Highlights of Sicily

3 Nights – Catania
3 Nights – Taormina
5 Nights – Cefalu
3 Nights – Palermo

✈️ UK – Catania (3 nights): Flying into Catania makes the perfect intro to your Sicily adventure. The historic centre is UNESCO-listed for good reason. After being rebuilt in the 1700s, it’s packed with stunning Baroque buildings, many of which are made from the local black lava stone. A great place to start your exploration is the magnificent Piazza del Duomo, with its iconic Elephant Fountain, the impressive Catania Cathedral, and the colourful and chaotic La Pescheria fish market, where locals haggle over just-caught seafood. From the piazza, you can stroll along Via Etnea, the city’s main street, lined with shops, cafés, and gelaterias. There’s more to explore, too. Castello Ursino, a 13th-century fortress, is now home to the city’s museum, with a mix of archaeological finds and art. And if you need a breather, Villa Bellini is the city’s largest park, featuring numerous green spaces and sweeping city views. When the sun goes down, the area around Via Etnea fills with students heading to lively bars and restaurants. On your final day in Catania, you’ll collect your hire car to continue your journey by road.

🚆or 🚗 Catania – Taormina (3 nights): Today marks the beginning of your Sicily road or rail trip. From Catania, you’ll take the scenic route north to the exclusive coastal resort of Taormina (approx. 50 mins by both car and train), perched on top of a cliff between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. This glamorous town has long been a favourite with the rich and famous, and it’s easy to see why with its designer boutiques along the Corso Umberto, fascinating history, fine dining, and spectacular views. For history buffs, the highlight is the ancient Greek-Roman theatre (Teatro Antico), originally built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC and later expanded by the Romans. It’s still used for concerts and festivals today, and from the upper tiers, you’re treated to one of Sicily’s most iconic views of Mount Etna in the distance and the glittering Ionian Sea below.

As Taormina sits on top of a cliff, most beaches are accessed via stairs or the funicular. Take the cable car down to Mazzarò Beach, with its crystal-clear waters and exclusive beach clubs. Just offshore, Isola Bella is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand at low tide, and it’s perfect for a stroll or some snorkelling. In the evening, enjoy a wander along the waterfront, sip an aperitivo at a seaside café and soak up the relaxed Sicilian atmosphere.

🚆or 🚗 Taormina – Cefalù (5 nights): Hopping back in the car or jumping on your next train, you’ll head through Sicily’s mountainous landscapes, rolling hills and ancient villages to reach the medieval coastal town of Cefalù (approx. 2¾ hours by car, or 3½ by rail). Its long sandy beach stretches from the town’s historic centre to the harbour, and along the seafront you’ll find a range of beach resorts and hotels. Everything is within easy walking distance, so you can alternate between sunbathing, swimming, and lazing with a book and exploring the town’s medieval streets, Norman Cathedral, and pretty piazzas. The seafront is also lined with cafés, gelaterias, and restaurants, so you can easily combine some beach time with a leisurely lunch by the water.

The vast Norman cathedral dominates the skyline with its twin towers, built in the 12th century. It contains some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in Italy, along with the impressive Christ Pantocrator figure in the central apse.

For a spot of adventure, climb up La Rocca, the 270-metre rocky cliff behind the town. This steep half-hour walk will take you to the ruins of a pre-Greek settlement and medieval castle, with stunning panoramic views of the town and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

🚗 or🚆 Cefalù – Palermo (3 nights): Your Sicilian finale will see you travel west, with Palermo providing the perfect end to your adventure (approx. 45 mins by both car and train). The capital of Sicily will not disappoint, with its Arab, Norman, and Spanish architectural influences, including the breathtaking Palatine Chapel with its golden mosaics, the impressive Cathedral housing royal tombs, and San Giovanni degli Eremiti with its distinctive red domes. Just a short walk from the Cathedral is Quattro Canti, the iconic Baroque square where Palermo’s streets intersect in an octagonal shape, surrounded by elegant buildings and fountains. The magnificent Teatro Massimo, one of Europe’s largest opera houses, is another highlight, along with the Palazzo dei Normanni, seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly.

Palermo is a haven for food lovers, and there’s no better place to taste the local street food than the city’s bustling and colourful markets such as Ballarò and Vucciria. Beyond the street stalls, Palermo also offers plenty of more elegant dining experiences, from fine dining restaurants to family-run trattorias. You’ll find the best options near Piazza Pretoria, the marina next to Foro Italico, and tucked into Kalsa’s charming streets.

✈️ Palermo – UK: Your private transfer takes you to the airport for your flight back to the UK, marking the end of your Sicilian adventure.