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10 days in Italy - 5 in Venice and 5 in Sicily?

Hi - We are planning a trip to Italy next September (2016) and are looking for a little guidance. We spent 10 days in Rome with some side trips to Naples/Pompeii, Florence, and Tuscany, and this time we are hoping to spend half of our time (total of 10 night trip) in Venice and the surrounding lagoon areas and then some time in Sicily. A few questions for those who have some experience:

1) How long is too long for Venice and some side trips to the surrounding lagoon areas?
2) What is the best way from Venice to Sicily?
3) Where in Sicily should we go?
4) Do we need a car in Sicily?

Posted by
106 posts

Sounds like a great plan. We spent 3 full days in Venice and probably saw everything that we wanted to see including a trip to the small islands. Venice is compact--you can walk everything you need to see. Sicily: a lot to see in 5 days if you want to linger and soak it all in. I would not have been comfortable renting a car in Sicily and found booking a guided tour the easiest way to get around--then again, I was still in shell shock just trying to cross the streets in Rome and trying to pass tour buses on the very narrow roads of Amalfi..... wanted no part of driving a car on my own anywhere in Italy. Must say though the roads were more open and less crazy in rural Sicily.

Posted by
19654 posts
  1. I have yet to spend too much time in Venice.
  2. Jet plane from Venice airport.
  3. Taormina is a popular destination.
  4. A car would definitely come in handy.
Posted by
86 posts

We were in Venice & Sicily this summer. With 5 days the best way (I would also consider it the only way) is to fly. We had just over a week (9 days) in Sicily and focused on the 'western side' of Sicily. We flew in & out of Palermo. We spent the first three days in Palermo- we really liked where we stayed (Apartment Bellomia) but did not like Palermo at all. We did a day trip to Cefalu and I would highly recommend it. I picked up a rental car at Avis in downtown Palermo and used it for the balance of the week. Driving was much easier than i thought, I wouldn't want to drive or park in the centre of Palermo but getting out of the city and later returning the car to the Palermo airport was easy. We spent our time in Agrigento, San Leone, turkish steps, Segesta, Selinunte, Trapani and Erice. Ruins and beaches were great. With only 5 days in Sicily, I wouldn't want to rely on public transportation you will lose to much time and be limited in what you can see and do.

I have been to Venice before but my children really enjoyed it, I'm not sure I would spend 5 days in Venice though. We really enjoyed Verona and used Padua as a base for a week and it was great for us.

Posted by
15560 posts

What do you want to see in Sicily? Seriously! If your priority is the Greek temples, you should fly to Palermo and rent a car. If you want seaside charm, fly to Catania and go to Taormina, no car necessary.

Book your flight from Sicily on the same ticket as your international flights. Unless you do this, you're taking a big risk. If you miss your connection (probably in Rome), you are up the proverbial creek. Your international carrier is under no obligation.

Posted by
11613 posts

Day trips from Venezia could include Padova and/or Verona, Ferrara. Then fly to Sicilia (either Catania or Palermo).

In five nights, I would pick an area, for instance Taormina to Siracusa (side trip to Villa Romana del Casale for ancient mosaics). Or the west coast (Palermo, Trapani, Erice, include Cefalu and Segesta). You can also drive south to Agrigento and Selinunte from Palermo (stay overnight in Agrigento).