Sicily, Italy

State guide with cities, regions, and key information.

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Introduction
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean and a region of Italy in its own right, is a world unto itself — a crossroads of Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman and Spanish civilisations, crowned by the snow-and-fire of Mount Etna and ringed by some of Italy's finest beaches. For travellers it offers extraordinary depth: ancient Greek temples and theatres, golden baroque towns, the markets and street food of Palermo, an active volcano to climb, island archipelagos to sail to, and a food and wine culture that may be the richest in Italy.

Discover Sicily

Eastern Sicily is dominated by Mount Etna, the largest and most active volcano in Europe — a constantly smoking, occasionally erupting giant whose black lava fields, craters and vineyards can be explored by cable car and 4x4 to the summit zone, on foot across the older craters, or by the narrow-gauge Circumetnea railway that loops around its base through lava-stone towns. The volcano's fertile slopes produce celebrated Etna wines, tasted at cellar doors among the vines. At Etna's foot sits Catania, a lively university city rebuilt in dramatic black-and-white baroque after the volcano's eruptions, with a famous fish market and a buzzing food and nightlife scene. North along the coast, Taormina is Sicily's glamorous balcony — a cliff-top town of medieval lanes and gardens whose ancient Greek theatre, with Etna and the sea as its backdrop, is one of the most beautifully sited ruins in the world, and whose beaches and the islet of Isola Bella lie just below.

Travel Types

Mount Etna

Europe's largest active volcano — summit cable cars, lava fields, the Circumetnea railway and Etna wines.

Ancient Greek Sites

The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento, the Greek theatres of Syracuse and Taormina and the island of Ortigia.

Palermo & Baroque Towns

Palermo's Arab-Norman heritage and street markets and the golden UNESCO baroque of Noto, Ragusa and Modica.

Beaches & Islands

Turquoise coves, the Scala dei Turchi, and boat trips to the Aeolian and Egadi Islands.

Food & Wine

Street food and seafood, pasta alla Norma, cannoli and granita, and Etna and Nero d'Avola wines.

Frequently asked questions

Sicily is big and varied, so a week covers the highlights of one half — for example the east (Etna, Taormina, Syracuse and the Val di Noto baroque towns) or a loop taking in Palermo and the west. Ten days to two weeks lets you circle much of the island at a comfortable pace, adding beaches, the Aeolian Islands or the western coast. A car is strongly recommended, as the best of Sicily lies between the cities.

Yes — Etna is one of Sicily's great experiences. You can drive or take a cable car and 4x4 up to the summit-crater zone (with a guide for the higher reaches, as activity permits), hike the older craters and lava fields lower down, or circle the base on the scenic Circumetnea railway, stopping at lava-stone towns and wineries. Conditions change with the volcano's activity, so check the latest and go with licensed guides for the upper mountain; wear warm layers and sturdy shoes.

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are ideal — warm, sunny weather, the countryside green or harvest-rich, and the sites and beaches far less crowded than in summer. July and August are hot and busy, best for beach and island time. Winter is mild, quiet and atmospheric for the cities and Etna's snow, though some coastal resorts wind down. Almond blossom in February and the autumn grape and food harvests are special times.