The Best Things to Do in Sicily, From Sunny Beaches to Fragrant Lemon Groves

A few miles off the toe of Italy’s boot sits the country’s wiser, more elusive sister: Sicily. More than just a fun day trip from the mainland, Sicily is quietly one of the most stunning, historic places in the world. Every inch of the island seems to hold cultural importance, in part thanks to the myriad of ethnic groups that have gotten their hands on it, including the Greeks, the French, the Arabs, and of course, the Romans, amongst many others. As a result of these invasions, Sicily is coated in layers, a palimpsest of dialects, mosques turned cathedrals, and diverse cuisine. “Sicily has a long history of being colonized by many groups of people. That’s why we’re so hospitable!” a local laughed while chatting with me at a restaurant on the outskirts of Palermo.

Part of what makes Sicily special is how much variety it manages to pack in under 10,000 square miles. With just a few hours, one can venture through vivacious city centers, bucolic countrysides, and serene beaches. Even the so-called touristy parts are worth seeing; your visit isn’t complete without strolling through the Ballaro Market in Palermo, eating a cannoli at a sidewalk cafe, or marveling at the decadent palazzos.

That being said, this guide is a tasting menu designed for a variety of travelers. Whether you want an action-packed, meticulously planned grand tour or a relaxing seaside getaway, everything we’ve included will in some way expose you to Sicily’s unique, thriving cultural landscape. Based on our own travel experiences and with the help of locals, we’ve put together our top recommendations for visiting Sicily.
 

See: The unparalleled and eclectic collection of architecture. While you’re certainly welcome (and encouraged) to make the trek to the ancient ruins in the Sicilian countryside, you can see a wide array of architectural styles, ranging from Arab-Norman and Baroque to Art Nouveau, without having to leave the metropolitan areas. In fact, right in the downtown center of multiple cities sit some of the most famous fountains, cathedrals, and carvings, many of which depict beloved figures such as patron saint of Sicily Rosalia and notable sea nymphs like Arethusa. Make sure to visit the Temple of Apollo in Ortigia, the Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo, and Fontana Pretoria, also in Palermo.

Touch: The fluffy and territorial feral cats (with caution!). One of the first things you will notice upon arriving in Sicily is the array of stray cats making themselves at home on ledges, planters, car hoods, and even restaurant tables. Because the locals take care of them, the cats are clean and well-fed, but it’s a toss up whether or not the ones you find will be friendly or completely aloof.

Smell: Lemons. Whether you’re ordering a seltz e limone sale from a chiosco (kiosk) in Catania, tasting the best limoncello you’ve ever had at Cassaro Bottega Alimentare, or wandering through the luscious lemon groves at the base of Mount Etna, the subtle scent of lemons will follow you everywhere.

Hear: The cacophony of vendors, locals, and tourists at Palermo’s street markets. Inspired by Moroccan souks, Palermo’s Ballaro, Capo, and Vucciria markets line the streets with stalls offering delicious Sicilian citrus or piles of fresh fish, carts serving Aperol Spritz, and others dishing out delectable street food like arancini and and panelle. While the markets are popular tourist destinations, you’ll notice locals zipping through on Vespas to grab their groceries for the day.

Taste: Almond milk in your coffee, or even by itself. Sicily’s climate is ideal for almond growth and production, so it only makes sense that their version of the dairy milk alternative is far better than what Americans are used to. Instead of having a watery, flavorless consistency, Sicilian almond milk is thick and sweet. It’s so rich that it can suffice as an after dinner treat.

The past few years have seen many people yearning for greener pastures, quite literally. From the influx of trad wives seemingly living their best provincial lives on lush farms to city slickers making a mass exodus to more remote parts of the country, a slower way of living and the serenity that emerges from it grows more and more tantalizing. Of course, Sicily’s thriving city centers in Palermo, Taormina, and Syracuse are special and worth visiting in their own right, but their calmer counterparts are equally vital to understanding the culture of the island. On the outskirts of Catania sits one of Sicily’s major tourist attractions, the volcano Mount Etna. While a tour of the volcano itself can get crowded, the agricultural enclaves at the base of it are quiet and serene. “People who appreciate the little things come here,” says Giusi Murabito, a Sicily native and the owner of Pozzillo Lemon House, a lemon farm at the foot of the volcano. “We’re off the beaten path. Everything here is quiet; this is the way to escape the crowd.”

10 am - Start your day with a stroll through Etna’s lemon groves.
For the most under-the-radar look at Mount Etna, book a food experience at Pozzillo Lemon House. The historic lemon farm has been growing, trading, and selling lemons for over 80 years, and if you visit during peak season (December through June), you get to pick the lemons yourself. The four-hour tour also includes a cooking class with Murabito and her mother, as well as a meal paired with Etna wines.

2:30 pm - Pick up food souvenirs at Perivancu Market.
This quaint yet heavily frequented market is about a half-hour drive from the lemon farm. Run by the same family since the 1870s, Perivancu Market is locals’ go-to spot for high quality groceries; Murabito stocks up here when putting together her Christmas lunch. You’ll want to take everything home, but when thinking about packing items in your luggage it’s wise to stick to nonperishables like candied orange zest, uniquely shaped pasta, and Bronte pistachio cream.“It’s like Nutella, but better,” says Murabito of the last item. “I’ve even seen tourists vacuum the cheeses and bring them home.”

3 pm - Play with adorable farm animals at La Caraffara or Asilat.
A journey through the Sicilian countryside isn’t complete without seeing its fauna. At the hazelnut farm (also a farmstay) La Caraffara, visitors can stroll around the peaceful grounds amongst flocks of sheepdogs, goats, chickens, horses, and more. Another great option is Asilat, a donkey farm dedicated to preserving indigenous Sicilian breeds.

5 pm - Grab a late afternoon pistacchio granita at Pasticceria Santo Musumeci.
Sicily is known for its unmatched pistachios, often referred to as “green gold.” Like its lemons and almonds, the nut thrives in the soil of Mount Etna, producing a rich, deep flavor unlike your typical pistachios. And because the granita originated in Sicily, it’s more than necessary to refresh yourself with the creamy concoction from family-owned Pasticceria Santo Musumeci, deemed “the best granita in Sicily” by Linda Sarris, a chef who expatriated from New York City to Palermo and leads culinary tours throughout the island.

8 pm - Eat and drink like you’re at your grandma’s house at Trattoria LinguaGrossa.
On the north side of Mount Etna, this spot is the perfect example of what makes Sicily’s culinary scene so exquisite. They serve traditional dishes like Mushroom Crudo and Pasta alla Norma made in locals’ homes with ingredients from Mount Etna’s farms. Their wine selection, however, is the shining star; upon entering you’ll notice walls stocked with bottles you won’t be able to try anywhere else. This is because they’re from small Etna wineries and producers that don’t host tastings or take visitors.

Decorated with hundreds of crumbling castles, centuries old tombs, and ancient ruins, Sicily has obviously been around for a long time. But it wasn’t until season two of television show The White Lotus dropped that the island became the most sought after vacation destination. After the show concluded, US searches for Sicily spiked 50%, and hotels saw an uptick in bookings.

It’s easy to see why The White Lotus spawned such an effect; watching the sunkissed Lucia (played by Simona Tabasco) frolic around a five-star hotel in a strappy red dress or seeing the cast lounge on the beach with sparkling Aperol Spritzes is bound to make anyone impulsively book a ticket to Sicily. And while an obvious itinerary would include heading to Taormina (where the show took place) and waiting in line for a table at tourist favorite (read: overcrowded) Bam Bar, or shelling out thousands to stay at the San Domenico Palace, Four Seasons, we recommend The White Lotus fans prioritize Palermo, as many of the filming locations actually took place right in the island’s capital.

10 am - Sip your espresso standing up at Bar Del Corso.
While the majority of the characters in The White Lotus are lazing about, no nonsense Valentina, the manager of the eponymous hotel played by Sabrina Impacciatore, is always on the go. She begins her day the way any proper, busy Sicilian would: standing at the bar of a cafe and making light conversation while downing an espresso. This cafe on the oldest street in Palermo, Via Vittorio Emmanuel, is as authentic as it gets, featuring a seasoned, blunt barista named Baldo and a sink perpetually overflowing with empty espresso cups.

12 pm - Pop by Magazzini Anita for stylish accessories.
Amidst the touristy knick knack shops and luxury clothing stores sits this vintage boutique minutes from Bar Del Corso. Magazzini Anita’s eclectic and stylish collection features an array of aesthetics, so whether you want to purchase a silk headscarf to channel Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya or Y2K sunglasses à la Haley Lu Richardson’s Portia, there are options for everyone.

1 pm - Replenish yourself with arancini at Donnafranca.
Remember Portia and Jack’s adorable arancini date? It’s by far the easiest experience to recreate, considering the rice balls are Sicily’s most popular street food, served on nearly every block. Though there are many places to choose from, Sarris recommends this spot for its vast selection of fillings, with each arancini ball fried to order. Just please don’t dine and dash like they did.

3:30 pm - Wander through the Villa Palagonia Palazzo in Bagheria.
Not everyone can afford to spend the night at a palazzo like Aubrey Plaza’s Harper and Meghann Fahy’s Daphne; in fact, sometimes even the people who own the palazzos can hardly afford them, a lesson harshly learned by Tanya in the season finale. While Daphne and Harper drove to Noto for their luxurious experience, this palazzo in Bagheria features just as much decadence with half the amount of visitors.

5 pm - Purchase a Testa di Moro at Ceramica Artistica di Mirella Pipia.
Around every corner in Sicily, you’ll feel someone’s eyes following you. Don’t fret; that’s just the Testa di Moro, a famous, colorful ceramic of a man’s head. Seminal to Sicily’s folklore, the Testa di Moro represents the story of a Moor who came to Sicily and seduced a local girl. Once she found out he had a wife and family back at home, she cut off his head in revenge. The Testa di Moro is heavily featured tangibly and thematically in The White Lotus (Will Sharpe’s Ethan asks the hotel concierge “What is with these head things?”), so it only makes sense to pick one up at this pottery workshop and boutique.

6 pm - Make eyes at a stranger over an aperitif at Igiea Terrazza Bar.
The bar is the primary mise-en-scène of The White Lotus. It’s where characters flirt, flight, and even have heart attacks. Whether you want to do any of those or just peacefully sip a drink on the scenic terrace, this hotel bar boasts a robust cocktail menu that reads more like a Greek epic. Upon sitting down you’ll receive a booklet titled “The Island of Desire,” featuring drinks according to the cultures that have inhabited Sicily alongside famous paintings from the time period. Options include the Sharab (white rum, coconut milk, honey, tahini) and the Medusa (gin, orange blossom liquor, Acqua Bianca, olive leaf).

7:30 pm - Feast on pasta at Florio Restaurant.
Viewers may have noticed that instead of perusing Sicily’s excellent food scene, the characters dine at their hotel’s restaurant every night. Normally we’d encourage travelers to go beyond their homebase, but Villa Igiea’s Florio Restaurant is too good to miss. Just a few feet away from the Igiea Terrazza Bar, the restaurant has the same sunset view and serves raw fish with Arab spices, Sicilian-Style Stuffed Pork, and delicious pastas. While tiramisu is always a solid choice for dessert, it’s imperative you try the Spicy Chocolate Soup and Caper Ice Cream.

Whether you want to spend your whole vacation loafing on the beach or just a single day, Sicily has you covered. With over 900 miles of coastline, there’s truly no way to go wrong. That being said, many of the island’s gorgeous beaches, like those located in the Zingaro State Preserve, are quite remote. Because they’re a lengthy drive away from most restaurants and shops, visiting them requires a car, and perhaps the least relaxing thing to do on a beach day is sit in traffic. That’s why Ortigia, a small island in Syracuse, is ideal for visitors. It has the best of both worlds, including stretches of sand, turquoise waters, and gelaterias waiting to refresh you post-swim.

9 am - Take the Interbus from Catania Bus Station to Corso Gelone.
The Interbus offers plenty of routes to Siracusa from all over Sicily. If you’re coming from Catania, the ride is a little over an hour, and you’ll be dropped off at the Corso Gelone bus station in Siracusa. From there, it’s a 15 minute walk across the Ponte Umberto bridge to the island Ortigia.

11 am - Pick up a cappuccino and mortadella sandwich at Fratelli Burgio.
To get to this deli, you’ll have to walk through Siracusa’s Ortigia Market, a lively strip that mirrors the ones in Palermo. While tourists tend to flock to the spot next door, Caseificio Borderi, Sarris recommends visitors “skip the Instagram-hyped long lines for the best high-end Sicilian food products, charcuterie, salads, and sandwiches.” You can grab a seat at a table outside or take the sandwiches with you to the beach; whatever you choose, make sure to get a look at the Fratelli Burgio’s products, which include delicious marmalades, sea preserves, chocolates, and spices.

