USD ($)
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Day 1: Taormina
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Picturesque Taormina is one of Sicily’s most popular holiday destinations– just read our full Taormina Travel Guide to understand why. Whether you are staying here as a couple or family, or are traveling solo, there’s plenty to see and do. One of the best ways to get to know Taormina is on our Insider Taormina City Tour. You will be introduced to Sicilian culture in all its glory while taking in the magnificent Old Town. Admire lemon trees, charming trattorias, cafes, and gift shops, along with the Greek Theater and impressive Palazzo Corvaja. The tour offers a superb introduction to Taormina, so you can revisit your favorite places again and again!
Evening
If you’re still buzzing from your day of exploration, continue the evening with a fabulous Taormina Food and Wine Tasting Tour. This guided tour begins at 18.30 from a central point in the old city. You’ll take a leisurely stroll to three venues where you’ll sample fresh seafood, prosecco, and white wine. At a traditional Sicilian wine bar, you will be served traditional local cuisine and regional red wines. Finally, head to a delightful patisserie for sweet treats and liqueurs. It’s the perfect way to end a day in Taormina.
Day 2: Taormina & Mount Etna
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No visit to Sicily would be complete without spending time discovering mighty Mount Etna. Set along the eastern shores, this is the world’s most active volcano and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our Etna Food and Wine Tour from Taormina is the perfect way to see Mount Etna, taking in local culture, food, and wine along the way. Discover family-run wineries whilst sampling cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, and olive oil bruschetta. Then head to a beautiful farmhouse restaurant to dine on a terrace overlooking vineyards, farmland, and fields filled with flowers. Here, you can sample more wines, plates of fried cheese, pasta dishes, omelets, and traditional liquors from the Etna region. It’s a wonderful tour for food and wine connoisseurs and gives great insight into Sicily’s rich culinary heritage and culture.
Evening
In the evening, relax and listen to live music in Taormina’s piazzas, reminiscing about your day. Take a stroll through the back streets to see how the evening lights highlight the wonderful architecture of the city.
Day 3: Taormina
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If you have enjoyed sampling Sicilian cuisine and would love to recreate dishes back home, begin your day with a Sicilian Cooking Class or Private Cooking Class with a local. Either experience will get you up close and personal with the local flavors, ingredients, and people of Taormina. Another option for the day is exploring Isola Bella (which literally means “beautiful island”) on this relaxing boat tour. Explore its lush flora and geological forms, soak up the sun on the beaches, and explore the beautiful Blue Cave.
Evening
On your final evening in Taormina, visit your favorite bars or enjoy a romantic terrace dinner overlooking sparkling waters lit by the light of the moon. Then tuck in for the night at one of these fabulous hotels in the area.
Day 4: Palermo
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Palermo is a compact city, easy to navigate and all the major tourist sites are within walking distance of each other. One highlight is the magnificent Palermo Cathedral. It dominates the skyline, a blend of architectural styles with Norman, Baroque, Gothic, Moorish and Neoclassical influences. If you enjoy art, history, and culture combined, visit The Palatine Chapel, close to Palazzo dei Normanni in the old city. The structure dates to 1132 and boasts some of the best examples of Byzantine architecture inside. Columns and arches glisten with gold, blue and white frescoes creating a master storyboard that showcases the island’s rich history. If you’d prefer to see the Old Town’s highlights with a local expert, the Palermo Old Town Bike Tour is ideal.
In the afternoon venture a few miles outside Palermo to Mondello Beach. It’s a lively area with crystal clear waters, ideal for swimming and snorkeling and it has an interesting lido building that dates to the 1930s stretching along the seafront. Explore it all on two wheels with an expert guide with this Mondello Beach Bike Tour.
Evening
Evenings in Palermo are a delight. You can dine in gourmet farm-to-fork restaurants, visit a local trattoria for scrumptious pasta dishes, or follow energetic fun seekers to a glamorous nightclub and dance till the sun comes up. Read our Palermo Design Guide to learn more about the city’s most aesthetic spots. Turn in for the night at one of the hotels in this curated selection.
Day 5: Palermo
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Arise early and head to the markets for a Street Food Tour with a local guide. Explore markets full of stalls packed with cheeses, olives, meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables, while sampling local street food! You’ll taste and learn about the local preparations of arancini, focaccia, fritters, and more. For those wanting to get acquainted with the way a native Palermitani utilizes the great local produce, embark on a cooking class with one. You’ll learn to craft a Sicilian starter, main dish, and dessert one-on-one with a local.
Evening
Spend a night indulging in the fruits of the vine on a Palermo wine tasting tour. You’ll hop between three local wine bars and sample sparkling, white, and red wines perfectly paired with Sicilian snacks, all under the guidance of a local sommelier.
Day 6: Monreale & Cefalù
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Today is the perfect chance to explore a bit beyond Palermo in the charming Monreale or Corso Calatafimi. This fun e-bike tour gets you there on two wheels via the road which connects the two, Corso dell’Uscibene. You’ll take in incredible mosaic work in a UNESCO heritage site church, then talk to local mosaicists about their craft. Be sure to try the local baked good, “Pane Cuntazu”, which is a must-try for visitors.
Evening
In the afternoon and evening, drive an hour east to Cefalù, one of the most visited towns in Sicily. Nestled along the seafront, it has an interesting historic center, a beautiful stretch of golden sandy beach, and offers photo opportunities galore. Explore its cobbled streets, browse specialty shops and stop for a cappuccino or glass of wine in a piazza café. Then walk it off by climbing up the La Rocca for incredible views.
Day 7: Agrigento
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Around two hours’ drive from Cefalù is Agrigento. One of the most fascinating archaeological sites in Sicily, Agrigento was once one of the most powerful cities of Ancient Greece. The Valley of the Temples stands overlooking the sea, stone columns of the main temple towering above as you wander around imagining life in ancient times. Visit the Garden of Kolymbetra, a delightful location that was once compared to the Garden of Eden. If that piqued your interest, head for the Regional Archaeological Museum to learn more about Agrigento and artifacts discovered in the area.
Evening
When you’ve explored the ancient city, walk into the old town, browsing shops, boutiques and breaking for pecorino ice cream (yes, it’s made from cheese) in a local gelateria.
One Week in Sicily
Wherever you end up in Sicily, there is abundant sea, sun, sights and scrumptious food to be had. Mapping out your own travel itinerary can be fun, but booking a Sicily package tour that combines all the best Sicilian experiences into one whirlwind adventure will elevate your trip from pleasant to simply extraordinary. The 5 Day Highlights of Sicily Tour Package bases you in beautiful Catania, combining its highlights, tours of Etna and Isola Bella, and mouthwatering culinary experiences. If you have a couple more days to explore, the Taste of Sicily package is an 8-day adventure that is a sheer delight to the senses. You will venture further off the beaten path to Sicily’s most notable culinary and wine destinations to eat, drink, and learn what makes Sicilian cuisine so unique. If you’re unsure what guided tour to book, check out our list of the 6 best guided tours of Sicily. Choose any of these and you’ll return with unforgettable expertise on Sicilian cuisine, incredible memories, and probably some extra pounds… that were absolutely worth it.
