We'll be traveling in Sicily starting in Palermo for about 10-12 days. I'd love suggestions. We'll be taking public transportation so any suggestions dealing with that would be welcome too.
Posted by
San Diego
1540 posts
Here is a link to a site I used when I went to Sicily. There are hundreds of links on this site and info on things all over Sicily.
You can also looks at the itinerary for the Rick Steves Tours to Sicily and see where they go on the tours.... that would be a good place to start.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Here's a link to my VERY detailed trip report on 10 days in Sicily during April-May 2014: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sicily-palermo-caltanisetta-siracusa-taormina
Others have posted about seeing most of the places I saw without a car, and it's doable. Do plan to fly out of Catania, so you don't have to backtrack all the way to Palermo.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Kate, you are allowing a good amount of time for your trip to Sicilian.
A few excursions from Palermo are easy: Monreale, Cefalu, Erice, Segesta (although the last two are even easier from Trapani).
Other favorites of mine are Agrigento, Piazza Armerina with a bus trip to Villa Romana del Casale, Siracusa (stay in Ortygia, the old town), Taormina (you can arrange a trip to Mount Etna).
You could then fly out of Catania. Personally, I like to overnight in Cefalu. If you do so, there will be a bit of backtracking. I usually find myself changing trains or buses in Catania more than once per trip, but connections from there are good.
I almost always use public transportation in Sicilia. It takes a little more patience (bus from Piazza Armerina to Siracusa leaves at 6ish on Sunday morning or at 3 in the afternoon - Sundays are not good days for travel).
Look at Rome2Rio for transportation options and links to schedules. Their price estimates are a little off.
Most trains are regionale, so you don't have to worry about buying tickets in advance. If you stay at B&Bs in smaller towns, the hosts will sometimes meet you at the bus stop or train station, or give you good directions.