Top things to do on your trip to Sicily
Sicily is the spitting image of an Italian holiday in the sun on dreamy beaches, with delicious food and unforgettable sunsets amidst monuments with centuries of history. It's the largest island in the Mediterranean, so touring it for just a holiday can be a little tricky, but don't worry, because in this article we've made it easy for you and put together a selection of the best places in Sicily that you can't miss.
Choosing the best things to do in Sicily is no easy task: beautiful cities with incredible historical value behind them, heavenly beaches, some of the few active volcanoes in Europe, Italian cuisine at its best. Where to start? Here are the places in Sicily that you can't miss on your holiday in southern Italy.
Sicily's must-see cities
First thigs first. To get to know a place well, it is necessary to go to its origins, and without a doubt this can be found in the cities. Whatever time you spend in Sicily, there are 2 cities you must visit: Palermo and Catania.
Palermo is the capital of Sicily and also the largest city on the island. The city's artistic and architectural heritage is a mixture of Greek, Phoenician and Arabic influences and there is no better example of this than Palermo Cathedral, one of the city's must-sees. The best way to get to know Palermo is to stroll through its picturesque, romantic and decadent streets and along the way visit the Martorana (Co-cathedral of Santa Maria dell'Almirante) and taste its typical Martonaranas fruits, a sweet made of almonds and sugar; the Norman Palace or "i quattro canti", where the streets Maqueda and Cassaro (Piazza Vilena), the most beautiful streets in Palermo, cross.
On the opposite side of the island, to the east, emerges Catania, a charming city with a baroque air and a rich historical and artistic heritage nestled between the Etna volcano and the Ionian Sea. During your stay in Catania, don't miss the impressive Piazza del Duomo, Catania's main square protected by UNESCO, decorated with baroque buildings including the Cathedral of St. Agatha and the Elephant Fountain in the centre and Via Etnea, the city's main avenue, with a view of Mount Etna.
Swimming at dream beaches
After so much cultural sightseeing, nothing better than a refreshing and relaxing swim in one of the best beaches in Sicily. Where to start?
If you're in northern Sicily, the beaches of Cefalù, just an hour from Palermo, are a must-see. This town, recognised as one of the most beautiful in Italy, has beaches with incredible crystal clear waters perfect for family holidays, but also with gastronomic and festive offerings for those looking for nightlife. Continuing north, but this time west of Palermo, are two other unique beaches: San Vito Lo Capo and Mondello, two very famous beaches that despite their proximity to Palermo, will enchant you with their fine white sand and a sea of emerald and turquoise tones.
If, on the other hand, you are in the south, 15 kilometres from Syracuse, you cannot miss the beach of Fontane Bianche, 3 kilometres of white sandy beach that stands out for its impressive wild cliffs.
Finally, if you are in the eastern part of the island, in the region of Messina, you cannot miss the famous Isola Bella, a small and beautiful island at the foot of the beautiful city of Taormina linked by a stretch of sandy beach whose access depends on the tides. The beach of Isola Bella is small and pebbly, with crystal clear and shallow waters. And if you still have time to visit more beaches, we suggest you take a look at this article on the best beaches in Sicily.
Getting to know the islands of Sicily
Sicily is so big and there are so many beaches and towns to visit that many people forget that Sicily is made up of 19 islands. If you have the time, visiting the islands of Sicily is a highly recommended experience, especially as they are home to some of the best beaches.
The most famous islands are undoubtedly the Aeolian Islands, also known as the Lipari Islands, an archipelago of 7 islands north of Sicily of volcanic origin and with two volcanoes that are always active: Stromboli and Vulcano.
But if we head south, between Malta and Tunisia, we find the Pelagian archipelago. Its islands include Lampedusa, Italy's southernmost island with paradisiacal beaches, and the island of the Rabbits, belonging to Lampedusa, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and a nature reserve since 1995.
Discover the volcanoes of Sicily
If there is one thing Sicily is known for, it is for being a volcanic island with some of the most active volcanoes in Europe. Although Sicily has some 26 volcanoes, the only 3 that remain fully active are Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano, the first one being the one that gets most of the fame, as it is the most active volcano in Europe. Moreover, Etna is the only one of the 3 volcanoes to be found on the island of Sicily, standing imposingly at 3,322 metres high between Messina and Catania in one of Italy's most important regional parks, the Parco dell'Etna, from where it is possible to take guided tours of Etna.
However, if you have more time or want to visit some of the northern islands of Sicily, you should not miss the opportunity to visit the other volcanoes, which have nothing to envy Etna. Among them is the Stromboli volcano which, although less known, is just as impressive as Etna, rising 2000 metres above sea level and its nocturnal explosions are simply amazing. In the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands is another of Sicily's must-see volcanoes: the Vulcano volcano, located on the island of the same name. Although smaller in size than the others, its multitude of craters constantly producing columns of smoke and gas are a spectacle worth seeing.
Tasting of the best Sicilian gastronomy
Last but not least: what do we eat in Sicily? If there is one thing Italy is known for and worth visiting, it is its wonderful gastronomy. In the south of the country, there is one name that resonates above all other dishes in Sicilian gastronomy: cannoli, a rich fried puff pastry dough rolled into a tube shape and filled with ricotta. The pastries are certainly a good reason to visit Sicily, but let's start at the beginning.
To start off with a starter, there's nothing better than an arancino, a breaded and fried stuffed rice ball that can be filled with different ingredients such as ragù, mozzarella and ham, pistachios... And after this tasty starter that can be found in any street food place, it's time to sink your teeth into a good pasta dish. Typical Sicilian pasta dishes include: pasta alla norma, pasta alla trapanese and pasta with pistachio pesto. But don't worry, if pasta isn't your thing, you can always enjoy a delicious dish of caponata, a delicious stew of aubergine, onion, olives and capers. You'll want to try it again!
As you can see, the list of things to do in Sicily is endless, but if you manage to check almost all the ideas of things to do on the island in this article we assure you that you'll be a little closer to getting to know Sicily like a local. And if you have more days on the island or this first contact has piqued your curiosity to continue exploring, don't miss these articles about the best time to visit Sicily, the best beaches in Sicily or the most active volcanoes on the island.