's Hall of Mirrors. Like so much in Palermo, the 300-year-old palace appears suddenly and magnificently, rising up around the corner of a nondescript alleyway. Its low profile is fitting for a city where every wall holds millennia of conquests and scandal.

Palermo's buildings carry the scars of World War II. But its doors reveal palaces still owned by princesses descended from the House of Bourbon, which ruled here from 1735 to the mid-19th century. Below ground, a network of tunnels has served as both a playground of sin for nuns and monks on trysts and as an escape route for the Beati Paoli, a precursor to the Mafia. It's a cunning, clever city that requires know-how to crack. Fortunately, I'm with Marcella Amato, a whip-smart, quick-tongued Palermitana guide with knowing eyes full of urban tales and wisdom. It is her long and trusted relationship with the princess who lives at Gangi that got me through the door. Being inside the palace is the first of many moments that brings me closer to Sicily than I have gotten on any previous trip.

Sun break on the Scala dei Turchi, a natural wonder near Agrigento

Villa Sant’Andrea, a Belmond Hotel, in Taormina

I'm traveling with Authentic Explorations, a specialist travel company run by Gary Portuesi in New York City. The son of Sicilian immigrants, Gary has spent the last two decades bringing Americans to Sicily and the boot on tailored itineraries that he designs after careful talks with would-be clients. Marcella is one in his army of specialized guides all over the island. When he and I started planning, I told him this would be my sixth trip to the island. That Palermo was important, but so were artisans and history and the southeast corner of the island, home to Noto and Ragusa, which I had never explored. He ended our call with the words “Be prepared for improv.”

For Thousands of years, Palermo was conquered and passed among the Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs, Vandals, and Spanish before becoming the capital of Sicily under Norman rule, which joined Italy in the 19th century when it was united by the legendary general Giuseppe Garibaldi. Because of that history, cultures from the Middle East, Europe, and Africa have influenced everything from its food to its architecture to its dialect.

As the gateway to western Sicily, Palermo is where I spend my first two nights and where I meet for the first time with Peppe Mendola, Gary's business partner, who would serve as my driver, Sicilian encyclopedia, and dinner companion for the week. On our first full day, we hit the road early, driving along the coastal highway toward the seaside town of Trapani. It's a clear, mild late-September morning. As we get farther west, Palermo's industrialized suburbs, which sprawl along the hills and coastlines, begin to thin out. Our destination is the Trapani salt pans, which trace their origins to the arrival of the Phoenicians 2,700 years ago. Squint, and the silhouettes of Favignana and Levanzo, two of the three Egadi islands off western Sicily, are faint shadows against the blinding Mediterranean sunlight. I came here 10 years ago while road-tripping around Sicily with friends, so I'd told Gary I could pass this time around. But he kept it in the program, and I'm glad he did. On my last visit, I only glimpsed the pink and blue salt pools on the shoreline from the car window. But this time I learn that the salt pans are a window into artisan cultivation. That means a choreography of bare-chested men, in shorts and rubber boots, shoveling tidy piles of sea salt into wobbly wheelbarrows they roll across a shallow slick of water so dense with saline it looks like a sheet of ice until they reach a large mound at the edge of the pools. Peppe tells me kids don't come here looking to follow in their fathers' bootsteps. Due to economic and technological changes, these leather-skinned laborers, with their thick beards and faces hardened by a life's work in the sun, will probably be the last to follow this centuries-old practice.

Fig trees populate the region

A pickup soccer game near Capo market in Palermo

“I love improvisation!” says Peppe. It's roughly 10 a.m. on day three, and he and I have left our base in Palermo for eastern Sicily, driving through lush meadows with tall, windblown grasses stretching in every direction toward the horizon. In April and May, Peppe tells me, these fields are a profusion of wildflowers. Today we don't pass a single vehicle, which makes these seemingly endless expanses feel all the more elysian.

Peppe tells me about a large extended family he brought here recently. After getting out of the car, the patriarch, who had left these valleys nearly 80 years earlier, fell to his knees to kiss the earth. Of the estimated 5.4 million Italians who emigrated to the United States in the three big immigration waves of the 20th century, roughly a quarter were Sicilian. That's translated into a decent chunk of hereditary travel business for Gary and Peppe, who are masters at reconstructing a Sicilian American's origin story with very little information. (“Give me a name and a date of birth and I'll find the house they were born in,” Peppe says.)

Our destination is Agrigento, off Sicily's southern coast, Peppe's hometown and the site of an ancient architectural wonder known as the Valley of the Temples. But Peppe scratches his improv itch and makes a few detours—to the spellbinding Cretto di Burri di Gibellina, an art project to preserve a town in these valleys destroyed by an earthquake; the chic seaside village of Sciacca; and the famed Scala dei Turchi, a natural marvel of white stone cliffs seemingly sliding into the sea.

The Temple of Juno, built around 450 B.C., is one of the best-preserved monuments in Sicily’s Valley of the Temples, a complex of statues, structures, and burial grounds constructed during the ancient Greek occupation of southern Sicily.

