Self-Launched Highlights of Sicily

Fly into Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), the most convenient hub for eastern Sicily. From the airport, take the Alibus shuttle or a local bus to Catania city centre (£2), then a regional bus or taxi up to Viagrande (~20 minutes, £5–8 by taxi/shared ride). Viagrande is a quiet, traditional village perched above the sea with sweeping views of Mount Etna. Check into your guesthouse, settle in, and spend the evening exploring the old town centre, grabbing dinner at a local trattoria — try pasta alla Norma, a Catanian classic.

🚌Alibus from Catania airport to centre (~£2). Taxi or shared ride to Viagrande (~£5–8).

🛏B&B or agriturismo near Viagrande/Zafferana Etnea, e.g. Agriturismo Monaci delle Terre Nere area guesthouses (~£40–55/night)

• →Arrive at Catania Fontanarossa Airport
• →Take the Alibus shuttle to Catania city centre (~£2)
• →Onward taxi or bus to Viagrande (~£5–8)
• →Explore Viagrande old town centre (founded 1408)
• →Dinner at a local trattoria — try pasta alla Norma

Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and one of Sicily's most dramatic experiences. Book a guided group hike through GetYourGuide or Klook (search 'Mount Etna guided hike') — options typically depart from Catania or Nicolosi and cost around £35–50 per person, including a guide and 4x4 jeep access to the upper craters. Alternatively, take the Funivia dell'Etna cable car (£14 return) from Rifugio Sapienza to ~2500m, then walk independently on marked trails. Wear sturdy shoes, windproof jacket and long trousers — conditions can be cold and ashy even in summer. In the afternoon, visit a local Etna DOC winery for a wine-and-cheese tasting — the slopes of Etna produce some of Italy's most exciting wines. Benanti or Terre Nere wineries are excellent and offer tastings bookable direct (~£20–25 per person).

🚌Join a guided day tour departing from Catania/Nicolosi (~£40 including transport) or take local bus from Catania to Nicolosi then up to Rifugio Sapienza.

🛏Same B&B or agriturismo near Viagrande (~£40–55/night)

• →Guided group hike on Mount Etna via GetYourGuide (~£40)
• →Walk on dried lava flows and past old craters
• →Optional: Funivia dell'Etna cable car (£14 return) + 4x4 to upper craters
• →Afternoon wine-and-cheese tasting at an Etna DOC winery (~£20–25)

Take an InterBus or Etna Trasporti coach from Catania to Syracuse (~1hr 15min, ~£7 one way). In Syracuse, head straight to the Neapolis Archaeological Park — buy your ticket at the gate (£13.50, combined with the Paolo Orsi museum). The park contains a magnificent 5th-century BC Greek theatre and a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre. Afterwards, cross to Ortygia island via the short bridge — wander the Baroque piazzas, visit the cathedral (built over a Greek temple) and grab a granita and brioche. In the afternoon, catch an InterBus to Noto (~45 min, £4), a UNESCO-listed Baroque gem built in honey-coloured limestone. Check in and stroll the main Corso Vittorio Emanuele at golden hour — it's extraordinary.

🚌InterBus Catania–Syracuse (~£7). InterBus Syracuse–Noto (~£4).

🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Noto, e.g. B&B Il Giardino di Noto (~£35–50/night)

• →Coach from Catania to Syracuse (~£7, InterBus)
• →Neapolis Archaeological Park — Greek theatre & Roman amphitheatre (~£13.50)
• →Explore Ortygia island — cathedral, piazzas, street food
• →Granita and brioche at a local bar
• →Afternoon coach to Noto (~£4, InterBus)
• →Evening stroll along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Noto

Take an early SAIS or AST bus from Noto to Ragusa (~1hr 30min, ~£6). The lower town of Ragusa Ibla is a UNESCO-listed labyrinth of Baroque churches and winding cobblestone streets — allow 2 hours to explore at your own pace. Don't miss the Church of San Giorgio, one of the finest Baroque buildings in Sicily. Afterwards, take a bus or shared taxi to Agrigento (~2hrs 30min, change at Gela, ~£12 total). On arrival, head to the Valley of the Temples — buy a combined ticket (~£15) covering the Temple of Concord (one of the best-preserved Doric temples anywhere in the world), the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Castor and Pollux. The site is magical at sunset. Audio guides are available at the entrance (~£5) as an alternative to a paid guided tour.

🚌AST/SAIS bus Noto–Ragusa (~£6). Bus Ragusa–Agrigento via Gela (~£12).

🛏Budget hotel or B&B in Agrigento, e.g. Hotel Atenea Palace or local B&B (~£35–45/night)

• →Morning bus from Noto to Ragusa (~£6)
• →Explore Ragusa Ibla — Baroque churches, winding streets
• →Visit the Church of San Giorgio
• →Bus to Agrigento via Gela (~£12)
• →Valley of the Temples combined ticket (~£15) — Temples of Concord, Juno, Hercules & Castor and Pollux
• →Optional audio guide (~£5)

Take a morning bus or book a shared day-tour from Agrigento to Selinunte (~1hr 30min, ~£8 by bus). Selinunte is one of the most dramatic archaeological parks in the Mediterranean — vast Greek temple ruins set on a cliff above the sea. The entrance fee is ~£6. From Selinunte, take a bus or taxi to the mountain village of Erice (~1hr 30min), perched at 750m with sweeping views of Trapani and the salt flats. Wander the medieval alleys and be sure to try the famous Ericean pastries from Maria Grammatico's pasticceria — they're legendary. Head down to Trapani by cable car (Funivia, ~£10 return) or by bus, then join a short self-guided orientation walk along the seafront and into the old medina-like centre, past the salt pans which glow pink at sunset.

