Sicily 10 Days Road Trip: Ultimate Sicily Itinerary

Sicily is one of my favourite places in Italy. It’s the largest Mediterranean island with plenty of things to do. In my opinion the best way to experience Sicily is by having a road trip. The roads are great, the driving is not hectic at all and you really have the freedom to explore popular places and hidden gems. It’s exactly what I’ve done, so I will share with you my tips for doing a Sicily road trip in 10 days (ofc you can adjust to more or fewer days depending on your schedule).

We will do a ring road trip: start from Catania and eastern Sicily, drive to the southeast and southwest and finish off in the western Sicily.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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⭐️ Join my Sicily Travel Tips FB Group to ask questions, get advice and engage with our community.

How to Get to Sicily

For this road trip, the best is to buy a flight ticket to Catania. We actually got the return tickets from there as well because it was cheaper that way, and Catania is about 3h drive from Palermo, so not that bad.

Alternatively, you can also check the prices for Palermo Airport and then just follow this itinerary the other way around (i.e last day here will most likely be your first day etc.).

In my experience, I found better deals to Catania Airport, but always check for yourself and see what makes the most sense.

It’s easy to fly to Sicily from various cities in Europe. If you’re coming from overseas, it is highly likely you will have one stop in Rome (or some other major city in Europe) because there are no direct flights outside Europe for now.

✅ Check the flight prices here.

How to Get around Sicily

To see the best of Sicily, you need a rental car. Things get a little bit more complicated with public transportation, so often that means you may need to book a guided tour.

We generally love road trips and Sicily is very easy for driving. Things may get a little crazy in Palermo and Catania, but overall it was quite smooth for driving.

✅ I highly recommend DiscoverCars for best rates and flexible booking and cancellation policies.

When to Visit Sicily

Generally, Sicily is good to visit all year round, but even though it is at the very south of Italy and super close to North Africa, that doesn’t mean hot summer temperatures all the time!

During the winter months you can expect temperatures to drop below 10 degrees celsius (50 F) which is pretty cold. Also, I read from so many people how a lot of restaurants don’t even work during the winter months nor some hotels/apartments.

Yes, there are fewer crowds then (although Sicily is anyway not that touristy yet), but if you ask me, you want the sun, hustle & bustle of warmer months. Additionally, if you’d like to hike Etna, you may not be able to do it in winter because it’s weather permitting.

However, Sicily during Christmas can be quite a nice and unique experience as there are many religious and traditional festivals happening during December.

April to June and September to October are great to visit because the temperatures are higher (especially in June & September), but it is still not that busy.

However, my absolute favourite months are the summer months of July & August. You can sightsee in the morning or later afternoon to avoid the heat, and in the meantime enjoy the beaches and beautiful turquoise sea with crystal-clear water.

Even though it might be a bit busier than other months, Sicily is still a hidden gem of Italy, so aside from Taormina and popular beaches you won’t find that many tourists at all!

For me, Sicily is the perfect destination for European summer.

📖 Read my Sicily During Christmas: A Complete Travel Guide blog post.

How Many Days in Sicily is Ideal

If you ask me, 10 days in Sicily is an optimal amount to see the best of Sicily without rushing through the island. Even though Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, from the very west to the very east it will take you approximately 3h to drive, so nothing is really that far away.

If you have less days, then focus on either the west or east side of Sicily.

If you have 2 weeks or more, then you can visit other places like Trapani or Marzamemi. You can also visit some of the seven Aeolian Islands off the northern coast of Sicily, also known as Lipari Islands.

As mentioned, in this blog post we will cover a 10 days road trip through Sicily.

Where to Stay in Sicily

On a 10 day road trip around Sicily, you will be based in 3 different parts of the island (east, southeast & west). This is logistically the best strategy because of the places you will visit during this road trip.

📖 For more check out these blog posts:

– 5 Star Hotels in Taormina – Top 11 Luxury Hotels
– 12 Most Instagrammable Hotels in Taormina for Picture-Perfect Stays
– Top 9 Taormina Hotels on the Beach for Every Budget
– 10 Best Hotels in Ragusa, Sicily: From Boutique to Luxury
– 11 Best Hotels in Palermo City Centre Ideal for Sightseeing
– Best Farm Stays in Sicily Perfect for Agritourism

Sicily Road Trip – 10 Days Itinerary with Google Maps

Day 1: Catania

Your first destination on your 10 Days Sicily Road Trip will be Catania in eastern Sicily.