Prosciutto and fixings at a market in Siracusa

Exploring Sicily means a lot of time in the car. There is no way around it. A regional high-speed rail service has been long discussed for the island, but never realized. On our drives, Peppe and I chat about everything from the gusty sirocco winds that blow in from the south to the humanitarian aid the Sicilian government has offered migrants who arrive on these shores from northern Africa. Peppe tells me an apocryphal legend that has been circulating in the area since the end of World War II: that ties between the Sicilian Mob and the United States were once so strong, the infamous gangster Lucky Luciano helped coordinate the Allies' arrival on the island. Outside Palermo, Peppe points out the spot where, in 1992, an assassin triggered the bomb that killed anti-Mafia judge Giovanni Falcone, whose death marked a turning point in Sicily's war against organized crime. When I ask if Sicilians prefer to avoid discussing such topics, Peppe replies, “To not talk about how life was under the Mafia wouldn't be fair to those who died trying to change it.”

The Valley of the Temples sits atop a hill, unobstructed and glorious, like the world's most magnificent welcome sign. For the past 2,500 years, visitors to Agrigento, from conquerors on horseback to journalists in Audis, have looked up at the seven Doric temples, built by the Greeks, and known they have arrived. As a boy, Peppe would play hide-and-seek behind the towering pillars. Today, entry is controlled and the monuments are roped off. In the late afternoon, I meet Lorenzo, a 42-year-old Agrigentino who has been guiding since the age of seven, when he insisted on giving his parents a tour of the Valley after learning about it in elementary school. We are at the base of the Temple of Juno, at the Valley's western end. As we walk its path, passing the Temple of Zeus and Hercules, Lorenzo explains that this area was selected by the Greeks for its strong bedrock, which could support these colossal houses for their gods. He tells me of the Arab influence on Agrigento and talks about Sicily as the original melting pot. We arrive at the towering Temple of the Concordia, the Valley's best-preserved and most awesome monument, just as the setting sun turns the sky into a swirl of neon pink, backlighting the temple with an otherworldly glow. I realize then that Lorenzo timed everything so that I would hit this spot at this very moment. It's the kind of experience that exposes your insignificance in this powerful old world.

Scallops for lunch at Villa Sant’Andrea in Taormina

Fontana di Diana in Siracusa

In the days that follow, we cover equally great distances and historical depths as we drive the southern coast before curving up east. In the Old Town of Siracusa, located on Ortigia, on an island connected by two bridges to the main town, I observe a wedding in a synagogue in the town's Jewish ghetto. I also speak with one of the last remaining makers of I Pupi Siciliani, a type of puppet popular in theaters throughout the island during the 1800s, whose venues and art form are protected by UNESCO as an intangible cultural inheritance. In the beautiful village of Noto, I stroll past its 18th-century cathedral after the sun goes down, the streetlamps coating the Baroque town in a dreamy amber hue. In nearby Modica, I taste the reach of the Spanish Empire in the local chocolate, made by techniques plucked from the Aztecs and brought here 400 years ago. Twenty-five minutes away, in Ragusa, the petite Maria Guastella, one of the last remaining makers of traditional sfilato siciliano, or Sicilian lace, talks me through her intricate craft. Her studio is on a hairpin turn on the road into the town, with a sign so discreet you would already have to know to come here to notice it at all. Inside, she demonstrates with crooked fingers that navigate the needle and thread with the nimbleness of someone 50 years younger. I stay longer than planned, purchasing her bookmarks and place mats to take home with me.

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Jesse Ashlock

In the main piazza, Peppe ushers me across the broad flagstones of the sloping Old Town, passing regal cathedrals until we reach a door under a swinging wooden sign that says “Rosso Cinabro.” It is the last remaining workshop of the Sicilian carrettieri, or cart makers. While I was with Maria, Peppe arranged for the studio, which is normally closed in the afternoons, to remain open for me. To step inside is to step back two centuries in time. The wood is whittled by hand, and the wagons, which were ubiquitous up until the 1950s, are painted in shades of brilliant red, yellow, and blue, in patterns as distinct as fingerprints.

A Fiat 500 in the Baroque town of Noto

The mineral-dense dark soils of Mount Etna

On my last full day, I wake up in Taormina, on Sicily's east coast, and tiptoe into the sea as the sun rises and the town sleeps. A few fishermen have rowed out just beyond the rock line, and the water is calm and as clear as glass. On a good day, you can see mighty Etna, the smoking volcano that could destroy much of the area's centuries-old antiquities in minutes. By the grace of all the gods who have been worshipped on this island, Etna's destruction has so far been largely contained to the mountainside. A bonus from the centuries of lava flows is the alluvial, mineral-­dense soil, which over the last few decades has captured the attention of some of Italy's top winemakers. Later that afternoon, I'm on the flank of the volcano, in a modern glass-and-timber tasting room at Cottanera Winery. Sipping Nerello Mascalese on leather sofas with views of the vineyards tumbling down the mountain slope, I see a different side of Sicily, the beginning of something new.

