Things to do & places to visit in Sicily, Italy

A visit to Sicily is truly a feast for all senses. The Mediterranean island is a foodie’s paradise, offering rustic fare that makes the most of local bounty. Crispy/creamy arancini – fried balls of rice filled with cheese and sauce – are mouthfuls of heaven. The Sicilian sweet tooth has manifested in some of the world’s finest desserts, like icy granita and sinful cannoli. Give your stomach a quick break and visually devour the Baroque architecture of Catania or the awesome holy monuments of Agrigento.

Sicily #5 destination in Italy 2023. The average rating score is 4.47 based on 360.2k traveler reviews, of 317 attractions. Timezone: Europe/Rome, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 19:10.

Top things to do (35)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Spiaggia dei Conigli (6.443 reviews)
- Closer to the sun and sea
Monday: 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM Beaches

Can be Maldives, it could be an island of nowhere in the Indian Ocean… it could be but is not. It is the Italian territory of Lampedusa, just an hour flight from Napoli. The place is absolutely non-European all the way, and it should not be, 155 km away from North Africa. On a more pragmatic matter, the sea is green smarald & blue and it is heavienly. Beech fairly regular and I am not keen on Italian style of people sitting on top of each other on the sand. I suggest not taking an umbrella and spend the time just in the water … at the end ne of the day, this is the real attraction! See more..
5.0 Ex Stabilimento Florio delle Tonnare di Favignana e Formica (5.486 reviews)
- Very interesting tour
Monday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • History Museums

If you spend some days in Favignana, you can't miss this tour. It takes just 1 hour and I suggest you to book in advance. I took a late evening tour, before sunset, and it was the highlight of my stay in Favignana. Guides are very informative and you can learn a lot about Florio family, tuna factory and in general about Sicily. The only downside: too many people in each group (50/60), during this times I'd appreciate less crowd. See more..
5.0 Duomo di Monreale (5.264 reviews) from $12.85
- Worth the visit.
Spent 1-2 hours Churches & Cathedrals

A trip to Monreale on the outskirts of Palermo is worth the effort. The town is a delightful little spot on the top of a hill overlooking Palermo. Lots of little shops and restaurants. Take the bus from Piazza indeprndenza for 1.4 Euros. Admission to the Cathedral is 13 Euros. Read a bit about it or get a guide to fully understand the history of what you are seeing. I engaged a guide just outside the lineup for the tickets at 2:30 PM for €15 Dash which included the admission price. A real good deal. See more..
5.0 Temple of Concordia (2.591 reviews)
- Italian wonder
Ancient Ruins

Built in 430 BC, this is one of the best-preserved Greek Temples located outside of Greece. See more..
5.0 Etna Tribe (2.503 reviews)
- Visit farm acquacoltura yabby
4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Bike Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Day Trips

Aquaculture Yabby is an aquaculture experimental facility located in Fiumefreddo, one the most enchanting places in Sicily. Alfio Girgenti, CEO of Aquaculture Yabby, with his wife, Rosaria Salvo, had the idea to import two exotic crayfish species Cherax destructor (Yabby) and Cherax quadricarinatus (Redclaw) in Sicily. The Sicilian warm weather creates the perfect conditions to successfully grow these species. The facility includes a nursery area furnished with artificial shelters for the new hatched juveniles and circular tanks and ponds for the grow-out phase. Currently, the Aquaculture Yabby hub is expanding and new technologies, photovoltaic screens which creates synergy between solar power and farming, are in the process to be installed. See more..
5.0 Go-Etna (1.936 reviews)
- A day well spent
Monday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM City Tours • Cultural Tours • 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours

Our very friendly and knowledgeable guide took us through unique landscapes around the volcano at around 2000m altitude, including lava fields and craters, beautiful forests, old lava flows, a lava cave and an impressive canyon. The tour was great and so were the food and the service. We recommend hiking shoes and clothes for cold weather, which you can leave in the car should you not need it. Also recommended are swimming pants and water shoes so that you can explore the canyon fully. Overall a great experience and a day well spent :) See more..
5.0 Adventurerooms Escape Room (1.922 reviews)
- Amazing experience.
Monday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM Spent 1-2 hours Escape Games