Before visiting Sicily, I heard many stories about how people found it dirty and many of them disliked Palermo. As soon as we parked the car and got out, we were shocked by the piles of garbage in Catania!

We parked the car close to the Fish Market and I can’t describe the smell and dirt! The market has just closed and yes, they were just about to clean it. But honestly, even after it was cleaned, it was still dirty and stinky! My first impression of Sicily, and Catania in particular was not good. Add a bunch of homeless people on top of that and you get some pretty bad vibes…

So, after the initial shock, we went to see the Catania city centre. Our initial impressions were improved, but overall Catania was my least favourite destination in Sicily. It is still okay to visit it for a few hours because anyway you won’t have much time on your first day.

✅ I recommend this Catania City Highlights Walking Tour if you’d love to explore Catania with a local guide.

Piazza del Duomo

The best thing to do in Catania is to visit Piazza del Duomo. There you will find The Elephant Fountain which by the legend can predict when will Etna erupt. Opposite of the fountain is the Cathedral of St. Agata.

Badia of St. Agata Church

My favourite place in Catania was Badia of St. Agata Church (don’t confuse it with the cathedral, same name, but different buildings!). Make sure to climb its dome (€3 pp) for the best views of Catania and Etna!

Via Etnea

Via Etnea is the main street in Catania. What’s cool (and also why it got its name) is that you can see Etna as you’re walking down the street, but it has to be a day with the clear sky, which wasn’t the case when we were there unfortunately (we could only see a little bit of shape in the background as you can see on the photo below).

Piazza Umbrella

My favourite part of Catania was Piazza Umbrella.

It’s a street full of colourful umbrellas.

There are also many bars and restaurants in the piazza, but most of them were not open in the afternoon because of the Italian Siesta!

💡FUN FACT: In Italy siesta is known as riposo. Shops are closed midday for three hours or so, that way Italians get to go home, rest, and be with family. Riposo to Italians means enjoying a home cooked meal and spending time with family.

Pizza & Gelato Places

These are my recommendations for the best pizza and gelato in Catania:

Day 2: Taormina & Savoca

On your second day on this 10 days Sicily road trip, you will visit Taormina & Savoca.

✅ I recommend this best rated walking tour of Taormina with a local guide.

Taormina

Taormina is probably the most touristy and most expensive town in Sicily.

While it was still not expensive to have drinks and food there, the prices are around 20%-30% higher in Taormina compared to all the other places in Sicily. However, it is a very beautiful town, so below are the best things you can do in Taormina in a day.

📖 Check my One Day in Taormina Itinerary: How to Spend 24h in Taormina blog post.

BamBar

BamBar is the most famous breakfast spot in Taormina.

If you’re visiting in summer, I recommend that you come here as early as you can. The most popular food choice is granita and brioche, perfect on a hot summer day.

Corso Umberto

Corso Umberto is the most popular street in Taormina.

Here you can find shops selling souvenirs to luxury bags. The street is really pretty with so many instagrammable photo opportunities. There’s even the tiniest street there, so you can try to see if you can actually fit inside it.

Piazza IX Aprile

As you walk down the Corso Umberto, you will reach the Piazza IX Aprile. It’s a gorgeous square in Taormina with amazing views of the Ionian sea and Etna.

There’s a beautiful church there, called Chiesa di San Giuseppe. It’s rather small, but very beautiful from the inside. It’s free to visit, so definitely check it out.

Piazza del Duomo

Another beautiful piazza (although not as the IX Aprile) is Piazza del Duomo. Unfortunately the cathedral was closed when we were there, but definitely add to your Sicily itinerary.

Teatro Antico di Taormina

The best sight in Taormina is the Greek Theatre, or Teatro Antico di Taormina.

Sicily was a Greek colony and therefore there are many ancient Greek ruins in Sicily.

The theatre was built around the 3rd century BC. It was later expanded and rebuilt under Roman rule in the 2nd century AD.

It could seat 10,000 people and is therefore the 2nd biggest theatre in Sicily, after Syracuse (I’ll show that one too!).

The Greek theatre of Taormina is still in use today. There are many concerts being held there. Actually, when we were there, there was the stage which kinda ruined the vibes and some nice photo opportunities, but I love how the theatre keeps the same function for centuries!

