Sicily in August

When you're in Arizona do you spend all day outside? Or do you leave your air conditioned house in your air conditioned car to your air conditioned place of work or mall?

Traipsing around the streets of Sicily in the middle of August, visiting the sights and eating in bars and restaurants that are unlikely to have a/c is a whole different experience to living and working in Arizona (unless you work outdoors and live in a house without a/c).

The popular tourist spots are popular for a reason, that's what makes them tourist spots. You're not going to avoid the crowds if you want to view the things that are of interest otherwise why else would you want to visit Sicily?

The beaches will be extremely crowded, but otherwise I don’t think Sicily sees the same crowds as Rome or Venice. I wouldn’t avoid anything you really want to see - just go early. It’s cooler and if it’s like most places the hordes don’t arrive at opening, or at the end of the day.

Make sure your hotel has a/c, take breaks in the middle of the day, and go inside places like museums and churches in the heat of the day. You will be fine if you are used to heat. Yes, you won’t be able to stay outside all day sight hopping but relax a bit, take breaks and it will be fine.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and for the constructive advice.

I have to agree with the others, don’t skip someplace just to avoid the crowds unless you know you’ll be back on another trip, at a different time of year. You can deal with the heat and the terrain will be similar to what you’re used to.

I was in Sicily from June 16 through July 4. I'm from Washington DC, where you can't escape the muggy heat. The weather is Sicily was a problem. I kept going, but it would have been smarter to have postponed Sicily till I could go there earlier in the year. I believe you will come to agree with me by Day 5. It is just exhausting to be out in that heat.

Crowds will not be an issue except in Taormina and possibly some beachy towns. I don't know about the latter, because I don't do beaches. Think carefully about how many nights you want to spend in tourist-packed Taormina. A few hours was it for me, but others are good with multiple days.

A Sicilian I met at a bus stop recommended the nearby town of Acireale to me. I didn't get there, but photos look promising, and it has a beach. I suspect you'll be glad of any opportunity to get wet in August.

Thank you so much! Looking into Acireale right now!