The Toy Factory was fun, creative and scary. Davidè made it such a great experience with added effects I wasn't expecting. I've done many escape rooms over Europe and this was by one of the most thrilling for experiences. See more..
4.5 Valle dei Templi (18.2k reviews) from $18.74
- Well preserved UNESCO site
Monday: 8:30 AM - 11:00 PM Ancient Ruins • Religious Sites

This region is one of the most important archeological sites in the world with many great temples such as Hera (Juno,) Lacinia, Concordia, Heracles (Hercules) and Olympian Zeus (Jupiter,) all dramatically perched along a long rocky scarp. See more..
4.5 Ortigia (16.0k reviews)
- A gorgeous morning at sea, a glimpse into the ancient fishing techniques of Ortigia and a memory will never forget
Spent More than 3 hours Islands

This offshore island was occupied by the Greek colonists who fortified it and constructed the earliest structures, including the temples of Athena and Apollo, whose remains can still be seen today. See more..
4.5 Ancient Theatre of Taormina (14.0k reviews)
- Stunning piece of history
Spent 1-2 hours Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks

The view of Mount Etna and the sea beyond is absolutely superb at Taormina's 10,000-seat ancient Greek amphitheater, which was erected in the third century BC and expanded by the Romans. See more..
4.5 Mount Etna (12.2k reviews)
- Developed into a major tourist attraction, but still worth the trip
Spent More than 3 hours Mountains • Volcanos

This mountain in Catania is known for being the one of the oldest and most active volcanoes in Europe. At the peak, you can enjoy stunning views of the gorgeous Sicilian countryside, especially magical at sunset. Other than that, there are also incredible craters and ice caves to explore. To get to the summit, you'll need to book a tour, which is also a great opportunity to learn more about the fascinating geography and history of the volcano from an experienced guide. Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers, as temperatures can vary depending on the altitude. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Cattedrale di Palermo (8.387 reviews)
- Great historical place
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Churches & Cathedrals

This cathedral was started in 1185 by the norman archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio. You can visit the Royal and Imperial tomb of Frederik the II, the urn with the relics of the patron Saint of Palermo Santa Rosalia, plus a treasury with a precious medieval crown and a crypt from the VII century. The church is free to enter, there is a ticket to access the monumental area composed by royal tombs, treasury, crypt and the roof. See more..
4.5 Norman Palace (7.211 reviews)
- Wonderful
Monday: 8:15 AM - 5:45 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings

Whilst I was in a queue for the tickets, I had a read through the previous reviews. There is a range from “brilliant” to “awful”( mostly positive) Essentially, we had a wonderful time. The combination of the majesty of the Norman Palace, the incredible Art and mosaics within the Palatine chapel, an exhibition of the historic walls and foundations and the added bonus of an art exhibition were, in my opinion, entirely sufficient to justify the relatively steep price (of course you get a discount if you’re still within the EU, but us Brits have to pay the full price of €19 per head). We arrived at lunchtime, I suspect some of the previous problems have been when people have arrived later. A good hour and a half’s entertainment Well worth the effort See more..
4.5 Funierice - Erice Cableway (6.157 reviews)
- Not that expensive and saves looking for a rare parking spot up there
Monday: 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Trams • Public Transportation Systems

The cable Car linking the city of Trapani to the medieval village of Erice Capital through their respective terminals, along a 3099-meters slant height, on the same path as the old cable Car that was operated between the 1950s and the 1970s. The plant is equipped with night lighting to be operated in the dark as well as with special cabins for people with disabilities and for bikes. Tour View with no stop boarding, 42 cabins for 8 people each and 12 minutes drive. Two Automatic Parking Areas with cameras at the exclusive service for the users of the cable car FOR ONLY € 1,50 FOR FIRST THREE HOURS. ATTENTION TO THE UNAUTHORIZED PARKING MEN ASK UNTIL € 5/€ 10 FOR CAR. See more..
4.5 Duomo di Siracusa (5.706 reviews)
- A Cathedral with the Temple of Athena inside
Churches & Cathedrals

