How Traveling in Sicily Is Different Compared to the Rest of Italy

The food is fresh and delicious, and you’ll find a great many options!

In terms of public transportation, Sicily is lacking the high speed trains found in mainland Italy, but there are some trains and several buses to get you to most places.
Many visitors opt to rent a car for more flexibility.

The Sicilian people are friendly and helpful.

I urge you to get some guide books such as RS Sicily book for more detailed information.

When I traveled to Sicily, I found the Lonely Planet guide book very helpful especially since I didn’t rent a car and traveled solely via public transportation.

When are you planning to travel to Sicily?

We have visited Sicily twice, but only the eastern coast from Catania to Messina. Yes, public trans by train or bus is available, but not that often and not to very many places. Highway driving from city to city is doable, in fact pretty easy, but the real cool stuff like the tiny villages on the slopes of Mt. Etna...you don't want to be driving that. Hairpin turns, cliff drop-offs that to me are more dangerous than the scariest roads of the Amalfi Coast.

Other than that, the food is wonderful. Sweet/savory, with all the cuisinal influences of those countries that have conquered Sicily--Normans, Spanish, Greeks, Arabs, Germans to start. It can look prehistoric at times. Very, very cool.

I would agree with the other responses, having visited much of mainland Italy and I also did a two-week road trip around Sicily. Public transportation is not as prevalent on the island as in mainland Italy. Renting a car is the easiest way to see the main sites. I will say the most aggressive driving I’ve ever encountered anywhere in Europe has been all over Sicily. It doesn’t mean it’s dangerous to drive, just don’t expect locals to be “polite” on the road like we might be used to, depending on where you live. In general the food is more centered on seafood, which is to be expected on any island.

It is different, but not dramatically so.

Food obviously has regional variations throughout Italy, therefore the food will change in any region, and often even in different areas of the same region.

Sicily has a rich history, having been occupied by vastly different cultures through its history: the Sicanians, the Elymians, the Sicels, the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Franks, the Vandals, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Vikings, the Normans, the Swabians of Germany, the Angevins, the Aragonese, the Spaniards, the Bourbon, and finally the Italians (the latest occupiers from the Kingdom of Savoy, in Piedmont), have all conquered Sicily and left an indelible mark in Sicilian culture.

As far as getting around, Sicily has buses and trains, but no high speed trains, therefore train travel is slower (mostly on Regional trains) compared to the Frecciarossa trains connecting cities in the north. Some destinations are more easily reachable by bus than by train. Actually, since there are important sights that are outside of major towns (like the Temples in the Valley of the Temples or at Selinunte or at Segesta, or the Villa Romana del Casale near Piazza Armerina), it is a good idea to rent a car for portions of your Sicilian visit. You won't need a car to see cities like Palermo (actually avoid having one there) or also Syracuse, but, depending on your itinerary, you may want to mix some rental car travel in the mix.

http://www.bestofsicily.com/

I've used this website in the past when I visited Sicily.

I think the “Sicily is so different from the mainland” thing is exaggerated. It’s distinct of course, but I felt like I noted the similarities over the differences. Palermo is a completely underrated city imo. I think expectations are that it’s gritty urban chaos in the vein of Naples, but only Naples is Naples. Palermo’s city center is mostly pedestrianized, clean, hip and sophisticated. The smaller towns in Sicily can be really sleepy, like too sleepy. As others have said, if you really want to see anything you’ll pretty much have to rent a car. Sicily isn’t exactly huge, but as a tourist who’s trying to see things it’s spread out. That’s kind the biggest challenge. You need time, and even with two weeks you’re probably leaving something on the table.

An adventurous palate is at home here (the spleen sandwich, pane con milsa is pretty good actually.) ANYTHING with ricotta, pistachio or almonds is off the charts.

You can say that again, about the food....I've finished the many jars of pistachio cream that I lugged home, and now have to order from Amazon..I'm hooked. (Eat with fresh ricotta on toast for breakfast...!!). And the jars of pistachio pesto with tuna...oh, my.....

It's not dissimilar to anyplace in the south....cities are cities...I happen to love Catania and Trapani..but have not been in Palermo in age, time for a return visit for at least a week......minimum to take it easy and wander....

It's not a vast island but there is so much variety, people are generally very kind......driving is very easy.....food is great....

What more could anyone want...??

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all of the insight so far, and keep it coming!

We did not find the driving stressful but then we rented leaving Siracusa and turned in the car at the airport before going to Palermo. I would say that there are more unfinished roads than I have encountered elsewhere in Italy. But really was never a problem. A local warmed me to be careful following goggle maps in Sicily and sure enough we saw a woman (with windows open) backing up from a market in Palermo saying to the others in the car “but goggle sent me this way!”

What I liked most about Sicily was how different it was in different places despite being so close geographically. The way Sicily was occupied left its mark and there is also a distinct east west demarcation. My husband has a colleague from near Palermo and his input into our itinerary reflected that bias.

Sicily is a little less polished than some other areas of italy which I enjoyed.

Hi, I love to travel independently in Europe, riding the trains. But, there’s a few places where I plan to do (or have done) a RS tour because the transportation isn’t as smooth since I don’t rent cars in Europe. The RS Sicily tour is one of those on my future list.

I did fly to Palermo in 2024 to spend five days there. I loved the city’s sites & culture! There’s so much to do there that I only did one day trip, and that was out to Cefalu for an enjoyable half day. How was it different from the rest of Italy? Well, the cuisine is different. Both Sicily & Puglia have a lot of seafood, but what they offer is different. I always try to take a cooking class during each trip, and the one I participated in at Palermo was entertaining with the chef’s young helper giving us her animated “Nonna’s advice” from a small town in Sicily! Honestly, I prefer the cuisine in other regions of Italy, but that won’t prevent me from coming back.

Palermo has some gorgeous church interiors with mosaics! Yes, there are those in other parts of Italy, but these made me glad I came! The history is fascinating with all of the conquests in this area and how they’ve left their mark. When I do take the RS Sicily tour, I will come a few days early to Palermo because there’s still more I want to see.