Holidays to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands give visitors the chance to experience a unique region of Italy with its own history, culture and cuisine. Sitting right at the tip of Italy, Sicily is the largest and most populated island in the Mediterranean and offers a fascinating mix of cultures and architecture. Throughout Sicily’s history, the island has been colonised by the Arabs, the Greeks and then the Romans. Today, visitors can still see vestiges of its interesting past in the Greek temples, Roman architecture, mosaics and Arabic-influenced cuisine. Explore the historic city of Palermo, admire the views from Taormina’s dramatic clifftop location and spend time by the sea in Cefalu.
The UNESCO World Heritage Aeolian Islands lie just north of Sicily and offer a carpet of picturesque landscapes and natural attractions – steaming volcanoes, small rocky coves lapped by azure blue seas and green hills, perfect for hiking. The Aeolian Islands are also known for their excellent cuisine, from unique pasta dishes and cheeses to desserts and cakes, and of course fresh seafood.
Holidays to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands may be a popular, but there are still plenty of local, insider places to explore. Make sure to save some time to visit one of Sicily’s hidden gems – Noto. With its magnificent cathedral and baroque beauty, it will delight and surprise history and culture lovers.
For one of the best views in Sicily, make your way to the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina. Sit up in the restaurant on the roof terrace and enjoy a local bottle of wine or some delicate Sicilian cuisine, while looking out across the craggy clifftops, calm Mediterranean Sea and the smoking crater of Mount Etna.
It may be busy and a little hectic but there are many reasons why you should visit the historic Sicilian capital of Palermo during your Sicily holiday. It’s filled with charming buildings, romantic Baroque facades, dazzling Byzantine mosaics and many contemporary art galleries.
Take a trip to the ancient Greek city of Syracuse and visit its many sights, including the magnificent Greek Theatre, the ancient Temple of Apollo or the grand Maniace and Eurialo Castles. As well as history, visitors will find plenty of culture here. Make sure to spend an hour or two wandering around the impressive Piazza del Duomo and browsing the Ortigia market for fresh produce.
Holidays to Sicily and the Aeolian islands wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Mount Etna - one of Sicily’s most iconic attractions and a beautiful sight to witness. Europe’s most active volcano, it has been active for 3,500 years and stands at 3,329 metres high. Admire its might and power from afar or get up close with a hike up to the crater.
Take a look at our suggested itineraries for inspiration, or call our personal travel planners on 01293 765055* for a bespoke multi-centre
8 day suggested trip
8 day suggested trip
Discover the real Sicily while staying in one of our carefully selected hotels
Flights from the UK to Sicily arrive into Palermo (PMO), Catania (CTA) or Comiso (CIY) airports. Flights to Palermo are available from London Gatwick and London Stansted and take approximately 2 hours 50 minutes, while flights to Catania depart from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester and take approximately 3 hours. Flights to Comiso depart from London Stansted and take approximately 3 hours 15 minutes.
Thanks to its southerly location, Sicily weather offers mild temperatures all year round. Spring and autumn are both lovely times to visit, with temperatures in the high teens and early 20s (although up in the hills and on the slopes of Mount Etna it can be significantly cooler). Visiting Sicily in summer, you can expect temperatures in the high 20s – perfect for spending time on the island's beautiful beaches.
At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.
Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up.
On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.
On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.
The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.
Sicily is known for its history and diverse cultures due to being invaded many times over the years, it also home to the stunning Aeolian Islands. Whilst staying in Taormina take a trip to Stromboli and Panarea. It is timed perfectly so that you go past Stromboli just as the sun begins to set so you can see the lava spurting out the top! It is truly amazing.
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