The theatre was also used as a filming location for the popular TV series White Lotus and in Woody Allen’s movie Mighty Aphrodite.

✅ The ticket is €12 pp and it’s better to buy online than waiting in the long line (we have actually bought it online WHILE queuing, which saved us a lot of time!).

📖 Read my 12 Best Things to Do in Taormina, Sicily blog post.

Recommended Restaurant

The restaurant is Il Baccanale, and I highly recommend it. It was also on the more affordable side than some other food places in Taormina.

Savoca

Savoca is a small, beautiful village of about 1700 people. It is 21 km (13 miles) away from Taormina, so the drive there will take around 40 minutes.

There’s a more normal route than what Google Maps suggested to us, so if you end up in some vineyards near Savoca with no concrete road, don’t worry, you’re on the right way!

The village is popular because it was used as a filming location for Godfather 1!

📖 Check my Savoca, Sicily: A Godfather Filming Locations Guide blog post for more.

✅ If you’d rather visit Godfather locations on an organised tour, this is the best rated one.

Bar Vitelli

First stop on your Godfather self-guided tour must be Bar Vitelli. You can eat there, but we opted for coffee and ice tea only.

We were sitting in the outside area where’s also a famous table where Michael Corleone had his coffee in the movie.

The inside is really beautiful too, with many photos from the movie set!

Godfather Wedding Walk

Towards the Chiesa di San Nicolò, you will walk the Godfather wedding walk, a filming location of the scene when Michael and Apollonia get married.

Chiesa di San Nicolò

Finally, you’ll reach Chiesa di San Nicolò where the wedding took place.

You have to pay a small fee to enter, but it is totally worth it.

The best part? They are playing the Godfather 1 movie in the small corner where you can also see the clothes from the set!

Mamma Mia Beach

After a lot of sightseeing on your first day, it is time to refresh in the beautiful Ionian sea.

As I’ve never been to a black sand volcanic beach before, and I wanted to skip the crowds, we went to the Mamma Mia Beach.

It’s a truly beautiful beach with black rocks and sand (actually more grey than black) and a beautiful crystal clear sea.

Alternatively, you can also visit the most famous beach in Taormina – Isola Bella.

Day 3: Mount Etna

Mount Etna is surely the best and most unique experience you can have in Sicily.

I highly recommend hiking to Etna’s summit if you possibly can! It is such a great feeling to be at the top of the highest and most active volcano in Europe!

✅ I booked this tour and I cannot recommend it more! You can read more about it in my Mount Etna Summit Tour Review – Best Experience in Sicily blog post.

You will get all the safety instructions and equipment to make your hike to the summit safe and unforgettable. It is a bit pricey, but totally worth it! The difficulty is moderate to difficult. In our group there were people in their 60s and families with children (5+ years I’d say), so if you and/or your partner/family are in a good condition and used to hiking, then go for it!

While I packed almost everything correctly, I made a mistake of not having my own hiking boots, so I had to rent them for an additional €6 pp. Not the end of the world, but it’s better to have/buy yours.

📖 Check my Mount Etna Packing List: What to Wear & Bring to Mount Etna blog post for more.

Visiting Mount Etna will take up most of your day, so I would either relax by the pool (what we did) or at the beach for the rest of the day.

Recommended Restaurants:

The great thing about renting a car and doing a road trip is that you can visit places where locals go.

My recommendations for restaurants in the area that are visited by locals mostly are Ristorante Trattoria Vico Proiette and IL TINO di Claudio De Maria.

Day 4: San Lorenzo Beach

It’s time to move southeast on this Sicily 10 days road trip.

Because the day before we hiked Etna, we wanted to have a more relaxed day before we continued sightseeing. So, we drove from Taormina to San Lorenzo Beach, which is considered among the most beautiful beaches in Sicily, and it so is!

San Lorenzo is on the southern coast of Sicily on the Ionian Sea.

The water is turquoise and crystal clear with beige sand. It is shallow for metres, which makes it perfect for families with little kids too. This beach is one of the most popular in Sicily, so expect crowds, but it is definitely worth going there.

It will take you around 1:30h – 2h car drive to reach San Lorenzo from Taormina.

One thing I wish I knew before is that during the peak season all the sunbeds in beach clubs get rented in advance! We came thinking how we will rent something on the spot (like we always do!), but all the sunbeds were already rented.

And since most of the beach is owned by the clubs, there’s a very limited space to place your beach towel.

