Driving in Sicily

You do not need private drivers! Just drive defensively, being aware of other drivers.

Driving in Sicily is quite easy and pleasant, although traffic in cities can be congested, and parking spaces hard to find. Especially, but not only, in Palermo. Also, if you rent a car, be sure you know how to get into reverse, before you leave the rental office or lot.

A travel agent we may work with is suggesting private drivers.

I'd question anything that this "travel agent" tells you. Their suggestion in this case is nonsense.

Driving in Sicily is about the same as driving anywhere in Italy: avoid driving in the old center of any large city. Watch out for ZTLs. Otherwise, outside of the old city centers, driving is pretty easy, just be aware that there may be some surprisingly (shockingly) aggressive idiots who take more chances than they should. It's just like elsewhere in Italy, and frankly, not entirely different from driving in France. Maybe a little bit more crazy once in a while, but not so much different as to warrant paying someone else to drive for you.

If you managed to drive around France, you should do fine driving around Sicily. Just apply some common sense.

For the places you mentioned, the driving is easy. I do suggest looking up parking lots beforehand and saving them on Google maps or your gps. That will save you time when arriving in town. On our 2018 trip we took the bus into Catania and our hotel in Taormina had its own lot. In Noto we parked at Parcheggio Centrale - Arluma, on Via Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour. It was a manned both. On Ortigia we parked at the lot at Riva Sauro, 1. Just after crossing the bridge onto Ortigia, turn left, then go straight. You’ll run right into the lot. There are a couple others. For that lot you put coins into a machine. It only accepted 1€ coins.

From Taormina to Catania it took less than an hour and I think there was a small toll. Catania to Ortigia will take about an hour, and from it to Noto was maybe 40 minutes.

I've driven (for about a week) in Sicily and found it quite easy, especially driving between towns. Driving near congested city centers can be more hectic, as is the case anywhere. If you have a calm and helpful navigator, they can help you follow Google Maps, find parking and avoid ZTL zones. If you or they tend to get rattled, then you may do better letting someone else take the stress of driving off both your hands.

I picked up a car in Palermo on my way out of the city. You don't need a car there. We then drove west and circled the island our overnights were: Erice, Agrigento, Syracuse, and Taromina. We returned the car in Taormina for the remaining 4 nights. You also do not need a car in Taormina. I was sure to book Hotels that had parking. It was easy to drive and the signage was clear. I made sure my tablet had GPS for Sicily. I only hired a driver to take us from Taormina to Catania airport
Enjoy you vacation

Lorie

We need more information, it might make sense to have a driver (of you are averse to pubic transport) if you are going BETWEEN those places only and are not doing any day trips, which we don't know. If a car is going to sit parked in a city, you don't need it. If you are going to rural places and villages, a car is generally needed.

likely itinerary: Catania, Taormina, Siracusa, Noto)

You can easily travel to all your destinations (above) via public transportation.

How many nights do you plan to spend in Sicily?

Thanks, everyone, for the driving/parking tips.