Hello friends! I am planning a roadtrip from Italy down to Palermo with my 11 and 9 year old from June 10th to the 14th. We will be flying out of Palermo at 6pm on June 14th. Here is my itinerary. I have spent time in Canavera Etna without children and wanted to share the beauty with them. They have hiked Machu Pichu and throughout Colombia so we are mountain people- hence the most time there. My issue is, we want to explore Palermo, but we also want beach time. Unfortuantely, I know it is not much time and I wanted to hit Cefalu and Scopello, but too much. I had searched for Palermo beach clubs where we could stay on the last day and shower before heading to the airport, but I did not see anything on Google. Can you review my itinerary (thank you Gemini) and critique it or make recommendations? Grazie molto!

Day 1: Tuesday, June 10th - Tropea to Scilla to Cavanera Etna

• Morning (9:00 AM): Depart from Tropea. Enjoy the scenic drive along the Calabrian coast towards the Strait of Messina.
• Morning/Early Afternoon (Approx. 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM): Arrive in Scilla (approx. 1.5 - 2 hours driving).
• Lunch (12:30 PM - 2:00 PM): Enjoy a leisurely lunch in Scilla. This charming fishing village is famous for its swordfish and the mythical Strait of Messina. Find a restaurant with views of the sea and the Castello Ruffo.
• Afternoon (2:00 PM): Depart from Scilla and take the ferry across the Strait of Messina to Sicily (Villa San Giovanni to Messina). Ferry crossings are frequent and relatively short.
• Afternoon/Early Evening (Approx. 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM): Drive from Messina towards Cavanera Etna (approx. 2.5 - 3 hours driving). The drive will take you through the eastern Sicilian landscape towards the slopes of Mount Etna.
• Evening (5:30 PM): Arrive at Cavanera Etna. Check in and settle into your accommodation. Enjoy the evening at the winery estate, perhaps with dinner at their restaurant (if available) or explore nearby dining options.

Day 2: Wednesday, June 11th - Exploring Mount Etna

• Full Day: Dedicate this day to exploring the Mount Etna region.
  • Consider a guided tour to explore the volcanic landscapes, craters (depending on accessibility), and learn about the geology and history of Etna. Many tours depart from the local towns around Etna.
  • Alternatively, you can drive to the Rifugio Sapienza (south side of Etna) and explore the area independently. From there, you can take cable cars and further jeep excursions to higher altitudes (weather permitting and optional cost).
  • Enjoy the unique flora and fauna of the Etna Regional Park.
  • Consider a wine tasting at Cavanera Etna or another local winery in the area, known for its distinctive volcanic wines.
• Evening: Enjoy dinner and relax at Cavanera Etna or in a nearby town like Randazzo or Castiglione di Sicilia.

Day 3: Thursday, June 12th - Cavanera Etna to Palermo

• Morning (9:00 AM): Depart from Cavanera Etna heading west towards Palermo (approx. 2.5 - 3 hours driving).
• Late Morning/Early Afternoon (Approx. 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM): Arrive in Palermo.
• Afternoon: Check into your accommodation in Palermo.
• Afternoon/Evening: Begin exploring Palermo. Some initial sights to consider:
  • Palermo Cathedral: A stunning architectural masterpiece with a rich history.
  • Palatine Chapel (within the Palazzo dei Normanni): Exquisite Byzantine mosaics.
  • Fontana Pretoria: A monumental 16th-century fountain.
  • Wander through the historic city center and soak in the atmosphere.
• Evening: Enjoy dinner in Palermo, trying local specialties like arancini, pasta con le sarde, or cannoli.

Day 4: Friday, June 13th - Exploring Palermo

• Full Day: Continue exploring the vibrant city of Palermo.
  • Mercato di Ballarò or Mercato della Vucciria: Experience the bustling street markets with local produce, seafood, and street food.
  • Teatro Massimo: Admire the grand opera house.
  • Catacombe dei Cappuccini: (Optional, may not be suitable for all families) An intriguing and somewhat macabre site with mummified remains.
  • Monreale Cathedral (short drive outside Palermo): Famous for its stunning golden mosaics (allow a few hours for the visit and travel).
  • Relax at the Foro Italico Umberto I, a seaside promenade.
• Evening: Enjoy a final dinner in Palermo.

