Resort, Sandy beach, Cathedral, Mountain, Lookout

Cefalù is a historic seaside town on the northern coast of Sicily, about 70 km east of Palermo. It combines a sandy beach, medieval streets, a Norman cathedral and a viewpoint from the Rocca di Cefalù cliff, all in one place. It is easy to get here from Palermo by direct train. Cefalù is therefore one of the best day trips in Sicily. If your itinerary allows, we recommend staying here for at least one night. The town centre is quieter in the…

Volcano

When someone says they’ve been ‘to Mount Etna’, they may simply have walked around the crater near the car park at an altitude of 1,900 metres, taken the cable car up to 2,500 metres, or spent six hours climbing to the active summit craters. The difference is considerable – in terms of cost, the level of fitness required, and the experience itself. For a first visit, we recommend the southern side, Etna Sud, near Rifugio Sapienza. Here you’ll…

Island

If you fancy visiting a volcano but find Etna a bit too ‘civilised’ for your taste, you’ll love Stromboli. Not only can you witness a lava eruption every 15 minutes, but the summit can only be reached on foot.  It’s not that tourists don’t flock there, but you really do have to make your own way to the crater, and the ascent and subsequent descent require a reasonable level of fitness. Of course, the Italians have come up with an alternative…

Island

As soon as you set foot on the island of Vulcano, you’ll be hit by strong hydrogen sulphide fumes, which rise to the surface through the fumaroles of the dormant volcano. On this small island, it’s simple: you can swim at either the light-coloured or black public beaches, take a dip in the mud pool, or set off on a trek to the crater. Swimming in the mud pool is said to be good for your health, so you can do a few laps – mud, sea, mud, sea …

National Park

Zingaro is the first nature reserve to be established in Sicily. The reserve protects 7 km of unspoilt coastline between Castellammare del Golfo and San Vito Lo Capo. You won’t find any roads, hotels or restaurants here. Just walking trails, limestone cliffs, small pebble beaches and exceptionally clear sea. In my opinion, Zingaro is one of the most beautiful day trips in western Sicily. You don’t have to walk the entire length of the nature…

National Park

The Madonie is a local mountain reserve, the highest peak of which rises to 1,979 metres above sea level. It is a destination primarily for lovers of hiking, which can be combined with exploring mountain villages, allowing you to get a little off the beaten track. View the best accommodation in Sicily compare car hire prices The hikes offer beautiful views not only of Mount Etna, but also of the volcanic cones of the Aeolian Islands…

Tourist town, Castle, Cathedral, Mountain, Lookout

Enna stands in the centre of Sicily on a high rocky promontory at an altitude of 931 metres above sea level. It is the highest provincial capital in Italy and offers some of the best views of the Sicilian hinterland. The historic centre is known as Enna Alta. Below, near the motorway, lies modern Enna Bassa, which serves mainly as a transport and university district. Most of the sights, viewpoints and tourist accommodation are located in Enna…

Sandy beach, Coast, Cliff

Scala dei Turchi is a dazzling white cliff on the southern coast of Sicily. It lies near the town of Realmonte, about 15 km from Agrigento. Its undulating surface resembles a wide staircase descending into the sea. In my opinion, Scala dei Turchi is one of those places well worth a visit, particularly when combined with a trip to Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples. The stop itself only takes a short while. However, you’ll have a much…

Tourist town, Salt Plain

With a population of 72,000, Trapani is Sicily’s fifth-largest city and, thanks to Trapani Airport, one of the starting points for travelling around Sicily. All boats and ferries to the popular Egadi Islands also depart from Trapani, and the resort of San Vito lo Capo and the ancient ruins of Segesta are also nearby. Sights and attractions The town itself lies on a narrow peninsula, on which the historic centre is situated. It boasts typically…

Archipelago

The Egadi Islands are still a somewhat overlooked archipelago, situated just a few dozen minutes by ferry from Trapani. The three main islands – Favignana, Levanzo and Marittimo – welcome you with a laid-back island atmosphere, beautiful villages and plenty of small, secluded beaches with very few tourists. View the best accommodation on the Egadi Islands The island of Favignana The largest of the Egadi Islands, Favignana covers an area of…

Sandy beach, Cliff

Torre Salsa is one of Sicily’s wildest beach areas. The nature reserve lies between the towns of Siculiana and Eraclea Minoa, west of Agrigento. Along the 6 km stretch of coastline, wide sandy beaches, dunes, wetlands and white marl and gypsum cliffs alternate. It is therefore not a single continuous 6 km-long beach. In my opinion, Torre Salsa is better than the better-known Scala dei Turchi if you want to spend a whole day by the sea. However…

Valley

The Gole dell’Alcantara Gorge is one of the most fascinating natural sites in the Taormina area. Here, the river has exposed solidified lava flows from Mount Etna, which have cracked into regular basalt columns. The canyon walls reach heights of up to 30 metres. In my opinion, the Alcantara Gorge is well worth a visit, especially on a hot day. It isn’t a hike through the gorge lasting several hours, like the Samaria Gorge in Crete, for example…

City, Salt Plain, Mill

Marsala is Sicily’s fourth-largest city and lies on the very western coast of the island, not far from Trapani Airport. As a result, together with the city of Trapani, it serves as one of the ideal starting points for exploring western Sicily. View the best accommodation in Sicily Compare car hire prices Although Marsala itself is not as rich in sights as other Sicilian towns, you can admire, for example, the extensive salt pans – pools of…

Mountain

The Nebrodi Mountains are a marvellous, forgotten corner of north-eastern Sicily, attracting all lovers of hiking whilst drawing very few other visitors. White limestone massifs with very sparse vegetation alternate with green meadows where cattle graze and forested, gently rounded mountain peaks rising to heights of over 1,800 metres above sea level. In short, the Nebrodi are a paradise for all lovers of nature and the authenticity of the local…