Sicily and the Aeolian Islands Holidays

Holidays to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands give visitors the chance to experience a unique region of Italy with its own history, culture and cuisine. Sitting right at the tip of Italy, Sicily is the largest and most populated island in the Mediterranean and offers a fascinating mix of cultures and architecture. Throughout Sicily’s history, the island has been colonised by the Arabs, the Greeks and then the Romans. Today, visitors can still see vestiges of its interesting past in the Greek temples, Roman architecture, mosaics and Arabic-influenced cuisine. Explore the historic city of Palermo, admire the views from Taormina’s dramatic clifftop location and spend time by the sea in Cefalu.

The UNESCO World Heritage Aeolian Islands lie just north of Sicily and offer a carpet of picturesque landscapes and natural attractions – steaming volcanoes, small rocky coves lapped by azure blue seas and green hills, perfect for hiking. The Aeolian Islands are also known for their excellent cuisine, from unique pasta dishes and cheeses to desserts and cakes, and of course fresh seafood.

Discover Sicily and the Aeolian Islands like no other

Holidays to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands may be a popular, but there are still plenty of local, insider places to explore. Make sure to save some time to visit one of Sicily’s hidden gems – Noto. With its magnificent cathedral and baroque beauty, it will delight and surprise history and culture lovers.

For one of the best views in Sicily, make your way to the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina. Sit up in the restaurant on the roof terrace and enjoy a local bottle of wine or some delicate Sicilian cuisine, while looking out across the craggy clifftops, calm Mediterranean Sea and the smoking crater of Mount Etna.

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Things to do in Sicily and Aeolian Islands

It may be busy and a little hectic but there are many reasons why you should visit the historic Sicilian capital of Palermo during your Sicily holiday. It’s filled with charming buildings, romantic Baroque facades, dazzling Byzantine mosaics and many contemporary art galleries.

Take a trip to the ancient Greek city of Syracuse and visit its many sights, including the magnificent Greek Theatre, the ancient Temple of Apollo or the grand Maniace and Eurialo Castles. As well as history, visitors will find plenty of culture here. Make sure to spend an hour or two wandering around the impressive Piazza del Duomo and browsing the Ortigia market for fresh produce.

Holidays to Sicily and the Aeolian islands wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Mount Etna - one of Sicily’s most iconic attractions and a beautiful sight to witness. Europe’s most active volcano, it has been active for 3,500 years and stands at 3,329 metres high. Admire its might and power from afar or get up close with a hike up to the crater.

Things to doDiscover Sicily's HistorySicily's history makes it a unique and fascinating island with plenty of sites and interesting buildings to explore. Its strategic location in the centre of the Mediterranean has made it a melting pot of cultures, each leaving a distinctive imprint which is evident in the almost overwhelming mixture of architectural treasures and classical ruins.Find out more about Sicily's history

Things to doEnna's PanoramasEnna is an impregnable fortress town which holds the crown for being Sicily’s highest (over 900 metres) provincial capital, and therefore offers countless vistas across the fertile landscape. Many of Enna’s main attractions are grouped together in the old town, spread between the ancient streets that connect to the Via Roma. Find out more about Enna's Panoramas

Things to doEtnalandEtnaland is Southern Italy’s largest theme park, packed with hair-raising rides and exhilarating waterslides. For thrill-seekers, the Storm rollercoaster is a Sicily holiday must; plunging riders down near vertical drops and through a heart-stopping heartline roll, as is the Etnaland Tower drop ride, which propels brave guests to heights of more than 20 storeys. There’s plenty for younger visitors, too, including the junior Hip Hop Coaster. Sicily family holidays have never been more fun.Find out more about Etnaland

Things to doGreek AmphitheatreWith spectacular views and thousands of years worth of history, Taormina’s Greek Amphitheatre is one of Sicily’s must-visit attractions. Built in the 3rd century BC, this architectural wonder is one of the largest remaining in Italy, with a spectatorship during ancient times of up to 5,000.Find out more about the Greek Amphitheatre

