By air
Catania (CTA) or Palermo (PMO), one airport at each end of the island
Europe · Italy
Sicily, Italy
Greek temples, Etna and island markets
Getting there
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October — warm, not scorching
Don't miss
The Greek Theatre in Taormina
The Valley of the Temples
Mount Etna
Palermo Cathedral
Things to do
Mount Etna
The Valley of the Temples
Palermo's markets
The beach at San Vito Lo Capo
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: John Menard from Phoenix, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
What to pack
Swimwear, walking shoes
A quieter corner
Ortigia, the island old town of Syracuse
Questions travellers ask
When should I go to Sicily?
April to June and September to October — warm, not scorching. Pack swimwear and walking shoes.
What are the must-see sights in Sicily?
The Greek Theatre in Taormina, the Valley of the Temples, Mount Etna and Palermo Cathedral. Don't skip Ortigia, the island old town of Syracuse, or the beach at San Vito Lo Capo.
What are Sicily's must-try foods?
Arancini, cannoli and granita with brioche. Palermo's markets are worth a wander, too.
Which airport should I fly into for Sicily?
Catania (CTA) or Palermo (PMO), with one airport at each end of the island.
About Sicily
- Island
Where it is
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and an autonomous region of Italy, separated from Calabria by the narrow Strait of Messina, with Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, near its east coast; Palermo is its capital.
History
Greeks settled from about 750 BC, founding cities such as Syracuse, while Carthage held the west until Rome took the island in the First Punic War. Arabs ruled it in the 9th–11th centuries, the Normans made it a kingdom in 1130, and after centuries of Aragonese, Spanish and Bourbon rule Garibaldi's Thousand landed at Marsala in 1860, bringing Sicily into a united Italy.
People
Sicilians speak Italian and Sicilian, a language shaped by Greek, Arabic, Norman and Spanish influences. The Opera dei Pupi puppet theatre, painted carts and the ceramics of Caltagirone are prized traditions, and the island's food, from arancini to cassata, reflects the same mix of cultures.
Known for
- Mount Etna
- The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento
- The Greek theatre of Taormina
- Palermo's markets and Arab-Norman churches
- Cannoli, arancini and granita
Did you know?
The mathematician Archimedes lived in Syracuse and helped defend it against Rome; he was killed by Roman soldiers when the city fell in 212 BC.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.