Sicily 10 Days Road Trip: Ultimate Sicily Itinerary

Sicily is the perfect destination for the road trip and with 10 days there you can really circle the island and see the best of it! This Sicily itinerary is starting and ending in Catania, a city in Eastern Sicily. With this road trip you will go as far as south as Syracuse and as north as San Vito Lo Capo.

Heads up! Some links in this blog are affiliates. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, I only recommend stuff I’ve tested or trust. Your support keeps this blog going—thanks a bunch!

📲 STAY CONNECTED: Use my Airalo code AIRALOESIM10 for 10% discount for any existing user up to 20,000 times, yes, you read it right!! 🤩 If you’re a new user, then use my Airalo discount code of 15% NEWTOAIRALO15 and afterwards use the 10% discount for any future packages. 🙂 My codes are valid until December 31st 2024.

How to get to Sicily

For this road trip, the best is to buy a return flight to Catania.

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.

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 rented a car in Sicily, and therefore this 10-day itinerary is designed perfectly for doing a Sicily road trip.

I always rent via AutoEurope and therefore highly recommend them.

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! On the contrary…

During the winter months you can expect temperatures to drop below 10 degrees celsius (50 F) which is pretty cold (it’s London cold..). Also, I read from so many people how many 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. And if you’d like to hike Etna, you may not be able to do it in winter because it’s weather permitting. But again, up to you.

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

However, my absolute favourite months (and I might be biassed here because of my personal experience) are the summer months of July & August. Why? Well, just have a look at this photo above and tell me wouldn’t you like to swim in the crystal clear sea with white sandy beaches where you’d feel like you ended up in Thailand or Caribbean whereas in reality you didn’t leave Europe at all?

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. ❤️

How many days in Sicily is ideal

If you ask me, 10 days in Sicily is an optimal amount to do the best things Sicily can offer 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.

Where to stay in Sicily

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

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! 😱

We parked the car close to the Fish Market (which is one of the things you can do in the city) and I can’t describe the smell and dirt guys! 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…

You can watch my TikTok video where I documented this initial shock.

@megi_vorera

Do you think the rest of Catania and Sicily was like this? Let me know in the comments 😅 #catania #thisiscatania #cataniasicily #sicilytravel

♬ original sound – Magdalena Jelec

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.

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 (€3 pp) its dome for the best views of Catania and Etna! 😍

Via Etnea

Equally so, Via Etnea is one of the main streets in Catania. And yes, 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.

Piazza Umbrella

My favourite part of Catania: Piazza Umbrella.

You don’t have to be a genius to guess it. Yes, this street is full of colourful umbrellas. 🌈

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

💡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:

Mad in Italy for pizza

Don Peppinu for gelato

Other things to do in Catania

Day 2: Taormina & Savoca

On your day 2 on this 10 days Sicily road trip, you will visit Taormina & Savoca.

Taormina

Taormina is probably the most touristy and most expensive town in Sicily. Whenever you see a Dior, LV and other luxury store, you know this is not the most budget-friendly destination. While it was still not expensive to have drinks and food there, the prices are around 20%-30% higher in Taormina. However, it is a very beautiful town, so here are the best things you can do in Taormina in a day.

BamBar

The most famous breakfast spot in Taormina. My mistake was not coming there early enough. Because we didn’t stay in Taormina, but some 45 min drive from it and given that we didn’t wake up early enough, by the time we reached BamBar it was already 11 am.

The line was just crazy and because by that point I was so hungry and needed my morning coffee, I just couldn’t bother to wait. So we went to another place instead. If you don’t want to repeat my mistake, definitely come a little bit earlier.

Recommended Restaurant

I did everything wrong by all the Italian standards. 🤣 I ordered coffee, pasta and Aperol Spritz and told the waiter to bring all at the same time (you can imagine the looks 😅).

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

Corso Umberto

Corso Umberto is the most popular street in Taormina. Here you can find shops from 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, Chiesa di San Giuseppe. It’s rather small, but gorgeous from the inside. It’s free to visit, so definitely go there.

