Things to Do in Sicily: 12 Highlights Worth Seeing

Sicily Attractions on a Map

Sicily is one of the most beautiful islands in Europe and has a seriously impressive lineup of highlights to offer. We’ve marked all the top spots on a map and organized them by compass direction, so you can immediately see what’s worth visiting and where.

Things to Do in Northern Sicily

The north of Sicily offers both important cultural attractions and some of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily. Many highlights are located right along the coast and are easy to reach.

You can easily take bus or train day trips from Palermo into the surrounding area.

Old Town of Palermo

Palermo is Sicily’s capital and was already a major city in Europe in the early Middle Ages. You can see that very clearly today — the historic center is absolutely packed with incredible sights.

Nearly every corner has a monument or a medieval church, there are winding narrow alleys, grand boulevards, markets, and plenty of bars and restaurants.

Palermo is therefore a must on any Sicily itinerary. Make sure to set aside a few days for exploring.

On Get Your Guide, there’s a fantastic Palermo tour that covers both the main highlights and the culinary scene:

3-Hour Palermo Walking Tour with Tastings

If you prefer something more personal, a private tour with a local is a great choice. They’ll pick you up right at your accommodation and share insider knowledge about the parts of Palermo that interest you most:

Private Tour of Palermo with a Local

If you want to see Palermo from above and you’re not afraid of heights, a tandem paragliding flight over the city is a truly stunning experience.

Tandem Paragliding Flight over Palermo

Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve

After museum visits and city strolls, Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve is the perfect place to recharge in pure nature.

It’s one of the most beautiful reserves in Italy, stretching seven kilometers along the coast between Scopello and San Vito Lo Capo. The two entrances are located in these two towns.

The entire area is hilly to mountainous, with hidden little beaches, caves, typically Mediterranean flora and fauna, and peaks up to 1,000 meters high.

There are various hiking trails that are perfect for walks of two to three hours.

These trails take you up into the mountains or down to the stunning coves.

Cars aren’t allowed inside the reserve, and there are no bars or cafes, so think about provisions beforehand.

Snacks and drinks are sold at the free parking lot near the entrance.

Cefalù

The small coastal town of Cefalù is one of the most beautiful in Sicily and is about a 40-minute train ride from Palermo. It has a gorgeous beach that has often been used as a backdrop for postcards and calendars.

The water is wonderfully clear and shimmers in every shade of blue, there’s a lively beachfront promenade, and plenty of small restaurants.

Away from the beach, the historic center is well worth a visit too. There’s a beautiful medieval cathedral, winding narrow alleyways, and lots of small boutiques.

There’s always something going on in the evenings, and life pulses late into the night on the piazza in front of the cathedral or along the beachfront promenade. Cefalù gets especially busy in summer, as it’s a really popular vacation spot.

Cefalù makes for a great day trip from Palermo:

Guided Tour from Palermo to Cefalù
Of course, you can also spend the night in Cefalù. A really lovely hotel near the beach is the Victoria Palace Cefalù.

Things to Do in Western Sicily

The west of Sicily is especially known for its wonderful beaches and its azure-blue sea.

If you drive from Palermo toward Trapani, you’ll pass some truly stunning coves, while off the coast of Trapani lies the marine reserve of the beautiful Egadi Islands.

Egadi Islands

Off the coast of Trapani lies this dreamy archipelago, which is a real under-the-radar pick. It consists of three small islands: Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo.

All three are typically Mediterranean islands, with small fishing villages, pristine dream beaches, and almost no cars.

You can reach all three islands from Trapani by ferry, which runs several times a day.

The crossing to Favignana takes about 20 minutes, to Levanzo about 40 minutes, and to Marettimo about one hour and 15 minutes.

Favignana

Favignana is the largest and most developed island for tourism. The village of the same name has a small harbor, several hotels, vacation rentals, and restaurants, three supermarkets, and a pretty little piazza with a church.

Favignana is also home to two of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily: Cala Azzurra and Cala Rossa.

Getting around the island is easy on a rental bike, which lets you reach every corner and beach.

For staying overnight on Favignana, we recommend this hotel: Albergo Ristorante Egadi.

Levanzo

Levanzo is the smallest of the Egadi Islands and far quieter than Favignana. Only around 200 people live here, and there are no hotels or vacation rentals.

Since there’s no accommodation anyway, a guided day trip from Trapani by excursion boat is the better option.

The coastline is mostly rocky, so Levanzo is better suited for divers or hikers.