✅ The best beach club is Agua Beach. You can book your spot here.

If the sunbeds are all rented on your chosen day, or you don’t want to book a beach club, then definitely bring your own sun umbrella because there’s almost no shade at all at the beach!

📖 Read my 8 Best Beaches in Sicily You Have to Visit blog post.

Day 5: Syracuse

Syracuse was one of the most important cities in Ancient Greece that were outside of Greece. In the 5th century BC Syracuse equaled Athens in size and importance.

💡FUN FACT: Ancient Greek mathematician and engineer, Archimedes, was born and lived there. He came up with the Principle that says that the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

Syracuse is enlisted as the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its cultural and historical importance. Today Syracuse has approximately 125,000 people and is easily visited for a day. While not my favourite city in Sicily, surely it is one well worth visiting.

✅ Consider joining this best rated Syracuse Ortigia (Old Town) Walking Tour.

Neapolis Archaeological Park

Syracuse is divided into 2 parts: New Town and Ortigia, which is the old town.

Neapolis Archaeological Park is in New Town and that’s the only important sight there. Also one you absolutely don’t want to miss! I suggest starting your day there because you will spend around 2h exploring everything this park has to offer.

✅ You can buy tickets on the spot, or consider joining this small group tour.

Below are the important sights to see if you’re doing a self-guided tour.

Altar of Hieron

The altar was built to commemorate the fall of Trasibulus in 466 B.C. It was dedicated, most probably, to Zeus Eleutherios (The Liberator), as commanded by the then tyrant Hieron II.

It was one of the largest known monuments in Ancient Greece. It is nearly 200 metres long (an olympic stadium according to the measurements of the time), 22m wide and roughly 15m tall, but unfortunately only the base structure can be seen today.

The Latomie of Syracuse 

This is the limestone quarries which were at some point used for prisons. Today it’s a nice tropical garden full of local and exotic plant species. The main attractions are the grottos Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio di Dionisio) and Grotta dei Cordari (now closed for security reasons).

Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio di Dionisio)

The Ear of Dionysius is 23 metres high and extends 65 metres back into the cliff. Apparently the acoustic is great there, so try it! I completely forgot about it when I was there, so let me know if you try and how it was!

The name was given it by Caravaggio in 1608 during his visit. Legend has it that Dionysus used the cave as a prison, so that he could listen from above to what the prisoners were saying, even when speaking quietly.

Grotta del Ninfeo

The fountain is dedicated to the Ancient Greek cult of the nymphs, nature goddesses. The water that reaches the interior of the cave came from two aqueducts built in Greek times: the Nymphaeum Aqueduct and the Galermi Aqueduct.

Greek Theatre

The ancient Greek Theatre in Syracuse was built between the 5th and 3rd century B.C. It is the largest Greek theatre in Sicily that could probably hold 12,000-14,000 spectators. 

However, I didn’t like that they rebuilt the seating area with modern material, it just doesn’t seem authentic at all! I would have much preferred if it stayed as a ruin.

Roman Amphitheatre

You can visit this theatre first because it is next to the entrance. We chose the route as I just showed you, so our final step was the Roman Amphitheatre because to visit the monuments in chronological order it is recommended to start the tour at the Latomie, the stone quarries and then to end at the Roman Amphitheater. Altar of Hieron is on the way to both routes anyway, so that’s why this is what you would see first no matter which route you choose.

I loved the Roman Amphitheatre more than the Greek Theatre because it’s authentic!

Statue of Archimedes

As mentioned, Archimedes was from Sicily, therefore you will see his statue there. The statue is on the Santa Lucia Bridge which connects the new town with Ortigia. As you’re coming from the Neapolis Archaeological Park, you will cross this bridge for sure.

Temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo is the most ancient Doric Temple in stone peristasis of Western Greece, dated to the beginning of the 6th century BC. The temple has undergone several transformations over the centuries: Byzantine Church, Arab Mosque and Norman Basilica. It was demolished in 1864. The complex work of restoration began in 1858 and ended in 1942.

Close to the temple is Graziella, Arab Quarter.

Fountain of Diana

The Fountain of Diana is located in Piazza Archimede. The fountain depicts Diana with a bow and dog, the attributes of the goddess of hunting.

Piazza Duomo

Piazza Duomo is the main square in Syracuse where you’ll find the Syracuse Cathedral, Santa Lucia Church and City Hall.

