I just started planning and thinking about our trip.
We are two active older ladies who love to travel and done quite a bit of independent travel. We will have a car (booked from April 9th) and are looking for two or three bases and can do day trips maybe about an hour in each direction. Interested in food, history, museums and hiking. We are now slow travelers because we have the luxury of time :) so maybe two activities a day
We will arrive in Palermo on April 4th and will leave from Catania on April 20th ish. After talking to a friend (her comments) and google this is our first version. Any input about places to stay would be appreciated. We would be staying at airbnbs so we have nice bases and place to cook if we want.
Itinerary
Palermo – 5 nights (Apr 4–9)-this is booked
Great for:
Markets, mosaics, architecture
Monreale
Segesta (history + short hill walk)
Cefalù (town + light hiking)
Ortigia (Siracusa) – 6 nights (Apr 9–15)
Great for:
Archaeological Park (museum + Greek theatre)
Ortigia wandering
Noto (30 min)
Marzamemi / Vendicari for seaside walks
Ragusa OR Modica (1 hour 15 min; very beautiful drives)
You will LOVE Ortigia. It’s peaceful and wonderfully walkable.
Taormina or Taormina outskirts – 5 nights (Apr 15–20)
Choose:
Taormina town (views + history; but tight parking)
or
Giardini Naxos / Letojanni (easy parking, cheaper, 10–15 min from Taormina)
Great for:
Ancient Greek Theatre
Castelmola (hill village + gentle hiking)
Savoca (Godfather town; charming)
Etna South (scenic drive, cable car if desired)
Lovely strolls and viewpoints
Apr 20 – Drive 50 minutes to Catania Airport (CTA)