suggestions for 8-9 nights in western sicily

Sicily is not too big of an island. It is completely feasible to drive from anywhere to anywhere as you want, just not as day trips. Most sites you mentioned and others of interest on Western areas of the island are just a short hop from the nearest highway or modern two-lane roads.

I'd split my day between Taormina (4 nights), Val di Noto (3 nights) and Modica or Ragusa (2 nights). I won't write a lot here, but you can easily Google information about:

• Etna volcano
• Catania Roman ruins and old quarters
• Siracusa /Ortigia
• Ragusa Ibla
• wineries and baroque villages of Val di Noto
• Modica
• Capo Passero
• Villa Romana del Casale (in Piaza Armerina)

You can visit all these places using the bases I mentioned. Villa Romana del Casale fits well on a day route from either of these 3 base-cities and Agrigento.

@Andre, Maria is asking about Western Sicily.

Maria, you can visit Trapani (Erice), Palermo with daytrips to Cefalu and Monreale by public transportation if you wish. Or pick up your car on your way out of Palermo and drive south to Agrigento. I would suggest a visit to Segesta while you are in Palermo as well (you can get there by public transportation but a car is more convenient and there is parking on-site).

Viamichelin will give you driving distances/times.

Last year we spent a week in Trapani making it a base for Western Sicily. It was an easy drive from the Palermo airport. We visited Segesta, Erice, the island of Mozia, and I even drove in Palermo! We missed Monreale because of snow in March, but Riserva Naturle Dello Zingaro and San Vito Lo Capo were marvelous. I understand teh Egadi Isladns are wonderful but high winds in march prevented a visit. I guess we have to go back in a more mild month.

I think Agrigento is too far for a daytrip so you;d have to stay there, and I think the same for Cefalu, at least I don't like to drive that far for a day even though I have a human navigator with me. Maybe split your time among Cefalu, Trapani or Erice, and Agrigento.

Thank you both for the quick and informative replies. Good to know I can get around that quickly. I read that most of Sicily is mountainous. Going from Palermo to Agrigento on the main highway - is that that thru torturous mountains?

In December, 1994, we drove from Palermo to Agrigento. Because we did not want to chance bad weather in the interior, we drove along the coast. I do not recall the drive being particularly difficult. There is also a more direct road that cuts straight south. The major roads in Sicily are very good and not overly crowded. Your instinct about not driving in Palermo is a very good one.

I've only visited Sicily on our tour bus, but always thought that driving would be a reasonable option for next time. As a general outline of how to structure your days (in the fastest way that we would attempt), see the day-by-day itineraries for Rick's Sicily tour (3 versions, depending on date).

We rented a car at the airport and drove to Trapani which we used as a base for Segesta, Erice, Mozia. You could also visit Selinunte from there. For Greek ruins you will want to go to Agrigento. With 9 nights you could spend 2-3 nights each in 3 or 4 towns. You could drive directly to Trapani and visit those sights I mentioned. You could spend 3 nights there and then visit Mozia salt pans near Marsala on your way to Agrigento. Valle dei Templi will take one day to visit so 1-2 nights might be enough in Agrigento, 2 nights if you want to add a day trip to Villa Romana del Casale to see the beautiful mosaics in the 4th century AD Roman estate. From there you could drive to Cefalu and spend 1 night before returning your car to the airport and taking the train to Palermo for 3 nights. A little rushed but you would see pretty much what you.

This is all wonderful advise. Thank you for taking the time to respond. I have another question. I have just been advised that I cant put a Sim card in my flip top cell phone. What do people do when they travel to Sicily? Can you rent a temporary cell phone and if so, where does one go to get it? Thanks, Marla

If you bring your cell phone from home you must be sure that it is unlocked and that it is quad band. Europe uses different frequencies than we do in the US. If you have such a phone then you can just buy a SIM card most anywhere. Did some research and in 2013 we couldn't find a store in the Palermo airport where we could buy a SIM so we waited until we got to Trapani and bought one at a phone store there. It cost 20Euro and came with some minutes, I think 30. If your flip phone is not unlocked and quad band you could do what we did. In 2011 we bought an inexpensive ($29) used unlocked quad band phone (I think on Amazon). To be sure it worked we bought a $10 US SIM card and used the phone here. This is our 4th year using it for travel (and as an extra cell phone at home) and we so far have had no problem. Yes, it's an older phone with no bells or whistles but we only want it for calls to rental car companies or hotels and such so it does the job.

Carol, this is great. I am going to follow up and see what I can find on Amazon, Marla

Marla,

I'll be traveling on a 10-day bicycle tour in October through western Sicily from Palermo to Agrigento. Although you'll be driving, I think a look at the bicycle itinerary will give you an idea of the places, points of interest, and attractions in the area.

Bill M.