I really loved the cathedral because the original Greek doric temple that was once there was incorporated into the walls of the cathedral. As soon as you enter, you will notice it.

I love this concept because this way the Greek temple was preserved and is also a reason why the cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jewish Quarter (Via Giudecca)

All 3 Abrahamic religions and communities flourished in Syracuse at some point, and therefore alongside the Arab Quarter, you will also find the Jewish one. It is so cute, especially with the hanging hats.

Marina

Syracuse’s Marina is a nice spot to catch the sunset and for the people watching. You can also swim there, but I didn’t find the sea there particularly clear and inviting. It is also very rocky. However, it is a perfect place to end your day.

Recommended Restaurants

In terms of food, I highly recommend arancini at Sale & Olio Forneria Siciliana.

Great pasta restaurant in the new town is Osteria Terra Mia.

Day 6: Ragusa, Noto & Modica

On your Day 6 of this 10 days Sicily road trip, you will explore the cutest towns in Sicily. Ragusa, Noto and Modica are three of the eight towns in the Val di Noto region. All these towns were almost completely destroyed in the 1693 earthquake, but like a Phoenix they rose again and were rebuilt in the Baroque architecture style.

Although it seems like a lot, all these towns are quite small and not far away from each other, so you can easily visit them all in a day if you have a car. But, if you have more days in Sicily, then you can split the sightseeing in 2 days.

✅ Alternatively, you can join this guided tour.

Ragusa

Ragusa is a hidden gem of Sicily! I couldn’t believe it was that peaceful and without crowds even in the middle of the summer.

Ragusa is separated between Ragusa Ibla (The Old Town) and Ragusa Superiore (The Modern Town). These two parts of the cities were separated until 1926 when they were unified as a provincial capital. 

✅ Consider joining this best rated Ragusa Walking Tour.

Cathedral San Giovanni Battista

Cathedral San Giovanni Battista is in Ragusa Superiore and that is the only notable attraction in that part of Ragusa. However, not only is the cathedral worth seeing, it is also highly recommended to start your sightseeing from there for two reasons.

Firstly, it is easier to park a car there and Google Maps will most likely lead you there anyway. Ragusa Ibla is down the hill, the streets are full of stairs and therefore it is not easy to find a parking spot there.

Secondly, as you go down the 340 steps from Ragusa Superiore to Ragusa Ibla, you will have breathtaking views. Trust me when I say that you will stop every few seconds to take nice photos.

Santa Maria delle Scale

Santa Maria  delle Scale is a small cute church from where you’ll get the best views of Ragusa Ibla.

📖 Check my Top 9 Things to Do in Ragusa, Sicily’s Most Beautiful Town blog post.

Santa Maria Dell’Itria

Oh, yes, Ragusa is full of churches (as is most of Sicily and Italy), so you can expect one every few metres. This one was really pretty.

Chiesa delle Santissime Anime del Purgatorio

Unfortunately this church was closed when we got to it, but we still admired its baroque architecture.

Duomo di San Giorgio

Yes, there are 2 cathedrals in Ragusa. Remember how I told you that these were 2 separate towns in the past? Well, that’s why because Duomo di San Giorgio is a cathedral of Ragusa Ibla.

Unfortunately due to siesta this cathedral was also closed, so we couldn’t compare the interior, but I liked the Cathedral San Giovanni Battista a tiny bit more from the outside.

Recommended Restaurant

I recommend La Piazzetta Ristorante for lunch. It is close to Duomo and exactly next to the Fontana di Piazza Duomo.

Noto

Noto is super small & super cute. It was a little bit more crowded than Ragusa (still not busy though!), but very nice to explore. If you’re doing all 3 towns in a day like me, 2h in Noto will cover everything, including a coffee break.

✅ Consider joining this best rated Noto Walking Tour.

Via Fratelli Bandiera

On Via Fratelli Bandiera you will find the famous stairs of Noto. They are literally next to the car park as soon as you get to Noto.

The stairs are very instagrammable and from what I’ve seen online, they’re constantly changing paintings, so who knows what it would look like when you’re there!? Let me know!

Church of Santa Chiara

The Church of Santa Chiara is the first church you will see in Noto. While it was not my favourite, it was still a very beautiful site.

Church of San Carlo

The Church of San Carlo was the most beautiful church on the inside and looked really interesting from the outside too!