This majestic cathedral is in the centre of Ortigia. It’s an impressive building outside and it’s worth to visit inside, too. The entrance fee is 2 euros, with Teacher’s card is free. Inside we saw the the remains of the sanctuary of Athena from 5th century B.C. The cathedral has a special atmosphere. My favourite part was the baptistery with the baptismal font (5th century B.C). See more..
4.5 Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro (5.574 reviews)
- Terrific hike, sensational views
Nature & Wildlife Areas

We started at the Scopello entrance (thankfully found the last remaining parking space in the nearest parking lot), paid the 5E admission and set off. It’s about 12kms all the way to San Vito lo Capo, and you need to retrace along the same route to return. Terrrific views, and secluded beaches and coves to explore en route. The popular Cala Capreria is reachable about 15 minutes into the hike itself. This is a physically strenuous hike, though not dangerous in any way with some changes in elevation en route. Bring enough refreshments and water (free water fountain near Scopello gate). Given there is very limited shade and its been an unusually hot summer, this can really sap your energy. We only went as far as Cala Marinella and returned, taking about 4.5 hours with stops. See more..
4.5 Scala dei Turchi (4.951 reviews)
- Read about the history here-pure white marl cliffs
Spent 2-3 hours Geologic Formations

Scala dei Turchi Scala dei Turchi La Scala dei Turchi seen from the beach State Italy Italy Region Sicily Sicily City Realmonte Mass of Mediterranean water Coordinates 37 ° 17'23.92 "N 13 ° 28'21.95" ECoordinate: 37 ° 17'23.92 "N 13 ° 28'21.95" E (Map) Location map Location Map: Sicily IslandScala dei TurchiScala dei Turchi La Scala dei Turchi is a rocky wall (cliff) that rises above the sea along the coast of Realmonte, in the province of Agrigento. It has become over time a tourist attraction both for the singularity of the cliff, white in color and the peculiar shapes, and following the popularity acquired by novels starring the commissioner Montalbano written by the writer empedoclino Andrea Camilleri, in which such places are cited country commissioner, to be framed with Porto Empedocle.. See more..
4.5 Villa Romana del Casale (4.725 reviews)
- Great mosaic collection
Monday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks

This 3rd-century Roman villa features more than 40 beautiful mosaic floors, making it one of the most cherished open-air museums in the region. See more..
4.5 Ragusa Ibla (4.550 reviews)
- Glorious hilltop city
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas

The best way to appreciate Ragusa Ibla is to climb up to Ragusa Superiore and enjoy the breathtaking views at sunset at the steps next to Chiesa di Santa Maria Della Scale. You can also choose to take the local bus up, and walk about 10 mins to the vantage point. Buses #11 or #33 depart from the bus stop at the front of of the main garden Giardino Ibleo. The ride up is scenic and rewarding, and offers a different experience vs the climb. We did both. Took the bus up for sunset and did the hike at the break of dawn to catch sunrise. I must say that the sunset views are more spectacular. Ragusa Ibla is a charming little hilltop city that can be easily explored in two days at a leisurely pace. To me it’s like an open air museum where you’ll want to check out every nook and corner. In the evenings, the city gets even more atmospheric as you stroll along the cobbled streets set against a backdrop of lovely baroque architecture amid dramatic lighting. See more..
4.5 Centro Storico (4.430 reviews)
- amazing example of Sicilian Baroque Period
Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas

Noto is not only worth a visit, but also a stay. It takes you more than one full day to visit everything, and it is nice to just scroll the city center... some of the nobelty palaces are being recently refurbished and the whole city is undergoing a deep change investing in (hopefully) quality tourism. The substance is there, take this opportunity. Prices are on the rise, hurry up. See more..
4.5 Piazza del Duomo (4.035 reviews)
- Center of Catania
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

