The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has a beautiful coastline, one of the world's most active volcanoes, ancient ruins and breathtaking landscapes. After two days' exploring the capital Palermo, take to the road and soak up the stunning scenery, staying in gorgeous four-star hotels along the way that offer complimentary extras, enjoying boat trips, guided historical tours, food and wine tasting, a cable car ride with panoramic views, and relaxing on some of the lovely white-sand beaches with clear turquoise water.
15 days from £3,000 per person
Return flights from the UK
Transfer from Palermo airport to your hotel
Car rental with unlimited mileage and insurance. Fuel is not included
24-hour support while you travel
All accommodation in high-quality, 4-star hotels, including breakfast and exclusive perks for Trip Me Up customers
Palermo 3hr night food tour, sampling authentic Sicilian cuisine and wine
2.5hr vespa tour of Palermo to explore all of the city's main sights
Full day boat trip to Zingaro, Scopello and San Vito Lo Capo
2hr tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
3hr tour of Syracuse and Ortigia
Full day to Mount Etna, including walk, typical Sicilian lunch with wine tasting and visit to Alcantara Gorges
3hr Cefalù scenery boat tour
Itinerary
Day 1 Fly to Palermo
On arrival at Palermo airport, you will be transferred into Palermo to check into your boutique four-star hotel and enjoy a welcome drink. In the evening, you will join a three-hour street food tour that includes rascatura croquettes, crunchy fritters and Sicilian wine, finishing the evening at the guide's favourite Gelateria. If you need a gluten-free, lactose-intolerant or vegetarian menu, please notify us and we will arrange this.
Day 2 Full day in Palermo
With just one more full day in Palermo, jump on the back of a vespa for a two-and-a-half-hour tour around the old city. You will see some of the Sicilian capital's most beautiful sights, views and monuments, and there will also be pit stops along the way to take photos, walk around and more! Spend the afternoon at your leisure.
Day 3 Drive to Castellammare del Golfo via Mondello Beach
Let the road trip commence! Pick up your car and bid farewell to Palermo. It is just over an hour to your next destination, Castellammare del Golfo, but we suggest a stop-off at the beautiful Mondello Beach, with its crystal clear water and lovely sand. Swim, relax, eat lunch, before completing the scenic drive to Castellammare del Golfo, where you are staying in a four-star in the historic centre with a sea view room and parking.
Day 4 Full day boat trip
Your car is not needed today because you're going on an unforgettable eight-hour boat trip, where you will explore the coastline that features in films like Ocean's Twelve, and swim in the magical coves of the Zingaro Nature Reserve, many of which are accessible only by sea.
Day 5 Drive to Trapani for the day
With another night in Castellammare del Golfo, we recommend you make the 45-minute drive to Trapani and take the exciting 10-minute cable car to Erice, 703m above sea level, where you will have a panoramic view of the Egadi Islands and Trapani. You can also rent a bicycle and cycle around the salt flats - salt production in Trapani dates back to the 15th century.
Day 6 Drive to Agrigento
It's about two hours to Agrigento, your next stop, and you can take your time driving there, stopping at the Turkish Steps, a sloping staircase of white rock that leads down to the ocean and surrounded by two beautiful beaches. Agrigento is a short drive from here, as is your boutique hotel for the next two nights, which has an outdoor swimming pool and a panoramic restaurant.
Day 7 Guided tour of the Valley of the Temples
Enjoy a two-hour guided tour of the Valley of the Temples, one of the most significant and well-preserved ancient Greek sites in the world. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 8 Drive to Syracuse, stop off in Caltagirone
Time to hit the road once more, and you are heading to Syracuse on Sicily's south-east coast. It's a 2hr30min drive and we recommend stopping for lunch and a walk in the city of Caltagirone, famous for its ceramics. The highlight is the 42 steps of the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte that connect the lower town with the older upper town. Your hotel for the next two nights is on the island of Ortigia, just off Syracuse, and you can look forward to welcome drinks and a beautiful sea view over the Gulf of Ortigia.
Day 9 Full day in Syracuse
Jump into an Ape (Tuk Tuk) for a tour of Syracuse and Ortigia this morning. You can choose between 1hr30min and 3hr, and perhaps add in a 1hr boat tour too. Spend the rest of the day wandering and soaking up the atmosphere.
Day 10 Drive to Taormina
It's less than two hours to the beautiful hilltop town of Taormina, an absolute must-visit destination in Sicily. Your hotel has fantastic views over the sea and Mount Etna, and once you've checked in, relax in the pool, visit the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient Greco-Roman theatre still in use and walk the town's gorgeous winding streets offering breathtaking views around almost every corner.
Day 11 Day trip to Mount Etna
You have a full day trip to Mount Etna, where an expert local nature guide will walk you through ancient woods and extinct craters. For lunch, enjoy typical Sicilian dishes paired with a Mount Etna wine tasting. The final part of the day will be a visit to the Alcantara Gorges, a spectacular canyon bordered by 50 metre-high basalt walls.
Day 12-14 Three days on the beach in Cefalù
Your final leg is a 2hr30min drive to the seaside town of Cefalù, where your lovely four-star hotel has a private beach and is walking distance from the old town. You have earned a rest, so kick back and relax, perhaps finding the time for us to organise you a short boat trip to see the gorgeous coastline?
Day 15 Final day - time to return home
That's it, you have seen almost all of Sicily in the past 15 days and hopefully you are going home refreshed, relaxed and with fabulous memories of this special holiday. You will return the car to Palermo Airport and fly home.
