You will be so close to the archaeological park of Néapolis , your activity of the afternoon! Check rates & book your stay at Hostel Taormina! Additional Car Insurance — Whether you purchase a policy with World Nomads that covers car rental (only some of theirs do, so double-check! The staff helped us park our rental car for free nearby, which we greatly appreciated! Only 5 km from Taormina, it has a beautiful castle in ruins and offers beautiful views of Mount Etna and the valley below. Carved by lava flows, the canyon offers amazing landscapes. Following this two-week road trip to Sicily will take you to Syracuse and Ortygia Island for the next 2 days. Une vraie … The only downside? Perched on a hill, it offers a beautiful view of the surroundings. Definitely leave yourself plenty of extra time on days that you have somewhere to be at a specific time! 14th day: For the last stage and the end of your road trip in Sicily, I propose you to go to Taormina. Check rates & book your stay at Marina House! During my Sicily road trip, I decided to stick to the south east of the island (with a few day trips elsewhere) and I saw so many incredible places. Dating back to the 12th century and built in a variety of architectural styles, the beautiful and distinctive Palermo Cathedral is one of the most important religious buildings in the city. Price Sicily rental cars with Discover Cars, How to Take a Fun Florence to Venice Day Trip (No Tour Necessary! The walls of the catacombs are lined with clothed bodies that have their full skeletons intact, staring down at visitors with sometimes disturbingly aware facial features. On the route between Agrigento and Selinunte, you can stop at the beach of Heraclea Minoa and visit the beautiful city ofSciacca . Boasting phenomenal views of both Mount Etna and the sparkling Ionian Sea, great swimming nearby, and an incredible Greek theatre, Taormina is hard not to love. Who says road trip, necessarily says car rental! If you want to swim and sunbathe : the months of June, July, August, September and October are preferred. Book your Palermo food + walking tour today! You can choose to ride the cable car from the city or drive there. Ortigia is a charming place, and we found that we loved it most when wandering the streets in search of coffee bars, churches (we stumbled across one with a festival going on inside! Climbing high over Cefalù to La Rocca takes less than an hour but rewards you with stupendous views over Cefalù and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as providing some interesting stops along the way (namely, the ruins of the Temple of Diana). Scopello is the ideal base for visiting the Zingaro Nature Reserve , one of the most famous on the island. Do not miss: For your 2nd day , continue your visit with a trip to the Ballaro market, a visit to the Abatellis palace and awalk on the Fioro Italico . This works out to be quick-paced but reasonable 10 day Sicily itinerary–but if you’re lucky enough to have more time to spend in Sicily, you can extend it far longer, both by increasing the number of days spent in each location and adding new destinations (we’ll provide some suggestions for those below as well). After finally taking a Sicily road trip, I can say confidently that the island was worth the wait… and that we’ll be working our way through another Sicily itinerary before too long. Which airport to choose to start a road trip in Sicily? Road Trip en Sicile : Louer une voiture en Sicile Le meilleur moyen de visiter la Sicile est, bien entendu, d’opter pour la location d’un véhicule. This laid-back beach town is perfect for kicking back and enjoying long stretches of sandy beach–in fact, if you want a little more swimming to be included on your Sicily vacation beyond what’s outlined in this 10 day Sicily itinerary, you can even add a quick stop in Avola during your drive from Syracuse to the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto. Then continue along the 2 main arteries: Via Etnea and Via Crociferi . The ancient Valley of the Temples outside of Agrigento is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Sicily. need to be a confident, well-practiced driver to comfortably drive in Sicily. Entre villes anciennes, volcans actifs et plages de toute beauté, la Sicile a de quoi séduire. Have you decided to go on a road trip in Sicily ? If you prefer city tours and archeological sites , and that swimming is not scheduled, the other months of the year from November to April are perfect. 