For hikers, there are various trails leading up to the 280-meter-high Pizzo del Monaco mountain and to the famous Grotta del Genovese, an archaeologically significant cave with Stone Age wall paintings.

For divers, Levanzo offers something truly special: at a depth of 30 meters off the island’s coast lies a Roman relic from the 1st century BC.

Marettimo

Marettimo is the most remote island of the archipelago and also the most unspoiled. There is only a small village with a landing dock.

Outside the village, the mountainous landscape is wonderfully wild, with a very diverse flora and fauna. This makes the island especially popular with hikers and nature lovers.

Marettimo has virtually no beaches that can be reached by land — only by boat. From Trapani, you can join a guided boat tour to the island.

The island is especially popular with divers, as there are various sea caves and a sunken merchant ship from the 1970s.

San Vito Lo Capo

San Vito Lo Capo is one of Sicily’s most popular resort towns. If you’re after sun, sand, and nightlife, this is the place.

But even if you visit Sicily in winter, it’s worth stopping by. San Vito Lo Capo is especially known for its miles-long, dreamy beach.

The 3.5-kilometer-long sandy beach is wonderfully white, slopes very gently into the water, and is perfectly well-equipped.

There are beach umbrella rentals, beach bars and restaurants, and even a few dive schools. The water is wonderfully clear and great for snorkeling.

At the eastern end of the beach stands the rocky Monte Monaco mountain, which gives the beach a truly spectacular backdrop.

San Vito Lo Capo is completely geared toward tourism, with plenty of places to stay, shopping, bars, and restaurants.

It’s a wonderful place to relax with all the amenities close at hand.

In San Vito Lo Capo, our hotel recommendation is the Araba Fenice Hotel, which is located right on the beach.

Things to Do in Southern Sicily

The south of Sicily is well developed for tourism in the southeast, with plenty of lodging, beaches, and famous sights.

But the further west you go, the less touristy it becomes. Even so, the southwest is home to some world-famous points of interest that are simply part of what makes Sicily Sicily.

Syracuse

The city of Syracuse is located at the southeastern tip of Sicily and is especially known for its old town Ortigia and the Neapolis Archaeological Park.

The Old Town of Syracuse: Ortigia

The Ortigia neighborhood in particular is something special: it sits on a small island right off the coast of Syracuse and is connected to the mainland by two small bridges.

Ortigia is absolutely worth a visit and is one of the Baroque gems of Sicily: you can see the remains of a Greek temple, narrow winding alleys lined with designer and artisan boutiques, the Baroque Cathedral of Syracuse, and a Norman fortress.

A coastal road (“Lungomare”) winds its way around the entire old town, several meters above the sea, circling all of Ortigia.

In places, you can descend from the road via steep staircases down to the scattered beaches or landing docks.

You can also visit Ortigia on a private tour:

Private Walking Tour of Ortigia

The Archaeological Park of Syracuse: Neapolis

In the northwestern part of Syracuse lies the archaeological park.

The park’s standout features include temple ruins and tombs, a Greek theater, a Roman amphitheater, and the so-called Ear of Dionysius, a massive cave with outstanding acoustics.

A full 2,000 years of Greek and Roman history await you in this park. Give yourself some time — ideally one to two hours. And wear sturdy shoes, as the terrain is hilly and rocky.

Tickets for the Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse
Our hotel recommendation for the island of Ortigia is located in Syracuse. We highly recommend the Maecò Ortigia hotel.

Noto

The small town of Noto is recommended in every Sicily travel guide and is a must on any visit to southern Sicily. The city sits on a hill and is built entirely in the Baroque style.

At virtually every corner there’s a Baroque palace or an ornate church. The alleys and staircases of Noto climb steeply up the hill, and every now and then you can catch a glimpse of the sea past a building wall.

Noto is also known for its Flower Festival, held annually on the third Sunday in May.

During the festival, the central alley Via Nicolaci is completely covered with millions of flower petals, forming intricate designs and lettering.

The Hotel Porta Reale in Noto is a perfect place to stay.

Valley of the Temples

The Valley of the Temples is one of Sicily’s most significant archaeological areas and lies south of Agrigento.

It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering approximately 1,300 hectares — making it the largest archaeological site of its kind in the world.

This was once the site of one of the largest Greek cities in the Mediterranean, Akragas. That was nearly 2,500 years ago — and the temples and structures have been standing here ever since.

Some temples, such as the Temple of Concordia, are almost completely preserved.

