Our Sicily travel guide is designed to help you make the very most of your Sicily holiday. Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do during a stay in a Sicily villa rental. The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily is an island rich in culture. Its most famous landmark is certainly Mount Etna but there is much more to the island than just its volcano, as spectacular as it is. Sicily boasts an incredible history dating back centuries and the island is home to some of the most incredible historical remains. Sicily is also home to some of the most delicious Italian food. Not only that. It’s also home to some of the most beautiful beaches and of course and some of the most incredible scenery in Italy both along its coastline and inland. In short, Sicily offers an impressive range of things to see and do whatever your age or interests.
Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches in Sicily. They range from pebbled coves to long stretches of sand. In fact, we think that some of Italy’s best beaches are to be found in Sicily. Sicily can boast nearly 1500 kilometres of coastline just waiting to be discovered. With temperatures warm enough to enjoy swimming in the sea as early as April and May, there is plenty of time each year to enjoy Sicily's beaches to the full.
Our favourite beaches in Sicily
What constitutes a good beach will vary from person to person. For us, a good beach is characterised by clean white sand, b...
With its diverse landscape and abundance of things to see, Sicily is perfect cycling country. Perhaps you fancy cycling through the film sets of the famous Italian TV detective, Inspector Montalbano? Or maybe you prefer the more dramatic gorges and coastal scenery. Possibly you prefer to pedal your way from historic site to historic site? Whatever your tastes, there are plenty of options available. There are simply too many routes available to mention them all here but we hope that this list of cycling suggestions provides some initial inspiration to get out and about on two wheels.
Routes for...
Family holidays in Sicily spoil you when it comes to what to see and do during your stay. There really are a wealth of things to do in Sicily whatever your age and interests. However, we think that Sicily is a particularly great holiday destination for families with children.
Family holidays in Sicily to discover the island's history
Sicily is a great place to bring history to life for little ones. If they’re studying the ancient Greeks and Romans at school, then the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi ) is home to some of the best preserved ancient Greek temples in the world. The site a...
There are a plethora of festivals in Sicily throughout the year. Whatever time of year you're visiting, there will probably be something to get involved in.
Our favourite festivals in Sicily: Carnevale
The first of the festivals to take place each year are the carnevale . Often taking place in February, a number of towns put on traditional carnivals. Big processions take to the streets in Sciacca, Acireale, Termini Imerese and elsewhere. Carnivals are bright, colourful affairs. Huge floats and larger than life papier mache figures parade through the streets. Each town's carnival has its own...
If you're looking to play golf in Sicily, the good news is that Sicily has plenty of courses offering the chance for you to play a round during your holiday. The island can actually boast five superb golf clubs.
Golf courses in Sicily
Probably the most famous and luxurious of the courses if you want to play golf in Sicily is at the Verdura Golf Resort . This luxury golf club was designed by Kyle Phillips and actually boasts not one but two 18 hole championship courses as well as a smaller 9 hole course, all set in a stunning landscape of rolling hills. It also offers the chance to improve your...
The Sicilian landscape is incredibly diverse and this makes it a superb region to explore on foot. Whether you're a keen hiker looking for challenging day-long hikes, or if you’re simply looking for a relaxing hike lasting a couple of hours, there are numerous trails to explore throughout the island. Many tracks follow the routes that donkeys would once have walked on. So, whether you’re looking for a coastal hike along the beach, a walk through ancient ruins, a hike through forests or meadows or even a scramble up a rock face or climb up an active volcano, there is something for everyone. ...
There are so many places to visit in Sicily. Sicily is located in the Mediterranean Sea to the South of the Italian peninsula. It is a beautiful island with a fascinating history that goes back centuries. It also boasts a beauty that is arguably unsurpassed. There is an incredible amount to see and do on a holiday to Sicily and a plethora of places to visit in Sicily, whatever your age and interests.
Sightseeing in Sicily
Palermo is the capital of Sicily and is a good starting point for any visit. It's a bustling lively place with a wealth of things to see and do. These include the Palazzo...
If you're looking to spend some time shopping in Sicily, there are plenty of places to go!
Shopping in Sicily: Markets
One of our favourite ways to shop wherever we are in Italy is to visit the weekly markets in each town and village. Sicily is no exception. Some of the the most famous markets include those in Palermo - Vucciria, Ballaro, Il Capo and Borgo Vecchio are the city's four historic markets. The first is the perfect place to pick up some bric a bric or household goods whilst foodies should head instead to the Ballero market near the city's train station. Markets tend to operate in...
If you're looking for some of the best weather in Italy, then Sicily is a good place to look!
What to expect from the weather in Sicily
The largest of the 20 Italian regions, Sicily enjoys a Mediterranean climate. This is characterised by hot, dry summers and warm although possibly rainy winters when thunderstorms can be fairly frequent. Sicily enjoys plenty of sunshine all year round and very little rain in the Spring and Summer months. The island can boast an average of 2448 hours of sunlight per year (out of a possible 4383). Subjected to the sirocco (Africa's warm winds from the Sahara),...