Yet change doesn't always mean an end to what was here before. In the crumbling hilltop village of Motta Camastra, which clings stubbornly like a mountain goat to the cliffs north of Etna, a group of local women is taking preservation into its own hands. Urban migration and economic downturn have hit the village hard. To create jobs and bring people back, Mariangela Curro and other local women launched Le Mamme del Borgo, which is creating a super-local farmed-food movement to help sustain the town agriculturally, and offering good old-fashioned cooking to bring in travelers. Mariangela is a cheery and proud ambassador, guiding me to the local museum where antique olive presses are displayed and to the town square, which looks over the valley and across to Etna. We climb a footpath and duck through a door that leads to a kitchen. Inside, the Mammas, in aprons and house dresses, are frying arancini, molding eggplant parmigiana, and stuffing crescent-shaped pastry with ricotta. Typical Sicilian food is their currency; every tour with the Mammas ends at the table outside this kitchen, under the shade of a canopy in an ivy-draped courtyard.

The meal is the kind of experience a traveler could book an entire trip around, bridging sustainability, local interactions, and extremely good food. At the lunch table, between platters of pasta alla Norma, sausage, and stewed greens, Mariangela explains the mission of the Mammas. Sicily is nothing if not a study in endurance and evolution, having inherited, fostered, grown, and preserved influences from so many forces throughout history to create a place unlike anywhere else. But Sicily's magic is knowing when to let change in. For the Mammas, change is intertwined with conservation. If done properly, their work will help to keep Motta Ca­mastra ticking.

Mariangela clears the lunch dishes and offers coffee. Peppe and I should get going. But under that canopy, surrounded by these women, on top of a valley that's been inhabited in one way or another for thousands of years, time seems to move at its own pace. We don't need to rush. So we stay at the table a little longer.

A view from the grounds of Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel, a newly reborn resort outside Palermo.

How this trip was made 

When Gary Portuesi of Authentic Explorations and I first talked, I made it clear that I wanted to be wowed by Sicily as though I were experiencing the island for the first time. He asked careful questions about my travels in Italy (extensive) and general preferences (cities over nature; culture and food; honest local connections). We then workshopped an itinerary, including places to stay, that aligned with my passions. His itinerary left plenty of room for flexibility, which, as a traveler who does not like to hyperschedule my days, I greatly appreciated. (I recommend you do the same if traveling to Sicily; there are so many directions the island can pull you in once you're there.) Gary's connections secured me hard-to-come-by rooms at sophisticated new retreats, like the grand Villa Igiea, A Rocco Forte Hotel, and San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel . He also brought me to boutique and family-run places, such as Fontes Episcopi, a dream of an agriturismo outside Agrigento that I never could have found on my own.

The highlights

Day 1: A lunchtime stroll through Capo Market, a lesser-visited food market in Palermo, which ended in my first and one of my favorite meals of the trip—a mound of local anelletti al forno from a small vendor and a bottle of Menabrea beer.

Day 3: After visiting the Trapani salt pans we drove up to the hilltop town of Erice. When I told Peppe that I had always wanted to taste the pastries of the legendary Maria Grammatica, who popularized certain types of sweets from this part of Sicily, he walked into a pastry shop and invited me into its kitchen where I got to chat with her in person—she even gave me a book about her life to take home.

Day 4: A supremely delicious dinner of tri colore eggplant involtini on the outdoor terrace at the luxury restaurant at Villa Athena with views of an illuminated Valley of the Temples—though I would have eaten anything that my hosts at eco-retreat Fontes Episcopi might have served me from the farm kitchen.

Day 5: A tour through the Catania fish market. The place was rollicking and wild and there were some lovely modern wine bars and bistros for lunch right next to the stalls. Just don't wear clean white shoes—you'll probably step in tuna guts.

Day 6: Climbing over a hardened lava field on Etna before switching gears for a wine tasting later that day.

Florio Restaurant at Villa Igiea in Palermo

The pool at Villa Igiea

Where I stayed

Gary’s connections to exactly the types of the places you want to stay secured me the top rooms all over the island. In Palermo, I stayed at the Villa Igiea in Palermo, Rocco Forte’s new and stunning takeover of a storied turn-of-the-century resort right on the water. Over in Agrigento, the sweet eco-retreat Fontes Episcopi may have left the biggest impression on me, with its orchards and pinch-yourself-perfect farm kitchen where all the meals are made. Across in Noto, Seven Rooms is discreet and perfect, located in an old palace right off one of the main drags. Taormina has been popular for years and has the strongest hotel scene on the island. For me, that meant a seafront room at Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea and an overnight at the beautifully redone San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel , in the middle of the town.

Gary and his team at Authentic Explorations can pull off week-long Sicily itineraries starting at around $12,000 for two, depending on services and accommodations. All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.  

This article appeared in the May/June 2021 issue of  Condé Nast Traveler.  Subscribe to the magazine   here .

