Planning Your Sicily Vacation – The Perfect 5 Days in Sicily!

When looking for the perfect Southern European vacation where you could get your beach, city, mountain and food fix all in one, Sicily will always be the answer!  A Sicily vacation can include all that and more.  A good Sicily 5 day itinerary will have something for everyone, and if you are limited on time, 5 days in Sicily can encompass a lot.

The best part about traveling to Sicily is that you could vacation while also experiencing the culture. In other words, you aren’t restrained from only staying at a resort. Whether you are planning a Sicily itinerary with your significant other, family, friend(s) or even doing a solo trip, Sicily is safe, beautiful and fun for all!

I am Taylor Deer, a world traveler who has visited 4 continents and most of the US, and the owner of the travel site Brown Eyed Flower Child.  (You may already know me from my previous articles, Southern California Weekend Getaways and Fabulous New England Weekend Getaways, and Holidays in Finnish Lapland.)  Sicily is one of my favorite places of all my travels, so I was pleased to put together this Sicily itinerary to help you plan your own trip, and fall in love with this beautiful island too.

Our Sicily Vacation Planner Includes:

Getting Around in Sicily

The main airport hub in Sicily is Palermo’s Punta Raisi Airport. When you travel from a major international city, such as New York, you will have to fly into Palermo. When you are traveling from other local Italian cities and nearby countries, like Rome or Malta, you could find flights that will land in Catania, Trapani, Comiso, Lampedusa and Pantelleria.

When you land, it is best to get a rental car so that you can easily get to and from all of Sicily’s wonderful cities, towns and beaches. Sicily offers a network of buses and trains with services to main cities, but they are not as efficient as they are on the mainland.

Reserve a car in Palermo now!

Where to Stay in Sicily

Since most of Sicily’s popular coastal towns are situated on the east coast of the island, it is highly recommended to stay in the region of Catania. Another reason why this region is a great place to stay during your vacation in Sicily is because it is situated at the foot of Mount Etna, which offers memorable adventures for all.

Some popular cities in Catania are Aci Trezza, Aci Costello and the city of Catania itself. In this region, you could find plenty of wonderful hotels, hostels and Airbnb’s.

Reserve your Catania hotel now!

The Perfect 5 Days in Sicily Itinerary –

Sicily 5 Day Itinerary – Day 1: Visit Palermo and Cefalú

Exploring Palermo

After arriving at Palermo’s Punta Raisi Airport, head over to Palermo’s city center where you could find wonderful restaurants, shopping, historical sites and so much more!  

Here are some ideas of things to do in Palermo:

• Enjoy your First Sicilian Lunch!  If you only have 5 days in Sicily, you want to enjoy every meal. One thing to note about food in Italy is that everything is regional, meaning that you aren’t going to find everything that Italian food is known for like you would in an Italian American restaurant. So that means you will not find spaghetti and meatballs on the menu as well as chicken parm, fettuccine alfredo, penne vodka, etc.

• In Sicily, you will find a lot of light seafood dishes, rice balls, pistachio and cannoli (to name a few) on the menu. Located throughout the city center are wonderful trattorias where you could grab a delicious lunch.

• Stroll through the Villa Bonnano: This wonderful area is perfect for a lovely walk with a loved one or friend. It is here where you will find beautiful palm trees, fountains and talented musicians playing graceful songs.

• Catch Amazing Views at La Cattedrale di Palermo: This gorgeous cathedral features a combination of Norman, Moorish, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical architecture that is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is highly recommended that you make your way up the cathedral’s tower and capture some amazing views of Palermo.

• Go Shopping: Downtown Palermo offers endless amounts of souvenir shops as well as local artisan stores where you could purchase bowls, artwork and so much more.

If you want to spend more time in Palermo, it will be worth it.  There are loads of other things to do in Palermo that you will love!

Exploring Cefalú

When you are finished exploring Palermo, make your way to the stunning coastal town of Cefalú. The drive from Palermo to Cefalú was around an hour northeast. This wonderful coastal town offers a typical European beach atmosphere with cobblestone streets, mountain views and friendly locals.

