From the sun-bleached Greek temples of Agrigento to the smouldering summit of Mount Etna, from the baroque splendour of Noto to the fish markets of Palermo crackling with colour and noise, Sicily is not simply a southern extension of Italy, it's a world unto itself. The island has been shaped by every civilization that ever coveted the Mediterranean: Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish. That layered history shows up everywhere, in the architecture, the street food, the dialects, and the pace of life. Whether you're a history lover drawn to ruins that predate Rome, a food traveller ready to eat your way through Palermo's markets, or someone who simply wants warm water, warm weather, and fewer tourist crowds than the mainland, Sicily delivers.

Our Sicily packages are designed for independent travellers who want the value and convenience of a curated package but prefer to explore at their own pace. These packages typically include flights, hotels, and car rental, because Sicily really is best seen with your own wheels. Many itineraries are multi-base, moving you between the island's distinct regions so you get a real feel for just how varied a place Sicily is.

Departure airports

Most of our Sicily packages are built around departures from Toronto and Montreal. Other Canadian departure cities may be available with connecting flights. If Toronto or Montreal departures don't work for you, give us a call. Our agents can price it even if it's not visible on our website.

A note on getting around

Unlike the Italian mainland, where trains are excellent and cities are compact, Sicily rewards travellers who rent a car. Distances between the major sites are manageable, the roads are generally good, and having a car opens up villages and countryside that simply aren't reachable in any other way. Most of our Sicily packages are built around fly-and-drive itineraries for this reason. If driving isn't for you, a small group tour is the next best option and we have those too.

Where you may stay

• Catania: Catania tends to surprise people. It's a real, working Sicilian city, busy, a little rough around the edges, and absolutely full of life. The entire historic centre is built from black volcanic lava stone, which gives it a moody, dramatic look unlike anywhere else in Italy. The fish market near Piazza del Duomo is one of the best in the Mediterranean, and the food scene here is outstanding. It's also your most practical base for Etna, and the airport makes arrivals and departures straightforward. A great choice if you want authenticity over polish.
• Palermo: The capital is chaotic, loud, layered, and completely addictive. Street food here is a serious pursuit. Arancini, panelle, and the legendary sandwich scene at the Ballarò and Vucciria markets will keep you busy. And the architecture is remarkable: Arab-Norman churches, baroque piazzas, and crumbling palazzos all jumbled together. It's not the most polished city you'll ever visit, but it might be one of the most memorable.
• Taormina: Perched on a clifftop above the Ionian Sea with Mount Etna smoking in the background, Taormina is genuinely one of the most dramatic settings in all of Italy. The beauty here is real. If you can visit in May, June, or September, you'll get the stunning scenery without the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. A wonderful place to end a trip or decompress for a few nights.
• Agrigento: Most people visit Agrigento for the Valley of the Temples, and rightly so. It's one of the best-preserved collections of ancient Greek temples in the world, and one of those rare places where the reality exceeds what you've seen in photos. Staying in or near Agrigento, rather than trying to cover it as a rushed day trip, lets you see the temples at golden hour or early morning when the light is extraordinary and the crowds haven't arrived yet.
• Syracuse: Syracuse was once one of the most powerful cities in the ancient world, and the remnants of that are all around you. The island of Ortigia, the historic heart of the city connected to the mainland by a short bridge, is one of the most beautiful urban spaces in Sicily: narrow baroque streets, a magnificent cathedral built inside a Greek temple, and waterfront restaurants where the seafood is impeccably fresh. It's a lovely place to spend two or three nights, and it also puts you in reach of the remarkable Neapolis Archaeological Park just outside the city centre.
• Acireale: Acireale flies well under the radar, which is a big part of its appeal. It's a handsome baroque town sitting right on the lava coastline north of Catania, and it has one of the finest baroque main squares in Sicily. It's an excellent base for exploring the Etna area and the coastline, and it has a more genuine local feel than either Catania or Taormina. If you like the idea of staying somewhere that feels lived-in rather than set up for visitors, Acireale is worth a serious look.
• Cefalù: One of Sicily's most photogenic towns, and it absolutely knows it, but that doesn't make it any less lovely. The Norman cathedral looming over the terracotta rooftops, the long sandy beach, the tangle of medieval streets running down to the sea: Cefalù is the kind of place where you plan to stay two nights and start wishing you could extend to four. 
• Giardini Naxos: Giardini Naxos is a proper seaside resort town with a long beachfront, plenty of restaurants along the water, and a relaxed, unpretentious vibe. There’s historic significance here, as this was the site of the first Greek colony in Sicily, but most people come for the beach and the easy access to Taormina up the hill. A good choice for families or anyone for whom beach time is a priority alongside sightseeing.

Sicilian weather

Sicily has the longest warm season in Italy. Summers are hot and dry, with July and August regularly topping 35°C in the interior. The coasts are more bearable with sea breezes, but this is not the time to be hiking Mt Etna or touring temples in the midday sun.

The sweet spot is May through June and September through October. Warm enough to swim, cool enough to sightsee comfortably, and significantly less crowded than peak summer. October in particular is lovely: the light is extraordinary, the harvest season brings excellent produce and wine, and you'll have many of the major sites largely to yourself.

Spring, from late March through May, is beautiful: wildflowers on the hillsides, comfortable temperatures, and almond blossoms in February that make the countryside around Agrigento look like something out of a painting.

Winter is mild by Canadian standards, with temperatures rarely dropping below 10°C on the coast, and it's perfectly viable for a city-focused trip, though some coastal areas wind down significantly outside the summer season.

Not sure which itinerary is right for you?

That's exactly what we're here for. Sicily rewards a bit of planning, and the right base or route makes a real difference to how the trip feels. Our agents know the region well and can help you figure out whether a fly-and-drive, a small group tour, or a mix of both is the right fit for what you're after. Give us a call at 1-800-665-4981 and let's build you something worth looking forward to.