Sicily Grand Tour: Self-Launched Walking & Hiking Adventure

Land at Palermo Falcone-Borsellino airport and take the Prestia e Comandè shuttle bus into the city centre (~£6, 50 mins), then a local bus or shared transfer to Segesta (~£5-8). Explore the unfinished Greek temple and the hilltop theatre of Monte Barbaro on the forest track with panoramic views (£5.50 entry). In the afternoon continue by bus to Trapani and up by cable car to the medieval hilltop town of Erice (£8 return), where you can wander the cobbled lanes and taste the famous almond pastries of Maria Grammatico. Overnight in Erice.

🚌Airport shuttle bus + local/regional bus to Segesta and Trapani, Erice cable car

🛏Family-run B&B or guesthouse in Erice old town (~£30-38/night for a single/double room)

• →Segesta Greek temple and theatre walk
• →Erice old town and castle ramparts
• →Maria Grammatico pastry shop

Morning walk around Erice's Phoenician walls and Balio gardens before descending by cable car to Trapani. Take the hydrofoil from Trapani to Levanzo (Liberty Lines, ~£9-11, 20 mins). Walk the island's quiet tracks to the Grotta del Genovese to see Palaeolithic and Neolithic cave paintings (guided cave entry ~£10, book via local co-op), then loop around the island with views to Favignana and Marettimo. Optional swim at Cala Dogana. Overnight on Levanzo.

🚌Erice cable car, Liberty Lines hydrofoil Trapani–Levanzo

🛏Small guesthouse or B&B on Levanzo (~£35-45/night)

• →Grotta del Genovese cave paintings
• →Levanzo island circular walk
• →Cala Dogana swim

Early hydrofoil back to Trapani, then bus toward San Vito Lo Capo and walk the coastal trail through the Zingaro Nature Reserve (free entry, ~£5 donation appreciated) — coves, dwarf palms and crystal water. Stop at a coastal tonnara to learn about tuna fishing traditions, then in the afternoon take the bus from Castellammare del Golfo or Trapani to Agrigento (~£9-12, 2.5-3 hrs). Evening stroll in Agrigento's old town and dinner near the Via Atenea.

🚌Hydrofoil, local buses (Trapani/Castellammare–Agrigento)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Agrigento (~£25-32/night)

• →Zingaro Nature Reserve coastal walk
• →Tuna fishing heritage stop
• →Agrigento old town evening

Beat the heat with an early entry to the Valley of the Temples (combined ticket with the archaeological museum ~£15.50). Walk the sacred way past the Temple of Concordia and Juno, then visit the regional museum's Greek vases and telamons. In the afternoon take the local bus toward Realmonte for the white cliff walk to Scala dei Turchi (viewing from above the cliff is free; no access on the rock itself). Take a self-guided audio tour or join a small group tour booked on GetYourGuide for the archaeology if you want context.

🚌Local bus to Valley of the Temples and Realmonte

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Agrigento (~£25-32/night)

• →Valley of the Temples self-guided walk
• →Agrigento archaeological museum
• →Scala dei Turchi cliff walk

Bus to Piazza Armerina (~£6-8, 1.5 hrs) to see the Roman Villa Romana del Casale, home of the world-famous mosaic floors including the 'bikini girls' (£10 entry). Wander the medieval lanes of Piazza Armerina and grab a gelato before catching the afternoon bus to Catania and the train on to Siracusa (~£12-15 total, 3.5-4 hrs). Stay on Ortigia island so the sea is at the end of your street.

🚌Regional bus Agrigento–Piazza Armerina, bus to Catania, Trenitalia regional train to Siracusa

🛏Hostel or guesthouse on Ortigia (~£22-30/night)

• →Villa Romana del Casale mosaics
• →Piazza Armerina old town
• →Ortigia evening wander

Spend the morning exploring Ortigia — the Duomo built into the Temple of Athena, the Arethusa spring and the Fonte Aretusa promenade. Head to the lively morning fish market and pick up picnic lunch (bread, caponata, fruit ~£5). In the afternoon visit the Neapolis Archaeological Park (£13.50 combined with the museum): Greek theatre, quarry, sacrificial altar and Roman amphitheatre. Optional afternoon boat trip around Ortigia (~£12).