Here are some ideas of things to do in Cefalú:

• Enjoy Beach Time: The beach in Cefalú is beautiful, but it tends to be crowded with kids, teenagers and young adults. If you are looking for a secluded area to enjoy the beach, there is a quieter spot in Le Salinelle, which isn’t too far from downtown Cefalú. On the other hand, if you are only in Cefalú for a couple of hours, the main public beach is perfect (despite the crowds) because it is close to a lot of great restaurants and shopping areas.

• Cool off with a Gelato: Cefalú offers countless gelato stands with some pretty awesome flavors. As you enjoy time by the sea, grab a cone and relax.

• Grab an Aperitivo: Throughout the city of Cefalú, you can find warm and welcoming bars and trattorias where you could enjoy an apertivo (Italian happy hour drink) and antipasto (plate of cured meats and cheeses).

• Watch the Sun Set: During your time in Sicily, you could catch some of the best sunsets in Cefalú. If you head out by the sea, there is an area of rocks where you can easily sit on and enjoy the orange, pink and red colors shine through the sky.

Arriving at Catania

After enjoying the sunset in Cefalú, drive 2.5 hours to your accommodation in Catania. If you aren’t an evening driver, I recommend getting an Airbnb or hotel in Cefalú and driving to Catania early in the morning.

Sicily 5 Day Itinerary – Day 2: Visiting Taormina

Exploring Taormina

Located 45 minutes north from Catania is the picturesque village Taormina. In this beautiful seaside town, you could catch gorgeous views of Mount Etna, Sicily’s most active volcano. There are also colorful buildings, peaceful churches, lively piazzas, beautiful flowers and glistening blue water.  A lovely thing is that every one of your 5 days in Sicily will have stunning views.

Here are some ideas of things to do in Taormina:

• Enjoy a Cappuccino and Brioche: Throughout the beautiful streets of Taormina are quaint cafés where you could enjoy a warm beverage and delicious Italian pastry. A Sicilian favorite is a cappuccino paired with freshly baked brioche bread and fruit.

• Visit the Teatro Antico di Taormina: This ancient Grecian-Roman theater was constructed by the Greeks around third century BC. Later on, the Romans renovated the theater by building columns, statues and other intricate details. Back then, the Romans played games and had gladiatorial battles in this amphitheater. Nowadays, it is a place for modern-day music artists to perform.

• Take the Cable Car to the Coast: Since the main part of Taormina is located on a cliff, you need to take a cable car down to the sea. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Taormina as you make your way down to the beautiful seaside village of Isola Bella. It is in Isola Bella where you could enjoy a beach day and swim in the refreshing blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

• Relaxing in Isola Bella: The beautiful beach of Isola Bella is a rock beach, so you will need to bring water shoes. During your time at the rock beach, you could enjoy swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing by sipping a glass of wine on the beach.

Sicily 5 Day Itinerary – Day 3: Visiting Siracusa and Ragusa

On your third day in Sicily, visit the stunning city of Siracusa. Located an hour and a half from Catania, Siracusa is an Ionian coastal city known for its ancient ruins and beautiful blue waters.

Here are some ideas of things to do in Siracusa:

• Admire the Ancient Greek Ruins: The Neapolis Archeological Park in Siracusa features stunning Greek and Roman history. The Greek Theatre as well as the Roman Amphitheater will amaze you. In the town of Ortygia, in Siracusa, you could also admire the magnificent ruins of The Temple of Apollo.
• Enjoy the Ambiance of Ortygia’s Piazza: One of the most dazzling piazzas in Italy is the one in Ortygia. It is this Baroque piazza where you could hear the enchanting bells from the Cathedral of Siracusa. In addition, you could also spot stunning work from local artisans, listen to local musicians play their accordions and admire the architecture all around.

• Savor a Seafood Lunch on the Ionian: Throughout the town of Ortygia, you will find numerous cafés and trattorias with outdoor seating. Most of these places have stunning views of the crystal blue Ionian Sea. It is imperative that you get lunch with a view because there is nothing better! The seafood in Siracusa is absolutely amazing and getting it with risotto is even better.