There are also seven more temples to explore, as well as the agora, an early Christian necropolis, and an underground network of aqueducts.

Fun Fact: The Valley of the Temples isn’t actually a valley at all — it’s a ridge of hills. It’s only called a valley because it sits below Agrigento.

If you’d like detailed explanations of the archaeological sites, we really recommend booking a guided tour, such as this one:

Guided Tour of the Valley of the Temples
Our tip: The Valley of the Temples can get seriously hot, especially in summer. Bring a water bottle and a sun hat — there’s very little shade out there.

Halfway between Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples, you’ll find the beautiful Hotel Villa Athena with a pool and views of the temples.

Scala dei Turchi

The Scala dei Turchi — meaning the Staircase of the Turks — is a massive, white rock formation along the coast of Realmonte.

The name likely goes back to Arab pirates, who were commonly called Turks by locals and who anchored their boats here during the Middle Ages.

What makes the rocks so special is that they cascade down in steps toward the turquoise sea. The steps are largely walkable, as they’re very wide and slope gently all the way down to the water.

The spot isn’t ideal for swimming, even though there’s a small beach right next to the rocks. But for taking photos and strolling around, Scala dei Turchi is absolutely worth a visit.

Private Tour to Scala dei Turchi from Catania
If you want to stay right at the Scala dei Turchi, we recommend the La Perla as your place to stay.

Things to Do in Eastern Sicily

Eastern Sicily has been very popular with tourists for decades — and for good reason. There’s a large concentration of top attractions here, all located fairly close to one another.

The east really does have it all: wonderful historic towns, well-equipped beaches, and impressive natural wonders.

Mount Etna

Mount Etna is an active volcano and a true natural spectacle. It stands over 3,300 meters tall, making it the highest active volcano in Europe.

By bus or car, you can drive to the mountain station Rifugio Sapienza, from where you can continue on the paid cable car up to 2,500 meters. From there, an off-road bus takes you up to the south crater.

From the top, you can not only look down into the crater but also enjoy an incredible view of the sea and the solidified lava flows surrounding the crater.

The whole place feels like being transported to another world: everywhere you look there are smoking fissures, black earth, and only the occasional small bush or patch of moss.

At the mountain station there’s also a restaurant and a hotel. Guided hiking tours that take you all the way to the summit also depart from there. You can easily book the tours online in advance:

Summit Hike on Mount Etna

Mount Etna Tour from Catania

Mount Etna Tour from Taormina
Our tip: Even in summer, temperatures on Mount Etna can drop to around freezing. Warm clothing and sturdy shoes are absolutely essential.

Also, keep an eye on the weather forecast — hikes on Mount Etna are prohibited in bad weather.

Alcantara Gorges

The Alcantara Gorges are located about 20 kilometers from Taormina, along the river of the same name, which has carved its way through the black lava rock of Mount Etna over thousands of years.

In places, the gorges are up to 20 meters deep and up to five meters wide.

You reach the Alcantara River either via stairs or a paid elevator. Once down, you can swim or wade through the water.

Outdoor Activities in the Alcantara Gorge

Body rafting is also offered in the Alcantara Gorge, as the river gets wilder in some spots and rushes through the black rocks. A must for adrenaline junkies!

Rafting in the Alcantara Gorge

A little more relaxed but no less fun is this water trekking tour through the Alcantara Gorge — also great for families:

Water Trekking on the Alcantara River
Our tip: The best time to visit the gorges is late morning or around midday. That’s when the sun shines directly into the gorge and makes the unique rock formations even more impressive. And don’t forget your water shoes!

Taormina

The town of Taormina is one of the gems of Sicily and simply cannot be skipped on a visit to the east coast.

Taormina is just 40 kilometers from Mount Etna, perched on a terrace of Monte Mauro mountain with a stunning view of the sea below.

Taormina is full of things to see. The best-known is probably the Ancient Theater, an open-air Roman theater that is still used today for theatrical performances and operas.

From the theater, you have a great view across the bay all the way to the nearby Mount Etna.

Another Roman theater is the Odeon; beyond that, there’s the Cathedral of Taormina, several aristocratic palaces, the shopping strip Corso Umberto, and Taormina’s wonderful public garden.

Taormina’s beach, which you reach by cable car, also has a name for itself across all of Sicily.

It’s located in the Mazzarò neighborhood, below the old town, and is especially known for the small islet of Isola Bella.

You can also explore Taormina from the water on a two-hour boat tour along the coast.

A really lovely hotel in Taormina is the Hotel Villa Schuler.