🚌Walking; local bus to the archaeological park

🛏Hostel or guesthouse on Ortigia (~£22-30/night)

• →Ortigia historic quarter
• →Fish market picnic
• →Neapolis Archaeological Park

Take an early bus/train toward Sortino or Ferla and arrange a local taxi or shuttle to the Pantalica reserve entrance (~£15-20 split). Walk the ancient railway tunnels and trails of the Anapo valley, past thousands of rock-cut tombs carved into the limestone cliffs — a genuinely eerie, spectacular hike worth 3-4 hrs. Return by bus to Catania, then the regional train up to Taormina-Giardini (~£7) and bus up into town.

🚌Bus/train to Pantalica area with local taxi, train Catania–Taormina

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Taormina/Giardini Naxos (~£25-35/night)

• →Pantalica UNESCO gorge and rock tombs hike
• →Old railway tunnels walk

A free-spirited day in Taormina: walk the ancient mule tracks down toward Castelmola or the coast, visit the Greco-Roman amphitheatre (£10, best early), and browse the boutiques on Corso Umberto. If you want a volcano fix, a half-day Mount Etna tour from Taormina can be booked on GetYourGuide (~£55 including transport and cable car — optional). Evening dinner with views across the bay; keep an eye on Etna's plume.

🚌Walking; local bus from Giardini Naxos

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Taormina/Giardini Naxos (~£25-35/night)

• →Taormina Greco-Roman theatre
• →Mule track walk to Castelmola
• →Corso Umberto shopping

Bus to Milazzo (or train to Milazzo if staying in Giardini), then take the Liberty Lines hydrofoil to Vulcano (~£12, 45 mins). Hike up to the crater rim of the Gran Cratere — around 1-1.5 hrs up, with smouldering fumaroles and views across the Aeolians (£3 reserve entry). Remember sturdy shoes and plenty of water. Late afternoon hydrofoil onwards to Panarea (~£10) for two nights on the smallest, most atmospheric of the islands.

🚌Bus to Milazzo, Liberty Lines hydrofoils Milazzo–Vulcano–Panarea

🛏Guesthouse or small hotel on Panarea (~£40-50/night, book ahead in summer)

• →Vulcano crater climb
• →Aeolian Islands hydrofoil hop
• →Panarea harbour evening

Walk the circular route around Panarea: the Punta Milazzese Bronze Age village site perched above the sea, the ancient crater walls, and quiet paths through caper bushes with views to Stromboli and the islets of Basiluzzo and Dattilo. Afternoon swim at Cala Junco, then an aperitivo by the port. Optional evening boat trip to see Stromboli's eruptions from the water (~£35-45, book locally).

🚌Walking; optional local boat trip

🛏Guesthouse or small hotel on Panarea (~£40-50/night)

• →Panarea circular walk
• →Punta Milazzese Bronze Age village
• →Cala Junco swim

Morning hydrofoil from Panarea to Milazzo (~£15), then train via Messina and Palermo to Cefalù (Trenitalia, ~£16-20, around 4.5 hrs including changes). Settle into Cefalù's old quarter, visit the Norman Cathedral with its golden Christ Pantocrator mosaic (free), and walk the beach promenade. Optional late-afternoon climb of La Rocca promontory for castle ruins and coastal views (£6).

🚌Liberty Lines hydrofoil, Trenitalia regional trains via Palermo

🛏Hostel or B&B in Cefalù old town (~£25-32/night)

• →Cefalù Norman Cathedral
• →Old quarter wander
• →La Rocca climb (optional)

Bus from Cefalù toward Castelbuono and on to Geraci Siculo (~£5-7). Walk the cobbled streets of Geraci Siculo, then hike through pine forests up to Pizzo Corvo and across mountain pastures with Mount Etna smoking on the horizon (marked trails, 4-5 hrs; download offline maps). Finish in Petralia Soprana, one of Italy's prettiest villages, for a long dinner.

🚌Regional buses (Cefalù–Castelbuono–Geraci Siculo–Petralia)

🛏Mountain guesthouse or agriturismo near Petralia Soprana (~£30-40/night)

• →Geraci Siculo village walk
• →Pizzo Corvo forest and pasture hike
• →Petralia Soprana evening

Breakfast in the mountains, then bus down to Palermo (~£7, 2 hrs). Depending on your flight, spend an hour in the Ballarò market or the Palermo Cathedral before taking the Prestia e Comandè airport bus (~£6). If your flight is late, a final arancina and a coffee on the way out is compulsory.

🚌Regional bus to Palermo, airport shuttle

🛏Departure day (no accommodation included)

• →Ballarò market
• →Palermo Cathedral
• →Airport transfer