Hi there, I'm wondering what are some pros and cons or tips for visiting eastern Sicily off-season....specifically, late February/early March although insights about other off-season times are always welcome. Thank you!
Posted by
3 posts
We live in Balestrate. It’s between Palermo and Castellammare del Golfo. The cons in those months: the beaches are too cold to swim in, no lidos or limited restaurants close to the beaches open. Also, more limited hours or days open for businesses. Cooler weather. Less train or bus service. Less flights to the island.
Pros: cooler weather. Summer is really hot. Less. So easy to get into many tourist sites. Easier to get into restaurants. Don’t usually need a reservation. Cheaper car rentals. Cheaper flights. Cheaper air B&B.
I would highly recommend this time of year.
Posted by
146 posts
Hello,
We really enjoyed our visit during that time of year. As stated by a previous poster, not beach weather, but the views were gorgeous. Although some restaurants were closed in Taormina, there were still plenty to choose from and the lack of crowds was a real plus! We were still able to book a cooking class and an Etna tour, so you won't be without options.
The wind was cool next to the coast in Ortygia, but when we were visiting the archeological park in Siracusa, it was delightful. Not too hot, not too warm. Here is a link to my trip report and let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to help.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-february-march-in-italy
Posted by
672 posts
We traveled in November and loved the quiet, thr relaxed vibe of locals, the ability to be more spontaneous and of course the prices.
We did miss out on a few restaurants being closed and shorter daylight hours but honestly I loved the trade off