Sicily
Sicily has Greek temples, Baroque towns and Mount Etna, but the island is big enough that one or two bases work best.
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Sicily is an island region at the southern tip of Italy, across the Strait of Messina from the mainland, and the largest island in the Mediterranean. Visitors come for the Greek temples at Agrigento, the Arab-Norman churches and street markets of Palermo, the Baroque towns of the southeast, and Mount Etna above Catania. Each area feels different enough to need its own day or two.
Palermo in the west and Catania on the east coast, under Etna, are the two largest cities and the usual bases. Spring and early autumn are the easiest months for sightseeing, when the summer heat is less fierce. Plan at least a week to cover two areas without rushing. Distances between the west, the southeast and the north coast mean long drives on winding roads, so most routes are best done by rental car. Many historic centers, including Palermo and Taormina, have limited traffic zones, so check the rules for each stop before you drive in.
Sicily in five
- Rent a car for the temples and the southeastTrains are slow and patchy away from the Palermo, Catania and Messina lines. A car makes Agrigento, Noto and Ragusa practical.
- Watch for ZTL signsPalermo, Catania, Ortigia and other historic centers have limited traffic zones with cameras. Fines reach you later via the rental company.
- Climb Etna's summit only with a guideAccess to the summit craters is restricted and changes with volcanic activity; the highest areas are open only with authorized guides.Etna day trip from Catania
- Go in spring or autumnJuly and August are very hot inland, and Agrigento has little shade. April, May and October suit sightseeing.
- Pick one side of the islandPalermo and the west, or Catania, Syracuse and the southeast. The drive between the two is long, so do not try to see everything in a week.Catania vs Taormina vs Syracuse
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Sicily, the full guide
Palermo
- Price band: $
Syracuse
Syracuse has a Greek theater cut into rock, quarries from the ancient city, and Ortigia, a historic island with a waterfront for dinner.
Catania
Sicily's second-largest city, with a Baroque old centre rebuilt after 1693, the Pescheria fish market and day trips to Mount Etna.
Messina
Messina is a harbour city at Sicily's northeast tip, the main ferry link to mainland Calabria, and a base for day trips to Taormina and the Aeolian Islands.
Things to do in Sicily
See all attractions in Sicily
Need to know
- Airport
- Catania (CTA) for the east, Palermo (PMO) for the west
- Getting there
- Flights, or ferries from Naples and Genoa
- Getting around
- Rental car; trains and buses between cities
- Best base
- Palermo for the west, Syracuse or Catania for the east
- Time needed
- 7–10 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Mild, rainJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Almond blossomFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Almond blossom
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, greenMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°WildflowersAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wildflowers
- MayClear8 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Warm, clearMayClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- JuneClear4 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°SwimmingJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Swimming
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°HotJulyClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Hottest, crowdedAugustClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest, crowded
- SeptemberClear9 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Warm, calmerOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- NovemberRain12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh19°Low14°Rain returnsNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rain returns
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Mild, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Palermo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Sicily
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 85%
- Wind
- 21 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 28%
Enna
12:23 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today18°11°28%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 28%.
- Wed18°10°13%Wednesday: Fog. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Thu16°13°40%Thursday: Rain. High 16°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Fri17°13°33%Friday: Rain. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Sat19°13°12%Saturday: Fog. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun19°11°15%Sunday: Fog. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Mon20°10°15%Monday: Fog. High 20°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 15%.
Updated 11:38 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Syracuseabout 1 hour by car from CataniaA coastal city with a Greek theater and the island quarter of Ortigia.Read the guide
- Notoabout 1 hour by car from CataniaA Baroque town of honey-colored stone, rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake.Read the guide
- Cefalùabout 1 hour by train from PalermoA small seaside town below a rocky headland, with a Norman cathedral.Read the guide
- Agrigentoabout 2 hours by car from PalermoA hilltop city beside the Valley of the Temples, one of the largest Greek sites outside Greece.Read the guide
Before you go to Sicily
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Rules for Sicily, checked
- Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Declare cash above the EU limit on the customs form when you fly into or out of Sicily from outside the EU. Check the current limit with the Agenzia delle Dogane.
- Many historic centers, including Palermo, Taormina, Noto and Ragusa Ibla, have limited traffic zones (ZTL). Park outside the zone and check the municipal ZTL rules before you drive in.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering churches, including the cathedrals in Palermo and Cefalù.
Plan around Sicily
Regions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guidePalermoMarkets, Norman churches and the western base
Read the guideCataniaThe gateway to Etna and the southeast
Read the guideSyracuseOrtigia and the Greek theater
Read the guideTransport planningRental cars, trains, buses and ferries compared
Read the guideSicily FAQ
How many days do you need in Sicily?
At least a week for one side of the island, 10 days or more to cover Palermo, Agrigento, the southeast and Etna.
Do you need a car in Sicily?
For the temples, the Baroque towns and the countryside, yes. Between Palermo, Catania and Syracuse, buses are a workable alternative.
Can you climb Mount Etna?
Yes, up to the areas open at the time. Cable car and jeeps run from Rifugio Sapienza, and the summit craters need an authorized guide.
When is the best time to visit Sicily?
April to June and late September to October: warm enough for the coast, cool enough for the temples. July and August are very hot inland and crowded on the beaches.
Should I base in Palermo or Catania?
Palermo for markets, churches and the west; Catania for Etna, Syracuse and the Baroque southeast. If you have a week, choose one and drive to the other side for a night or two.