Things to doMount EtnaAt almost 11,000 feet tall, Mount Etna dominates the skyline from Sicily’s eastern towns like Taormina. It’s the tallest and most active volcano in Europe, and if you’re lucky enough to be there when it erupts, it’s a fantastic scene to watch from the safety of one of Taormina’s viewpoints or hotel balconies.Find out more about Mount Etna

Things to doPiazza IX AprileLocated along Corso Umberto I – Taormina’s main shopping street – this pretty piazza wows with enticing views and medieval charm. History lovers are in for a treat on Taormina Sicily holidays, with plenty of historic sites waiting to be explored.Find out more about Piazza IX Aprile

Things to doSperlingaAnother prized asset to add to the Sicilian arsenal, is the pretty ancient town of Sperlinga. The name given to this small settlement is derived from the Greek word ‘cavern’ (cave) which is highly appropriate, as until the early 1960s many of Sperlinga’s residents were troglodytes, inhabiting the caves that are carved into the hill. Find out more about Sperlinga

Things to doStreet FoodSicilian cuisine is the stuff of legend – it’s a hodgepodge of cultures and flavours, brought together through centuries of home cooking performed by a population from across the globe. Find out more about Street Food

Things to doTaormina MareBelow the heights of Taormina lies Taormina Mare – the seaside section of the famous medieval town. Summer holidays in Sicily are well spent in Taormina Mare, with the popular Isola Bella beach offering ample opportunity for sunbathing.Find out more about Taormina Mare

Things to doValley of TemplesThe Valle dei Templi is one of the most famous historical sites in Sicily, attracting thousands of visitors each year. This fascinating archaeological site is the largest in the world, and home to some of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples outside of Greece. This is a history lover's dream site on holidays to Sicily.Find out more about the Valley of the Temples

Things to doVilla ComunaleSitting on a garden bench and looking to the surprisingly pretty peak of Mount Etna, surrounded by flitting butterflies and lush palms, you’d struggle to believe that you’re just a short walk from Taormina’s energetic centre.Find out more about Villa Comunale

Sicily and Aeolian Islands Specialities Fish and seafood are prevalent throughout Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, and wherever you go you won’t be far from the coast and the fresh catch of the day. On your holiday to Sicily, one of the most popular and traditional dishes is pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines). Heavily influenced by the Arabs, it features spaghetti or tagliatelle with sweet raisins, pine nuts, fennel seeds and zesty lemon. In the Aeolian Islands, one of the best-known dishes is grilled fish with caponata - a tomato and olive oil sauce made with aubergine, celery and capers.

Sicily and Aeolian Islands Specialities Sicily and the Aeolian Islands are particularly well known for their cakes, sweets and pastries. Throughout the Italian islands, you have the chance to try the celebrated cannoli – crunchy pastry cones filled with flavoured ricotta cream. Other famous sweet treats include delicate and colourful marzipan fruit and biscotti. Holidays to the Aeolian Islands also offer almond cookies and sweets with raisins, cloves and cinnamon are also popular.

Sicily and Aeolian Islands Specialities Cheese is of course one of the most popular Italian ingredients, and Sicily and the Aeolian Islands are no different. Some of the most famous cheeses including fresh pecorino, provola, caciocavallo and canestrato are all within reach on your holiday to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. Foodies, Italian cheese is an absolute must-try, pairing beautifully with the fragrant range of pasta dishes.

Destinations: Sicily and the Aeolian Islands

Agrigento

Agrigento is one of Sicily’s best known towns, offering visitors a taste of medieval Italy along with roots that delve deeper into the past. Once one of the world’s largest cities, this hilltop settlement is now a modern city with an atmospheric centre, filled with winding alleys and bustling piazzas.

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Castelbuono

You’ll find the miniature medieval town of Castelbuono squirrelled away in the mountains of the Parco delle Madonie. Its cobbled streets and frescoed churches wind up a hillside to a grand 14th-century castle, once the home of one of Sicily’s most powerful noble families and now the location of the Civic Museum of Castelbuono.

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Cefalu, Sicily, Italy. Cityscape image if coastal town Cefalu in Sicily at dramatic sunrise.

Cefalù

Holidays in Cefalù give you a microcosm of the best of Italy. Whatever attracts you to Sicily, or even the beautiful country itself, you’ll find it in this coastal town whose character greatly overcomes its modest size.