• Sail through the Caves: The coast of Siracusa is known for their mystical caves. One thing that you cannot leave Siracusa without doing is a boat tour through these beautiful caves. Near the port, there is a stand where you could purchase tickets to take a boat tour. During the tour, you will sail through the dark tunnels of these caves and the boat will even stop in the middle of the Sea so that you could jump off and take a lovely swim. It is a lot of fun!

Exploring Ragusa

Situated an hour and a half from Siracusa is the Baroque town of Ragusa. Known as the town with two faces, Ragusa Superiore sits on top of a hill and further down the hill is Ragusa Ilba.

Here are some ideas of things to do in Ragusa:

• Walk through the Wondrous Alleyways: Throughout the city of Ragusa, you will find quiet alleyways that are filled with charm, grey stone houses and friendly locals. You will truly discover why Ragusa is magical.
• Relax in Ibleo Garden: Located in the city is a beautiful park called Ibleo Garden that features a walkway with palm trees, amazing views of the mountains, a five-star hotel and gardens that offer colorful flowers.

• Admire the City Views: During your time in Ragusa, it is a MUST to walk up to the Panoramica di Ragusa. It is at this gorgeous spot where you could get a panoramic view of the entire city. You could even catch a beautiful sunset during a perfect evening.

• Savor Authentic Sicilian Food: On a beautiful evening in Ragusa, the streets are filled with wonder. One thing you must do during your time in Ragusa, is enjoy an authentic Sicilian dinner outside. Ps. You may even get serenaded by a local playing a beautiful song on the accordion.

Sicily 5 Day Itinerary –  Day 4: Free Day

After three days of exploring, take this day to visit a new city or go on an adventurous excursion.  Or, since our Sicily itinerary is jam packed, so you may want to spend one of your 5 days in Sicily relaxing at a local Catania beach.  You want an exciting Sicily vacation, but you also want to end up refreshed.

Here are some ideas of things to do in Sicily during your free day:

• Enjoy a relaxing beach day at Aci Costello in Catania.
• Take a cheap flight to the small Mediterranean country of Malta, pictured above.
• Do a food tour around Catania.
• Adventure to the coast at Giardini-Naxos.
• Horseback ride through the Sicilian countryside.

Sicily 5 Day Itinerary – Day 5: Visiting Mount Etna

Exploring Mount Etna

Located in Catania is the active volcano of Mount Etna. It is the highest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. In fact, you could actually see the smoke coming out of the volcano during your time in Catania!  In my opinion, no Sicily itinerary is complete without a visit to Mount Etna, even if you only have 5 days in Sicily!

Here are some ideas of things to do at Mount Etna:

• Take in the Views at the Top: When you arrive at the base of Mount Etna, you could take a cable car up to the highest altitude that Italian officials will allow you. Because you are 11,000 feet above sea level, you will get views of the entire region as well as the smoke coming from the active crater.

• Enjoy Winter Sports or Hike the Volcano: If you visit Mount Etna in the wintertime, you could participate in snow sports such as skiing and snowboarding. In addition, you could also hike the volcano by climbing the nature trails of Etna Park.
• Sip Wine on the Volcano: Nestled alongside Mount Etna are some great vineyards. Gambino Winery is a stunning winery with a picturesque location. While you are at Gambino Winery, it is a MUST to do a tasting. During this experience, you will taste exquisite wines paired with delicious foods. It is a wonderful experience and a great way to end the trip.

• Feel at Peace in Nature: While you are on Mount Etna, you could find beautiful oasis’, spot sacred wildlife and even find gorges.

Ready to Embark on your 5 days in Sicily vacation?

I hope you all enjoyed this Sicily 5 day itinerary, and that it helped you plan your own Sicily itinerary and adventure!  The map below shows where all of the cities love are located, and the route we suggest.  A trip to Sicily can be added to any Italy vacation, but there are so many things to do in Sicily that it makes a great destination in itself.  Either way, you will never regret spending 5 days in Sicily, or any number of days!

 

 If you want more in depth information about any of these cities, or any of the other areas on this lovely Italian island, check out the Visit Sicily tourism page.  

 

I can see a 5 Day Siciliy Itinerary in your future- so Pin this for your planning!