10 Best Places to Visit in Sicily

Planning a trip to Sicily and wondering what places to put on your itinerary? Then read on, because this post lays out the 10 best places to visit in Sicily!

After returning from an incredible 11-day Sicily Road Trip, we couldn’t get over how many amazing sites the island has. It truly is one of the best places to visit in Italy! The entire trip felt like one big highlight reel, with each day surpassing the last. It’s hard to narrow down our favorite places, but this list has my top 10 places to visit in Sicily, which will help you get started on planning your trip to this amazing island.

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⏳Short on time? Check out my top Sicily recommendations:

🗺️ Tours: GetYourGuide and Viator

📍 Recommended Excursions:

–Syracuse and Noto Small Group Tour

–Full Day Etna, Wine, & Altara Canyons Tour

🚗 Getting Around: Find the best rates on rental cars in Sicily through Discover Cars

🏥 Travel Insurance: Insubuy

📞 Staying Connected: DrimSim

Mount etna, one of the best places to visit in sicily, as seen from Castelmola at sunset.

Table of Contents

1. Mount Etna

Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, looms tall over eastern Sicily. With a long history of destruction – the volcano has leveled the city of Catania 6 times in written history – you may think trekking this volcano (which erupts on average 200 times a year) is out of the question. On the contrary, Mount Etna is open year-round to visitors and is Sicily’s most visited tourist attraction!

The busy outdoor fish market in Catania fills a city square with people gathered around tables of fresh seafood laid out in bins and on cutting boards. Vendors and shoppers stand close together under arched stone buildings with worn facades graffiti and balconies above creating a lively street market atmosphere.

2. Catania’s fish market

Under the grit and graffiti, the city of Catania has charm and character. Home to a Duomo constructed from lava rocks, a hidden Roman theater, and one of Italy’s only WW II museums, Catania has a lot to offer the adventurous tourist. The main draw of Catania, however, is its bustling fish market.

This authentic market, which takes place daily, features vendors selling the catch of the day along with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other culinary delights. A walk through the market will delight the senses – vendors sing out in Sicilian announcing their wares, and the salty smell of fish lingers in the air. Amble through the market and delight in the colors, smells, and tastes surrounding you.

Temple of Concordia in Agrigento, Sicily, one of the best preserved Greek temples outside of Greece, and a top place to visit in Sicily.

3. Valley of the Temples, Agrigento

Sicily is home to the best-preserved collection of Greek temples outside of Greece. Visitors to the Valley of the Temples will see these temple ruins in various states of deterioration. While some temples appear almost completely intact, others are merely piles of rubble. Visitors will be transported back nearly 2,000 years as they wander amongst the ruins of this fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ancient Roman mosaic showing women in two rows wearing bikini style garments while running jumping and holding sports equipment. The figures appear mid motion with items like a discus ball palm branches and crowns suggesting athletic competition. The mosaic is set into a stone floor with visible wear that highlights its age and historical context.

4. Mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale

Adding to Sicily’s historical treasures, the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale are the most complete and preserved Roman mosaics in the world.

The home itself is shrouded in mystery. Archaeologists and historians don’t know who owned it. However, based on the size of the home and the quantity and quality of murals, we know the owner was a wealthy individual. Although out of the way for most itineraries (you’ll need to rent a car and drive in Sicily to get to them), the murals are remarkably detailed and worth a trip on any visit to Sicily.

5. Ortigia, Syracuse

Ortigia (also spelled Ortygia) is the ancient section of the city of Syracuse. Its narrow streets are filled with tasty eateries and charming boutiques. Ortigia also boasts a wealth of history, including a cathedral built using columns from an ancient Roman temple. With expansive Mediterranean views and many streets to wander, Ortigia is a must-see stop on your Sicily itinerary.

Cathedral of the baroque city of Noto, Sicily.

6. Baroque city of Noto

The city of Noto is famous for its stunning Baroque architecture. One of the few planned cities in Sicily, the architecture along Noto’s main thoroughfare follows a consistent style. With buildings that glow golden in the sunlight, Noto is a photographer’s dream. There are numerous churches to explore, a theater, delicious eateries, and a few nicer, yet touristy, shops.

The interior of Monreale Cathedral in Sicily features towering Byzantine mosaics glowing with gold tiles that cover the apse and surrounding arches. At the center is a large image of Christ Pantocrator with a raised hand and open book, surrounded by saints angels and biblical figures arranged in vertical panels that emphasize the height and grandeur of the space.

7. Monreale Cathedral

The Monreale Cathedral, a short bus ride from the heart of Palermo city, showcases exquisite Byzantine mosaics on a grand scale. Inside this cathedral, the ceiling is filled with depictions of biblical scenes constructed using tiny pieces of stone. Despite the limited light in the cathedral, the golden inlay makes the mosaics appear to glow. While visiting Monreale Cathedral, be sure to ascend into the rafters for panoramic views of Palermo. The adjacent cloisters are also worth a visit, althoughthey require a separate ticket.

8. Churches of Palermo

The city of Palermo boasts some of the most unique churches in Sicily. Saint Catherine, San Cataldo, and Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio are most noteworthy and happen to be located on the same block. The Palatine Chapel, found within Palermo’s Norman Palace, is an immersive experience. Visitors are surrounded by golden floor-to-ceiling mosaics. Further afield is the shrine of Santa Rosalia, Palermo’s patron saint, built into a damp mountaintop cave.

The pebbled beach of Isola Bella in Taormina, Sicily. The sun is shining and the picture shows the rocky, tree-lined hills towering over the beach and the crystal clear blue waters of the Mediterranean.

9. Beachside Taormina

While Taormina is known as a posh retreat for mainland Italians, the city still offers plenty of local charm. Every Sicily itinerary should include at least one day in Taormina!

The main street is full of luxury shopping and nice restaurants, but a few steps off will take you past narrow alleys lined with orange trees and stunning Mediterranean views. Taormina is also home to the Antico Theater, an ancient Greek-turned-Roman theater with an amazing view of Mount Etna. During the summer months, take the cable car down to Isola Bella beach and swim in the crystal clear Mediterranean waters.

The ancient Greco-Roman theater inSyracuse, Sicily.

10. Neapolis Archaeological Park, Syracuse

Visitors to the Neapolis Archaeological Park can walk inside an ancient limestone quarry and see a 2,000-year-old Greek theater, the best preserved in the world. The theater once had a seating capacity of 16,000 spectators. During Roman times, the stage was adapted to hold water for boating demonstrations. Every year from May to early July, the theater is reinvigorated with live performances of classical pieces.

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