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Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina

Villa Sant'Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina Mare

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Sicily holidays

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Strategically placed at the heart of the Mediterranean, Sicily’s changing fortunes under a succession of colonisers has left a rich array of historic sites to explore, from crumbling Greek temples to Roman villas, medieval fortresses and lavish Baroque towns. Our specialists can guide you as you plan your trip, using their first-hand knowledge of Sicily to help you decide where's best to go depending on your interests. Whether you only have time to see one set of ancient temples or want to visit the island's finest vineyards, they're there to guide you along the way.

You can learn about ancient history as you explore the Grecian Valley of the Temples, marvel at the intricacies of Byzantine mosaic work in Palermo, stroll along the sophisticated streets of Syracuse or venture onto the slopes of Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano. Sicily is a many-faceted place to visit, and our specialists have explored the main sights and the lesser-known ones. They’ll carefully plan your holiday as an individual tailor-made trip to match your preferences.

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Places to visit in Sicily

Featuring heavily on our experiences of visiting Sicily, these selected places are destinations that also prove consistently popular with our travellers. Our specialists can help you choose how to include them in your wider trip, based on your preferences.

Erice and Trapani

Ragusa, Modica & Noto

Suggested itinerary featuring Sicily

This sample itinerary will give you an idea of what is possible when you travel in Sicily, and showcases routes we know work particularly well. Treat this as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.

Classic Sicily tour

8 days from £7,340pp

Map of Sicily

Places & hotels on the map, places in and around sicily.

• Agrigento Sicily
• Erice and Trapani Sicily
• Marsala Sicily
• Mount Etna Sicily
• Palermo Sicily
• Ragusa, Modica & Noto Sicily
• Syracuse Sicily
• Taormina Sicily
• Villa Romana del Casale Sicily
• Capri 194 miles away
• Sorrento 199 miles away
• The Amalfi Coast 200 miles away
• Ischia 208 miles away
• Pompeii 208 miles away
• Herculaneum 212 miles away
• Naples 214 miles away
• Matera 237 miles away
• Puglia 258 miles away
• Alberobello 262 miles away
• Fasano 269 miles away
• Ostuni 271 miles away
• Lecce 275 miles away
• Otranto 280 miles away
• Southern Sardinia 299 miles away

Photos of Sicily

Our expert guides to exploring Sicily

Written by our specialists from their own experiences of visiting Sicily, these guides will help you make the most of your time there. We share both our practical recommendations and the best ways to appreciate Sicily at its best.

Where to visit in Sicily

Beyond its azure waters and white pebbled beaches, Sicily offers a complex cultural experience, one that is seen in its Baroque churches, open-air markets, Greek ruins and complex cuisine. Discover why it’s the crossroads of the Mediterranean with Audley specialist Kimberly.

11 min read

Accommodation choices for Sicily

We’ve selected a range of accommodation options for when you visit Sicily. Our choices usually come recommended for their character, facilities and service or location. Our specialists always aim to suggest properties that match your preferences.

Monaci delle Terre Nere

Baglio Oneto Resort

Algila Ortigia Charme Hotel

De Stefano Palace

Eremo della Giubiliana

Hotel Plaza Opera

Hotel Villa Athena

Hotel Foresteria Baglio della Luna

Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea

Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo

Verdura Resort

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Sometimes, reinventing the wheel is amazing . On the Old World Sicily & Malta tour, see Sicily’s wilder side on an off-road adventure to Mount Etna (UNESCO). Stare up at the iconic peak as your vehicle climbs along the sides of Europe’s largest active volcano.

Closer to Culture

Get to know the world-renowned Sicilian hospitality firsthand on our Southern Italy and Sicily tour. You’ll journey to a family-owned farmhouse, meet the owners, and discover what a typical day on a Sicilian farm is like. Learn how ricotta cheese is made and tuck into a hearty farm-to-table dinner, made with family recipes.

Tough Truths

On our Sicily and Its Isles tour, get to know Addiopizzo . This anti-Mafia not-for-profit supports locals who refuse to pay the Mafia’s protection fees. Travellers will be on location where some turning-point Mafia attacks happened, and you’ll meet people directly affected by the Mafia’s despicable actions.

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Experience Sicily

Small Group Tours of Sicily and Customized Sicily Travel

2022 Tours of Sicily

Immerse Yourself in Sicily in 2022  with Experience Sicily

We know that during these unprecedented times you may be hesitant to plan your future trips. As a result, we are offering you peace of mind. You may cancel your 2022 tour itineraries for a full refund up to 45 days before the start date of your tour (minus a $250 administrative fee). In lieu of cancelling your 2022 tour with us, you may postpone to a 2023 tour with no change-fee. 

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Ensuring Your Safety

We are in constant contact with our colleagues in Sicily regarding hygiene practices and expectations in order to ensure your safety and security during these unprecedented times. When it is time to travel, we will follow the CDC and World Health Organization’s guidelines on best health and hygiene practices for travelers. 

