Sicily road trip: 10-day itinerary

Sicily is big enough for a real road trip and small enough that no leg becomes an ordeal. In one loop you see Arab-Norman churches in Palermo, the seaside town of Cefalù, the ancient theatre of Taormina with its view of Mount Etna, the island old town of Ortigia in Syracuse, the baroque towns of Noto and Ragusa and the Greek temples of Agrigento. This route takes 10 days and starts and ends in Palermo.

The route at a glance

Driving times: route calculation based on OpenStreetMap, without breaks. In the towns, on the winding roads up Etna and in the interior, add about a third. From central Palermo to the airport it is another 31 km, approx. 0:35 h.

1. Palermo
2. Cefalù
3. Taormina
4. Etna (Rifugio Sapienza)
5. Syracuse
6. Noto
7. Ragusa Ibla
8. Agrigento

Base map: Natural Earth

Days 1–2: Palermo and Monreale

Palermo is loud, lively and full of history. Arabs, Normans and Spaniards all built here, and several churches and palaces from the Arab-Norman period are a joint UNESCO World Heritage Site – above all the Palatine Chapel in the Norman Palace with its golden mosaics, and the Cathedral. At the Quattro Canti crossroads the main streets of the old town meet, and at the Ballarò and Capo markets you can try arancine and panelle. On day two take a bus or taxi up to Monreale, whose cathedral^* is lined almost entirely with gold mosaics inside. Pick up the hire car on day three – you don't want to drive in Palermo's old town.

Day 3: Cefalù

Cefalù lies between a long sandy beach and the limestone rock of La Rocca. Its Norman cathedral with mosaics is part of the same World Heritage Site as Palermo. A path climbs the rock, and from the top you look over the rooftops and the coast. In the afternoon there is time for the beach.

Days 4–5: Taormina

The motorway follows the north coast to Messina and then turns south. Taormina sits on a rock high above the sea. The ancient theatre, founded by Greeks and enlarged by Romans, has the best-known view in Sicily: through the ruins to the coast and Mount Etna. In the evening the Corso Umberto fills up, and down in the bay lies the small island of Isola Bella. Park in the large car parks on the edge of town – the centre is largely closed to cars.

Day 6: Mount Etna

Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Winding roads take you up the south side to Rifugio Sapienza at almost 1,900 m. Right next to it are the Silvestri Craters, extinct side craters you can walk around freely. Higher up you go by cable car and off-road bus, and to the summit craters only with licensed mountain guides – which areas are open depends on the volcano's activity. Bring a warm jacket even in summer. In the afternoon drive down to Syracuse.

Day 7: Syracuse and Ortigia

In antiquity Syracuse was one of the most powerful cities of the Greek world. The old town lies on the island of Ortigia, linked to the mainland by bridges. The Cathedral is built into a Doric temple – the ancient columns still stand in its walls. At the Fountain of Arethusa, papyrus grows in the middle of the city. On the mainland lies the Neapolis archaeological park with the Greek theatre and the cave known as the Ear of Dionysius.

Day 8: Noto and Ragusa

After the great earthquake of 1693, the towns of south-eastern Sicily were rebuilt in baroque style, and eight of them are now a joint UNESCO World Heritage Site. Noto is the best-known example: the main street passes palaces and churches of honey-coloured limestone, and the cathedral stands above a broad flight of steps. Further west, Ragusa Ibla sits on a ridge – the view across from the upper town is best before you walk down. On the way, stop in Modica, known for its chocolate.

Days 9–10: Agrigento and back to Palermo

The Valley of the Temples near Agrigento is one of the largest ancient sites in the Mediterranean. Several Doric temples stand along a ridge, and the Temple of Concordia is among the best-preserved Greek temples anywhere. The most pleasant time to visit is late afternoon, when the light turns warm and the heat eases. West of Agrigento, the white cliff of the Scala dei Turchi rises from the coast.

On the last day the road crosses the hilly interior back to Palermo.

Shorter and longer versions

7 days: Start in Catania instead of Palermo and drive to Taormina, Etna, Syracuse, Noto, Ragusa and Agrigento, leaving out the north-west with Palermo and Cefalù. Returning the car to a different place than you picked it up usually costs a one-way fee.

12 days: Add a day in Syracuse and one in Palermo, for example for a trip to the temple of Segesta or to Trapani and Erice in the west.

Best time for a Sicily road trip

The most pleasant months are May, June, September and October: average daily highs in Palermo are then between 22 and 27 °C, the sea is warm enough to swim from June, and the ancient sites are not too hot. In July and August temperatures climb to around 30 °C, and inland and at Agrigento it gets much hotter. Winter is mild but wetter, and Etna is covered in snow.

Climate in Palermo: 2015–2024 averages from the ERA5 reanalysis (Open-Meteo), rounded. Syracuse in the south-east is similarly warm, a little hotter in summer (31.8 °C in July) and drier in winter.

Good to know before you go

• Entry and money: Italy is in the EU and the Schengen Area, and the currency is the euro. EU and EEA mobile plans roam like at home.
• Restricted traffic zones: The old towns of Palermo, Taormina, Cefalù and Syracuse have limited-access zones (ZTL) monitored by cameras. Don't drive in; park on the edge or ask your hotel whether it can register your car.
• Tolls: Some motorways charge tolls, for example along the north and east coasts, while others are free. You pay at toll booths.
• Driving style: Traffic in Palermo and Catania is dense and spontaneous. Drive defensively and leave nothing visible in a parked car.
• Etna eruptions: When Etna is very active, Catania airport can close for a while. This only affects the route if you fly via Catania.
• Flight: A direct flight^* from London to Palermo takes approx. 3 hours.

How YesTrip helps with this trip

Create a trip in YesTrip with the stops of this route: the app shows every place on the map, uses AI to plan your days in Palermo, Taormina and Syracuse and shows the weather for your travel days. The packing list suggests clothing to match the forecast – sun protection for the temples, a warm jacket for Etna. The offline map helps in the interior, and if you travel with friends you can share the trip and the expenses in the app.

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