5th day: discovery of the old town of Taormina : And finally, get off at Isola Bella , the beautiful beach of Taormina. Between Paceco and Trapani, it will allow you to passmany salt marshes and enjoy beautiful landscapes. Take the road from the sea leaving Palermo so as not to miss the small town of Cefalu . Choisissez vous-même vos dates de départ. Also–this is not the place to learn to drive … You can find many more things to see in our Syracuse article: What to do and see in Syracuse? Check rates & book your stay at Il Lapino! For the 5th day of this tour of Sicily by car in 15 days, spend the day discovering the 3 Baroque citiesclassified as World Heritage by UNESCO such as Noto, Modica and Ragusa. © Copyright 2020, BonAdvisor. One that’s located right on the water and includes a balcony overlooking the sea! How We Structured This 10 Day Sicily Itinerary, The Ultimate 10 Day Sicily Road Trip Itinerary, Other Places to Visit on Your Sicily Road Trip. Sicily is quite big so you can’t really see it all in one trip (unless you stay 3+ weeks minimum). Pack a cell phone holder to attach to the car and you’ll be able to drive much more safely! Price Sicily rental cars with Discover Cars today! In the afternoon, head to Monreale by car to visit its cathedral, recognized throughout the world for its splendid mosaics gilded with fine gold. 6th day: The next day, direction Trapani to spend 2 nights. If the rental desk suggests an upgrade? Il Lapino — Home to simple rooms (some with shared bathrooms) and located only a 10-minute walk from the Palermo Cathedral, Il Lapino is very well-reviewed and is an excellent place to stay in Palermo for those on a budget. No parking options–so keep that in mind if you choose to book a stay here! Personally, we eat at the restaurant only in the evening (sandwich lunch) and prefer housing around 50 to 60 € per night. The small streets and occasional unexpected sea views give Cefalù a delightful charm that completely captivated us during our Sicily travels–this small village is worth wandering aimlessly, and due to its small size, it’s impossible to get too lost along the way. Infos pratiques pour préparer votre roadtrip en Sicile Louer une voiture en Sicile : conseils pratiques, la vérité sur les routes et la conduite. Unless you are very confident with one, we recommend paying extra for an automatic transmission. CAR RENTAL IN SICILY. Vulcano. You can walk between all of Palermo’s best things to do, so opt for that instead! You can then organize your circuit like this: You can safely leave at any time of the year on a Sicilian road trip. We begin serious things with this first circuit by car. We strongly recommend learning at least some basic Italian phrases before taking your Sicily road trip–the more Italian you speak, the easier your Sicily travels will be. The largest island in the Mediterranean truly does have it all: whether you’re looking to lounge on a beach, dive headfirst into the cuisine, explore the Roman (or Greek, or Norman, or Arab, or Byzantine) history, or visit famous Mount Etna, a Sicily road trip has something to offer. To best organize your visit to Palermo, do not hesitate to consult our article: the 15 things to do in Palermo. The road before reaching San Vito is superb and you can stop to swim in small coves. This is essentially the old town of Syracuse and is set on an island nearby the main part of the modern city. In the morning, take a walkalong the bike path from Piazza dei Cappuccini . There you will find shops, cafes as well as the monastery of Saint Nicolas the Arena and some churches. Day 3: Spend the first day in Ortygia to see the Piazza del Duomo, the temple of Apollo, the port. It is sure that sometimes, we could not do otherwise but at that moment nothing exceeded the trunk or we parked in guarded parking. On a clear day, the views of Mount Etna from Taormina are fantastic–but there’s still nothing like standing on an active volcano with your own two feet. It combines the other 2 circuits by car that I told you just above, with some small adjustments to optimize travel. But their location makes it not necessarily the ideal to start a road trip in Sicily. The afternoon program will be reserved for visiting the Archaeological Park of Selinunte. The round trip takes about 4 hours but you can spend the day there if you swim. Check rates & book your stay at Casa Barone Agnello! From the South entrance and after having paid the entrance at 5 €, you can walk along a path that runs along the sea and gives access to several coves below. Over the winter, lots of small, tourist-focused businesses close and the island, especially in smaller towns, quiets down significantly–but if a slow-paced, off-season 10 days in Sicily itinerary sounds right up your alley, you’ll certainly find plenty of peaceful spots to savor. Day 6: As a road trip in Sicily of 1 week would not be complete without the visit of Etna, this is what I advise you to do for your second day in the city. Comfortable Day Bag — We currently use Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for this trip, that’s totally understandable. Then you can visit the Massimo Theater (one of the largest in Italy) or if you are passionate about history, the Regional Archaeological Museum of Sicily . Once a thriving Ancient Greek city, these ruins are remarkably well-preserved and far less crowded than many better-known Greek ruins throughout Europe. Check rates & book your stay at San Giorgio Palace! Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. La capitale de la Sicile, est une des plus anciennes villes d’Europe chargée d’histoire : Commençons par la visite du Teatro … After a walk in the historic center of Trapani , I advise you to reach the perched village of Erice. There’s no way around it: driving in Sicily has a pretty terrible reputation. Road Trip en Sicile: 10 jours pour découvrir l'île Road Trip en Sicile: 10 jours pour découvrir l'île Italie . récupération de notre voiture, Hébergement à Scopello à 30 km de l'aéroport pour 2 nuits. At the end of the day, return to Taormina for a last night in Sicily. Durée. La location de la voiture est indispensable pour réussir votre roadtrip en Sicile… Adi takes a family road-trip on the Italian island of Sicily and shares her slow travel highlights. However, ultimately, we walked away feeling that driving in Sicily was easier than expected–but we fully admit this impression is likely partially because of how nervous we were about doing it. Then go for a walk in the gorges of the Alcantara , 50 minutes from Taormina. Visiter le Sud de la Sicile en road trip en 15 jours en été. Hotel Natalina — We had a great time at this little hotel! First day: arrival in Catania and visit of the historic center. You can dive and enjoy the sights without the world. Cefalù, this impeccably decorated and well-reviewed apartment is perfect for travelers looking for a bit of old-world charm during their trip to Cefalù. Sicily’s Val di Noto is littered with stunning Baroque towns, rolling hills, lovely wine country, and some of the best chocolate in the world–in other words, it’s definitely a place that belongs on your 10 days in Sicily itinerary. One of the best things to do in Cefalù is simply to enjoy its beach that is conveniently located right outside of the old town, where you’re never far from gelato or a granita. Day 7: For the last day of your 7-day car tour , visit one of the most beautiful villages in Sicily: Castelmola . If you’re in town for a couple of days and one day looks clearer than the other, use the clearer day to visit Mount Etna (or if you don’t want to head all the way to Mount Etna, admire views of it from the Greek Theatre). In the destinations covered on this Sicily road trip itinerary, you won’t run into many people (especially those who work with or near tourists) who don’t comfortably speak Italian–but if you stop off in smaller towns along the way, you’ll start to hear (and even see, on menus and such) more and more dialect. Check rates & book your stay at Sweet Home Cefalù! Known for its superb location in the heart of Taormina, its views, and its wonderful included breakfast, luxury travelers can’t go wrong with a stay here. With excellent reviews and a fabulous included breakfast, Hotel Il Barocco is a reliable choice in Ragusa for your Sicily vacation. After all depends on what you want to do and your interests. Temperatures are generally mild, even in winter. The opportunity to alternate hiking and swimming. Si vous n'avez que 7 à 10 jours, vous ne pourrez pas forcément faire le tour de l'île pendant votre road-trip. Road trip en Sicile : de Taormine à Syracuse. It is therefore better to privilege Catania for a stay in the East and Palermo , if you want to visit the West. The next day (2nd day) , I advise you to take a trip to Etna . To give you an idea of what a road trip in Sicily can cost, I have prepared a table summarizing the costs for 2 people (based on our different trips to Sicily). To visit it, the best way is to rent a bike on arrival and go around during the day , taking breaks swimming in the coves. The 2 week road trip to Sicily that I propose is from Catania. Personally, we’d recommend aiming for a September or early October trip to Sicily if you hope to swim your heart out, and a late April or May trip if you want to avoid the worst of the heat and crowds while still thawing out after a long winter. Plan stop swimming in the creeks! Want to add a little thrill to your list of things to do in Taormina? Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Posta! Check rates & book your stay at Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel! Check rates & book your stay at Ciuri Ciuri B&B! We spent an entire week in Palermo and still weren’t ready to leave when it was over, but 2 days in Palermo will be enough to give you a taste of the major sights and start your 10 days in Sicily itinerary off on a great foot. In other words, don’t rush: you won’t regret taking two of your 10 days in Sicily to enjoy this beautiful place. Amenities, transportation, guide are included, which is really convenient. The panorama of Etna and the surrounding area is definitely worth a look! Casa Barone Agnello — Housed in an antique home in the center of Cefalù, this impeccably decorated and well-reviewed apartment is perfect for travelers looking for a bit of old-world charm during their trip to Cefalù. There are also 