Sicily’s vibrant spirit comes alive with Palermo’s mosaics, Mount Etna’s views, sweet tastings in Castelbuono and baroque treasures from Ragusa to Siracusa.
Starting from $1,594 per person.
Best of Sicily Escorted Tour
8 Days/7 Nights
Starting from
$
per person*
Unforgettable Italian Journeys, Designed for You
Curated by passionate Italy experts, this sample itinerary is just the beginning of your Italian adventure. Every journey we design is unique, crafted around your interests, pace, and dreams so you can experience Italy’s beauty and culture like a true insider. Let us transform your vision into a one-of-a-kind travel experience, filled with authentic moments and lasting memories
Day 1
PALERMO
A Day For Coastal Light And Cathedral Shadows
- Independent arrival in Palermo and make your way to the hotel
- Check-in at your hotel in Palermo
- Afternoon meet & greet with your tour escort and group
- Welcome cocktail followed by group dinner
- Overnight stay at your hotel in Palermo
Day 2
PALERMO, CEFALU’, CASTELBUONO with Sicilian products tasting and lunch in farmhouse, CATANIA
Seaside Streets And Mountain-Town Treats
- Breakfast at the hotel in Palermo
- Travel to Cefalù, a charming seaside town
- Visit the Norman Cathedral with mosaics and the medieval rock‑carved wash-house
- Continue to Castelbuono in the Madonie Mountains
- Short visit of the medieval village
- Tasting of Sicilian sweets (including panettone) and Rosolio liqueur in a renowned pastry shop
- Lunch in a local farmhouse with typical Sicilian specialties
- Afternoon transfer to Catania, a baroque city built with Etna’s black lava stone
- Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Catania
Day 3
CATANIA, MOUNT ETNA, TAORMINA, CATANIA
Volcano Views, Then A Perfect Stroll
- Breakfast buffet at your hotel in Catania
- Excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano
- Weather permitting, reach about 2,000 meters for panoramic views of the Ionian Sea and craters
- Lunch at a local restaurant on the slopes of Mount Etna
- Afternoon visit to Taormina with free time
- Stroll Corso Umberto for shopping (lace, ceramics, coral jewelry, local sweets)
- Optional visit to the Greek‑Roman Theater (not included)
- Return to Catania for dinner and overnight stay
Day 4
CATANIA, SIRACUSA, MODICA, RAGUSA with Sicilians specialties tasting
Where Sicily Turns Baroque And Beautiful
- Breakfast at the hotel in Catania
- Depart for Siracusa, historic coastal city
- Visit the archaeological area: Greek Amphitheater, Ear of Dionysus, Minerva’s Temple, Roman Theater
- Continue to Ortigia Island, Siracusa’s baroque historic center
- See the Cathedral and the Fountain of Aretusa
- Lunch in a local restaurant on Ortigia
- Afternoon panoramic tour of Modica
- Evening arrival in Ragusa, divided into “new” Ragusa and baroque Ragusa Ibla
- Tasting of typical Sicilian products overlooking Ragusa Ibla’s main square and Cathedral
- Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Ragusa
Day 5
RAGUSA, CALTAGIRONE, PIAZZA ARMERINA, AGRIGENTO
Mosaics, Markets, And Monumental History
- Breakfast at the hotel in Ragusa
- Travel to Caltagirone, renowned center of Sicilian ceramics
- Visit a ceramics workshop to learn about traditional pottery techniques
- Continue to Piazza Armerina
- Visit Villa Romana del Casale (UNESCO), with the world’s largest collection of late Roman mosaics
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Afternoon transfer to Agrigento
- Visit the Valley of the Temples: Juno, Hercules, Zeus, Concordia, Castor and Pollux
- Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Agrigento
Day 6
AGRIGENTO, SELINUNTE with olive oil tasting and lunch in a local farmhouse, ERICE, PALERMO
From Coastal Ruins To Cobblestone Heights
- Breakfast buffet at your hotel in Agrigento
- Depart for Selinunte archaeological park, with its ancient Acropolis and temples
- Guided visit of one of the largest archaeological areas in the Mediterranean
- Lunch in a typical farmhouse near Castelvetrano
- Tasting of local olive oil, black bread of Castelvetrano, and local olives
- Afternoon visit to Erice, medieval hilltop town with Phoenician and Norman heritage
- Panoramic views over Trapani, the salt pans, and the Egadi Islands
- Evening arrival in Palermo, group dinner and overnight stay
Day 7
PALERMO, MONREALE, MONTE PELLEGRINO-CATACOMBS-CAPO MARKET (Optional), PALERMO
Sacred Splendor, Scenic Switchbacks, City Return
- Breakfast at your hotel in Palermo
- Morning sightseeing tour of Palermo
- See the Palatine Chapel, Cathedral, Opera House, and Praetorian Square
- Immerse yourself in Palermo’s lively streets and markets
- Continue to Monreale for a visit of the Cathedral and Benedictine monastery
- Admire the 12th‑century gold mosaics and cloister
- Return to the hotel for lunch
- Afternoon free time in Palermo: markets, old town, or Mondello beach
- Optional excursion to Monte Pellegrino, Catacombs, and Capo Market (not included)
- Group dinner and overnight stay in Palermo
Day 8
PALERMO
One More Stroll Through Sunlit Streets
- Breakfast at your hotel in Palermo
- Check-out and end of services
MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS
Turn this sample itinerary into your dream Italy vacation – tailored to your pace, passions, and budget.