🚌Bus Agrigento–Selinunte (~£8). Shared taxi or bus to Erice (~£8–12). Funivia cable car Erice–Trapani (~£10).

🛏B&B in Trapani old town, e.g. B&B Ai Lumi or similar (~£30–45/night)

• →Morning bus from Agrigento to Selinunte (~£8)
• →Selinunte Archaeological Park — clifftop Greek temple ruins (~£6)
• →Bus or taxi to Erice (~£8–12 shared)
• →Explore medieval Erice — castle, narrow alleys, views
• →Try Ericean pastries at Maria Grammatico pasticceria
• →Funivia cable car down to Trapani (~£10 return)
• →Self-guided walking tour of Trapani old centre and salt pans

Head to Zingaro Nature Reserve in the morning — take a local bus from Trapani towards San Vito Lo Capo (~45 min, ~£4) and walk in from the northern entrance. The reserve stretches 7km along a spectacular unspoilt coastline with rocky cliffs, hidden coves and crystal-clear water. Walk the main coastal trail for up to 3 hours at a relaxed pace, with stops at beautiful coves for a swim — bring snacks, water and a towel. Entry to the reserve costs ~£5. Return to the main road and catch a bus or taxi to Palermo (~1hr 30min, ~£8 by Segesta or AST bus from Trapani). Check into your Palermo accommodation and spend the evening exploring the vibrant Ballarò or Vucciria street food markets — a riot of noise, smells and flavour.

🚌Local bus Trapani–San Vito Lo Capo direction (~£4). Segesta/AST coach Trapani–Palermo (~£8, ~1hr 30min).

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Palermo city centre, e.g. Hostel Ballarò or Hotel Orientale (~£28–40/night)

• →Bus from Trapani to Zingaro Nature Reserve northern entrance (~£4)
• →3-hour coastal walk on marked trails — cliffs, hidden coves, sea views
• →Swimming stop at one of Zingaro's secluded coves
• →Reserve entry fee (~£5)
• →Bus from Trapani to Palermo (~£8, Segesta coach)
• →Evening at Ballarò or Vucciria street food markets

Take bus 389 from Palermo centre to Monreale (~30 min, ~£1.50) to visit the extraordinary Norman cathedral — its interior is covered in 6,000 square metres of gold Byzantine mosaics, widely regarded as the greatest example of Norman architecture in the world. Entry costs ~£5. Head back to Palermo and join a walking tour of the city (book via GetYourGuide, 'Palermo walking tour', ~£15–20) covering Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, the Palermo Cathedral and the waterfront Marina Square. Alternatively, arm yourself with a good guidebook and do it independently — everything is walkable. Spend the afternoon at leisure: visit the Capella Palatina (£12), browse the Ballarò market or find a rooftop bar for an Aperol spritz.

🚌Bus 389 Palermo–Monreale–Palermo (~£3 return). Walking within Palermo.

🛏Same budget hotel or hostel in Palermo (~£28–40/night)

• →Bus 389 from Palermo to Monreale (~£1.50 each way)
• →Monreale Cathedral — gold Byzantine mosaics and Norman cloisters (~£5)
• →GetYourGuide walking tour of Palermo (~£15–20) — Quattro Canti, Pretoria Square, Cathedral, Marina Square
• →Optional: Cappella Palatina (~£12)
• →Free afternoon — explore Ballarò market or rooftop bars

Take the Trenitalia regional train from Palermo to Cefalu (~1hr 15min, ~£6) — it's a beautiful coastal rail journey. In Cefalu, visit the impressive Norman cathedral with its stunning Byzantine mosaics (entry ~£5), then wander the medieval streets around the Piazza del Duomo and down to the beach. Grab lunch at a seafront restaurant. In the afternoon, take the train to Taormina (change at Messina or Giardini-Naxos, ~2hrs 30min total, ~£12). Note: Taormina train station is at sea level — take the Interbus shuttle or cable car up the hill to the town (~£3). Check in and visit the ancient Greek Theatre (entry ~£10) with its jaw-dropping views of Mount Etna and the coastline. Dinner in Taormina's lively Corso Umberto.

🚌Trenitalia Palermo–Cefalu (~£6). Trenitalia Cefalu–Taormina/Giardini-Naxos (~£12). Local shuttle/cable car to Taormina (~£3).

🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Taormina, e.g. B&B La Giara or similar (~£40–55/night)

• →Train from Palermo to Cefalu (~£6, ~1hr 15min, Trenitalia)
• →Cefalu Cathedral — Norman architecture and Byzantine mosaics (~£5)
• →Stroll Cefalu medieval streets and beach
• →Train from Cefalu to Taormina via Messina/Giardini-Naxos (~£12)
• →Cable car or Interbus shuttle up to Taormina town (~£3)
• →Greek Theatre of Taormina with Etna views (~£10)
• →Dinner on Corso Umberto

Enjoy your last Sicilian breakfast — a granita con brioche is the local way to start the day. Take a final morning stroll through Taormina's beautiful streets or climb up to the Castello Saraceno for panoramic views. For departure, take the Interbus shuttle back down to Giardini-Naxos station, then a train to Catania (~45 min, ~£4) for flights home. Alternatively, Taormina is well-connected to Messina (~1hr by bus, ~£5) if you're heading onwards to mainland Italy by ferry. Note: Catania Airport (CTA) is your most convenient exit point.

🚌Interbus shuttle Taormina–Giardini-Naxos (~£3). Trenitalia train Giardini-Naxos–Catania (~£4).

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final granita con brioche breakfast at a local bar
• →Optional: morning walk up to Castello Saraceno for views
• →Interbus shuttle down to Giardini-Naxos station (~£3)
• →Train to Catania Airport (~£4, ~45 min)
• →Depart from Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA)