Sicily puts a Greek theatre in Syracuse, a temple of Apollo on the island of Ortigia and a marine reserve a few kilometers away on the same stretch of coast. Start there, then move on to the theater at Taormina, the cloister at Monreale and the seaside town of Cefalù. The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento and the beaches of the Zingaro reserve fill out the island’s other corners.
At a glance
- Top sights to see first: Greek Theatre and Ortigia in Syracuse, Teatro Greco Romano in Taormina, Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Monreale cloister, Cefalù Duomo
- UNESCO sites: Palermo, Monreale and Cefalù
- Protected areas: 1 national park, 4 regional natural parks, 75 regional nature reserves, 7 marine protected areas
- Day trip south of Syracuse: Marzamemi, less than an hour by car
What are the best things to do in Sicily?
Syracuse and Ortigia
The historic center of Syracuse holds the Greek Theatre, which dates back to the 5th century BC, along with the Ear of Dionysius and the Grotticelle Necropolis, from the Roman era. On the island of Ortigia stand the temple of Apollo and the remains of the Temple of Athena, also from the 5th century BC.
Plan the mainland sights and Ortigia as two separate stretches of the day. The Plemmirio reserve is only a few kilometers away, so a swim or a snorkel can close the afternoon.
Taormina
The Teatro Greco Romano di Taormina stands at Via del Teatro Greco 40. The Castle of Taormina, at Via Madonna della Rocca 9, has 21 historical points, 4 panoramas and 2 caves.
The theater costs €10 full and €5 reduced. The castle offers a free digital audioguide for smartphones, and its tickets can be bought online and go directly to the entrance. They aren’t refundable, so buy them once your date is fixed. The Museo naturalistico regionale di Isolabella e Villa Caronia, in Via Nazionale 109, costs 4,00 full and 2,00 reduced.
The Valley of the Temples, Agrigento
The Valley of the Temples is in Agrigento.
Palermo
Palermo is a UNESCO site. The Zisa Castle has free entry on the first Sunday of the month upon reservation, so book ahead if your trip falls on one. The Palermo tourism portal lists places to eat typical Palermo cuisine and lets you build your own itinerary.
- Palermo Culture Pass: €25.60, one ticket valid 7 days for Steri, Salinas Museum, Botanical Garden and Riso plus exhibitions
- Massimo Theater and Palazzo Butera combined ticket: €17, valid 3 days
- GAM courtesy ticket for ages 6 to 18: €1.50
Monreale
The Cathedral of Monreale has free entry. The cloister of Santa Maria La Nuova is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and belongs to the Benedictine abbey founded in 1174 by order of the Norman king William II. The visit includes the mosaics, the Christ Pantocrator, the Roano Chapel with the Cathedral Treasure, the Parish Museum and the Cathedral’s terraces with a view of the city.
Hours can change, so check them before you go. The audioguide costs €5 and lasts 1 hour, in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish. A virtual reality experience is included in the regular ticket.
Cefalù
Cefalù’s Duomo was commissioned by Ruggero II in 1131. A 12th-century cloister is attached to it, and a medieval washhouse stands in via Vittorio Emanuele. The Temple of Diana on the western side of the Rocca dates back to the 9th century BC. The Mandralisca Museum holds Antonello da Messina’s portrait of an unknown man.
The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with full admission at €5 and reduced at €3. The SIBAC single ticket costs €10 and stays valid for 5 days. It can be bought only at the automatic ticket machines, by cash or card, because staff at the sites can’t take payment.
When is the best time to visit Sicily for sightseeing?
Summer is hot: Catania’s July afternoons reach 93°F (34°C) and rain is almost absent, so build the day around mornings and evenings, and Spring and fall are milder, with Catania at 79°F (26°C) in May and 78°F (26°C) in October. Palermo runs 76°F (24°C) in October, still good for walking. Winter stays mild, with Palermo at 59°F (15°C) in January, but Catania sees about eight rainy days in December. Visiting parks and reserves out of season also reduces the impact on the local area.