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. Yes, Sicily was a Greek colony and therefore there are many ancient Greek ruins in Sicily. Wait to see the Valley of Temples there! 😍

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

The theatre could seat 10,000 people and is 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 (when we were there, there was the stage which kinda ruined the vibes and some nice photo opportunities, but I love how it has the same functions 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!).

Other things to do in Taormina

If you have more time, you can also visit Corvaja Palace and Villa Communale.

Savoca

Savoca is a small, beautiful village of 1700 population. 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!

Bar Vitelli

First stop on your Godfather 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 had his coffee. However, 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 when Michael and Apollonia get married.

Make sure to pet some cats on the way. 😻

Chiesa di San Nicolò

And then you’ll reach Chiesa di San Nicolò where the wedding took place. It’s a cute little church, make sure to visit. You have to pay a small fee to enter, but it is totally worth it! I can’t even remember the fee, it was that cheap!

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

You can watch my TikTok video for more:

@megi_vorera

Save this video if you are a Godfather fan! #godfather #godfathermovie #godfatherlocations #savoca #sicilyitaly #visitsicily #placestovisit #movielocation #traveltiktok

♬ The Godfather / Theme – Various Artists

Mamma Mia Beach

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

While most people will go to Isola Bella which is a nature reserve, administered by the Italian branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

However, as I’ve never been to a black sand volcanic beach, and I wanted to skip the crowds, instead 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.

I’m attaching a Google Map for you because it is not that popular and although it is very easy to drive there, you can find almost nothing about it online.

Day 3: Mount Etna

Probably the most adventurous day on this 10 days Sicily road trip! 🤩🌋

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 THE WORLD! 🤩

I booked this tour and I cannot recommend it more! 🫶

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, trust me. 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 correctly, I made a mistake of not having my own hiking boots, so I had to rent them for the additional €6 pp. Not the end of the world, but if you’d like to avoid wearing boots after god knows how many people, it’s better to have/buy yours.

I created the ultimate packing list for hiking the summit of Etna, which you will find in my blog Mount Etna Packing List – Everything You Need to Know.

Once you’re done with the hike, just go to your hotel/apartment and rest by the pool.

Again, recommending Casa A’Ispenza for your first 3 days base.

Great restaurants nearby:

While this hotel is in a more secluded area, there are still very nice restaurants nearby that you can easily reach with a car.

My recommendations are Ristorante Trattoria Vico Proiette and IL TINO di Claudio De Maria.

Day 4: San Lorenzo Beach

Day 4 on this 10 days Sicily Road Trip is the beach day! 😎🏖️

Also, you will check-in to your 2nd hotel/apartment because San Lorenzo is close to Syracuse and other towns you will be visiting in the next 2 days.

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

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 most of the beach is owned by the clubs, which meant very limited space to place your beach towel, and if you haven’t got any beach umbrella, well, good luck!. We were able to find a spot with a little bit of shade, so we don’t burn completely! 😅

You can reserve your spot here.

The beach is absolutely gorgeous! It 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 (mainly Italians!), but it is absolutely worth going there.

We enjoyed the full day at San Lorenzo Beach before it was time to check in at Southeast Hotel. 🥰

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.

💡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. 🥰

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 online for the audio guide and skip the line perk!

Here are the important sights to see while there. ⬇️

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.

To the east of the Grotta del Ninfeo there was a complex of water mills from the Spanish era.
They received water from the cave and poured it into the theatre after it was used to grind grain.

Greek Theatre

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

I loved it 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

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 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 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 a sunset and do some 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. 🫶

Other things to do

We wanted to see the Ortigia Street Market and Antico Market, but unfortunately by the time we were nearby, it was soon closing, so we skipped it this time.

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 in this 10 days Sicily road trip, you will explore the cutest towns Sicily has to offer. 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.

