An independent guide to choosing a holiday home in Sicily: the main areas, distances between destinations and what to check before booking.
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and combines art cities, archaeological sites, volcanoes and hundreds of kilometres of coast. Distances between destinations are significant: choose your base area carefully.
A holiday home offers space and independence and lets you organise your stay around itineraries: Palermo and the north-west, Taormina and Etna, Syracuse and the Val di Noto.
This page helps you get your bearings among the areas, with links to check up-to-date availability and prices on booking platforms.
An art city with markets, palaces and the Monreale Cathedral a short distance away.
The large archaeological park of Agrigento, among the most visited sites on the island.
The old town on the islet of Ortigia and the Neapolis archaeological park.
The Ancient Theatre above the sea and the highest active volcano in Europe.
Distances and times are indicative and vary with season and traffic.
Palermo, Syracuse, Noto and Taormina: museums, theatres and old towns to visit on foot.
Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts, bays and islands: the choice of area depends on the beach you want.
Markets, street food, Etna wines and local products to discover in every area.
Tours, tastings and activities for Sicily, through GetYourGuide.
Four reference areas. Links open searches on Booking.com with up-to-date availability and prices.
An art city in the north-west, a base for Monreale, Cefalù and the Tyrrhenian villages.
A Tyrrhenian village with old town and beach, about an hour from Palermo.
A Greek city by the sea, a base for Noto and the south-east.
The Ionian coast with views of sea and Etna, a base for the volcano and Alcantara.
Spaces for sponsors and independent operators who wish to present their services to readers.
Spring and early autumn offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds; July and August are the hottest and most requested months for the sea.
A car is the most practical way to tour the island. Trains and buses also link the main cities, with timetables to check.
It depends on your itineraries: Palermo and surroundings for the north-west, Taormina and Etna for the east, Syracuse and Noto for the south-east. It pays not to change base too often.
For summer it pays to book several months ahead; in spring and autumn choice is more flexible.
No. It is an independent editorial portal: it is not a real-estate agency and does not intermediate bookings or sales. Some links lead to third-party platforms and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.