2 other beaches to test in Scopello: the beach of Guidaloca and that of Tonnara. Also sometimes called the Lipari Islands, this stunning volcanic island chain is a UNESCO World Heritage site and boasts some of the most magnificent sea views in all of Sicily (which is, as you can imagine, very high praise). As an Amazon Associate, Lone Star Travel Guide earns from qualifying purchases. Taking a Sicily road trip if driving makes you anxious, you’re out of practice, you don’t like to drive, or you’ve never driven outside your home country is likely not the best idea. Drivers can be a bit aggressive, yes, but we wouldn’t say they were drastically more aggressive than in, say, Tuscany. You can plan to spend 3 nights there. No photos are allowed inside, but I can’t impress enough the creepiness of this place–I think it has something to do with the fact that these people are preserved as themselves that adds an extra layer of disturbing to it all, as opposed to places like the catacombs of Paris where the bones are more or less repurposed into artwork using human remains. Pour un road-trip dans le Sud de l’Italie : la Sicile. Me voilà donc partie pour une semaine de road-trip en Sicile pour profiter du soleil, de la bonne gastronomie italienne, et de la beauté des paysages ! Add in a less-than-ideal public transportation system, and a Sicily road trip quickly emerges as the clear best way to explore the island–but you need to be prepared in order to make the most of it. You. Vulcano, one of the Aeolian Islands, is a must-visit on your trip to Sicily. You will pay tolls when driving in Sicily, especially in northern half of the island, so come prepared with a cupholder full of Euros. San Giorgio Palace — Located in the heart of Ragusa Ilba, popular San Giorgio Palace boasts very spacious rooms, as well as modern decor and amenities (including a very well-reviewed included breakfast) in a picture-perfect setting, with some rooms that overlook the valley. Personally, we’d be tempted to upgrade to a room with a balcony–those views are just too good to pass up. Also–this is not the place to learn to drive a manual. The chocolate is created with “cold processing”, giving it a characteristic grainy texture, inconsistent color, and delicious taste. Only 35 minutes from Palermo airport, it is the perfect city to finish the holidays. En même temps l'Italie pour les vacances c'est une vraie valeur sûre : de belles plages, du soleil (beaucoup de soleil), plein de visites à faire, et une cuisine riche et savoureuse. Alors, f… Unless you are very confident with one, we recommend paying extra for an automatic transmission. The trip is 2:30, the best is to spend the rest of the day swimming. Day 7: For the second day in Trapani , I recommend a trip to the Egadi Islands , accessible by ferry from the port. Be sure to make your way to the Piazza Duomo and the Fountain of Arethusa during your wandering! Our Sicily road trip itinerary is designed to hit all the best spots on the island for first-timers to visit, allowing you to get a taste of many different parts of Sicily: complicated yet lovely Palermo, beautiful beaches, and hilltop villages are all covered, as well as some of the most popular cities in Sicily. To take a tour of Sicily by car , it is necessary to know a few things before leaving: If I tell you all this, it is not for the purpose of scare you, but just to recommend you to pay a little attention. Due to the aggressive driving, small roads, and distances covered on this Sicily road trip, we’d recommend purchasing insurance with no deductible/excess for the time it takes you to work through this 10 day Sicily itinerary–it’s simply one less thing to worry about on the road. The beautiful town of Modica is world-famous for its chocolate, which boasts a recipe that originally hails from none other than the Aztecs. Soyons clairs, cette année, notre budget vacances n’était pas illimité mais nous avions décidé de ne partir qu’une fois et de profiter tout de même de ces quelques jours de bonheur qui nous étaient alloués. Of all the ancient ruins in Syracuse, the Temple of Apollo is considered the most important. Ciao ! Taking a Sicily road trip if driving makes you anxious, you’re out of practice, you don’t. Please see our, Planning a Trip to Italy: Your Easy 11-Step Checklist, 17 Things to Do in Palermo, Sicily's Surprising Capital City, 55 Dreamy Italy Bucket List Items You Should Steal, 7 Phenomenal Italy Road Trip Ideas (+ Driving Tips! From Catania, agencies offer to take you there directly. These days, we prefer just to leave valuables in our Pacsafe during the day. We’ve put together this 10 days in Sicily itinerary for first-timers to the island–this is how to make the most of your first Sicily road trip! Join us here to see what we’ve been up to lately--or to start planning your own adventures! Transportation, guide and equipment are included. Book your boat cruise around Isola Bella today! Day 11: Continue your 15-day Sicilian