You can also climb its tower to enjoy the great views of Noto which I didn’t have time for (nor I wanted it after all those stairs in Ragusa lol).

Cathedral of San Nicolo

The main attraction in Noto is Cathedral of San Nicolo which was destroyed a few times after the earthquakes and was finally reopened again in 2007.

The interior is not really as impressive as the exterior which is of pale yellow limestone, however, it is still nice to visit, especially because it’s free (as all the other churches that I mentioned!).

Palazzo Ducezio

Opposite the cathedral you will find Palazzo Ducezio which is now used as a town hall. 

Caffe Sicilia

Don’t miss Caffe Sicilia, a 124 year old cafe whose fourth generation serves almond-milk granita, cappuccino and cannoli. A must stop in Noto if you ask me!

Modica

Modica is another beautiful baroque town in Val di Noto region.

💡FUN FACT: Did you know that Modica is mainly famous for its Aztec chocolate? 

Between 1500 and 1700 Sicily was ruled by the Spanish Kingdom. Spaniards conquered what is today’s Mexico. And so it is how the chocolate was introduced to Sicilians.

✅ You can even learn how to make Modica chocolate by joining this cooking class.

Duomo di San Giorgio

Similar to Ragusa, you will also start exploring Modica from the upper town and go down to the main square (there are not that many steps like in Ragusa though!).

From Duomo di San Giorgio you will have the best views of Modica. And if you’re lucky like us, you may even stumble upon an Italian wedding!

Duomo di San Pietro

Same as Ragusa, Modica also has two cathedrals.

Duomo di San Pietro is the 2nd cathedral you can visit. Both of them are free, so definitely check the interiors because they’re gorgeous.

And would you believe it if I told you that there was a wedding in this cathedral too!?

Recommended Restaurants

Next to the cathedral is a good restaurant, Tipiko Modica where you can have dinner.

As this will be your final night in southeast Sicily and because you have a car, I highly recommend these 2 restaurants in the area that we went to over the course of the last 3 evenings.

I especially loved the first one, the outside garden is so pretty and romantic. The food was absolutely amazing too!

Il Tegamino

U Consorziu – Pizzeria Trattoria

Day 7: Agrigento

Next stop on this 10 days road trip through Sicily is Agrigento.

I recommend arriving in Agrigento no later than 11 am because your first stop will be Valley of The Temples.

It’s a large complex of 7 Ancient Greek temples, so you should expect to be there 2-3 hours. There is little to no shade, so if you’re visiting in the middle of summer, it’s really important to be there as early as you can.

✅ Alternatively, you can join this Valley of the Temples Sunset Tour.

💡There are 2 entrances, east and west, both with the parking lot, although the east one’s is bigger. We started from the eastern entrance, so temples will be listed in order we saw them. Whichever you choose, you will still have to go back the same route.

You can buy the tickets on the spot, but if you’d like to skip the line, you can also do it online.

Temple of Dioscuri

The ancient city of Akragas was founded in the 6th century B.C., and it was one of the leading cities during the golden age of Ancient Greece.

Four columns mark the Tempio dei Dioscuri, also known as the Temple of Castor and Pollux.

It was built towards the end of the 5th century B.C. and destroyed by the Carthaginians, later restored in Hellenistic style, and then destroyed again by an earthquake.

Finally, the temple was rebuilt in 1832 by materials from other temples.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus was the largest Doric temple ever constructed, and it was never really finished.

Today it is mainly in ruins. In between the columns were colossal atlases, stone figures standing some 7.5 m (24 ft) high.

One of the atlases was rebuilt and therefore you can see it today.

Temple of Heracles

The Temple of Heracles dates back to the final years of the 6th century B.C.

It was one of my favourite temples here.

Temple of Concordia

The Temple of Concordia is one of the best preserved Doric temples and 2nd best preserved Greek temple after Parthenon in Athens.

I loved it A LOT and it was by all means my favourite temple here. While you can’t walk inside the temple due to safety reasons, you can still see a little bit of it from the outside, which is pretty cool because the exact type of temple was incorporated into the Syracuse Cathedral.

The reason it’s in good shape today is because it was transformed into the St. Peter and Paul Basilica in the 6th century AD.

In the 18th century all the Christian elements were removed, so today you can see it in its original glory. We for sure don’t lack Christian churches, so I am happy they did this with the Temple, nothing beats seeing the ancient sight intact and well-preserved.