12 pm - Bake in the sun on Cala Rossa Beach.
Many beaches in Sicily cost money to enter or are overrun with vendors catering to tourists, and while Cala Rossa Beach can get quite crowded, it’s free, easily accessible, and still stunning. Nab a spot on the rocky sand and lay out alongside the locals to not only get a tan but heat up under the sun so your imminent splash in the water feels all the more exhilarating.

2 pm - Descend a staircase into the Ionian Sea at the Solarium Forte Vigliena.
Once you’ve had your beach fix, walk five minutes down the coastline to this platform that rises directly out of the sea. You can lay out your towel on the platform and descend the stairs straight into the water or climb onto the nearby cliffs and muster up your best siren (or seal) impression.

4 pm - Cool off under the shade at Giardino Aretusa with gelato from Gelati Bianca.
It might seem obvious to recommend you eat gelato on a trip to Sicily, but ultimately the icy dessert is a classic for a reason. Walk two feet and you’ll be confronted with numerous gelaterias, but Gelati Bianca takes the cake for the widest range of flavors like stracciatella, mulberry, lemon, and more. Plus, the shop is a three-minute walk to Giradino Aretusa, a beautiful community garden that will cloak you in shade.

6 pm - Grab a glass of wine at Enoteca Solaria.
For a chic pre-dinner aperitif, kick back at this small natural wine bar that’s constantly teeming with locals and serves considerable glasses of Mount Etna wines for only a few euros. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, with “smiley owners who make you feel like you're drinking with friends,” Sarris says.

7:30 pm - Dine like a principessa at Cortile Verga.
There’s no visiting a seaside Sicilian city without indulging in a seafood dinner. To make the rite of passage even more iconic, Cortile Verga is located in the courtyard of the 18th century Palazzo Bonanno Landolina—straight out of Roman Holiday. The menu is prolific, with classic spreads like Oysters, Fish Bruschetta, and Salmon Tartare.

L'Approdo Delle Sirene in Ortigia $
If you’re in search of a simple and stable homebase, book a room at this adorable, no frills B&B right on the harbor. L'Approdo Delle Sirene is an amazing affordable option for those without a car, as it is within walking distance of Ortigia’s best restaurants and beaches.

Casa la Carrubbazza in Catania $$ A small, charming property near Mount Etna, Casa la Carrubbazza seems more like a local’s home than a hotel, probably because it was once the estate of a noble family in Catania. There are only 20 rooms on the premises, furnished with vintage pieces and balconies overlooking the gardens.

Villa Igiea in Palermo $$$$
Once owned by the exorbitantly wealthy Florio family, the former 19th century palazzo turned 5-star hotel is decked out with lush gardens, marble floors, and a view of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Despite being merely a ten minute drive from downtown Palermo, Villa Igiea’s serene, seaside abode will make you feel cut off from the chaos. Make sure to grab a drink at the aforementioned terrace bar to get the full experience.

Sicily’s metropolitan areas like Palermo and Ortigia are quite condensed, meaning they’re not only walkable but most enjoyable on foot (how else will you spot the gorgeous mosaics etched into houses and the adorable grandmothers hanging their laundry?). However, for more remote places like Mount Etna, it’s definitely most convenient to rent a car; just be on guard and confident, as local drivers sometimes act like they’re in a game of Mario Kart. That being said, the train from Palermo to Bagheria is only 10 minutes (which you can book here), and the Interbus also has a great and easy system, which you can peruse here. Both options allow travelers to buy tickets in advance.

Sicily uses the euro (EUR) and each euro is worth 100 euro cent coins. As of November 2024, $1 USD exchanges for 0.95 euros.

Sicily uses Plug Types C (two rounded pins), F (two rounded pins with one hole above them, plus two grounding clips), and L (three rounded pins). Italy's standard voltage is 230V, with a frequency of 50 Hz.

This is dependent on what you want out of your trip; if your main objective is a sunny beach holiday, Sicily stays warm from May to October, with the warmest months being June, July, and August. However, if you’re aiming to be there during peak lemon season, book a trip any time between December and June. Just note that the temperatures during that time can drop to the 50s.

There are more well-preserved Greek temples in Sicily than anywhere else in the world, including Greece. This is because the island was once home to a series of Greek colonies with religious settlers seeking places of worship. The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is one of the most notable examples, featuring seven still-standing temples.

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