Do you want to know why Sicily is one of the most desired destinations in the Mediterranean? Because this great island has everything you need in order to live an unforgettable holiday: the sun, the nice temperatures, the architecture of its precious monuments, a delicious gastronomy, dreamy beaches, great variety of leisure… If you want to enjoy all these things and more, pack your suitcase and discover what to do in Sicily in 5 days. We recommend you to rent a car in order to easily travel around the island and enjoy your vacation at its fullest.
Have you seen the villas with sea views that we have in Sicily?
Discovering Italy: what to do in Sicily
Palermo
The capital of the largest Mediterranean island offers a slight touch of culture of southern Italy. This city shows us how it has been influenced by the passage of civilisations over the years.
In Palermo you will find relics as striking and important as the spectacular Norman Palace, the beautiful Palatina Chapel or the charming Castello della Zisa. As for buildings of a religious nature, the Cattedrale, of Norman style, is an essential visit.
Let yourself fall in love with the streets of this city, which will surprise you at every step. During your strolls you can see wonderful places, such as Quattro Canti and Pretoria, which will take you to another era.
On the other hand, if you want to try the authentic dishes of Sicily, there is no better place to stop than the restaurant La Vecchia Trattoria de Toto where you can live the best gastronomic experience. You can also spend some time at the Vucciria market and savour the speciality of the city: salted anchovies.
Do you like places charged with mystery? Then don’t forget to visit the Catacombs of the Capuchins. Eager to learn more about the history of Palermo? Read this article!
The wonderful Taormina
It is a small and picturesque town located in the northeast of Sicily, on Mount Tauros. It is considered one of the most beautiful places on the island because of its nature and its historical monuments.
It is renowned for its pristine coastline and Isola Bella, a beautiful island near the beach, full of vegetation and with a house on top. You can easily access this beautiful beach by cable car from the centre of the city.
On the other hand, we can walk through the narrow streets of the historic centre, where you can see the Piazza Duomo, with a unique Baroque fountain and, in the same square, contemplate the Cattedrale di San Nicola, of medieval style.
We cannot forget one of the most important attractions of this city, the Taormina Theatre, which makes us marvel at its incredible views of the Bay of Naxos and Mount Etna in the background.
The ancient Syracuse
The largest city of the Greek period and the original nucleus of the Corinthians, characterised by a great archaeological heritage and a rich natural landscape. In 2005 it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
In this ancient city we find the peninsula of Ortigia, a promontory belonging to the city in which you will find interesting monuments, such as the ancient Temple of Apollo, the great Fontana di Diana or Piazza Duomo, considered one of the most beautiful squares from all over Italy, where we’ll find the Cathedral of Syracuse.
In the archaeological park of Neápolis we can discover the captivating Roman theatre and the interesting Greek theatre.
But not everything is about history, Syracuse also offers us a wide range of excursions through nature, and its mysterious caves are the best example of this. Its best-known caves are the Ear of Dionysius Cave and the Dei Cordari Cave.
Another of the wonders of this city can be found next to the sea. It is the Aretusa Fountain, full of mysticism by the legend of the nymph Aretusa and the god of the river Alpheus. This source emanates fresh water naturally and stands out for having the only European wild papyrus specimens.
The unexpected Agrigento
This city located southwest of Sicily is one of the most attractive on the island and is full of buildings, palaces, churches and many other places of interest. It is known as the cradle of magna Grecia for being the owner of the best preserved group of Greek temples in the world.
Agrigento will dazzle you with its Archaeological Park of the Valley of the Temples, named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. These are temples of Doric style and with variations in the state of conservation depending on how they survived earthquakes and pillage over the years. Among all the temples that this park conserves, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Hera, it preserves most of its original columns; and the Temple of Zeus, the oldest in the valley and characterised by having an Atlantean (a colossal statue with human form), are worth mentioning.
Agrigento also offers the possibility to enjoy beautiful beaches of crystal clear water a bit more than seven kilometres: Kaos Beach and San Leone Beach.
If you want to discover the best beaches in Sicily, you will find them in this article.
Check out the accommodations with swimming pool we have in Agrigento
The mighty Etna
Located in the northeast of the island and belonging to the province of Catania, we find the extraordinary Etna volcano, the highest active volcano in Europe. It has a height of 3,342 metres and was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2013.
The Etna has a cable car that goes up more or less halfway; from there you can enjoy its splendid views. Several routes and excursions cross the area: on foot, on horseback, by bicycle, by train or with an off-road car. It has established different paths that will take you to discover its most interesting areas.