There are several historic buildings in this area, and you can walk around and visit as many or as few as you choose. Alternatively, there is a hop on/ off train that costs about 5 euros I think and that is a good way to see many of the main sites. There are a few restaurants near the main Piazza, and a granita with brioche or a cocktail with a few appetizers (they come with the drink) is a nice way to take a little time out and watch the world go by. Parking in this area is mostly paid for, marked with blue bays and not really expensive at 0.87 euros per hour. See more..
4.5 Parco Archeologico Selinunte (3.801 reviews)
- Impressive rebuild of a Greek temple
Spent 2-3 hours Ancient Ruins

The most impressive feature of the site is the rebuilt temple. Unusually for such locations you can actually go inside this rebuilt structure. Nearby are the remains of two other temples which have not been repaired, but are still an impressive sight. There is limited shade around the temples, but the nearby toilets are supprisingly clean. The actual site is huge, but suspect most people will do as we did - explore the rebuilt temple and look at the two ruins nearby. Allow one to one and a half hours if that is what you are planning. See more..
4.5 Villa Comunale (3.711 reviews)
- A nice break from the hustle.
Parks

A beautiful garden which was built by an Englishwoman with a great mix of facilities. It has some lovely terraces with lovely views over the sea and Taormina together with Mount Etna in the distance. It also has a series of follies, some aviaries (2 parrots was all we spotted la children's playground and some outdoor exercise areas. There are plenty of benches and at the far end some stones that look good for a picnic. Some of the buildings were fenced off and there are no toilets within the park. We went in late May about 11.00 and it was quite quiet. See more..
4.5 Corso Umberto (3.621 reviews)
- Connects the two gates of the city
Points of Interest & Landmarks

The main street is between the two gates of the city: Porta Messina and Porta Catania. It’s a must-see-attraction with lots of medieval palaces, churches and monasteries. There are lots of popular bars, shops and gelaterie. It’s pedestrianised and ideal for strolling and window-shopping. Picturesque lanes above and below the Corso are interesting to explore. See more..
4.5 Teatro Massimo (3.545 reviews)
- Fabulous
Theaters

One of the biggest opera houses in Europe, Teatro Massimo is renowned for its excellent acoustiscs and holds over 1,300 seats.The venue hosts more than 130 music, opera and dance events every year.The exteriors are in neo-classical style with influences from Greek Sicilian temples, while the interiors are art-nouveau. See more..
4.5 Spiaggia di Cala Rossa (3.468 reviews)
- Absolute stunning
Beaches

Incredible spot with the most amazing water. Super clean with a stunning rock setting. Not the easiest to access but 100% worth it if you can get there. Recommend the little aqua shoes sold in the town! See more..
4.5 Duomo di Cefalù (3.448 reviews)
- UNESCO listed, a must see...
Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Churches & Cathedrals

An amazing trip in the Beauty! Visit the Cathedral, explore the Itinerary with the Towers, the Roofs, the Treasure and the Canonical Cloister! Live the Beauty! Itineraries are temporarily closed for winter season. See more..
4.5 Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio di Dionisio) (3.164 reviews)
- Wow blown away
Caverns & Caves

Such an interesting place to visit. Cool place. I’m blown away by it. Leaves me speechless Learning about the tales of this attraction. I heard in ancient times they used to lock the prisoners by tying them to a rope attached to the top of this attraction. Pretty impressive to check out. See more..
4.5 Tempio di Segesta (3.016 reviews)
- Enjoying history in piece
Monday: 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM Ancient Ruins • Religious Sites

This unfinished fifth-century Doric temple has everything but a roof and an interior, and the huge structure seems unaffected by time. A small theater atop a nearby hill offers visitors a stunning view of green hills and the deep blue hues of the sea below. See more..
4.5 Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (La Martorana) (2.699 reviews)
- Just beautiful - don't miss it!
Monday: Churches & Cathedrals

This chapel is known for its superb gold Byzantium mosaics. See more..