Statue of Fallen Icarus

The Statue of Fallen Icarus is from the 2011 exhibition that took place in the Valley of The Temples.

It depicts the Fallen Icarus who flew so close to the sun that his wings melted. It’s a pretty cool statue and probably the busiest attraction in the Valley of the Temples alongside the Temple of Concordia.

Temple of Hera

Also known as the Temple of Juno during Roman times. It was built about the year 450 B.C. and in period and in style belongs to the Archaic Doric period.

The last two remaining temples, Temple of Asclepius and Temple of Hephaestus, are sadly in ruins.

Recommended Restaurant

Great restaurant close to the Valley of the Temples is La Promenade dei Templi. Pasta was so good!

They even have a terrace with the Valley of the Temples views, but it was so hot, so we stayed in the garden that had shade.

San Leone Beach

It’s time to refresh by the beach!

Agrigento is on the Mediterranean Sea, so the sand is mainly golden and the water is not as clear as on the Ionian or Tyrrhenian Sea, but it is still amazing to swim!

Here you don’t need to book sunbeds or umbrellas in advance, you can easily do it on the spot. It was pretty cheap, around €10 for 2 sunbeds and 1 umbrella.

You can also go to the more famous beach Scala dei Turchi, but it’s a bit more complicated to get there because it’s under the cliffs, so you need to take many stairs down.

There are no sunbeds to rent, so you need to have your towels and umbrella too.

📖 You can read more in my 8 Best Beaches in Sicily You Have to Visit blog post.

Day 8: Monreale & San Vito Lo Capo

Day 8 on this 10 days Sicily road trip is the beach day!

But I also recommend checking Monreale Cathedral early in the morning before you hit the road.

Monreale Cathedral

Monreale Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must attraction in Sicily.

It was built in the 12th century by William II of Sicily in the Norman style.

The entrance to the Cathedral is free, but if you want to explore the cloister too, then you need to buy the ticket.

The Byzantine mosaics are so beautiful here, it is so worth going inside!

San Vito Lo Capo

San Vito Lo Capo was proclaimed Sicily’s most beautiful beach. It is in the North-Western Sicily on the Tyrrhenian Sea in the province of Trapani.

Honestly, it feels like you’re in the Maldives or Thailand. The sand is light-coloured and feels like flour. The sea is beautiful turquoise and crystal clear. The beach is next to the high rocks which reminds of Thailand.

Because it is not that close to any major city in Sicily, it is not overcrowded with tourists yet. Mostly locals go there and while it will be busy, you will still be able to find sunbeds and umbrellas on the spot (which are not expensive at all)!

San Vito Lo Capo was my favourite beach in Sicily and I will definitely be back.

It is 1h and 30 min drive from Palermo which makes it a nice and easy day trip.

If you want to visit a beach closer to Palermo, you can go to Mondello Beach, but expect more crowds there because it’s 30 min from Palermo.

✅ Alternatively, you can do a boat day trip from Palermo, which is a great summer activity.

📖 Read my 8 Best Beaches in Sicily You Have to Visit blog post.

Recommended Restaurants

San Vito Lo Capo is famous for its couscous. Therefore, I highly recommend trying something with it. I had fish and it was delicious.

Le Terrazze Bistrot-Ristorante is next to the beach, so it’s convenient.

And these are great restaurants in Monreale:

Pizzeria Guglielmo di Milazzo Girolamo C. Sas

Osteria Peper’s

Day 9: Palermo

Personally, I really liked Palermo! Yes, it’s a little bit more chaotic than all the other towns, but here you can truly feel this mix of Europe and North Africa.

Palermo was strategically so important and was once led by Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Arabs, Spaniards and finally united with the rest of Italy in 1861 by Giuseppe Garibaldi. 

It’s crazy to think that it was once the most dangerous city in Sicily!

What was once a leading town of Cosa Nostra, or simply, Mafia, Palermo is today a must stop for anyone who’s travelling around Sicily. 

💡Parking tip: it is not allowed to enter Palermo city centre with a car unless you paid for it! Rest assured, there are parking lots just before that zone, so make sure to leave your car there to avoid paying some big parking fee!

✅ This is the best rated walking tour of Palermo in case you’d love to learn more from a local guide.

📖 Read my 12 Best Things to do in Palermo, Sicily: From History to Food blog post.

