Hello
Trip 25 to Italy yet 1st to Sicily. Meeting friends coming in at different dates for 12 days in Sicily and then onto more beautiful Italy. We are booked in and out of Catania and 2 hotels in Taormina- waterfront for the majority of time and an apartment at Hotel Villa Carlotta for 3 nights. Thinking day trip to Ortigia/Syracuse or long day ferry to Lipari and using Taormina as a base. No courage or interest in Mt Etna- seeing it from a distance is fine. Or. Will I be bored and regret not doing Cefalu? I do have a hotel booked for Cefalu and a driver. Coujd day trip to Palermo?? Thoughts?
Posted by
Washington DC
29363 posts
Sicily is a beautiful island with lots of points of interest well scattered. To be blunt, I would not want to spend essentially all my time in any one place--certainly not in Taormina. It is beautiful but extremely touristy. Some folks definitely do like it, but I was happy to leave after 2 or 3 hours.
I would want to spend several nights down in Ortygia so I had time to see that charming neighborhood of Siracusa as well as some of the Baroque villages down in that corner of the island. I would also want to spend multiple nights in Palermo to cover the sights there. It would waste time to stay in Cefalu and make multiple trips to Palermo.
Rick published his first guidebook to Sicily a few years ago (after my 2015 trip). Have you taken a look at it? For example, you haven't mentioned the Villa Romana with its fabulous mosaics, any of the classic Greek sites or Trapani/Erice.
I think you'll receive more comments from Sicily's fans here if you edit your original post to change the title to something more descriptive; definitely include "Sicily" in the title.
Please also tell us when you plan to take the trip.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16909 posts
I would also not spend more than 3 nights in Taormina, especially since you are not interested in Mt. Etna. It’s nice but you can see it in less than a day and there are so many places to see in Sicily and Taormina is not a place that you can easily use as a base to see a lot.
Syracuse/Ortigia area would be another base for me for another 3 nights.
Palermo also deserves 3 nights (Cefalu can also be a day trip from Palermo if you add an extra night).
Western Sicily (Trapani, Segesta, Erice, Selinunte, Castellammare, Zingaro reserve, Scopello, San Vito, are also nice places to visit, but you need to rent a car there or you will spend a fortune in car driver’s fare.
Posted by
USA
51 posts
We loved Sicily with one exception -Taormina! It was so over- touristed and crowded unlike the other places in Sicily. Our favorite place there was Ortigia where we happily spent a week.
Posted by
485 posts
Hello,
I would never stay in Taormina, it is very touristy and overpriced and crowded, imo a day trip there is better, but it is up to you. - I would pick Cefalu instead- but actually Siracusa/Ortigia is a much better place to stay, I would not suggest a day trip there, I would stay there on the water instead of Taormina.
Posted by
NC
653 posts
We love Sicily too and, interestingly, our one exception was Cefalu! We found Cefalu incredibly crowded and unwelcoming. Conversely, we enjoyed Taormina, especially in the evening and at small local eateries. The Greek Theatre of Taormina is spectacular. And, we enjoyed a drive around the base of Mt. Etna with stops at small wineries (highly recommend Emilio Sciacca) and lovely views. Depending on your goals and interests, relaxation vs sightseeing, three nights in Taormina might be enough. If so, you could spend a few nights in Ortigia, take a daytrip or two to the Baroque towns, or do a circle from Ortigia - Modica - Agrigento (to see the awesome Valley of the Temples with nice beaches nearby) - Catania. You can’t go wrong…except maybe Cefalu.