Sicily Itinerary help needed.

Mt Etna is closer (by half) to Taormina than to Ortigia. You might consider visiting it on July 19, on your drive from Taormina to Ortigia. Or stay an extra night to visit Mt Etna while you're still in Taormina, rather than driving back from Ortigia.

OK. Ill move 1 day from Ortigia to Taormina.
What about Salina over Lipari as the base?

If you're thinking of taking your rental car on island ferries, check with the rental agency; some do not allow their vehicles to be taken on ferries.

You haven't mentioned Palermo or the Baroque towns in the southeast (Ragusa, Noto, Modica, Scicli, etc.). They were, along with Ortygia, my favorite Sicilian destinations. I struggle to imagine spending 13 full days in Sicily and skipping Palermo, but if you really dislike large cities, I guess that might be the right decision for you.

Hi Michael,

I don’t see Palermo in your itinerary, have you been to Sicily previously?

Just wondering, what drew you to Salina or Lipari?

A few things to consider:

• While in Trapani, visit Segesta.

• Consider changing the order of your travel to something like this; Trapani > Agrigento > Piazza Armerina (overnight) then visit the Villa Romana del Casale the following morning before heading to Ortigia.

• Take train from Siracusa to Milazzo and then ferry to Lipari or Salina.

• Visit Taormina at the end of your trip before flight out from Catania.

I enjoyed my 3 nights in Lipari and visited Salina as a day trip. There’s not much to do there other than the scenery.

If you’re interested, you can read my trip report (included in my profile) for more detailed information, and I’m happy to answer any other questions you may have.

Enjoy your time in beautiful Sicily!

We stayed 5 nights in Lipari and took a day trip to Salina. I really liked Lipari which has a cute town. The town of Santa Marina on Salina is much smaller with less to do than the town of Lipari. Although if you just want some beach time and pretty scenery, Salina would be great. We had an excellent meal at Il Delfino in Lingua (a 10 minute ride from Santa Marina - the restaurant will pick you up). It looks like you may be flying into Palermo. If you haven't been there, I would give it 2-3 days, because it is a great city.
You might want to leave the car in Milazzo. Lipari can be driven in about an hour, so you could rent a car for one day there (or travel by bus) to see the island. Also, Taormina and Ortigia can easily be reached by public transportation from Milazzo, and neither are places that need a car. There are several tour options you could take to see Mt Etna. Any way you do it, I am certain you will enjoy it. I really loved the scenery, people, and food of Sicily.

I dont dislike large cities, its just a different type of Sicily I was looking to see this vacation. Palermo feels like a city where you need at least 2 days. I dont want to dishonor it and give it 2 hours. Also, we wanted to see 3 parts of Sicily - since we only have 13 days... the East, the West and the islands. Plus it would be nice to break up the scenery in the middle with the Islands.
I looked at the Baroque towns and they look amazing. But I have to choose the islands on this trip. Next time maybe I get them with Malta.
Added Segesta to my list.
1. So... You said Lipari is more to do than Salina? I am getting some conflicting reports - so need more help here. I heard Salina is more charming and just as many things to do as Lipari.
2. Should I stop by Palermo old town for 2 or 3 hours on the way to Trapani?

No, don't stop in Palermo for 2 or 3 hours. Driving into the city could take days off your life, and having to deal with the car there would probably chew up a great deal of the time you'd have.

What you might do is check ViaMichelin.com to see how much driving time would be added if you stopped to see the basilica at Monreale, which is outside Palermo and doesn't present the driving challenges the city does. I think Monreale is the #1 sight on the entire island.