Norman Palace

The Norman Palace was built in 1072 after Normans conquered Sicily. It is built in the Byzantine-Norman-Arab style!

The palace is the oldest royal residence in Europe and was the private residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Sicily and the imperial seat of Frederick II and Conrad IV.

Palatine Chapel

While the palace is interesting to explore, my main reason for visiting the palace was to see the Palatine Chapel. Honestly, the mosaics there are just out of this world beautiful!

And you really get to notice all 3 styles that influenced the chapel based on who ruled Sicily at a time!

The Palatine Chapel is not only designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but is also listed among the most beautiful churches in the world.

After seeing so many churches worldwide, I can confirm that this church is one of my favourites. A must visit!

✅ I recommend this Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel Tour.

Palermo Cathedral

Same as the palace, Palermo Cathedral was also initially built by the Byzantines, then conquered by Arabs in the 9th century who turned it into a mosque. After Normans took it back in 1184, they re-converted it into a church again and built on top of the initial church.

While it looks nice and interesting from the outside, I was quite disappointed with the interior.

Apparently the Palermo Cathedral was built to surpass the beauty of Monreale Cathedral. While the exterior is surely more beautiful, it does not have mosaics like the Monreale one. Which is why I preferred Monreale Cathedral over Palermo Cathedral.

However, it is free to visit (unless you want to check the tombs and rooftop), so I recommend checking it out regardless. Culturally the cathedral is surely an interesting and important site.

Quattro Canti Square

Quattro Canti is a Baroque Square in Palermo and the heart of the city. The site is the intersection of two major streets in Palermo, the Via Maqueda and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

On each corner there’s a 4-storey building, totalling 4 buildings. Each floor represents something: district, season represented by the fountain, king of Spain and patron saint.

Because of the way it’s structured, the sun will always be on one of the buildings during the day, so cool!

Fontana Pretoria

Fontana Pretoria is a beautiful 16th century baroque fountain, initially built for Florence, but then sold and transferred to Palermo.

For some reason the fountain was closed by gates during our time in Palermo, but we could still admire it.

Santa Caterina Church

Santa Caterina Church is one of the most beautiful churches not only in Palermo, but in the whole of Sicily.

Church of the Gesu

Perhaps 5 min walk from Santa Caterina Church is the Church of the Gesu.

This one was even more beautiful, especially the ceiling was so interesting and allegorical!

In both churches we just sat for 15-20 min to admire this great art.

Ballaro Street Market

The most famous market in Palermo where you can buy clothes, souvenirs, fresh food and eat at some of the street food shops. We just took a stroll, but it’s a fun place to see.

✅ I recommend joining this highest rated Street Food Tour of Palermo.

Day 10: Cefalu

And we’ve come to your last day on this 10 days road trip around Sicily.

You will finish your journey in Cefalu.

✅ I recommend this guided tour to learn about Cefalu’s history & legends from the local.

Cefalu Cathedral

The main highlight of Cefalu is the 12th-century Norman cathedral, famous for its mosaics and the iconic image of Christ Pantocrator.

 Lavatoio Medievale

Lavatoio Medievale is an old wash house in the centre of Cefalu.

It’s hidden in the narrow streets of the old town and fed by a natural spring. Locals used it for centuries as a communal place to wash clothes.

It’s a quick stop, but worth seeing while you explore the old town.

Spiaggia del Porto Vecchio

Spiaggia del Porto Vecchio is a small beach by the old port and one of the most Instagrammable spots in Cefalu.

La Rocca

La Rocca is the massive rock that towers over Cefalu.

It’s a steep climb to the top, especially in summer, but the views are more than worth it. From up there, you get a full panorama of the town and Sicily’s north coast.

If you’re up for a bit of a hike, this is the best view in Cefalu.

Recommended Restaurant

For your lunch break or even better Aperitivo time I highly recommend Enoteca Le Petit Tonneau. They do offer a tasty snack platter and great local wines. Make sure to reserve in advance in order to get one of the only 3 tables on the balcony, overlooking the beach and the sea.

Is Sicily worth Visiting

I expected a lot from Sicily and it exceeded my expectations!

I just couldn’t believe that it could have been that empty at some places even in the middle of August. Then add to it great food, beautiful beaches, stunning towns, so yes, Sicily is very much worth visiting.

And I am quite sure it wouldn’t be without crowds for long. Go while it’s still not that popular!

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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