How to do stunning Sicily in seven days

Day one: Palermo

Start your Sicily itinerary by flying into Palermo, a fantastic alternative Italian city break. Catch a bus (Autolinee Prestia e Comandè) to the centre and allow about an hour for the journey.

Then, get cracking on your sightseeing straight away with a visit to the Palazzo dei Normanni, also known as the Royal Palace. You might have to queue, but it’s worth the wait, especially when you see the golden interior of the Palatine Chapel.

It’s a short walk from there through the peaceful, palm-tree lined park of Villa Bonanno, past the Palazzo Castrone di Santa Ninfa, to the Quattro Canti (four corners). This picturesque piazza is known for its fountains and statues and is surrounded by excellent cafes and bars. Be sure to stop in at Ke Palle for one of their massive arancini.

Explore the markets in the afternoon: La Vucciria for seafood, souvenirs and some animated haggling; Ballarò for street food, vintage clothes and music.

If food is on your mind from the moment you arrive, you could also book a local cookery class to really get to grips with Sicilian cuisine, spending a few hours making perfect caponata (a local aubergine dish) with ingredients from the market.

Where to stay in Palermo

Spacious rooms and a prime location in the city centre makes Alma Hotel a great pick for an affordable hotel stay in Palermo. Slightly more down-to-earth but with equally rave reviews, B&B Mondello Design is just a stone’s throw from the beach.

Day two: Cefalù

Drive an hour along the coast to the popular city of Cefalù. After a busy day in Palermo, this is a good chance to spend a slow-paced morning on the long sandy beach that stretches alongside the town.

You could simply amble through its charming cobbled streets, or you could also have a snoop around the imposing Duomo di Cefalù – a large, two-towered Norman cathedral filled with stunning Byzantine mosaics.

Well-rested and ready for a challenge, prepare to climb La Rocca (The Rock) for unparalleled views of the coast. Impressive ruins of an 11th-century Norman castle adorn the top of the rocky escarpment, which takes about 45 minutes to climb, up a winding staircase through three levels of ancient city walls. It’s quite a long way, but well worth the effort.

Head back into town for some of the freshest seafood going and a bottle of local plonk from one of the many high-end seafront restaurants – cosy Ristorante La Brace comes well recommended.

Make sure you don’t miss one of Cefalù’s famous sunsets, either – it’s a pretty special sight as you look out past the colourful fishing boats bobbing up and down in the harbour.

Where to stay in Cefalù

If you’re looking for a luxury all-inclusive hotel with fabulous views over Cefalù’s bay, Club Med Cefalù is your answer. With a private beach, heated swimming pool, spa and tennis courts, four-star Hotel Alberi Del Paradiso also ticks plenty of boxes.

Day three: Mount Etna and Taormina

Sicily’s main attraction, Mount Etna, stands at an almighty 3,369m (11,053ft) – more than twice the height of Ben Nevis.

There are a number of access points from which to reach the top craters. Book onto one of the many guided excursions to get the most out of your trip. There are brilliant wine tours on which you can burn some calories and drink some top notch wines too.

Spend the afternoon and evening exploring the chic city of Taormina for a taste of the Sicilian good life – you might recognise its gorgeous coastline from season two of The White Lotus. Heritage highlights include the Roman Naumachia, the Greek Theatre, the Palazzo Corvaja, the Cathedral of Saint Nicolò, the Palace of the Dukes of Saint Stefano and the public gardens.

Where to stay in Taormina

First-class hotels are easy to find in Taormina. Hotel Villa Belvedere is a boutique haven for couples just five minutes from the city centre, while the five-star Atlantis Bay - VRetreats is hard to resist for luxury seekers.

Day four: Catania

It’s best to get to Catania in time for the morning markets, specifically the famous fish market off Piazza del Duomo (weekday mornings) and the busy food and clothes market off Via Etna.

Booking yourself onto a walking tour of the city will help you get to know the history behind Catania’s arresting baroque architecture. Classical music fans should also spend an hour or so exploring the Museo Belliniano, which houses memorabilia of the famous Catanese composer Vincenzo Bellini.

