We're planning a trip to Sicily from JFK. Thought it might make sense to fly to Catania first, toodle around that part of Sicily (a ferry ride to Scilla piqued our interest), then get a driver to take us to Palermo, stay there a bit and then fly home.
Figured we'd go further on the first leg and work our way to Palermo.
Any thoughts on areas to visit while we stay in these two locations? Thought April might be a good time to go. Not as hot and maybe not as crowded?
Thanks in advance!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15185 posts
BestofSicily.com will give you ideas.
I would rent a car however, because many locations in Sicily are more efficiently visit d with a car.
I don't recommend having a car while in Palermo, so make sure you pick it up after you visit Palermo or you return it before staying in Palermo (depending on whether you arrive or depart from PMO airport).
Catania is another large city where you don't need a car, but Catania is unremarkable enough that you can skip it altogether. Just use its airport, which is south of the city.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I went in late April and early May 2014, and the weather was wonderful. Certain sights were crowded, such as the Greco-Roman theater in Taormina and the Villa Romana near Piazza Armerina, but overall it was fine.
Coming from the US, and assuming you're flying right to Sicily, Catania is not "farther" than Palermo. Each is about the same flying time from whichever European city you're using for the connection (Rome, Frankfurt, Munich, etc.). So, you can start and end at whichever one works out best for other aspects of your trip. Definitely start in one and end at the other, to avoid backtracking.
I'm not sure why you want a driver to get from Palermo to Catania. There are buses and trains, if you don't want to rent a car and drive yourself. A driver would be a nice luxury, but you'll pay a lot for this (imagine what a private driver from New York to Philadelphia would cost, for example). In addition, there's lots to see outside these two cities; it would be a shame to go right from one to the other without some overnights elsewhere on the island.
If you want details (and I mean DETAILS) of my trip to give you ideas and help with logistics, here's my trip report: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sicily-palermo-caltanisetta-siracusa-taormina