Day 1
PALERMO
A Day For Coastal Light And Cathedral Shadows
Arrive on your own in Palermo, Sicily’s vibrant capital, and check in at your hotel. In the afternoon, meet your tour escort and fellow travelers for a friendly introduction to your Sicilian journey. Enjoy a welcome cocktail and shared dinner, the perfect way to start your week exploring the island. Overnight in Palermo.
Day 2
PALERMO, CEFALU’, CASTELBUONO with Sicilian products tasting and lunch in farmhouse, CATANIA
Seaside Streets And Mountain-Town Treats
After breakfast, depart for Cefalù, a picturesque fishing village on Sicily’s northern coast. Stroll through the historic center, visit the impressive Norman Cathedral adorned with beautiful mosaics, and see the medieval wash-house carved into the rock. Continue to Castelbuono, a medieval town nestled on the slopes of the Madonie Mountains. After a brief visit of the village, enjoy a sweet tasting in a renowned pastry shop, sampling local specialties such as panettone and the traditional Rosolio liqueur. Then savor a hearty lunch in a local farmhouse featuring authentic Sicilian cuisine. In the afternoon, travel on to Catania, a baroque city characterized by its streets and buildings of black lava stone from Mount Etna. Enjoy dinner and a good night’s rest at your hotel in Catania.
Day 3
CATANIA, MOUNT ETNA, TAORMINA, CATANIA
Volcano Views, Then A Perfect Stroll
Enjoy a breakfast buffet before heading to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. Weather permitting, you’ll ascend to around 2,000 meters, where you can admire an extraordinary landscape of ancient craters and sweeping views over the Ionian Sea. Have lunch at a local restaurant on Etna’s slopes, then continue to Taormina, one of Sicily’s most famous resort towns. You’ll have free time to wander along Corso Umberto, lined with boutiques selling handmade lace, ceramics, coral jewelry, and local delicacies, or simply relax with a refreshing granita in a café while taking in the views of Mount Etna and the sea. If you wish, you can also visit the renowned Greek‑Roman Theater (optional, not included). At the end of the day, return to Catania for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4
CATANIA, SIRACUSA, MODICA, RAGUSA with Sicilians specialties tasting
Where Sicily Turns Baroque And Beautiful
After breakfast, depart for Siracusa, a city rich in Greek and Roman history. Visit the archaeological park, where you’ll see the impressive Greek Amphitheater, the evocative Ear of Dionysus, Minerva’s Temple, and the Roman Theater. The tour continues to Ortigia Island, the baroque heart of Siracusa, where you’ll admire the Cathedral and the legendary Fountain of Aretusa. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on Ortigia, then travel on to Modica for a panoramic tour of this beautiful baroque town. The day concludes in Ragusa, a city built in two levels: the “new” upper town and Ragusa Ibla below, a jewel of Sicilian baroque architecture. Before heading to your hotel, enjoy a tasting of typical Sicilian products while overlooking Ragusa Ibla’s main square and majestic Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Ragusa.
Day 5
RAGUSA, CALTAGIRONE, PIAZZA ARMERINA, AGRIGENTO
Mosaics, Markets, And Monumental History
After breakfast, head to Caltagirone, the heart of Sicily’s pottery and ceramic art. Visit a local workshop to see artisans at work and learn about the island’s long ceramic tradition. Continue to Piazza Armerina to explore the UNESCO‑listed Villa Romana del Casale, home to the world’s largest collection of late Roman mosaics, including the famous “bikini girls.” Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before traveling to Agrigento. There, you’ll visit the Valley of the Temples, one of the most important archaeological sites of the ancient Greek world, featuring remarkably preserved temples dedicated to Juno, Hercules, Zeus, Concordia, and Castor and Pollux. Check in at your hotel in Agrigento for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 6
AGRIGENTO, SELINUNTE with olive oil tasting and lunch in a local farmhouse, ERICE, PALERMO
From Coastal Ruins To Cobblestone Heights
Enjoy a breakfast buffet, then depart for Selinunte, where you’ll visit one of the largest archaeological parks in the Mediterranean. Explore the ancient Acropolis and impressive Greek temples set against a coastal backdrop. Continue to a typical farmhouse near Castelvetrano for lunch, where you’ll taste locally produced olive oil, the famous black bread of Castelvetrano, and regional olives and specialties. In the afternoon, head to Erice, an enchanting medieval village perched on Mount Erice, known for its Phoenician and Norman ruins and breathtaking views over the city of Trapani, the salt works, and the Egadi Islands (optional activities in the afternoon not included). The day ends in Palermo, where you’ll enjoy dinner and spend the night at your hotel.
Day 7
PALERMO, MONREALE, MONTE PELLEGRINO-CATACOMBS-CAPO MARKET (Optional), PALERMO
Sacred Splendor, Scenic Switchbacks, City Return
After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Palermo, Sicily’s capital, rich in art, architecture, and vibrant street life. See highlights such as the Palatine Chapel with its dazzling mosaics, the Cathedral, the grand Opera House, and Praetorian Square. Then continue to Monreale to visit its magnificent Cathedral, famous for its 12th‑century gold mosaics, and the peaceful Benedictine cloister. Return to your hotel for lunch, then enjoy a free afternoon to explore Palermo in greater depth—perhaps visiting one of its historic markets or relaxing on the beach at Mondello. If you wish, you can join an optional excursion to Monte Pellegrino, the Catacombs, and Capo Market (optional, not included). In the evening, share a final group dinner and spend the night at your hotel in Palermo.
Day 8
PALERMO
One More Stroll Through Sunlit Streets
After breakfast, check out of your hotel, marking the end of your Sicilian tour. Depart Palermo with unforgettable memories of ancient temples, baroque towns, volcanic landscapes, and the rich flavors and traditions of Sicily.