Take a passeggiata (early-evening stroll) along fashionable Via Etna, and stop at a kiosk for a limoncello (a lemon liqueur produced in Southern Italy) before settling in for dinner at Osteria Antica Marina.

Where to stay in Catania

Decorated in an art deco style and with unique individual rooms, you won’t forget a stay at Liberty Hotel any time soon. Also in a historical building, but renovated with a modern flair, Palace Catania | UNA Esperienze is a fantastic base in the heart of Catania.

Day five: Siracusa (Syracuse)

Probably the island’s most beautiful city, Syracuse is a must-visit during any trip to Sicily. By now you’ll be used to pretty cafes and bars spilling out into piazzas and lining winding cobbled streets, and Syracuse has them in abundance.

Add in a network of medieval lanes twisting and turning towards the ocean, with ancient quarries, cathedrals and well-preserved Greek fortifications, and you’ll quickly fall for the city’s charm.

Begin your day exploring the limestone quarries at Latomia del Paradiso, before walking for 15 minutes to the imposing San Giovanni Crypt and Catacombs.

Once these mainland attractions have been ticked off, head across to the island of Ortigia to the impressive Duomo di Siracusa – a sort-of architectural representation of Sicily’s multicultural heritage, with wide baroque steps, Doric columns of the ancient Temple of Athena, and statues of the Apostles Peter and Paul by Marabitti that face onto Piazza Duomo.

After that, stock up on some local cheeses and meats and head to the Temple of Apollo for a picnic overlooking the ancient ruins, then later walk to Piazza Archimede, the place to be for lively bars and nightclubs come evening.

Where to stay in Syracuse

You’ll find some of Sicily’s best waterfront hotels in Ortigia. Palazzo Artemide is well reviewed for its stylish rooms and peaceful setting, while the four-star Algila Ortigia Charme Hotel certainly lives up to its name, located in an enchanting baroque building.

Day six: Ragusa

For your penultimate day, why not take the pace down a notch with a visit to the striking, tranquil town of Ragusa? One of the UNESCO-listed baroque towns of southeastern Sicily, this is a truly picture-postcard place, especially when you reach the upper town and survey Ragusa Ibla on its own separate hilltop.

It’s easy to while away a leisurely day wandering the charming lanes of Ragusa Ibla, poking your head into its elegant churches along the way. A good spot for a rustic lunch is Trattoria La Bettola, after which you could climb the steps to the upper town for a wine-flavoured gelato and a look around the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista.

If you fancy pushing the boat out, have dinner at the Michelin-recommended I Banchi, where you’ll find creative dishes aimed at showing off the best Sicilian and Italian produce.

Where to stay in Ragusa

San Giorgio Palace Hotel is the four-star hotel in Ragusa, and this magnificent 18-century cliffside building doesn't disappoint. Just outside of town, Artemisia Resort has a wonderful home-from-home feel and a pool you won’t be able to resist.

Day seven: Agrigento

Finish your week in Sicily off with a final dose of culture in Agrigento. This city won’t dazzle you instantly in the same way as Cefalù or Syracuse, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.

Your first stop is the Valley of the Temples, a large archaeological site not far from the centre of the city and probably the most fascinating of its kind in Sicily. Explore the standing columns and sacrificial altar at the Temple of Juno, the citrus gardens of Giardino della Kolymbetra and the Temple of Olympian Zeus – one of the biggest temples of antiquity.

If you can fit in a trip to the Archaeological Museum after having seen the temples, it’s highly recommended as it puts much of what you just discovered into context.

For lunch, you could go for a steak at Naif or some delicious fresh fish at Aguglia Persa, before climbing the steps off Via Atenea to the Monastero di Santo Spirito. Here, the nuns bake beautiful sweet Sicilian treats for you to enjoy while examining the remains of some remarkable medieval frescoes.

Where to stay in Agrigento

You’re spoiled for choice for luxury accommodation in Agrigento. Villa Athena Resort has 27 superb rooms and suites, surrounded by lush gardens with views over the Valley of the Temples. Nearby the Doric Eco Boutique Resort & Spa blends five-star opulence with an eco-friendly approach.