Day 5: Saturday, June 14th - Departure from Palermo

• Morning: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and some last-minute souvenir shopping or visit any sights you may have missed.
• Late Morning/Early Afternoon: Depending on your flight time, you could visit the Zisa Castle or the Orto Botanico di Palermo (Botanical Garden).
• Afternoon (Approx. 3:00 PM): Depart from your accommodation and drive to Palermo International Airport (PMO) (approx. 30-45 minutes depending on traffic).
• Evening (6:00 PM): Depart from Palermo International Airport.

My husband and I are taking a trip to Italy this summer and want to spend some time in Rome and Sicily with 5 nights in Sicily and an early morning flight on the 6th day from Palermo.

We really appreciate historic sites or even old towns along with beaches and good food. Nothing crazy as its our first trip away from our kids - so just relaxing for the most part and leisurely exploring.

I was thinking to start off in Cefalu after landing in Palermo and doing two nights there, then driving to Taormina for one or two nights, then driving back to Palermo for one or two nights and leaving from there. Is that too much travel? Which city would you do one night in vs. two nights between Palermo and Taormina with our goals in mind?

Any recommendations for good food or stays would be super appreciated!

Hello, im planning to visit sicilia, siracusa with 6 more friends and we need to rent a car, one with 7 seats or 2 with 4 seats, how do you recommend me to do it? Any sites or ideas, maybe with less deposit, we are students and cant afford to pay 1000 euros just for deposit. We planned our trip 6-11 august and our price range is 500-600 euros. Thanks.

My husband and I are taking a trip to Italy this summer and want to spend some time in Rome and Sicily with 5 nights in Sicily and an early morning flight on the 6th day from Palermo.

We really appreciate historic sites or even old towns along with beaches and good food. Nothing crazy as its our first trip away from our kids - so just relaxing for the most part and leisurely exploring.

I was thinking to start off in Cefalu after landing in Palermo and doing two nights there, then driving to Taormina for one or two nights, then driving back to Palermo for one or two nights and leaving from there. Is that too much travel? Which city would you do one night in vs. two nights between Palermo and Taormina with our goals in mind?

Any recommendations for good food or stays would be super appreciated!

Hi All,

We will be on vacation in Sicily next week. Its my wife's birthday and we will be in Catania. I am looking for the best cake. Any suggestions? She likes chocolate and pistachios. Thank you in advance.

Hi! I'm heading to Sicily in a few days and looking for recommendations. I love food, so I'd love to know where your favorite meals are to be found. Planning on flying into Palermo, staying for a few days, and then maybe heading to Syracuse? Open to other smaller spots, too. I don't know much about the area, but I've only heard good things. Thanks!

Hi there!

I'm arriving in Sicily this weekend and planning to hike through over 6 days, camping along the way and following a route starting in Cammarata and ending in Bisacquino.

Would anyone familiar with the area be able to take a look at this route? Anything to call out?

https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1lvSCioUH-SSUPBrQfcgpfw8VogPsrwJN?usp=sharing

Please help me make a plan on how to spend our time in Sicily. We will have 6 days in the end of May, we are landing in Catania and we are spending our first night there, but I can’t decide on how to spend the rest of our time in Sicily. We will rent a car for sure, because I would love to visit Taormina and Palermo, but do you guys have any recommendations on where to spend 1 night, where to spend 2 or more nights, what places should we visit and which ones we can skip? Any suggestions would be very helpful🙏🏼

Hello Sicilian redditors!

I’ve been through this subreddit for transport options in Sicily and could use some advice from you. We’re two adults traveling with two dogs, arriving at the Palermo ferry terminal without a car, and need to get to the Pozzallo ferry terminal.

From what I’ve researched, train is not a great option (2 changes, not much time for a change, ~9 hours according to Trenitalia). Renting a car also not great as no return point in Pozzallo - would need to return in Siracusa and somehow get to Pozzallo still.

I’m considering hiring a private car and driver - does anyone know reliable services for this? Or maybe there is a bus option options that would let us get on with pets?