About Our Small Group Sicily Tours

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Experience Sicily tours are fully escorted and supported by professional, licensed drivers. Owner/Curator Allison Scola is your tour leader. Each journey is limited to 12 or fewer guests. See the day by day descriptions to see all of the benefits of traveling with us!

Easter in Sicily is now: Spring in Sicily

Saturday, april 9 to monday, april 18, 2022.

We’ve updated Easter in Sicily . It is now Spring In Sicily , a new itinerary.

Because of the restrictions on public gatherings due to the pandemic, we have changed our original itinerary to focus more on spring, with a seasoning of Easter. This is a truly off-the-beaten path course through Palermo, western and central Sicily, and baroque Sicily — areas of the region that are stunning in the spring! See the full itinerary for details. 

$5,500/person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $850 ). Land only. 10 days, 9 nights Includes everything but three meals  (Includes all breakfasts, seven lunches, and seven dinners), all accommodations, transportation, entrance fees, and gratuities. See full itinerary for details.

• Pay in-full by bank transfer to receive $50 off the cost of your tour.

Enchanting Sicily

Sunday, may 22 to saturday, june 4, 2022.

Your intellect and your senses will be stimulated with our signature tour of Sicily! During Enchanting Sicily , you’ll discover off-the-beaten path towns, interact with locals, and immerse yourself in Sicilian culture and ancient history. You’ll tour intriguing UNESCO World Heritage sites, remote mountain towns, and charming seaside villages. You’ll attend a world-class performance of a classic Greek play in Siracusa’s Ancient Greek theater. You’ll amble through Palermo’s open-air markets and interact with Sicilians in a meaningful way.

You’ll stay in 4-star hotels and characteristic inns and relish family-run trattorias as you explore Sicily’s 3,000 years of human history with authentic experiences, vibrant flavors, and sweet melodies that will capture your imagination. Let Experience Sicily’s owner Allison Scola and her knowledgeable team of guides and local insiders take care of all of the details so you can revel in enchanting Sicily!

Ask about our optional pre-tour stay in Taormina! 

$6,325 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $1000). Land only. 14 days, 13 nights Includes everything but eight meals (Includes all breakfasts, ten lunches, and seven dinners, all transportation, all entrance fees and tickets, most tips.) See full itinerary for details. 

• Pay in-full by personal check and receive $250 off the cost of your tour.

Yoga in Sicily with Clio Mallin and Experience Sicily

Wednesday, june 8 to saturday, june 18, 2022.

Practice yoga in Sicily and awaken your senses through the island’s vibrant villages, profound UNESCO sites, heartwarming locals, and awe-inspiring natural beauty. You’ll explore your own divine energy through tours of ancient sites in Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, and Sicily’s baroque southeast, stimulate your awareness through walks in nature, a Mediterranean boat excursion, a hands-on cooking experience, and a winery tour, and hone your practice surrounded by grape vines and olive trees. Co-hosted by Philadelphia-based yoga instructor Clio Mallin and Experience Sicily owner and curator Allison Scola, this sensational yoga retreat in Sicily will rouse your insight and inspire your spirit. 

$3,650 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $400). Land only. 11 days, 10 nights Includes everything but six meals (Includes all breakfasts, six lunches, and seven dinners.)

• Pay in-full by bank transfer and receive $75/person off the cost of your tour.

Secret Sicily Tour

Friday, july 15 to sunday, july 24, 2022.

Immerse yourself in Secret Sicily ! Secret because you’ll escape the ordinary basing your travels for 10 days in the mountain village of Licodia Eubea. We’ll take care of the details while you create memories. You’ll delight in Eastern Sicily’s treasures—its people, its heritage, its cuisine, and its natural beauty. We’ll visit principal sites while basing ourselves in a town of 3000 locals as they celebrate their patroness Santa Margherita. Your intellect will be stimulated by UNESCO sites while your heart will be warmed by the generosity of our local hosts. 

Ask us about adding our Palermo pre-tour from Tues., July 12 to Fri., July 15!

$3,650 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $400). Land only. 10 days, 9 nights Includes everything but six meals (Includes all breakfasts, four lunches, and seven dinners.)

Photography in Sicily with Don Toothaker and Hunts Photo

Thursday, september 1 to saturday september 10, 2022.

Spend ten days in Sicily learning the art of travel photography from professional photographer and teacher Don Toothaker . Don and Experience Sicily Owner and Curator, Allison Scola, have designed an itinerary that will delight those who love to travel through the lens. This is an opportunity to go off the beaten path and learn travel photography in Sicily from the Director of Photo Adventures for Hunts Photo and Video in Massachusetts. We’ve built in lots of time so you can savor the vivid colors and intriguing life of Sicily through photography. 

$5,995 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $800). Land only. 10 days, 9 nights Includes everything but four meals (Includes all breakfasts, five lunches, and eight dinners.)

Cooking In Sicily: Stirring Sicily Tour

Tour i: september 14 to september 21, 2022 or tour ii: september 28 to october 5, 2022.

