Sicily Itinerary: 5, 7 and 10 Days from Palermo to Taormina, With or Without a Car (2026)

This Sicily itinerary covers the island in seven days, from Palermo in the west to Syracuse, Noto, Etna and Taormina in the east. It also gives a five-day version for the east only and a ten-day loop for drivers. Each day lists a base, the transfer mode and what to book ahead, so you can pick the version that fits your trip.

Last updated: September 27, 2026

Sicily itinerary at a glance: which version fits you

Sicily is large, and the drives between the main sights are longer than most first-time visitors expect. As a result, the plan below uses three bases instead of a new hotel every night. For the island overview, start with our Sicily travel guide and our list of things to do in Sicily. Also, if Sicily is one leg of a longer trip, our southern Italy itinerary shows how it connects to Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

Car or no car on a Sicily itinerary

This is the first decision, because it changes the route. Without a car, the coastal cities work well. Palermo, Cefalù, Catania, Syracuse and Taormina all have train stations or frequent buses. In addition, airport buses from Catania run to Taormina and to Syracuse every 30 minutes, daily, according to the Interbus and Etna Trasporti site (checked September 2026).

By contrast, the interior is hard without wheels. Villa Romana del Casale, Modica, Ragusa and the Etna wine villages have thin public transport. So a car pays off from the moment you leave Palermo. Still, do not drive inside Palermo, Catania or Syracuse. Their historic centers have limited traffic zones, and parking is scarce. Read our guide to driving in Italy before you book, and compare options in our car rental guide.

The 7-day Sicily itinerary, day by day

This version of the Sicily itinerary suits most first visits. It is an open-jaw trip: you arrive at Palermo airport and leave from Catania, so you never backtrack across the island.

Day 1: Palermo, markets and street food

Base yourself in the historic center, between the Quattro Canti crossroads and the Kalsa quarter. Then spend the afternoon on the old markets and the Arab-Norman churches. UNESCO lists nine monuments across Palermo, Monreale and Cefalù as one site, inscribed in 2015, according to the UNESCO World Heritage page (checked September 2026). In the evening, a guided food walk is the fastest way to learn what to order. For example, our page on a Palermo street food tour covers the market route, and our guide to Palermo street food explains the dishes.

Day 2: Monreale in the morning, Cefalù in the afternoon

Start early at Monreale Cathedral, in the hills above Palermo, for its golden mosaics. After lunch, take a regional train east along the coast to Cefalù, a seaside town with a Norman cathedral. Then return to Palermo for the night. In practice, this is the easiest day of the trip, because Cefalù sits on the Palermo to Messina rail line.

Day 3: Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples

Direct regional trains link Palermo Centrale and Agrigento Centrale, so this works as a long day trip without a car. The Valley of the Temples opens daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with exit by 8:00 p.m., according to the official park page (checked September 2026). Go early, since the ridge has little shade. If you prefer a guide for the temples, see our page on a Valley of the Temples tour. With a car, however, sleep in Agrigento instead and continue east the next morning. For tickets, hours and a walking route, see our guide to the Valley of the Temples.

Day 4: cross to the east coast and settle in Syracuse

Without a car, travel from Palermo to Catania by regional train or intercity bus, then continue to Syracuse. Trenitalia lists planned engineering works on the Palermo, Catania and Siracusa lines on its planned works page (checked September 2026), so check it the week you travel. With a car, by contrast, drive from Agrigento via Piazza Armerina. There, Villa Romana del Casale holds what UNESCO calls the finest mosaics in situ in the Roman world. It opens daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with the ticket office closing at 6:00 p.m., according to the official park page (checked September 2026). Then sleep in Ortigia, the island that forms the old town of Syracuse. For tickets and hours on Ortigia and at the Neapolis park, see our guide to things to do in Syracuse.

Day 5: Ortigia and the Neapolis park in Syracuse

Spend the morning in the Neapolis Archaeological Park, with its Greek theater and quarries. Closing times move earlier through the fall: from September 16 to 30 the park closes at 6:45 p.m., according to the official park page (checked September 2026). After that, walk Ortigia, the cathedral square and the seafront. A local guide adds the Greek and Baroque layers, and our page on a Syracuse and Ortigia tour is a good starting point.

Day 6: a day in Noto

Noto is one of eight towns in the south-east rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, which UNESCO inscribed together in 2002, according to its World Heritage page (checked September 2026). Regional trains and buses connect Syracuse and Noto, so a day trip works without a car. With a car, also add Modica for its chocolate and Ragusa Ibla for its hilltop views. Above all, stay for the late-afternoon light on the golden stone.

Day 7: Taormina, then Mount Etna

Move north to Taormina, on the coastal line past Catania. First, walk Corso Umberto and the Ancient Theater. Then take the cable car down to the beach at Mazzarò: from mid-April it runs late into the night, while in winter it runs from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., according to ASM Taormina (checked September 2026). For the town in detail, see our guide to things to do in Taormina and our comparison of two Taormina tours.

