Sicily holidays

Sicily is a dream destination for delicious food and drink, it’s Italy, after all! Arancini, seafood, cannoli and caponata all need to be on your hit list when holidaying in Sicily. You’d be hard pushed to find a destination with better pizza, pasta and fresh fish. Cefalu is a popular destination with tourists, here you’ll find an extensive choice of eateries with a few notable favourites. Le Chat Noir, La Botte and Al Porticcolioli are worthwhile visits, but you may need to book in advance during the height of summer as these restaurants get very busy with hungry tourists.

The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily is home to a number of stunning beaches, who needs the Maldives when you have white sand, turquoise waters and plenty of sunshine right here in Europe! The second biggest city after Palermo, Catania, is home to some of the best beaches in Sicily. The coast between Catania and Acireale is definitely worth a visit, with stop-offs to Ghenea beach and bikini beach. Syracuse is another fantastic location for amazing beaches, Arenella and Fontane are worthy additions to your Sicily itinerary.

Steeped in culture and history, there is plenty to see and do in Sicily. The beaches are an obvious draw, but Sicily is also home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, jaw-dropping architecture, and of course, a well-known volcano!

Mount Etna: You can’t head to Sicily without stopping by Etna, it’s one of the islands most popular attractions and a must-visit during your stay. There are various different excursions available, with many tour operators offering half days complete with transport, equipment and a knowledgeable guide. If you’re not too keen on the idea of getting up close and personal with a volcano, you can admire Etna from Taormina or Catania instead.

The Town of Ragusa: Ragusa is one of Sicily’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is a wonderful area to visit during your stay. If you have time, try and stop by Noto and Modica too. These three baroque towns offer plenty in the way of breath-taking architecture, historical sites and the best gelato you’ll ever taste. Explore the winding streets, take refuge from the midday sun in one of the towns many churches and simply just absorb your surroundings. The Piazza del Duomo is a great spot to sit and people watch.

Aeolian Islands: Fancy a day of island hopping? The Aeolian islands are located in Northern Sicily with the most popular comprising of Lipari, Stromboli, Lipari and Salina. Each island is uniquely different with its own charm and story to tell. Lipari is perfect for spending a lazy afternoon, wandering up and down the beach before tucking into a delicious lunch in one of the islands rustic restaurants. For keen photographers, you won’t be short of picture-perfect views and magical winding streets with quaint Italian housing often lined with plant pots and bursts of colour. Vulcano is well known for its volcanic landscape, and rotten egg smell that’s hard to ignore, but don’t let it put you off! Many tourists head to Vulcano for one of their famous mud baths, but if that’s not up your street then the island offers a beautiful setting and an interesting black sand beach.