Best of Sicily

8 Days

Best of Sicily

Sun-kissed landscapes and a vibrant culture

This 7-night vacation to Sicily, the largest Mediterrnean island, is sure to take your breath away. Discover Sicilian culture, cuisine and beautiful landscapes and see why Sicily is so different from the rest of Italy.

Unique Explorations

  • Explore the salt windmills of Trapani with a guided tour.
  • Enjoy meals at specially selected, local restaurants, offering an authentic taste of Sicilian cuisine.
  • Admire Norman palaces and Arab domes one day, take in stunning Byzantine mosaics the next.
  • Sample the famous local dessert wines, from Marsala to Zibbibo.
  • Experience the robust flavor of local produce enriched by the flavor of Mt. Etna’s volcanic soil.

This is an escorted tour. It’s perfect if you prefer not to do your own driving and want to see as many sights as you can during your vacation.

Experience stunning Sicily without the stress! You’ll stay in accommodations throughout the “toe” of Italy’s boot while surrounded by picturesque coastlines. This escorted vacation takes you through the gems of Sicily; visit the ancient Greek ruins of Siricusa, admire the breathtaking mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, and enjoy panoramic views from the medieval village of Erice.

You’ll also be treated to several meals in carefully selected eateries, where you can sample authentic Sicilian cuisine! In additional to traditional Italian food, Sicilian food boasts influences from Greek, French, Arab and Spanish cuisine as well. Sample a forkful of the historic Pasta all Norma paired with a glass of local red wine.

PRICES FROM: $3030*PER PERSON (7 Nights)

*Vacation is round-trip, per person, based on 2 travelers departing from
Atlanta. Includes air, airport taxes, hotel, transfers, daily breakfast and more. Additional baggage charges may apply. Rates are available for 1 to 9 travelers. Sceptre

Rates are not guaranteed until booked.

Terms and Conditions apply.

Upon arrival at the airport in Catania, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Catania. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure, until you meet the rest of your travel companions later for a welcome cocktail and dinner at the hotel.

Transfer to hotel

Check In – Il Principe Hotel Catania

CATANIA, ITALY 4 out of 5 stars

Il Prinicpe Hotel Catania is set in a recently restored aristocratic building, located in the baroque heart of the historical centre of Catania. Enjoy stays in elegant and luxurious rooms while surrounded by stunning Sicilian Architecture!

After a buffet breakfast, depart for Siracusa (Syracuse) and visit the archaeological area including the famous Latomie of Paradise (Latomia del Paradiso) and the Ear of Dionysius.

Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city center of Siracusa; visit the Cathedral and the Arethuse Fountain. You’ll enjoy some time alone where you can treat yourself to a local lunch or explore the area a bit further. We’ll then depart for Ragusa and visit the enchanting historical center, Ibla, with its stunning Baroque palaces and churches.

Enjoy a tasting of typical products of the island in a nice bar in the main square by the Dome.

Check In – Poggio Del Sole Resort

RAGUSA, ITALY 4 out of 5 stars

Situated in the bright countryside of Ragusa, on the road which leads from the city to the sea, Poggio del Sole Resort combines contemporary style and traditional architecture. This upscale hotel, set in a converted villa and surrounding farm buildings on Sicily’s Hyblean Plateau, lies 9.3 miles from the beaches of Marina di Ragusa.

The bright, elegant rooms and suites also have flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi and minifridges. Suites add separate living areas, some with pull-out sofas, and some suites also add private balconies or 4-poster beds and Jacuzzis. Enjoy a bite at the upscale restaurant, which is housed in a converted barn, or in the casual eatery overlooking the courtyard. Other amenities include a laid-back bar, an outdoor pool and a spa with a hot tub and a fitness room.

Sicilian Product Tasting

Sample the flavors of Sicily today! Sicilian cuisine is unlike any other in Italy. The staple dishes of the region draw inspiration from all of the cultures which established them on the island over the course of history.

In addition to the traditional Italian fare, Sicilian cuisine shows traces from Greek, French, Spanish, and Arab influences.

Today, after breakfast you’ll depart to Caltagirone – a small town in the heart of Sicily, and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous worldwide for the production of pottery, pay special attention to their majolica (Italian tin-glazed pottery that dates back to the Renaissance and is decorated in bright colors), and terra-cotta wares.

You’ll then continue to Piazza Armerina to visit the world-renowned Villa Romana del Casale, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its well-preserved mosaics depicting mythological themes and hunting scenes.

Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant with a special menu made up of authentic local specialties. Depart for Agrigento and visit the Valley of the Temples, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll get a guided tour of the Valley, including the Temple of Concordia, which is in almost perfectly preserved condition, Juno and Heracles. Dinner and overnight in Agrigento.

