best way to get from SFO to Sicily?

I can’t answer the question specifically, but look at flights to both Palermo and Catania. Many flights go through Rome, but we opted to fly through Frankfurt and Munich as those connections were better for us.

You can look at ITA Airways - they fly nonstop SFO to Rome, and have multiple connecting flights to Palermo. Note that the flight from SFO doesn't operate every day.

I would book, say, flights from SFO to Zurich and then to Sicily.

Transferring in Germany is quite risky this year due to the non-stop strikes by airport staff.

Using Kayak or similar search engine enter from SFO to CTA (or PMO), round trip for the dates of your choice.

See the options that come up that best fit your needs.

Note that some opt to fly to Rome or Milan MXP , then take one of the numerous low cost flights (especially EasyJet or Ryan Air) later that day or the next day.

Catania is “the main” airport in many ways, so start there. Check open jaw tickets with Catania/Palermo for both arrival and departure. It’s weird, but my tickets got cheaper as open jaw and by flipping my arrival/departure airports.

Another great website: Google Flights

You can track air fares and the alerts will be sent to your email address

I would try British Airways, you can go from SFO to London and London to Sicily. Be very careful of what airport you fly into out of in London. You will land at LHR and you want to depart from LHR not Gatwick. Flights out of California to Europe usually leave in the afternoon, so you can sleep on the flight. If you take a US carrier the flight leaves early out of SFO and stops somewhere else in the USA (in the middle or New York) and you can't sleep on the flight. Go as far as you can without stopping. LEVEL flies out of SFO with cheap flights to Barcelona and there are cheap flights using Vueling to other places in Europe. I have no idea how good or bad they are so this is not a recommendation for them. I just have seen they are cheap. J

Maybe ask a travel agent? If this a big trip, why not have an expert weigh in and make sure there isn't a screw up.

Our preference has been into Milan, have a nice dinner, walk around and get a good night's sleep. Happy to tackle either Palermo or Catania or wherever a day or two later.

We are unlike most people on this forum but we love Milan. We have a favorite restaurant. Always happy to go back.

We have used Easy Jet multiple times. Read and understand the conditions.