$3,650 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $350). Land only. 8 days, 7 nights Includes everything but one dinner (Includes seven breakfasts, six lunches, and six dinners.).

• Early Registration Incentive Pricing!  Pay in-full by May 1, 2022 and receive $100 off the cost of your tour per person.
• Pay in-full by personal check and receive $125 off the cost of your tour.

Stunning Sicily Tour

Saturday, october 8, to thursday, october 20, 2022.

Stimulate your intellect and your senses with our October tour of Sicily! Intriguing UNESCO Worlds Heritage sites will take your breath away. Remote mountain towns and charming seaside villages will enchant you. Local harvest festivals will inspire you. Palermo’s open-air markets will mesmerize you. And your interaction with Sicilians will warm your heart. You’ll enjoy 4-star hotels and characteristic, family-run inns and relish typical trattorias as you discover Sicily’s 3,000 years of human history with authentic experiences, vibrant flavors, and sweet melodies that will capture your imagination. 

$5,575 per person, double occupancy (Single Supplement $950). Land only. 13 days, 12 nights Includes everything but eight meals (Includes all breakfasts, nine lunches, and six dinners)

Fully escorted; Professional drivers and licensed tour guides; Includes all but nine meals, all accommodations, all transportation, and all entrance fees.

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Escorted Tours to Sicily

The essence of sicily.

A cultural kaleidoscope wrapped in dramatic landscapes, Sicily is studded with Baroque towns and Byzantine mosaics, sprinkled with classical ruins and Norman castles, scented with wild herbs and citrus groves, and steeped in legends and drama.

Why choose a tour in Sicily?

Set just off the toe of the boot-shaped Italian mainland, Sicily has been seducing travellers since the 17 th century. With beautiful beaches, archaeological treasures, Aeolian Islands, UNESCO sites, and iconic Mount Etna, tours in Sicily cover everything from cultural heritage to contrasting landscapes.

We circle the island through its ancient past , from Syracuse, the site of Archimedes’ ‘Eureka’ moment; to the Roman mosaics of Villa del Casale, Agrigento’s Greek ‘Valley of Temples’; Phoenician relics on a tiny islet, the rock tombs of Pantalica, and the ruins of Selinunte city, isolated, elevated, and enormous.

There are tours to the UNESCO listed ‘Towns of Val di Noto’, south-eastern Noto, Scicli, Ragusa and Catania; all destroyed in the 1693 earthquake and rebuilt in the florid façades of Baroque splendour.

Breathtaking Byzantine art graces churches and cathedrals with gleaming gilded mosaics, in Palermo, Monreale, and coastal Cefalú, its Middle Ages heart meeting a modern and vibrant shore; while splendid Taormina encapsulates Sicily’s past and present, with a Greek amphitheatre, medieval alleys, and a main street hemmed with chic shops.

Some places which are new to you may seem familiar, as we fuse fact with fiction in film, TV, and literary locations, from the Savoca setting for scenes of ‘The Godfather’, to Punta Secca’s sites for Inspector Montalbano , and the volcanoes of Stromboli, where Jules Verne’s adventurers emerged from their ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’.

To complete the full picture of the island , the various tour routes are punctuated with grand palazzos, picturesque fishing ports, white-washed villages, and wind-whipped cliffs.

When to go on Sicily holidays

With the warmest of Italy’s Mediterranean weather, Sicily enjoys a balmy climate between 20 and 25 degrees in April, May, September and October, a comfortable time for touring, when towns and sights are generally quieter. Temperatures rise in the summer months (June-August) to hover around 30-35°, when the seas around the island are temptingly warm, and resorts are notably busier. Jules Verne tours operate between mid-March and early November.

Who are Sicily tours suited to?

Sicily combines its unique culture with characterful medieval towns, celebrated archaeological sites, spectacular topography, speciality cuisine, and sweet Marsala wine; welcoming the literati, the glitterati, and the curious traveller, and delivering the ideals of every visitor in one way or another. Our small-group tours are enjoyed by singles, couples, and friends alike; and for those who prefer to travel solo, we offer an ‘ exclusively singles ’ tour of the island’s treasures.

Why book Sicily tours with Jules Verne?

With 45 years’ experience and a passion for creating extraordinary adventures, Jules Verne visits famous landmarks and lesser-known sites, with expert tour guides who share their local knowledge, and show you hidden gems. Our journeys in Sicily visit every one of the island’s UNESCO World Heritage sites from the slopes of Mount Etna to Aeolian Islands, ancient cities, Byzantine chapels, grandiose Gothic cathedrals and Taormina, a tourist magnet since the Grand Tour travellers visited, two centuries ago.

All our guided tours to Sicily are ABTA and ATOL protected, and we offer a 100% price guarantee, so you can book with complete confidence.