Check In – Dioscuri Bay Palace

AGRIGENTO, ITALY 4 out of 5 stars

Located on the picturesque San Leone Bay in Agrigento, Sicily, this enchanting 4-star hotel is the perfect base for your stay in Sicily. Overlooking the town harbor and San Leone Bay, this traditional seaside hotel is 4 minutes’ walk from a public beach, 3 miles from the ruined Doric temple Tempio di Giove Olimpico and 9.5 km from the dramatic cliffs at Scala dei Turchi.

Warm rooms and suites come with flat-screen TVs, complimentary WiFi and minibars. Coffeemakers are available on request. Some have balconies and/or sea views – the perfect backdrop after a long day of exploring.

Enjoy breakfast in your hotel before departing to Palermo. Upon arrival, enjoy time on your own to explore and have lunch.

That afternoon, the group will visit Monreale to see the Cathedral – one of the most beautiful monuments of the world with its Moorish architecture, and the Benedictine Cloister in Arab-Norman style.

Continue on to visit the historical center of Palermo; explore the multi-stylistic Cathedral, the Palatine Chapel and the Royal Palace. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Check In – Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa

PALERMO, ITALY 4 out of 5 stars

The Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa has a unique history – the central part of the hotel was originally the convent and large church of the Mercedarian Fathers, a monastic order that enjoyed great fame and prestige in Palermo at the end of the 16th century. Both the cloister, characterized by daringly high ceilings, and the old convent door have remained practically unchanged. The old cloister, the pride and joy of the Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa, has got small lounge areas at each of its corners, so that guests can enjoy the atmosphere in comfort. Each of the 127 guestrooms has its own separate design and personality, but all of them aim to provide maximum comfort. The hotel also offers numerous dining opportunities, and a panoramic roof garden where breakfast is served during summer.

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Segesta to admire the Temple and the Theatre surrounded by an impressive landscape.

Continue to the medieval village of Erice, situated on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands; walk through its tiny and characteristic streets, and enjoy lunch on your own.

From there, travel down to Trapani for a panoramic tour of the salt windmills, which are still working.

Day 06 :

Following breakfast, travel to Cefalu, a former fishing village that is now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city center and down the main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval wash-house built in the rock.

Drive through the Park of Nebrodi and stop at the Miraglia Forest for lunch in an authentic local restaurant. Continue to Cesarò and Randazzo, and visit the Etna Park from an unusual point of view – the north facing side – surrounded by beautiful landscapes. You’ll the day in Taormina, where you’ll stay in the historic city center.

Check In – Villa Diodoro

TAORMINA, ITALY 4 out of 5 stars

The hotel Villa Diodoro retains, its historic roots as a place of elegance and exclusivity, where the simple pleasures are transformed into unforgettable experience. Open year-round, and located just a just a few steps from the idyllic town of Taormina, the hotel boasts a pool area which looks out over Mount Etna and the bay of Naxos.

The Hotel Villa Diodoro provides spacious, stylishly finished rooms with interiors and colors that take their inspiration from the natural habitat in which the hotel can be found. The majority of rooms provide stunning views over the Jonian sea and the imposing but magnificent Mount Etna: from the balcony you can enjoy a calm horizon, a dramatic sunset, or watch evolution in the making, in the form of Etna’s lava flow.

Day 07 :
Taormina

Today you will enjoy the day at leisure. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner and overnight at your hotel in Taormina.

Your Sicilian getaway comes to an end today. After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Catania Airport for your return flight home.

Transfer to Catania airport

Fly home!

What's Included

  • Round-trip economy class airfare to Catania (CTA)
  • Round-trip airport transfers in Catania
  • Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar
  • 1 night in Catania at the Hotel Il Principe
  • 1 night in Ragusa at the Poggio del Sole Resort
  • 1 night in Agrigento at the Dioscuri Bay Palace
  • 2 nights in Palermo at the Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa
  • 2 nights in Taormina at the Villa Diodoro
  • Welcome cocktail
  • Daily breakfast, 7 dinners & 2 lunches
  • Sicilian product tastings
  • Transportation via deluxe motorcoach or mini-van
  • Services of an English-speaking tour escort
  • Local tours and entrance fees (as mentioned in the itinerary)
  • Porterage at hotels
  • Please note: in these cities, local tax is not included and is required to be paid in cash at the hotel for a total of 13 Euro per person:
  • Catania: 1.5 Euro per person/per night
  • Ragusa: 1.5 Euro per person/per night
  • Palermo: 2 Euro per person/per night
  • Taormina: 3 Euro per person/per night

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Best of Sicily