Beaches and outdoor things to do in Sicily
The Plemmirio reserve extends 7.5 miles (12 km) around the Maddalena Peninsula. Swimming, diving and sport fishing are allowed in most of it. In Zone A, which includes the area in front of the lighthouse, you can’t swim, stop with the boat, fish or dive at any time of the year. Sea access is by numbered gateways. Entrance 23 has a free beach, entrance 27 suits snorkeling and diving, and Punta Milocca has ten entrances close together.
The Sentiero della Maddalena starts at Punta Castelluccio, near entrance 35, and runs 6 miles (10 km) to the Capo Murro di Porco lighthouse. It can be covered on foot or by mountain bike. The Zingaro reserve, between San Vito lo Capo and Scopello, can only be explored on foot, from the north entrance at San Vito or the south entrance at Scopello. It has five well-marked trekking routes and coves such as Cala Tonnarella, Cala dell’Uzzo, Cala Marinella, Cala Beretta, Cala Disa, Cala Capreria and Cala del Varo. There are no refreshment points inside, so bring water and food.
You can rent an inflatable boat or book a boat excursion at Zingaro. Cefalù is a seaside town with a long beach.
- Plemmirio entrance 23: numbered gateway · free beach · for a swim near Syracuse
- Plemmirio entrance 27: numbered gateway · snorkeling and diving point · for divers
- Zingaro coves: on foot or by boat only · no refreshments · for walkers
- Cefalù: town beach · long stretch of sand
For snorkeling, Plemmirio. For long walks, Zingaro.
Day trips from Sicily
Marzamemi lies south of Syracuse, reachable in less than an hour by car. From Palermo, the city’s tourism portal gives directions to some of the main destinations.
- Marzamemi: less than an hour from Syracuse · by car · for a short trip
- Sentiero della Maddalena: 6 miles (10 km) · on foot or by mountain bike · for walkers and cyclists
What to eat in Sicily
Palermo’s historic markets, Ballarò, Vucciria, Capo and Borgo Vecchio, are where street food is eaten. In Catania, the ancient fish market sits between Piazza Pardo and Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto. A grilled horse meat sandwich is found on Via Plebiscito in Catania.
Food festivals add dates to the calendar. Stragusto, a street food festival, is held at Piazza Mercato del Pesce in Trapani, and Gioiosa Gustosa, a food and wine fair, in Gioiosa Marea.
Things to do in Sicily at night
In winter, the Epiphany festival in Santa Elisabetta runs from January 3 to 6. Patron saint festivals include San Calogero in Agrigento, Sant’Agata in Catania, Santa Lucia in Syracuse and Santa Rosalia in Palermo.
Things to do in Sicily with kids
Plemmirio allows snorkeling, and entrance 23 has a free beach. The Zingaro reserve offers inflatable boats to rent and boat excursions, but it has no refreshment points, so pack food and water.
In Palermo, the GAM courtesy ticket costs €1.50 for children and teens aged 6 to 18. On the first Sunday of the month the GAM issues a maximum of 60 free tickets per hour, so arrive early. The Zisa Castle is also free that day upon reservation.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/it/sicilia/cosa-fare/riserva-naturale-del-plemmirio-in-sicilia), checked 2026-10-30
- www2.regione.sicilia.it (https://www2.regione.sicilia.it/beniculturali/sitepda/musei_pda.asp?page=6), checked 2026-10-30
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/fr/sicile/trapani/reserve-du-zingaro), checked 2026-10-30
- www2.regione.sicilia.it (https://www2.regione.sicilia.it/beniculturali/dirbenicult/database/dipartimento_2/Siti_list.asp?action=Search&masterkey=&SearchField=Categoria&SearchOption=Equals&SearchFor=Aree+archeologiche+e+Antiquarium), checked 2026-10-30
- cittametropolitana.pa.it (https://cittametropolitana.pa.it/il-territorio-della-provincia/costiera-orientale-termitana/cefalu/), checked 2026-10-30
- coopculture.it (https://www.coopculture.it/en/poi/cloister-of-santa-maria-la-nuova.-cathedral-of-monreale/), checked 2026-10-30
- ambwashingtondc.esteri.it (https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/en/chi-siamo/gli-uffici/), checked 2026-10-25