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Treasures of Sicily

A veritable feast of Greek and Roman monuments vie for attention amid the Norman, Phoenician and Saracen landmarks of Sicily’s cultural heritage. The island’s astonishing wealth of well-preserved sites bring the ancient past to life and make this our top tour in Italy

Treasures & Secrets of Sicily

A heady blend of ancient sites, stunning scenery, charming towns and glorious churches, this is our ‘grand tour’ of Sicily, its highlights varying from Aeolian Isles to UNESCO sites, Mount Etna to Marsala wine, and the Scicli film locations of Inspector Montalbano

Secret Sicily

A very varied journey through Sicily’s less-visited sites, this tour reveals the hidden gems of cultural heritage and contrasting landscapes, from Aeolian Islands to ostentatious Baroque towns, and from fishing villages to the fictional world of Inspector Montalbano

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Esplora Travel

exclusive cultural, expert-led small-group tours

Sicily is an island of fabulous food, beautiful sunsets, active volcanoes, magnificent coastal scenery, dramatic mountains, intense colours and wonderful weather. It is drenched in classical mythology, tales of miracles and local legends, and its documented history can be best described as a roller-coaster. The island hosts a hugely rich archaeology, a stunning flora, dramatic architecture, and breathtaking views — and it is a land of warm smiles, exuberant streetlife and intense emotions. Travelling alone, you can only scratch the surface. Travelling with us, on one of our expert-led cultural tours, will give you the chance to really get under the skin of this amazing island. What’s more, our tours are not all about rushing around from sight to sight! This is an island where people still know how to take life slowly and live in the moment, and on our escorted tours we like to transmit a touch of this Sicilian philosophy of life onto our clients. As Andrea Camilleri, the creator of Inspector Montalbano said Sicily is still a place where doing nothing is not seen as a waste of time, and where there is still time to eat jasmine ice cream.

History comes to life

Travelling on one of our guided tours through Sicily, you’ll see the island’s dramatic history come to life. There are ancient Greek temples, the world’s most extravagant Roman villa, mighty medieval fortifications. splendidly mosaiced cathedrals, labyrinthine Arabic street plans and flamboyant Baroque churches and palaces. What’s more, our guides will also tell you about Sicily’s more recent past — from the huge poverty and mass emigration that characterised much of the twentieth century, through the Allied invasion of Europe during the second World War, to, of course, the disturbing but fascinating history of Mafia culture.

Naturally amazing

Sicily boasts Europe’s largest volcano (Mount Etna, snow-capped for much of the year), wild, rugged mountains (where you might spot Bonelli’s eagles or the signs of wild boars and porcupines), rolling wheatfields, aromatic citrus groves, picturesque vineyards and charming historical villas. The shimmering azure sea cradles swordfish, tuna, sea bass and octopus — all to be bought in the island’s numerous (and raucous) street markets and sampled in fantastic restaurants.

The best small group Sicily tours

Our small group tours to Sicily are absolutely the best way to see, explore, experience and understand the island. Guided by experts, the tours combine the intimacy of independent travel with the knowledge, expertise and anecdotes that ensure that guests have the most comfortable, stimulating, relaxing and entertaining experience they could ever imagine. Prepare to let Sicily enter your soul!

Our Small group Sicily tours:

Sicily Tours : Treasures of Sicily

Treasures of Sicily tour Our flagship tour of Sicily One of our most popular Sicily…

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Hidden Sicily

Hidden Sicily The Sicily Tour that goes to places no other tours go! We believe…

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Sicilian Vineyards, Wine and Food Tour

Sicilian Vineyards, Wine and Food tour Eat and dine your way round Sicily! Sicily is…

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Easter in Sicily Tour

Easter in Sicily Some of the most colourful occasions in Sicily Sicily at Easter and…

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Montalbano’s Sicily

Montalbano’s Sicily South Eastern Sicily has been made famous by the filming of the Inspector…

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Walking in the Madonie Mountains

Walking in the Madonie Mountains Some of the finest walking in Sicily “In the UK…

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Walking in the Aeolian islands

Walking in the Aeolian islands Our Aeolian Islands walking holiday visits each of the seven…

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Walking in Eastern Sicily

Walking in Eastern Sicily Combining some fine walking with exquisite sightseeing Our Walking in Eastern…

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Walking in Western Sicily

Walking in Western Sicily Combining some fine walking with exquisite sightseeing Our Walking in Western…

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Sicily by train

New for 2022! – Available to travel September – November Just a few years ago,…

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Tours to Sicily

Be mesmerised by delicious food, a rugged coastline and Europe's tallest active volcano on a Sicily holiday. Marvel at Mediterranean vistas, explore ancient Greco-Roman sites and swim in sparkling blue waters. We offer a variety of tours to this stunning island, including cycling, walking and family adventures.

Ways to explore Sicily

Food and drink, walking and trekking, discover our sicily tours.

