First time in Sicily

We loved Palermo. Just know its a big, kind of crazy city. Kind of like Naples or Rome "on steriods". There is a lot to do in Palermo, and with a couple day trips, you could easily spend a week in Palermo. There are worthwhile sites in Catania, which is within an hour of Siracusa. If you would do at least four days of day trips, maybe Catania makes sense, otherwise, between the two, I'd suggest Palermo.

Personally, m y recommendation would be time in both Palermo and Siracusa. If you chose that scenario. You could fly into one of the cities and out of the other.

Palermo (and Monreale, on the hill above it) has a lot to offer, and from Palermo you can take day trips to Cefalu (by train) and to Segesta (by bus) and Castellammare (by bus), just to name a few.

I'm not a big fan of Catania, however one could also fly to Catania and go to Syracuse, which is fabulous and not that far from Catania airport, and have a base there. From Syracuse you can visit also Noto, Modica, Ragusa, among other places. Taormina is a popular destination just north of Catania. It's pretty but very touristy and expensive.

You could spend your week in Palermo using public transit to a few nearby spots. If you're willing to rent a car and to change hotels, you could easily visit the main destinations on the island in a week. In that case, arrive in Catania and fly out of Palermo.

Thank you for your suggestions. I have been reading on both Palermo and Catania and as a first timer it’s a hard choice given a limited time on the island. Should i be looking at accommodation in the city centre or outside where it’s not too busy?

City Center of Palermo (Politeama-Libertà along the Via Maqueda corridor all the way to the historical center).

If in Syracuse, see if you can stay in the island of Ortigia.

If you are going in summer, and prefer to stay near the beach, then stay near the Mondello beach, just 30 min from the city center by bus.

Hi digzy, Sicily has so much to offer and with just one week you will have to prioritize your options. I think you are wise to choose either the eastern or western side. On either side you will have plenty of sites to see or experiences to do to fill your week. Once you choose the places you most want to visit you will then know whether to fly into Catania or Palermo. I have used both airports but have never done the ferry.. After doing your research and watching videos or reels ( a good one on youtube is called Sicily Unpacked) you should have a better sense of which side appeals to you and which you would prefer to see. If you pick the eastern side you could base all week in either Siracusa (actually stay in Ortigia) or Catania. Or do two nights in Taormina or Catania and the remaining nights in Ortigia. Possible daytrips on the eastern side if based in Taormina or Catania include Savoca, The Aci towns, Mt. Etna and surrounding wineries, Zafferana Etnea. If you base in Siracusa then the Baroque towns of Noto, Ispica, Modica and Ragusa, Scicli are doable as daytrip options. Marzamemi is a pretty little seaside fishing village. If you want to see the ruins in Agrigento or the Roman Villa Casale you could also do that as a long daytrip from either the eastern or western side. If East is your choice and you stay in Catania, stay in the heart of the city itself. In Siracusa stay in Ortigia.

My personal choice and recommendation for a first time visit is the western side.. If you choose the western side you can base in Palermo itself for the entire week (I have been three times and each time stayed between Teatro Politeama Garibaldi and Teatro Massimo, off Vía Ruggero Settimo). Palermo is relatively flat and very walkable and lots to see and do. Or spend 4 days based in Palermo and 3 days based in Castellammare del Golfo ( if you want a small, pretty, seaside, town); or Marsala, (if you want to explore wine country), or Mazara del Vallo which is a colorful seaside town with lots of Tunisian influence and a very compact historical center. The advantage of Mazara del Vallo is that it positions you very near to the Greek ruins at Selinunte which is an expansive archaeological park, right on the edge of the sea, without all the masses of tourists that visit Agrigento. On the western side, you can choose from a big variety of daytrips: Cefalu, Caccamo, Castelbuono, Monreale with its splendid cathedral and cloisters, Mondello, the cave Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia, patron saint of Palermo, Segesta with its Greek temple and Roman ampitheater, beautiful mountaintop medieval Erice, Scopello, San Vito lo Capo, Borgo Parini, and more. I can recommend some specific BnBs/ hotels where I have stayed or drivers I have used. If you are interested send me a DM. For the most part I travelled by train and bus and private driver. I have not driven myself.