How to spend 10 days in Sicily

We went to Sicily in April and stayed all ten nights in Catania and absolutely loved it. It was a great base for day trips (including going to Mount Etna). We stayed at an AirBnb on the metro line but a few miles out of downtown. We lived like locals (joined a gym, popped downtown for pizza and cannoli, bought clothes at a mall, went grocery shopping, bought produce off the back of a truck along the road, etc.) and felt like we were in a real Italian city, not a tourist destination.

I encourage you to strongly consider Taormina, on your way to Ortigia. I recommend arriving on Day 3, stay one night and explore this beautiful city before heading to Ortigia. The history, the gardens, the sights, the colors and the food all make it worth it. I recommend taking the tram up to the top of the city for an amazing view of the coast.
Day 8 & 9 you may wish to be in and stay a night in Cefalu. I did not go there, but hear good things about it.

Taormina, day 9. Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples on day 3! Visit the Roman Villa outside Piazza Armerina on your way to Ortigia.

There's a great deal to see in Palermo, including the Norman Palace, the markets, the churches and oratorios (chapels). Most important, I think it would be a shame not to get out to Monreale to see the incredible cathedral there. There are public buses as well as tour buses and taxis, but it might be simplest to hit Monreale on the way out of Palermo after you've picked up a rental car, if you plan to do that. I wouldn't want to even look at a rental car in Palermo itself; traffic is hairy enough when you're a pedestrian.

You don't really have much time--maybe 4 or 5 days. Sicily can easily fill 2 or 3 weeks. The last thing I'd do in this situation is spend time on a beach. However, I'm not a fan of beaches, and I have to admit Sicily is likely to be miserably hot at the time of your visit.

For day 3 either Cefalù or Taormina since you’re headed in that direction to get to Ortigia. You could also stay in a town in the interior, like Enna, or spend one more day in Palermo. For day 9 consider spending it near the airport or in Catania itself.

The suggestions below are based on our wonderful trip to Sicily last September, 2022, which we did in in reverse from Catania to Palermo and, also, had a bit more time. We loved Sicily but our least favorite stop was Cefalu.

Day 2 - Palermo with visit to Monreale

Day 3 - to Agrigento, visit the Valley of the Gods late afternoon

Day 4 - view Scala dei Turchi and go to beach in AM, then to Ortigia

Day 8 - to Taormina

Day 9 - winery drive around Mt. Etna.

Would be happy to answer any questions. Have a great trip!

I second the recommendations for Taormina ~ it was beautiful and our favorite place on our May trip to Sicily.

We also enjoyed Siracusa!