My partner (F34) and I (F41) are traveling to Sicily in July. We will spend 4 nights visiting friends in Tusa and then have 5 nights to spend elsewhere. We would like to avoid renting a car unless it's absolutely necessary. Our tentative plan for now is to depart Tusa on an early morning (weekday) train to Agrigento, visit the Valley of the Temples, spend the night there and then the next day at the beach before taking a bus to Catania that evening. Day trip to Mt. Etna the next day, and then day trip to Siracusa the following day, then bus to Palermo for the day/evening, before flying out of Palermo the next morning (so 1 night Agrigento, 3 nights Catania, 1 night Palermo). We're prioritizing beach time and seeing Greek ruins and Mt. Etna. I'm interested in (1) feedback on the tentative itinerary, using Catania as primary home base vs. staying a night in Siracusa (the Tusa stay is non-negotiable), and (2) specific suggestions about tour guides/companies for Mt. Etna. We're both in good shape and would like to spend a few hours hiking and then visit a winery. I've found quite a few tour options with a wide range of prices--would love specific recommendations that aren't super expensive. Grazie mille!
Posted by
Denver, CO USA
613 posts
We spent 4 nights in Siracusa.
Loved it.
Ocean (well, sea).
Greek theatre.
Food.
We spent 4 nights in Catania.
Loved it.
Mt Etna.
WW2 Sicily Invasion Museum.
Food.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1787 posts
I ought to be able to give you some advice, having just spent 30 days in Sicily, but need to know how are you getting to Tusa without a car and from Tusa to Agrigento without a car? I'm guessing that your Tusa friends are picking you up from an airport and then taking you back to some place with a train station?
Except for the 5 nights we spent in Palermo (which we loved), we had a rental car. Very easy driving except in the old parts of Catania and some small towns. With a car, for instance, you could stay in Randazzo (loved) instead of Catania (which we liked but I can see why people tend to stay elsewhere).
Are you flying into Palermo as well as out of it?