I’ve visited them in the exact order as the title, and funnily enough, I also liked them in this order, with Ragusa being my favourite place not only of Val di Noto region, but of all of Sicily. ❤️

And before you ask, yes, it is doable to visit them all in the same day, but ideally, you need 2 days to explore at a bit slower pace.

P. S. Today all we’re doing is visiting churches (and eating). 😄

Ragusa

Such a charming city. 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. 

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 (photos above and below).

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 architecture. I bet by now you can understand what they mean about how the whole town was rebuilt in Baroque Architecture.

Duomo di San Giorgio

Yes, there are 2 cathedrals in Ragusa. 😅 Remember how I told you that these were 2 separate towns? Well, that’s why (yep, they were in rivalry until united…).

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

La Piazzetta Ristorante

My recommendation for lunch. It is close to Duomo and exactly next to the Fontana di Piazza Duomo.

Noto

Noto is super small and 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.

Via Fratelli Bandiera

The famous stairs of Noto. So instagrammable and from what I’ve seen online, they’re changing paintings, so who knows what it would look like when you’re there!? Let me know! 😍

Church of Santa Chiara

Really cute church, but not my favourite in Noto. It’s a good preview though. 🙂

Church of San Carlo

Church of San Carlo was the most beautiful 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!).

Opposite of 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! It was so delicious guys… 😋 

Modica

Modica is a beautiful baroque town in Val di Noto region. Everything about it is Italian: cathedrals, charming streets, pasta & pizza everywhere.

But, did you know that Modica is mainly famous for its Aztec chocolate? 🍫

Aztec = Mexico right? They were never in Europe. Italians never really conquered Latin America. So how come then?

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

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. Do you want to hear what happened to us there? Well, we noticed people outside in suits and dresses, so we knew there’s probably a wedding happening. We entered the duomo and witnessed the Italian wedding. There was beautiful music playing, the whole ambience was movie-like! 😍

Duomo di San Pietro

Same as Ragusa, Modica also has two cathedrals. And would you believe it if I told you that there was a wedding in this cathedral too!? 😅

Actually, we’ve seen brides and grooms all over Modica. We were there on Wednesday, so I was quite surprised there were so many weddings on a working day, but hey, maybe that’s how they do it in Italy!

Next to the cathedral is a good restaurant Tipiko Modica.

And while there, you have to try Modica chocolate.

The Chocolate Museum of Modica is across the street, or you can just go into one of the shops and get one like we did. I personally didn’t like it as much, but that is mostly because I am not a fan of dark chocolate.

Great restaurants in the area

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. You will also check out from your hotel and check into the 3rd and last one in the Palermo area. It will take you 1h drive to Agrigento and approximately 3h from Agrigento to Monreale/Palermo.

I recommend being 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.

💡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.

Later, you will refresh at the beach and then drive to Palermo.

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. Built towards the end of the 5th century B.C., it was destroyed by the Carthaginians, later restored in Hellenistic style, and then destroyed again by an earthquake. It 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 high. One was rebuilt and you can see it today.

Temple of Heracles

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

Temple of Concordia

The Temple of Concordia is one of the best preserved Doric temples and in general (2nd best preserved 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 (remember?).

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. In the end, I am a Historian by profession, but even more so in heart. ❤️

Statue of Fallen Icarus

The Statue is from the 2011 exhibition that took place in the Valley of The Temples which depicts the Fallen Icarus who flew so close to the sun, so his wings melted. It’s a pretty cool statue and probably the busiest attraction alongside the Temple of Concordia.

Watch my IG vs. Reality Reel for more:

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.

La Promenade dei Templi

Great restaurant close to the Valley of The Temples! Surely, one of my favourite pastas in Sicily! 😍

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 umbrella in advance, but rather on the spot. It was pretty cheap, I think around €10 for 2 sunbeds and 1 umbrella. Aperol Spritz was much needed!

You can also go to the more famous beach Scala dei Turchi, but it seems 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, which we didn’t, therefore we went with San Leone this time.

Dinner & Check-in

After you relaxed on the beach and refreshed yourself, it is time to hit the road. Once you arrive, check into your hotel/apartment and have something for dinner.

