Luxury Holiday Villas in Sicily

Best areas to stay in during a luxury holiday in Sicily

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is also the largest of Italy’s 450 islands. It is situated just off the toe of Italy’s ‘boot’. Today, its diverse cultural past, shaped by the ancient Greeks and Romans as well as the Arabs, makes it a fascinating place to visit for a luxury villa holiday. Here are some of the best places to stay while on your luxury villa holiday in Sicily.

Palermo

The capital city of Sicily is Palermo. This is also the largest city on the island. There is so much to see and do here during your luxury holiday. Visit the 12th-century cathedral, the Palazzi dei Normanni, the Palazzo Pretorio, or the Santa Rosalia Sanctuary.

Or perhaps a stroll through the botanical gardens or a trip to one of Palermo’s many museums is more your scene. Whatever you choose to do, as you wander around the city, make the most of the wonderful Sicilian street food on offer.

Charming Towns and Coastal Villages in Sicily

As well as the larger cities, there are numerous other smaller towns and villages in Sicily well worth exploring too. Our A to Z of the towns and villages in Sicily will tell you all you need to know.

 

Must-have amenities for your luxury holiday villa in Sicily

Upgrade your Mediterranean getaway with a stay in a luxury villa in Sicily that perfectly captures the island’s unique charm. We have curated a selection of amenities to ensure your Sicilian holiday is luxurious. Here are some of our favourite features:

Luxury villas in Sicily with pools

After an exciting day of sightseeing, there’s nothing better than soaking up panoramic views over rolling countryside or the deep blue sea from your own private pool.

Villa Scopello is a luxurious 4-bedroom villa sleeping up to 8 guests. It offers wonderful views across the Sicilian landscape down to the coastline of Castellammare del Golfo, with an open-plan living area, shaded terrace, and private swimming pool.

Pet-friendly luxury villas in Sicily

For many, a family luxury villa holiday isn’t complete without bringing along their four-legged companion.

Many of our luxury villas in Sicily have fully enclosed private grounds, an ideal haven for pet owners looking to enjoy nature together during a luxury holiday.

Luxury villas in Sicily for large groups

Travelling as a big family or a large group of friends requires a villa with ample space, privacy, and expansive living quarters.

Villa Sicilia is a traditional luxury villa in Sicily set on a hillside in the north of the island near Castroreale. This was awarded the prestigious title of Italy’s 2nd most beautiful village in 2018! The villa sleeps 10 people comfortably in 4 bedrooms.

 

Things to do on a luxury holiday in Sicily

From beautiful towns and cities, steeped in history and breathtaking architecture, to stunning beaches and picturesque hiking trails, there is a lot to see and do during a luxury holiday in Sicily. Here are some things you can add to your to-do list:

A day out on the beach

If visiting during the warmer months, no Sicilian holiday would be complete without spending some time either in the water parks to cool off or on the beaches in Sicily.

There are too many to list here, but some of our favourites include the picturesque bay at Scopello in north-west Sicily and the 1 km long sandy beach at San Vito lo Capo. In our opinion, some of Sicily’s best beaches are actually not on the Sicilian mainland, though, but on its islands.

Go island hopping

The Egadi Archipelago is made up of three islands – Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo – along with the islets of Formica and Maraone. Levanzo is where you will find the incredibly beautiful Cala Faraglione beach, along with Cala Dogana, Cala Fredda, and Cala Minnola. All are extremely picturesque, and many are lined with clusters of blue-and-white houses, possibly more reminiscent of Greece than Italy.

Sicily also boasts the Aeolian Islands. This is an archipelago consisting of seven separate islands – Vulcano, Stromboli, Salina, Alicudi, Lipari, Panarea and Filicudi – as well as smaller islets and giant boulders. Many of these islands have volcanic origins. Expect each to be very different from the other. The islands are also an Italian UNESCO World Heritage site. And there are the Pelagie Islands too, made up of the tiny islands of Lampione, Linosa and Lampedusa.

Home to one of the smallest Sicily beaches on our list, Levanzo is another of Sicily’s islands. It may be small, but the Cala Faraglione beach here is incredibly beautiful. Other beaches on the island can certainly rival it, including the Cala Dogana, Cala Fredda and Cala Minnola.

Hit the hiking trails

If it’s not too hot to do so, there are some great hiking trails to be enjoyed in Sicily too. At 3326 metres high, this is not a trek for the faint-hearted! Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe. However, it isn’t the only mountain on the island. It also boasts other ranges, such as the Nebrodi, Madonie, and Peloritani.

Or opt instead to take a walk in the Archaeological Park of Neapolis to discover the Ear of Dionysius. This man-made cave, shaped like a giant ear, was supposedly designed so the secrets of the prisoners it once held could be easily heard.

Experience the rich history of Sicily

Those interested in history may prefer to visit some of Sicily’s incredible archaeological sites. The most famous is the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi), home to some of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples in the world. The site includes both Roman and Greek remains; however, the most impressive are the Greek Temple of Concord and the Temple of Juno.

