Your favorite Sicily experiences, recommendations

[Anonymous]

I'm planning a trip to Sicily for our 20th anniversary this fall. We're going for just under two weeks and while I've been doing a lot of research, I'd love to get recommendations for any special places that we shouldn't miss - towns, romantic hotels, views, wineries, experiences, etc. We're going to rent a car an explore as much as we can. We love food, wine, hiking, getting lost on back roads, etc. I speak Italian at an intermediate level and have spent a lot of time in Italy as my father was born there, but we've never been to Sicily.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Aeolian Islands off the coast! We stayed in Lipari and then took the ferries to Stromboli, Salina, Vulcano - lots of hiking, volcanoes, amazing food, etc.

[Anonymous]

^^ also to add: my cousins in Italy often vacation in Taormina and say it is very beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the Aeolians if you can fit them in (really liked Salina, although it's a bit quieter than Lipari I think).


Other great places worth a visit-- Ortygia/Siracusa; Taormina (very different from the rest of Sicily-- lots of glitz/glam but it is an amazing site and we did a nice hike on Etna plus winery visit); Agrigento/Valley of the Temples (assuming you are interested in ancient Greek ruins; there's a luxury hotel literally within the Valley of the Temples if you want to splurge).

Cefalu (if you want a beach town) and Trapani/Erice are also nice.

[Anonymous]

Sicily is one of my favorite places on earth!

I had one of the best meals of my life at a small restaurant called Sakalello in a small town called Scoglitti in the south, on the sea.

Taormina is spectacularly beautiful but touristy. Definitely worth a visit.

There are limestones cliffs called the Turkish Steps close to Agrigento that are cool.

I have a weakness for Siracusa, personally.

Enjoy...it's a special place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sicily is one of my favorite places on earth!

I had one of the best meals of my life at a small restaurant called Sakalello in a small town called Scoglitti in the south, on the sea.

Taormina is spectacularly beautiful but touristy. Definitely worth a visit.

There are limestones cliffs called the Turkish Steps close to Agrigento that are cool.

I have a weakness for Siracusa, personally.

Enjoy...it's a special place.

Also- to add- use your Italian as much as you can, it's very appreciated.

[Anonymous]

can you recommend where to stay with beautiful sandy beaches and luxury hotels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can you recommend where to stay with beautiful sandy beaches and luxury hotels?

No sandy beaches in Italy. Taormina has the most luxury hotels.

[Anonymous]

Sicily was the only place I visited in Italy where I was genuinely afraid. Don't wear any jewelry and lock up your cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sicily was the only place I visited in Italy where I was genuinely afraid. Don't wear any jewelry and lock up your cash.

Where were you? The big cities (Palermo and Catania) are a little rough around the edges but I never experienced that anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No sandy beaches in Italy. .

This isn't true. Cefalu has a great sandy beach. So does San Vito lo Capo. I think the Scala dei Turchi someone mentioned has a beautiful sandy beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sicily was the only place I visited in Italy where I was genuinely afraid. Don't wear any jewelry and lock up your cash.

Where were you? The big cities (Palermo and Catania) are a little rough around the edges but I never experienced that anywhere else.

I would completely skip Catania (except I guess for the airport) and I think there's a good argument for skipping Palermo too (although Monreale Duomo is worth seeing).

I also was never scared, although we did pay a couple euros to the parking lot "attendants" in Monreale.

[Anonymous]

I loved etna, but I think active volcanoes are very cool. I've been to Italy a handful of times, and enjoyed Sicily- much more than Naples- if we are keeping track. Small towns, lots of ruins from many cultures- they eat horse meat there but that's the only downside I can think of- I never felt unsafe in the 2 weeks I was there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the Aeolians if you can fit them in (really liked Salina, although it's a bit quieter than Lipari I think).


Other great places worth a visit-- Ortygia/Siracusa; Taormina (very different from the rest of Sicily-- lots of glitz/glam but it is an amazing site and we did a nice hike on Etna plus winery visit); Agrigento/Valley of the Temples (assuming you are interested in ancient Greek ruins; there's a luxury hotel literally within the Valley of the Temples if you want to splurge).

Cefalu (if you want a beach town) and Trapani/Erice are also nice.

We did a trip to Taormina, Agrigento, and Siracusa (stayed in Ortygia). Great trip. Skip Catania - we spent one night but it was a bit crazy. The other places were fantastic. We hired a private guide to take us on a day trip of Mt. Etna - it was amazing. In Ortygia stayed at Charme Hotel Henry's House - very cute boutique hotel with water views and amazing breakfast. In Agrigento we stayed at Foresteria Baglio della Luna - another nice hotel. Don't miss the Scala dei Turchi - this was a whim and ended up being my favorite memory. Google it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can you recommend where to stay with beautiful sandy beaches and luxury hotels?

Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea. Beautiful hotel, amazing service. Food was excellent as well. Beach more rocky than sandy, though.

https://www.belmond.com/de/villa-sant-andrea-taormina-mare/