Sicily holidays

Hiring a car? Be sure to hop between some of the most beautiful baroque towns on the island – Ragusa, Modica, Noto and Syracuse – in south-eastern Sicily.

When is the cheapest time to visit?

If you’re looking for a cheap holiday to Sicily and don’t mind some cooler weather, spring and autumn are good times to visit. April has an average temperature of 21C and even in November, it can stay at about 20C.

The island has mild winters too – generally about 15C – and there will be snow on Mount Etna from December to at least April.

When to go for the best of both

The best months to visit are May, June, September and October, when you can avoid the summertime crowds and heat, and have a better chance of picking up a cheaper deal. May has an average temperature of 25C, which goes up to 29C in June. Similarly, September and October still have temperatures in the mid to high 20s.

One thing to note: Sicily – and Italy in general – has a way of shutting down its beach resorts early even when the weather is still warm (that is, in September). So while you can still swim and beaches are open, smaller resorts will have packed away their sun-loungers.

The king of Sicily’s ancient Greek ruins is the Valley of the Temples – Valle dei Templi – near Agrigento. These ruins of the city of Akragas are an astonishing sight, made even more dramatic when they’re lit up at night.

In Taormina, the ancient Greek-Roman amphitheatre is one of Sicily’s most magnificent landmarks and can be combined with a visit to the Greek ruins at Giardini Naxos. If you’re in Palermo, explore the stately Greek temple at Segesta about an hour away to the west.

Baroque Sicily

When an earthquake destroyed much of south-eastern Sicily in 1693, its towns and cities were rebuilt in what became known as Sicilian Baroque. The result is captivating: one town after another is filled with fantastically flamboyant and ornate architecture. Most are in the Val di Noto, including Ragusa, Modica, Scicli, Catania and Noto itself, the last being one of the most exquisite.

Syracuse (also known as Siracusa) is a must-see, particularly its old town, Ortigia, which sits on its own little island.

Mount Etna

Europe’s highest active volcano hovers over Sicily’s eastern coast, its white, smoking peak visible for miles around. Luckily, for less adventurous types, Mount Etna’s 3,323m (10,902ft) peak is relatively easy to reach. Hop on the cable car, then take one of the waiting 4x4s towards the summit.

It’s another world up there – an eerie, lunar landscape with the surreal sight of snowy patches and sulphuric clouds. You can hike it too, and enjoy sublime views as you tread on the volcanic soil.

Island hopping

Sicily has its own island satellites, including two archipelagos. In the north-east are the Aeolian Islands, a chain of seven enchanting islands. Choose from the rumbling volcanic Stromboli, the main island of Lipari, the hot springs of Vulcano, laidback Salina and Filicudi, dive-mad Panarea and the more remote Alicudi.

In the north-west are the rustic and beautiful Egadi Islands – Marettimo, Favignana and Levanzo – all with the sort of Moorish architecture you’ll find in Tunisia, which is closer than mainland Italy.

Nature reserves

North-west of Palermo is Zingaro, Sicily’s first nature reserve. Backed by mountains and running along a jagged coastline of tiny swimming coves, it’s a haven for wildlife as well as walkers. In the south-east near Noto is the Vendicari Nature Reserve, a peaceful place of marshland filled with birds, as well as lovely beaches.

There’s more ruggedness in store in the north at the Madonie and Nebrodi national parks, where you can hike among the mountains, gorges and waterfalls.

Giardini Naxos is a classic choice for families, as it has a large selection of hotels and sandy beaches. Salina in the Aeolian Islands is a chilled-out place with smart boutique hotels and quiet beaches. Noto’s car-free centre and nearby beach at Lido di Noto make an appealing combination, and it’s close to Vendicari Nature Reserve.

For travellers on a budget

Both Palermo and Catania have a broad range of affordable accommodation if you’re after a cheap holiday to Sicily. If you want to spend some time on the beach, buses in Palermo take you to Mondello. And in Catania, there’s an 18km (11-mile) stretch of sandy beach right below the city, as well as access to the nearby coastal resorts of Aci Castello and Acireale.

Cefalù also offers a good choice of hotels and private rentals that won’t cost the earth and eating out on a budget won’t be a problem.

For food and drink

Although many of the towns in the Val di Noto will appeal to food lovers (including the unique chocolate made only in Modica), Ragusa has some of Sicily’s finest restaurants. At Catania’s famously raucous fish market, the act of selling seafood has been turned into theatre.

Palermo is famous for its street food and market stalls where you can pick one of Sicily’s tastiest snacks – deep-fried balls of risotto rice called arancini. The daily food market in Syracuse’s old town, Ortigia, is one of the island’s best.

For nightlife

If you want a good choice of nightclubs and bars, you’re better off staying in the main cities. Palermo has a wide selection of nightclubs as well as cocktail bars and venues with live music, both in its centre and around the city’s port.

Like Palermo, Catania has a large student population, which guarantees a lively nightlife. Dance clubs and buzzing bars are all around the historic centre as well as along the waterfront. Taormina doesn’t have the nightclubs of Palermo or Catania, but it has some very classy cocktail bars.

For culture

Palermo’s cathedral and galleries make the city one of the top choices for a cultural holiday in Sicily, with the bonus of its proximity to Monreale and its Norman basilica.

Ragusa, Noto, Modica and Syracuse are magnets for fans of baroque architecture, and Agrigento is the obvious base for the ancient Greek ruins at the Valley of the Temples. In Catania, you can watch opera in the splendid Teatro Massimo Bellini, named after the composer who was born in the city.