10 Best Things to Do
Sicily’s cities and landscapes shift dramatically across the island: Palermo has street markets and the mosaics of the Palatine Chapel, while Taormina looks towards Etna from above the sea. Syracuse pairs ancient remains with Ortigia’s waterfront lanes; Noto brings honey-coloured Baroque streets, and Agrigento’s temples rise along a southern ridge. Palermo and the eastern coast work as separate bases, with substantial journeys between them. Rural estates and coastal resorts often require a car for exploring nearby towns.
Valley of the Temples
Agrigento, Italy
The Valley of the Temples reveals the scale and ambition of ancient Akragas through monuments spread across an open landscape. The Doric temples of Concordia and Juno provide striking focal points, but the wider remains reward more than a quick photograph. Walk slowly enough to connect the buildings with their setting and the history of the Greek city. Make this a substantial stop in an Agrigento stay, with water, suitable shoes and an itinerary that allows for the exposed conditions.
Ancient architecture in an expansive landscape
Explore Mount Etna
Etna Park, eastern Sicily, Italy
Etna offers a very different Sicily: a changing volcanic landscape whose scale becomes apparent as you leave the towns below. Choose an excursion suited to your fitness and interests, rather than assuming every visit needs to reach the highest accessible point. A qualified guide can interpret the terrain and adapt the route to current conditions. Access is governed by local restrictions and volcanic activity, so treat the final itinerary as conditional and leave flexibility in your plans for the day.
A guided volcanic landscape experience
Neapolis Archaeological Park
Syracuse, Italy
Neapolis brings together some of ancient Syracuse’s most significant monuments in a single archaeological landscape. The Greek theatre, Roman amphitheatre and monumental altar of Hieron II show different forms of public life, while the old quarries introduce a more dramatic, enclosed setting. The Ear of Dionysius is among the best-known features within those excavations. Give the park its own place in your Syracuse itinerary, allowing time for the terrain and interpretation rather than adding it hurriedly after a full day in Ortigia.
Exploring the ancient city beyond Ortigia
Walk Noto’s Baroque centre
Noto, Italy
Noto rewards a slow walk through a town conceived anew after the earthquake of 1693. Start along Corso Vittorio Emanuele and let the relationship between churches, palaces and public spaces become as important as any individual façade. The architecture has a remarkable coherence, but details invite frequent pauses: a balcony, a doorway or the changing colour of the stone. Combine the walk with time inside selected monuments, checking their separate opening arrangements rather than expecting one ticket to cover the town.
Architecture and an unhurried town walk
Villa Romana del Casale
Near Piazza Armerina, Italy
Villa Romana del Casale offers a vivid encounter with the ambitions and tastes of late Roman life. Its surviving floor mosaics are the main attraction, but the arrangement of residential and ceremonial spaces helps explain the scale of the complex. Look beyond individual celebrated scenes to appreciate the variety of subjects and the craftsmanship across the site. It works particularly well as a considered inland stop, with enough time to study the details rather than rushing through on a long transfer.
Roman mosaics in a rural setting
Monreale Cathedral and Cloister
Monreale, Italy
Monreale’s cathedral and adjoining cloister offer two complementary experiences: an interior dominated by golden mosaics and a quieter architectural space that rewards close attention. The complex belongs to the island’s Arab-Norman heritage, where different artistic traditions meet in a distinctive medieval language. Make time for both parts if your schedule allows, and decide whether to add the terraces or museum before choosing a ticket. The components keep different hours, so a little planning makes the visit much more satisfying.
Mosaics and medieval craftsmanship
Palatine Chapel and Royal Palace
Palermo, Italy
The Palatine Chapel brings together golden mosaics, carved decoration and a remarkable wooden ceiling within Palermo’s Royal Palace. Its significance lies in the meeting of artistic traditions as much as in the richness of individual surfaces. Take time to look upwards and across the room rather than treating it as a single photo stop. The palace remains an institutional building, and restoration work can affect access, so plan this visit around the operator’s current notices and the areas included in your ticket.
Encountering Sicily’s medieval artistic crossroads
Ancient Theatre of Taormina
Taormina, Italy
Taormina’s ancient theatre occupies a commanding position above the town, making the surrounding landscape part of the experience. Its origins are Greek, while much of what visitors see reflects later Roman restructuring and adaptation. Follow the curve of the seating and examine the surviving stage architecture to understand how the building changed over time. Give it a dedicated visit during your stay in Taormina, with comfortable shoes and enough time to appreciate both the archaeological detail and the wider setting.
Classical architecture and a hilltop setting
Explore Cefalù’s old town and seafront
Cefalù, Italy
Cefalù makes it easy to combine a historic town walk with time beside the sea. Its medieval streets, Norman cathedral and harbour create a compact sequence of changing views, with the Rocca rising behind the settlement. Allow the day to move between architecture, a leisurely meal and the waterfront, rather than treating the town solely as a beach stop. Visits inside the cathedral or onto the Rocca require their own planning, and swimming should always depend on conditions at the time.
Combining coastal time with historic streets
Walk Vendicari Nature Reserve
South of Noto, Italy
Vendicari brings wetlands, coastal scenery and traces of human activity into one rewarding landscape south of Noto. The reserve is an important resting place for migrating wildlife, while the former tuna fishery and tower add another layer to a walk. Choose a route that suits the season and conditions, and make time to observe rather than simply reach a beach. Bring what you need for the outing and respect any marked restrictions, especially where habitats or wildlife need protection.
Coastal habitats and quiet observation