Italy

Sicily

The Mediterranean's largest island — smouldering Mount Etna, Greek temples, baroque towns and Italy's most soulful food.

Best time: Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
Type: Island

Discover

About Sicily

Sicily is a civilisation compressed — Greek temples in better condition than anything in Greece, Norman-Arab-Byzantine cathedral mosaics that glow like heaven, Baroque hill towns rebuilt after a 1693 earthquake and one of Europe's most active volcanoes on the doorstep. Palermo's chaotic street-food markets, the tuna-and-capers cuisine of the western coast and Taormina's clifftop Greek theatre overlooking Etna complete the picture.

Highlights

Valley of the Temples, Agrigento (UNESCO)
Mount Etna volcano hike or cable car
Palermo street food — arancini, panelle, sfincione
Baroque Noto and Ragusa Ibla
Taormina Greek theatre and Etna views
Cefalù cathedral Norman mosaics and beach

Photos

Sicily in photos

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Where you'll stay

Where you'll stay in Sicily

Live map of hotels and villas around Sicily — powered by Stay22. Pan, zoom and compare live prices to pick your base.

Stay

Hotels & rentals around Sicily

Pan, zoom and compare live prices — every stay in one map.

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Best beaches

By the sea

Best beaches in Sicily

The 7 shores actually worth the trip on Sicily — ranked, with the vibe of each and where to stay nearby. Tap a card to fly the map to it.

Long sandy © Ensahequ (CC BY-SA 4.0)

San Vito Lo Capo

Three kilometres of powder-white sand curl beneath Monte Monaco, shallow warm water safe for wading kids.

Best for families and sunbathing

Stays near this beach →
Dramatic © Carnby (CC BY 3.0)

Scala dei Turchi

Blinding white marl steps stack into stair-like terraces above the sea, now ticketed to curb erosion damage.

Best for photos and drama

Stays near this beach →
Swimming © Davide Mauro (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Cala Rossa

A flooded tuff quarry where you dive off flat limestone ledges into unreal turquoise water.

Best for swimming and snorkelling

Stays near this beach →
Snorkelling © Solomonn Levi (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Isola Bella

A pebble cove flanking a tiny WWF islet, its clear rocky shallows the best snorkelling near Taormina.

Best for snorkelling day trips

Stays near this beach →
Family © Dedda71 (CC BY 3.0)

Mondello

Palermo's crescent town beach, soft sand and shallow calm water backed by belle-epoque bathing cabins.

Best for families with kids

Stays near this beach →
Secluded © Enzo Rippa (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Calamosche

A wild 200-metre cove in Vendicari reserve reached only on foot, no bars, no loungers, just clear calm sea.

Best for escaping the crowds

Stays near this beach →
Sunset © Einaz80 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Cefalù

Golden sand curves right beneath the medieval old town, its pastel houses glowing over the water at sunset.

Best for sunset strolls

Stays near this beach →