Things to Do in Sicily: Etna, Temples, Taormina and Palermo

Choosing things to do in Sicily comes down to one decision first: the east, the west, or both.

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Sicily is too big to see from one base: Palermo and Catania are on opposite sides of the island. This guide groups the best things to do in Sicily by area, with the official ticket price for each major site, how to reach it, and the tours worth booking where going alone is harder. For where to stay and how to plan the trip, see our Sicily travel guide.

Top things to do in Sicily at a glance

Prices (checked September 2026). Reduced tickets are half price at the regional parks.

Eastern Sicily: Etna, Taormina and Syracuse

Climb Mount Etna

One of the world’s most active volcanoes is the reason many travelers come to eastern Sicily. From Rifugio Sapienza, the Funivia dell’Etna cable car goes to 2,500 meters for €54 round trip; its “Tour 3000” adds a 4×4 and a guide to about 3,000 meters, which the operator describes as the maximum altitude allowed by the authorities, for €82, in about two and a half hours (checked September 2026). Access to the summit zone is set by the mayors of the towns around the volcano and changes with the alert level: the latest orders, from August 2026, allow the areas near the craters only with licensed guides. The easiest way to go with a guide is the Mount Etna tour from Catania; for wine on the volcano’s slopes, the Etna wine tour from Taormina.

See the Ancient Theater of Taormina

The Greek and Roman theater looks straight at Etna across the sea. It costs €14 and opens daily from 9 am to 7:45 pm, with last entry at 7 pm (checked September 2026). Late afternoon is the best light.

From Taormina, the Godfather tour also visits Savoca, the hill village where Coppola filmed Michael Corleone’s scenes.

Walk Ortigia and the Neapolis in Syracuse

Syracuse has two halves: the island of Ortigia, with its Baroque cathedral built into a Greek temple, and the Neapolis park with the Greek theater and the Ear of Dionysius, €14 (checked September 2026). The Syracuse and Ortigia tours cover the old town in a couple of hours. Our guide to things to do in Syracuse has the 2026 tickets for the Neapolis park and the Paolo Orsi museum.

Western Sicily: Palermo, Monreale and Agrigento

Eat your way through Palermo

Palermo’s markets, Ballarò and the Vucciria, are where arancine, panelle and sfincione come from. A Palermo street food tour is the best first evening in the city. By day, the Palazzo dei Normanni with the Cappella Palatina is the landmark; check the current price with the Fondazione Federico II, which runs it.

See the mosaics of Monreale

On the hill above Palermo, Monreale Cathedral is covered in golden mosaics. The cathedral itself is free; the cloister costs €8 and opens Monday to Saturday from 9 am, and Sundays until 1:30 pm, according to the official ticket office (checked September 2026).

Monreale is also the last stop of a private day trip to Corleone. Our Palermo mafia tour page compares it with an anti-mafia walk in the city.

Walk the Valley of the Temples

Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples is a ridge of Greek temples, with the Temple of Concordia among the best preserved anywhere. The full ticket costs €14 (checked September 2026). Go early or late: there is little shade on the ridge. To visit with a guide, our Valley of the Temples tour page compares a sunset tour in Agrigento with a full day from Palermo that adds Villa Romana del Casale. Our guide to the Valley of the Temples covers tickets, hours and the train from Palermo.

Getting around Sicily

• Two bases work better than one: Palermo or Cefalù in the west, Catania, Taormina or Syracuse in the east.
• Trains are improving but limited. The Palermo–Catania line reopened in September 2026 after upgrade works; check current times on Trenitalia before you plan around it. Buses (SAIS, Interbus) cover many routes.
• A car helps for Agrigento, the Baroque towns and the coast; skip it in Palermo and Catania.
• Prefer not to organize it? The private 10-day Sicily tour covers the island with a driver.

More things to do in Sicily, beyond the classics

With more time, Sicily’s smaller islands repay the effort: see things to do in Pantelleria and Favignana and the Egadi Islands. For wine, our guide to Italian wine brands covers Planeta and Donnafugata, both of which receive visitors.

Planning the volcano? Our guide to Mount Etna tours compares trips from Catania and Taormina and explains the altitude rules.

Hungry in the capital? Our guide to Palermo street food covers what to eat, the historic markets and when a guided tour helps.

Deciding between a multi-day tour and day trips from one base? Our guide to Sicily tours lays out the options.

For the east coast in detail, read our guide to things to do in Taormina.

To put these places in order, follow our Sicily itinerary for five, seven or ten days.

Staying overnight in Sicily? Compare places to stay below, and see our Sicily itinerary to plan the rest of the trip.

Affiliate links: if you book through them, Italy2Love earns a commission at no extra cost to you.

Choosing your bases on the island? Our guide to where to stay in Sicily compares Palermo, Ortigia, Taormina and Catania.

Things to do in Sicily: frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Sicily?

The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Mount Etna, the Ancient Theater of Taormina, Ortigia and the Neapolis in Syracuse, Palermo’s street food and markets, and the mosaics of Monreale.

How much does it cost to go up Mount Etna?

The Funivia dell’Etna cable car to 2,500 meters costs €54 round trip, and the tour to about 3,000 meters with a 4×4 and a guide costs €82, checked September 2026.

Can you hike to the summit of Etna without a guide?

Access to the summit zone is set by the local mayors and depends on the volcano’s alert level. The August 2026 orders allow the areas near the craters only with licensed guides, so check the current rules or book a guided tour.

How much is the Valley of the Temples ticket?

The full ticket costs €14 and the reduced ticket €7, according to the regional park, checked September 2026.

How many days do you need in Sicily?

At least five days for one side of the island, and a week or more to see both Palermo and the east, with Etna, Taormina and Syracuse.

Keep planning: Villa Angela in Taormina and Baglio Della Luna in Agrigento.