We booked A casa di Simona in Monreale with amazing views of Palermo.

I highly recommend Osteria Peper’s for dinner. What I loved also is the interior which was designed in retro style with many vintage posters on the wall.

Day 8: Monreale & San Vito Lo Capo

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

Monreale Cathedral

However, I highly recommend to visit the Monreale Cathedral early in the morning before you leave for the beach. The entrance to the Cathedral is free, but they will charge you for covering yourself if you’re not dressed modestly (which I failed to do this time, so I had to pay for the cloak or whatever that was 😅).

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 and the sea is beautiful turquoise and crystal clear. The beach is next to the high rocks which gives away the look 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 umbrella on the spot which are not expensive at all! This beach was my favourite 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. I haven’t been there, but it looks really nice too!

Le Terrazze Bistrot-Ristorante

San Vito Lo Capo is famous for its couscous. Therefore, I highly recommend trying something with it. I had fish and it was delicious. The restaurant is next to the beach, so it’s convenient.

I forgot my beach dress 🙄

Pizzeria Guglielmo di Milazzo Girolamo C. Sas

Great pizza place in Monreale. Literally in front of the cathedral, so the views and good vibes are guaranteed! And yes, the pizza waaas gooood. 😋

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. So, let’s see what you can do there on your day 9 out of this 10 days Sicily road trip adventure!

🅿️ 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!

Norman Palace

The Norman Palace was built in 1072 after Normans conquered Sicily. It is built in the Byzantine-Norman-Arab style! 😍 The building 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 of the world. After seeing so many churches around the world, I can confirm that this church is one of my favourites! A must visit… 🫶

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, inside was a big disappointment in all honesty! 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.

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

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

Santa Caterina Church

Guys, if you thought that the Palatine Chapel is something most beautiful you’d see during this trip, wait till you see the next 2 churches, especially the last one!

I just COULDN’T BELIEVE with my eyes the beauty of these places! Pure art. THE END. ❤️

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.

Places to eat on your last day in Palermo & Monreale

Ristorante La Galleria

St’orto (great coffee and cannoli)

Taverna del Pavone

Day 10: Cefalu

Unfortunately it was on my itinerary to visit Cefalu on my 10th day of this 10 days road trip through Sicily, but we’ve got some bad wine the evening before. And a lot of it. So I woke up with the world’s worst hangover. 😅 We haven’t seen anything of Cefalu and instead drove to Catania where we had a return flight to London.

Therefore I asked Linda from She knows islands to cover the best of Cefalu in a day. 🥰

Cefalu Cathedral

The former fishing village of Cefalu is a must-see on any Sicily road trip. Many tourists and locals come here for the beautiful, sandy half-moon bay, but the small town offers so much more. The impressive cathedral, the town’s landmark, can already be seen from afar. The masterpiece of Norman architecture, dating back to the 12th century, offers beautiful mosaics and the majestic depiction of Christ Pantocrator in the apse.

 Lavatoio Medievale

Located at the end of a stone staircase, the medieval Lavatoio Medievale, an ancient washhouse is fed by a natural spring and has served as a communal washing area for centuries. The entrance hides in the narrow old town streets which you absolutely need to explore and stroll through.

Spiaggia del Porto Vecchio

Via the ancient stone Porta Pescara (Porta Marina) you can reach the small and beautiful Spiaggia del Porto Vecchio, the old port beach and perfect Instagram spot.

Here starts a scenic coastal walk leading to the new port. This leisurely stroll through the rugged landscape, right next to the crystal clear Tyrrhenian Sea, offers a different view of the old town houses, towering above you.

La Rocca

My favourite highlight in Cefalu is La Rocca, the majestic rock that dominates the town. The climb to the top is steep and a bit exhausting, especially when it’s really warm in summer, but the effort is absolutely worth it and rewarded with a fantastic view of the city and Sicily’s north coast.

Enoteca Le Petit Tonneau

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!