Would like to take my son & family (3 boys 9-14) to Sicily end of March.
Prefer to stay at one "home base" and day trip around - don't want to pack and move 7 people multiple times - I know we'll not see it all in one week so prefer to give the kids a memorable experience of Sicily from one convenient location.
Preferences are low key, authentic local vibe, walkable charming town, good food, day trips to other towns, ruins, Etna.
I know mass transit is not great but prefer to not have to use rental car (7 people) but don't mind driving. Don't need luxury lodging.
Thinking Ortigia. Any other recommendations?
Posted by
New England
12145 posts
We spent a week on Ortigia Island which is part of Siracusa, a perfect base We were so happy we stayed in Ortigia!!
Posted by
1396 posts
Ortigia definitely checks a lot of your boxes. Still, it’s hard to call anyplace in Sicily a convenient base. Transportation with 7 is going to be a tough ask anyway you want to do it. Your best bet for day trips is probably going to be a private tour service. There’s some bus connections to the hill towns and Catania, but wrangling everyone in that situation sounds stressful. I think the math would work with a tour service versus a rental car and the responsibility that comes with it.
Palermo would be an option as well. Easy diy trips to Cefalu via train and Monreale, and tour groups to Segesta. Central Palermo is basically fully pedestrianized and feels small. It’s maybe my most underrated city, and there’s stuff to see there. A little more bustle, but still a pretty local driven city. It’s quite clean, safe and sophisticated.