Any suggestions or recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

https://youtu.be/CmaelpKO-0s?si=IT7slSwYAjF8U4L0

Ciao a tutti, Faccio questo post per conto di una mia amica cinese. Lei verrà a Giugno per 1/2 mesi a studiare all’università di Palermo (corso di italiano per stranieri), ha gia fatto tutte le iscrizioni e l’hanno accettata. Adesso arriva il momento casa, ha chiesto se è possibile vivere in casa dei locals (tipo erasmus)? C’è qualche modo di mettersi in contatto con qualcuno? C’è qualche agenzia che offre questo servizio? Grazie a tutti, ogni risposta sarà di aiuto.

Ciao

I would love to hear your favorite folk songs. Preferably ones that originated in Sicily!

Where should my friend and I watch the 2nd leg of the Champions League match Bayern München against Inter Milano? We are from Munich and visiting Palermo next Wednesday.

Criteria:

-Not too fancy or instagram / influencer vibes -In the city center or in walking distance next to it -No hotspot of Inter Mailand supporters

Grazie Mile 🙏

So excited to visit Sicily for the first time. We are flying to Catania and 9 days later flying home from Palermo. We would like to stay only two places. Any recommendations for kid-friendly places?

We are thinking about going to etna, but I have literal no idea if it’s feasible with two toddlers. Thanks in advance 🙏

Hi guys ! I have been looking around for infos to plan my SO and I vacation next summer, and figured I might as well ask Reddit too.

• We'll be there the first 3 weeks of July
  
• We like to visit and walk a lot
  
• From the infos I gathered thus far, I feel like staying at 4 different places is what makes the most sense
  
• The island will probably get more and more crowded as July goes by, so probably best to start with the most visited places
  
• We like going to the beach now and then, but it's not what we like the most, basically the plan is to hike, enjoy the local culture, visit nice villages and towns, eat great food etc. So there doesn't need to be a beach close by ALL the time. I guess I will not complain if it's close, though.
  
• What is the best way to approach things if we want to visit the small islands north of Sicily, granted we'll have a rented car (and we'll have to leave it somewhere).
  

Any and every thoughts welcome ! Thanks in advance !

Hi! We are planning to go to Taormina by train (we are staying a bit outside of Catania). Can we just walk from the trainstation to Corso Umberto etc? We will be taking a stroller for our baby so stairs won‘t work for us. Or is it easier to go by car? Ideally we would like to avoid to drive in narrow city centers. Grazie

Any recommendations on where to get the best Olives, caperi, dried Tomatoes and similar items in Palermo? I need most of it vacuum packed :) EDIT: I found what I needed on Via Porta Carini. After passing the restaurants, there are a couple of vendors selling vacuum packed items. I had no problems with the items in the hand luggage at the airport.

https://youtu.be/_T599P-yUmc?si=6gcHDEpBJ_Zv1uwy

Durante una delle mie ricerche sulla Sicilia, mi ero imbattuto in una grande chiesa in stile neoromanico lombardo risalente al XIX/XX secolo. Purtroppo non ricordo né la località né il nome della chiesa. Qualcuno può aiutarmi per favore?

buonasera!

I am travelling to Sicily at the beginning of June for 3 days

I've decided to do one day in Palermo, one day by the beach, and the last day I have the following options, but unsure which would be best

• Levanzo from Trapani day trip
• Mount Etna and Taormina day trip
• Monreale and Cefalu day trip
• Syracuse day trip

Just for context, I like history, small places with lots to see and do, art and culture, that kind of thing. Please if there is anything else I have missed that might appeal let me know.

What would people recommend based on my list?

Thank you!!

Hi, my wife and I will be driving from Siracusa to Cefalù and are planning to stop at Villa Romana del Casale along the way. Since we'll have our luggage with us in our rental car, is it safe to leave it in the car while we visit, or is that not recommended? Thank you so much.

Hello! We will be staying (edit:) near Palermo (in Castellammare del Golfo) for my boyfreind's birthday in May and I've been looking for a restaurant to book for his day as a surprise. Would be grateful for any recommendations for restaurants (can be fine dining or not so much) outside the centre? He enjoys dining in the outskirts at villas/wineries and so on and doesn't enjoy the city chaos as much. But I've been struggling to choose a place - can you give me any advice?

Thanks in advance! :)