road trip through Scopello and especially the Zingaro Nature Reserve . Syracuse’s Greek Theatre is one of its most popular attractions, however, it’s completely across town from Ortigia. Partir en Sicile avec Voyage Privé. Though Italian is the official language in Sicily, Sicilian dialect–which is related and yet distinctly different, to the point where Italian speakers will have a hard time understanding it–is widely spoken in Sicily. Parking lots where cars are parked a mere inch apart (and the lines denoting where the parking places should be seen as mere suggestions at best–people park over them regularly). Check rates & book your stay at Room Calafatari! Palermo is one of the two major airport hubs in Sicily (Catania is the other), and if you arrive to the island here, we recommend not picking up your rental car until you’re ready to head to. A Sicily road trip has been on our bucket list for some time now; ever since Ryanair introduced direct flights to Sicily from Dublin. Travel Adaptors for Sicily — If you’re coming from outside of Europe, you’ll definitely need adaptors for your electronics. Parking is severely restricted on the island of Ortigia, and on our Sicily road trip we ended up driving in circles for a bit trying to find the right place to leave our car. It is a 1-hour drivefrom Taormina to Syracuse. ), and the island’s many ruins. Cefalù? The major roads in Sicily are perfectly well maintained–smaller roads, not so much, so beware of potholes. Palermo is one of the two major airport hubs in Sicily (Catania is the other), and if you arrive to the island here, we recommend not picking up your rental car until you’re ready to head to Cefalù–it’ll save you both a bit of cash on your rental bill, and a bit of a headache, as you won’t have to worry about parking it. And do not forget to enjoy the pretty coves that you will come across on your way! 564€ par personne, hors vols … Travel Insurance — We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance–anything can happen, and a fast-paced Sicily road trip is definitely better a case of safe than sorry. Check rates & book your stay at SanVito Hostel! You can end the day in Castellamare with a stroll in the center and a swim. Road trip en Sicile de 3 semaines avec découverte des îles éoliennes. Arrived at Selinunte, spend your afternoon to browse the archaeological park to see remains of temples. In Erice you can stroll along the cobblestone streets and reach the castle to enjoy views of Trapani and the sea. As much as Sicily has a reputation for being its own world, particularly when it comes to driving, driving in Sicily felt pretty much like driving anywhere else in Italy (which is, admittedly, a harder place to drive than some). There are dozens of rental car companies operating in Sicily, all with their own prices and rental agreements. On the other hand, pay attention to the snow which can invite you to the summit of Etna or Stromboli between December and February and thus to deprive you of the visit. Ciuri Ciuri B&B — Featuring spacious rooms, included breakfast, and an excellent location, mid-range travelers can’t go wrong with a stay at Ciuri Ciuri B&B while in Palermo! On the way, you can make a stop in Marsala to taste the wine of the same name and then continue on the SP21 road at the exit of the city. You can also visit the catacombs and finish the day by visiting Monreale, a 30-minute drive from Palermo to visit the famous cathedral. 2) Syracuse, Ortygia and baroque cities (3 days), Road trip in Sicily: 2 weeks to go around the island, 3-week Sicilian road trip with discovery of the Aeolian Islands, Visiting Sicily by Car: Things to Know Before You Go. ), 17 Interesting Facts About Sicily, Italy’s Southernmost Region, 25 of the Best National Parks in the USA (Beautiful + Diverse! This is where you will have the most choice at the level of the renters and the rates are more advantageous than if you rent your car in an agency in town. You could easily create a month-long Sicily itinerary and still leave the island with stones unturned–but let’s face it, most people won’t have that long to spend on the island. Il serait vraiment dommage … Dating to the 6th century BCE, the temple has served a whole host of functions over the centuries, including acting as a temple to both Apollo and Artemis, as a church (more than once), and as a mosque. Continue by the Manicace Castello and admire the sunset towards the Aretusa Fountain. This will allow you to go through the salt road , which crosses the salt marshes between Paceco and Trapani . Je vous garantis que … The 2 solutions offer beautiful panoramas, to you to choose what you prefer! La compagnie aérienne low cost Volotea vient d’ouvrir un vol direct Bordeaux-Palerme.La Sicile est donc désormais à moins de 3 heures de l’Aquitaine…une … Money Belt — This is up to you: we no longer use one, but if you’re more comfortable having your passports on your person in Sicily, you can consider bringing one.