More Roman remains can be found at the Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armerina. This is home to the world’s largest collection of Roman mosaics. In Taormina, you will discover an incredible ancient Greek and Roman theatre dating back to the 2nd century BC.

Our guide to the top 60 things to do in Sicily will provide more inspiration for your luxury villa holiday in Sicily.

 

When to visit Sicily for a luxury holiday

The question of when is the best time to visit Sicily is not an easy one to answer. It really depends on what you’re looking for during your luxury villa holiday. Here is what you can expect, year-round.

Spring in Sicily (March – May)

Spring is particularly pretty in Sicily thanks to abundant blooming wildflowers and famous cultural celebrations like the Noto Flower Festival. Temperatures are warm without being scorching (daily average highs ranging from 19°C in March to 27°C in May). It is ideal for sightseeing, hiking Mount Etna, and early sea swims before summer heat arrives.

Summer in Sicily (June – August)

Summer is when temperatures peak, frequently exceeding 30°C. This is the best time to just sit back, relax and enjoy your Sicily villa swimming pool, to laze on Sicily’s beaches and enjoy the many water sports on offer in the seas around the island.

Autumn in Sicily (September – November)

Just like in Spring, you can rent a luxury villa in Sicily in autumn and expect pleasant temperatures in the mid-twenties, plenty of sunshine, and warm evenings. You may not have the colourful wildflowers that Spring brings to the island, but Autumn is harvest time. This is the time when Sicilian foodstuffs such as olives and pistachios are picked. It’s also the time to sample the year’s new wines.

Winter in Sicily (December – February)

Don’t rule out renting a luxury villa in Sicily in the Winter too. Whilst you’re certainly not going to be sunbathing on the beach, winters do tend to be mild, so it’s still a good time to visit Sicily’s many sights. In the more mountainous areas, you could even be lucky enough to enjoy some skiing. Mount Etna boasts two ski resorts, one on the north side and one on the south.

Sicily also has excellent winter festivals. These include Carnevale and the Almond Blossom Festival, both of which take place in February.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to Sicily?

Whilst Sicily does have some smaller airports, the two main international airports are Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA) and Palermo-Falcone Borsellino (PMO). Catania is in the east, and Palermo in the west, so choose where to fly into based on where your Sicily villa rental is located.

Don’t forget, though, that you can also get to Sicily by boat. Numerous mainland Italian ports offer crossings to Sicily. The shortest crossing is from Villa San Giovanni in Calabria. The crossing from here to Messina in Sicily takes less than 30 minutes. In contrast, the car ferry from Salerno, near Naples, to Messina takes about 9 hours. Or, you could opt for the even longer journey from Genoa to Palermo, which takes closer to 21 hours.

And you can even get to Sicily by train. Travel directly from Rome or Naples to Palermo in 11.5 or 9 hours, respectively. Once the train has travelled all the way down to the toe of Italy’s ‘boot’, it reaches Villa San Giovanni, where it splits into two and rolls onto the ferry. It’s pretty impressive!

Do you need to hire a car in Sicily?

If you visit Sicily without a car and plan to travel by public transport, you need to accept that you will inevitably be limited to Sicily’s principal cities. Hiring a car in Sicily will enable you to visit Sicily’s incredible archaeological sites, its beautiful rural landscape, its more remote beaches, as well as its smaller towns and villages which are oozing in character. The bus and train network in Sicily is good, but trains mainly connect the major cities, while buses can be slow and unreliable.

What is the nicest part of Sicily to visit?

In our opinion, there isn’t a ‘nicest’ part. It depends on your interests. Each coast has its own unique set of attractions to discover during your stay in one of our Sicily villas. For example, in the southwest of Sicily you will find archaeological sites such as the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento, whilst in the southeast is the Neapolis Archaeological Park near Syracuse. Many would argue that the nicest beaches in Sicily are in the northwest. This is where you will find San Vito Lo Capo. Or over in eastern Sicily, you have the charming streets of Taormina.

When is the best time to visit Sicily?

Whilst we appreciate that many people are restricted by school holidays, for those with flexibility, we recommend enjoying a Sicily villa holiday in the Spring (April to June) or the Autumn (September to October). This is when temperatures are warm without being too hot, crowds are fewer, and there is an abundance of festivals to enjoy.

How many days in Sicily is enough?

This depends on how much of Sicily you’re looking to discover during your Sicily villa holiday. It takes around 3.5 hours to travel from the east to the west of the island and around 2.5 hours to drive from north to south. Sicily’s attractions truly are dispersed throughout the island. In the east, you have Mount Etna, historical cities such as Taormina and Syracuse and the picturesque Isola Bella. In the west, there are the stunning sandy beaches of San Vito Lo Capo and Trapani, as well as the fascinating history of towns such as Marsala and Erice. In the south, you have the incredible Greek and Roman remains in the Valley of the Temples and the beautiful white cliffs of the Scala dei Turchi. In the north, for example, you’ll find the fascinating towns of Cefalù and Palermo. To comprehensively explore all four coasts and its inland scenery would therefore take 2 weeks. If you only have 5-7 days, we recommend focusing on one specific part of Sicily.