Embark on one of our  small group tours  to Sicily for an unforgettable adventure holiday on this idyllic Mediterranean island. Join your  local tour leader  for a trip to the pretty hilltop town of Taormina on our  Classical Sicily Discovery tour . Delve into overflowing delis and rustic antique stalls before visiting the town’s magnificent ancient Greek theatre. Rest on the cascading tiers of timeworn stone and take in the remarkable views of Mount Etna on the horizon. Or step back in time as you explore the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento on the  Ancient Sicily tour . Crumbling golden columns, encapsulated by leafy almond trees, soar into clear blue skies with dramatic grandeur. For a more active trip to Sicily, don your walking boots for a  Sicily walking trip  around the barren moonscapes of three active volcanoes. Or get the family fired up for an adventure holiday with a difference with our  Sicily Family Multi-Activity Adventure ; camp in a tree tent, kayak along jagged sea cliffs and climb Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe.

Our most popular tours in Sicily

Classical sicily.

Family Sicily Multi-Activity Adventure

Ancient Sicily

Malta and Gozo Discovery + Classical Sicily

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Unforgettable experiences.

From big wows to hidden gems, our tours leave you feeling that you've really explored.

Expert tour leaders

Chosen for their great knowledge of your destination and a passion to make your trip extraordinary.

Small groups

Average groups of 11; solos, couples and friends, united by a desire for authentic experiences.

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How we operate sets us apart; our flexible booking policy, our loyalty scheme & sustainable approach.

Need more inspiration for your Sicily trip?

Your first small-group family holiday - top 7 questions answered

7 questions answered for your first small-group adventure holiday

Expand your curriculum – and your horizons

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Wanna Go to Sicily? The Italian Island Will Help Pay for Your Vacation

By Pauline Frommer

05/28/2021, 9:00 AM

In April 2020,  I told you about  a plan Sicily hatched to restart its tourism industry. The government announced it had set aside millions of euros to pay 50% of visitors' airfares and give travelers who booked two nights of hotel accommodations a third night for free. A different bill promised free entry to museums and historic sites around the island when tourism returned.

Problem was, there was nowhere for prospective travelers to apply for all the freebies and discounts.

That has finally changed. So has the offer—but it's still a tempting one. 

Under the current plan, dubbed See Sicily, visitors will need to work with a local travel agent or tour operator to book airfare as well as hotel stays. Approved agencies are listed by city on the island's official tourism website .

It's now unclear what percentage off you'll get on airline tickets. The website states that the See Sicily voucher, valid with 2-night stays, comes with an unspecified "discount on your flight ticket."

But any airfare subsidy is better than none, and visitors will still receive one free hotel night for every two booked, along with a free "tourist, alpine or underwater guided tour," free entry to all of Sicily's "places of culture" (i.e., museums and attractions), and an additional "excursion or a diving tour." 

Would-be visitors have until September 30 to apply for the program. I'd be worried, though, that vouchers could sell out, so you might want to pounce on this opportunity ASAP. Visit Sicily's tourism website for more details. 

Even if you don't book a trip, you can enjoy the exalted, not-quite-grammatical English translation of the site's See Sicily pitch, which asks, over a photo of an aquamarine ocean lapping a golden beach, "Is this the sea lying in your heart?"

The only conceivable answer is sì !

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See Sicily Voucher

A program which aims to support the tourist sector in sicily during the post-emergency phase of covid-19.

There are so many reasons to love Sicily: the sea, all the natural beauties, the artistic and cultural heritage, but also the flavors and the people.

THIS PROGRAM IS NO MORE VALID SINCE SEPTEMBER 2023

Sicily’s regional government is offering to subsidise holidays on the island for both domestic and international visitors in an effort to kickstart tourism after the coronavirus pandemic..

News of the scheme came days before a statement from the Italian government that it expects borders to be open to tourists this summer.

A financial pot of €75m of regional government money has been set aside to boost tourism following huge financial losses after the lockdown came into effect across Italy on 10 March.

Current plans include subsidising visitors’ accommodation costs, offering one night of a three-night trip for free, or two nights of a six-day trip, as well as vouchers for cultural and heritage activities.

The plans were detailed in an interview with Sicily’s tourism director, Manlio Messina.

This is why Sicily is a unique and generous land. it is even more so today, thanks to  See Sicily  and its vouchers.

• 1 overnight stay every 3 nights (up to a maximum of 2 nights as a gift)
• One tourist service to choose between: excursions, guided tours or diving
• Entrance ticket to cultural places (starting from July)

SEE Sicily Voucher – ASK US for more information

Sicily with us.

Multidays Sicily

Your Sicily Multidays Experience:  3 days ,  4 days ,  5 days ,  6 days ,  7 days ,  8 days ,  9 days ,  10 days ,  11 days , 12 days, 13 days, 14 days. An amazing way to indulge your senses in the real local life!

Food and Wine Tour

Experience a wide range of activities over your 10 day journey from the Western edge to the East. Spend your vacation in the company of our expert guides and drivers to discover Sicily like a local.

We are passionate and knowleadgeable, always eager to pique your intellecttual curiosities, but also personable and equally eager to share the warmth and hospitality of Sicily and Sicilians

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