We are beginning to talk about taking the kids to Sicily at Thanksgiving break ( I can use frequent flier miles to Rome) and wondered if anyone could suggest a one week itinerary in Sicily. We are planning to spend a few days in Rome as my son and wife have never been there and they want to see the usual sights.
The other question has to do with traveling to Sicily, ferry or train. We may fly coming back to Rome. Any suggestions would be great
On our trip to Sicily, we spent 4 nights in Palermo, but that included a day-trip to Monreale (a must see) and a day-trip to Cefalu. We did Erice and Segesta on another day. We spent 2 nights in Agrigento, 2 in Siracusa, and 3 in Taormina. In retrospect, I would skip Erice and add a visit to Piazza Armerina, either as a day-trip from Siracusa or by staying the night in Caltagirone. You could do with just 2 days in Taormina, 1 for the town and 1 for Etna; or skip it and do Etna from Siracusa. You don't say how old the kids are, but I should think they'd be fascinated by getting up close to the mouth of a volcano. I would fly both ways from Rome, open jaw, to Palermo and from Catania, assuming you want to see both the east and west of the island and that you can get good fares. Your time is so limited and it's a long way from Rome to Sicily. We used public transport in and around Palermo, then rented a car for the rest. Driving was easy, and it gave us more flexibility than trains would. Also, check prices. We found that train passes for three of us cost almost as much a car ( quite a few years ago).
kids are 13 and 16, my daughter and I went to Italy last spring so we are both somewhat experienced. Trying to figure out how to make a 10-12 day trip work so my son and wife can see Rome, Pompeii and then head to Sicily. I was thinking of traveling overnight by train or ferry rether then daytime travel. Airfares are pretty high
Chet: Have a look at AirOne's flights from Rome to Palermo and to Catania. We flew with them a couple of year ago from Rome and the fares were very reasonable then.
Last summer I spent 16 nights in Sicily.. I rented a vehicle & drove the complete island counter-clockwise starting in Palermo. Limit your time in Palermo, because the ruins are much more spectacular. Depending on your interests, age of the kids & public transportation vs. renting a vehicle will greatly determine your best itinerary. Consider flying from Rome to reduce the travel time, but an overnight train may be more affordable. Sicily has a great highway system & travel times are very reasonable as it is only the approx size of Vermont. I would highly suggest the following RUINS: Segesta, Selinunite, Agrigento, Syracusa & possibly (time considering) Eraclea & Piazza Armerina. Taormina is a tourist trap & I would suggest to stay in Giardini – Naxos to see Mt. Etna (One day MAX). I would skip Catania, Messina, Cefalu & Erice (the castle is not all that impressive). Stay in Syracusa, see the ruins & consider a daytrip to the city of NOTO. This city withstood the 1963 earthquake & is considered the top of the Sicilian Baroque style architecture. There is a reason this city is included on the prestigious, coveted World Heritage List by UNESCO. It is stunning! Again, depending on your interests, age of the kids & type of transportation… I can be of more assistance.
Great call Steve... she helped me plan my vacation last summer and she was a wealth of knowledge... it helps she lives in Sicily.
First, go to Trip Advisor, and ask the same question. "Vagabonda" will give you more info than you can believe. Her knowledge of the tourist info in Sicily is astronomical!
We have done Sicily several times. The train trip from Naples is beautiful...and 1st class is the only way to do it, but it takes quite a while, and the lo-cost airlines are almost the same price.
You can also do the overnite ferry out of Naples, and get a small cabin, but I don't know about doing this in the winter!
Have you gone to whichbudget.com and some of the other sites: http://www.flylc.com/directall-en.asp to check on lost cost flights? Air One is awesome also. There are many flights out of Naples. We usually fly into one city in Sicily, and out of another. We do the same with the rental car. ( a car is the only way to see Sicily.)
Staying in an Agritoursimo is another wonderful experience that shluld not be missed, but the TurkeyDay time of your visit may limit that.
We won't leave home without our Lonely Planet guidebook, and have found it to be "spot on" in Sicily.
Have fun! Sicily has so much too offer!
Joey..I would like to meet Vagabonda. I have not seen anyone that has the knowledge of Sicily that she has!
Although I don't always agree with her, she always has some fantastic suggestions, and usually goes out of her way to provide more than enough info to send a person off in the correct direction.
The on line travel community is so much better when we have people like her that are knowledable, and willing to share that knowledge.
Chet, I am about to have my third trip to Sicily. Previously I have got there by AirOne, or by bus (from Puglia). This year I am taking the Naples-Catania ferry. It is not cheap, but provides overnight accommodation, and runs daily all year. I am looking forward to the night-time view of Naples from the sea, and arriving in Catania early morning. Here is the website http://www.traghettiweb.it/ferries/tttlines.htm for that ferry, or here is the link for other departures/arrivals http://uk.geocities.com/my_ferries/sicily.html It will be chilly at that time of the year. Siracusa is a good base for the baroque towns; don't miss Agrigento and Segesta. Erice is lovely but my heart is split between Cefalu and Tusa. As I often suggest, email the Italian Tourist Office at www.italiantourism.com They will send you a veritable grab bag of goodies. Happy planning. PP
Since your time is limited, fly both ways to and from Sicily. The train is slow and not any cheaper than the budget airlines.
Fly to Rome, take the train to Naples, and fly from Naples to Catania, and Palermo back to Rome.
Stay one night in Taormina. See Mount Etna on your way to Siracusa. Stay two nights in Siracusa. See Noto and Caltagirone on your way to the Villa Romana, and stay one night in Piazza Armerina. Visit the Villa Romana the next morning and the Valley of the Temples in the afternoon. Stay that night in Agrigento. Drive to Segesta. Return the car and stay your last two nights in Palermo with a day trip to Monreale.