Next, give Etna the following morning if your flight allows it. Otherwise, extend your stay by one night. On the volcano, access rules above a certain altitude change with activity, so a guided trip is the simple choice. For example, our page on a Mount Etna tour from Catania fits a last day near the airport. Our guide to Mount Etna tours also compares the south and north sides.

The 5-day and 10-day versions of this Sicily itinerary

Five days: the east only

Fly into Catania and take the airport bus to Syracuse. Spend three nights there, including the day in Noto. Then move to Taormina for two nights, with one day on Etna. As a result, you skip every long transfer. This short Sicily itinerary also fits well at the end of a mainland trip.

Ten days: the full loop by car

Pick up a car when you leave Palermo, not on arrival. Then add three things to the seven-day plan:

• A west Sicily day. From Palermo, drive to the Greek temple at Segesta and the hill town of Erice, above Trapani.
• A second Baroque day. Also spend a full day on Modica, Ragusa and Scicli, from a base in Noto or Syracuse.
• A slow Etna day. Finally, split Taormina and Etna into separate days, and add a winery on the north slope.

For the wine side, our page on an Etna wine tour from Taormina fits this day, and our guide to Etna wine tours explains the villages. However, if you would rather not drive at all, our page on a private 10-day Sicily tour shows a guided alternative with a driver.

What to book ahead

• Rooms in Ortigia and Taormina. These are the smallest bases on the route, so they fill first in spring and early fall.
• A car with a one-way drop-off. Picking up in Palermo and dropping off at Catania airport can add a one-way fee, so compare offers early.
• Guided Etna trips. Weather cancels summit outings, so book for your first free day and keep a spare one.
• Summer evening visits. In fact, Villa Romana del Casale ran evening openings until September 21 in 2026, according to the same official park page.

Most sites on this route sell tickets at the gate. Still, check the official hours the week you travel, because they change with the season.

Seasonal notes for a Sicily itinerary

• Fall. September and October keep long days and a warm sea. Meanwhile, park closing times move earlier each month, so plan the sites for the morning. Our guide to Italy in fall covers the rest of the country.
• Winter. The cities stay open, but beach towns and island ferries slow down. In addition, the Taormina cable car switches to shorter hours.
• Spring. This is the best season for the interior and the temples, with green hills and mild heat. Also expect holiday crowds around Easter.
• Summer. The heat makes midday sightseeing hard, especially in Agrigento. So start at opening time and save the afternoon for the beach.

Sicily tours that match each day

If you want a guide for part of the route, these are the Sicily experience pages on our site. Each one lists prices and ratings read on Viator:

• Palermo street food tour: for the first evening in Palermo.
• Palermo mafia tour: an anti-mafia walk in Palermo, or a private day in Corleone.
• Valley of the Temples tour: for the Agrigento day.
• Syracuse and Ortigia tour: for the Syracuse day.
• Taormina tour comparison: two Taormina tours compared side by side.
• Godfather tour in Sicily: a day in Savoca from Catania, Taormina or Messina.
• Mount Etna tour from Catania: for the volcano day.
• Etna wine tour from Taormina: for the ten-day version.

For a wider view, our guide to Sicily tours compares multi-day tours with day tours from each base. You can also find more routes in our Italy itineraries hub.

Continuing through the south? Our Puglia itinerary covers the trulli, Lecce and Matera in five to ten days.

Palermo and Catania both charge a city tax capped at four nights; see the rates in our Italy tourist tax guide.

In Catania, the Catania street food tour page compares Do Eat Better’s small-group walk, rated 4.9 by 605 travelers on Viator, with Streaty’s all-inclusive market tour.

In Palermo, the Palermo cooking class page compares a pizza class and a pasta class. In Taormina, the Taormina cooking class page compares two classes that start at the market.

Sicily itinerary: frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for a Sicily itinerary?

Seven days covers Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Noto, Taormina and Etna at a realistic pace. Five days works for the east only, and ten days lets you add the west and the interior by car.

Can you do a Sicily itinerary without a car?

Yes, if you stay on the coast. Trains and buses link Palermo, Cefalù, Agrigento, Catania, Syracuse, Noto and Taormina, while the interior and the Etna wine villages are easier by car or on a tour.

Should you fly into Palermo or Catania?

Fly into one and out of the other if you can. An open-jaw ticket saves a full day of backtracking across the island.

Where should you stay in Sicily?

Use three bases for a week: the historic center of Palermo, Ortigia in Syracuse, and Taormina. With a car, Noto or the countryside near it also works for the Baroque towns.

Is fall a good time for a Sicily itinerary?

Yes. September and October keep warm weather and a swimmable sea, although archaeological parks close earlier as the season goes on.