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Giardini Naxos

Giardini Naxos is an affordable and laid-back resort, close to Taormina and with plenty of charm of its own. Stretching along the beachfront in the same wide bay as Taormina, this authentic Italian town thrives in the summer, and offers a tranquil Sicilian holiday outside of peak months.

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Lipari

Holidays in Lipari take you to the beautiful area of Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, which can be found just off Italy’s southwest coast. The island is set out over 15 square miles, and is still the largest of the Aeolian Islands. It offers beautiful scenery and an untouched feel you won’t find in many places.

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Marina di Ragusa

Marina di Ragusa is a charming seaside town that offers visitors to Sicily a great base for an authentic Italian escape. With a dazzling sandy beachfront and plenty of great dining options, the town is an ideal Italian summer holiday hotspot - yet it also manages to maintain a more relaxed atmosphere than some of Sicily’s larger towns, and is great for visitors seeking to experience Italy’s more laid-back side.

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Marsala

Holidays to Marsala in Sicily offer a unique blend of culture, history, and gastronomy. Start planning your Italian getaway today to explore the charms of Sicily’s western coast.

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Noto

Most people after a city break in Sicily don’t look beyond famous faces like Syracuse and Palermo – but that’s where they’re missing a trick. Retreating to the southeast coast of Sicily, Noto holidays offer sensational orchards and vineyards huddled between the low hills. From beautiful Italian landscapes to historical buildings, Noto is a stunning hilltop treasure with domed churches and golden palazzos just waiting to be explored.

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Palermo

Palermo is a bustling, ancient port city located on the north-western coast of the island of Sicily, located right at the tip of Italy’s boot shape. Palermo has its origins in the medieval ages and, over the centuries, the city has been home to several civilisations and today remains steeped in a mix of Italian and Arabic heritage.

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Ragusa

Ragusa (the setting of the TV detective show Inspector Montalbano) is one of Sicily’s most photogenic towns, a jumble of baroque buildings sprawled across a hillside in the UNESCO-listed Val di Noto. The town is split into two. For a more historic Ragusa holiday, Ragusa Ibla is where you want to be. The other side, Ragusa Superiore, offers a more modern Italian holiday.

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Syracuse

Holidays in Syracuse are an immersive voyage of discovery through the ages. Situated on the southeastern coast of Sicily and surrounded by the Ionian Sea, Syracuse is one of the most important towns in Italy for its architecture, monuments and art.

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Taormina

Taormina, Sicily holidays marry history and culture to form an unforgettable Italy experience. It’s perched at the top of Monte Tauro in the foothills of Mount Etna on Sicily’s eastern coastline, between the cities of Catania and Messina.

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Wooden Classic Sailing yacht anchored in a deserted island in the Eolian Islands of the Mediterranean, with impressive cliffs and very blue sky and waters

Vulcano

An Aeolian Island adrift from Sicily’s northern shore, the mysterious Vulcano is an island well worth unpicking. A favourite of visitors looking for the unexplored, Vulcano’s beautiful volcanic landscape means fantastic hiking, black-sand beaches and natural mud springs.

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Sicily Multi Centre Holidays

Take a look at our suggested itineraries for inspiration, or call our personal travel planners on 01293 765055* for a bespoke multi-centre

8 day suggested trip

Taormina and Vulcano

From £2065 per person

ATOL Protected

Discover the Aeolian Islands by water taxi
See the panoramic views of Mount Etna from the comfortable cable car
Take a dip in the relaxing Mud Baths

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8 day suggested trip

Syracuse and Taormina

From £1499 per person

ATOL Protected

Chance to walk the maze of ancient streets in enchanting Ortigia
Driving lets you explore at your own pace
Step back in time with a visit to Taormina’s Greek Amphitheatre

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Sicily's History

Sicily's history makes it a unique and fascinating island. Its strategic location in the centre of the Mediterranean has made it a melting pot of cultures, each leaving a distinctive imprint which is evident in the almost overwhelming mixture of architectural treasures and classical ruins.

In ancient Roman times, Sicily was known as Magna Greacia, which translates to Greater Greece, and the ancient Greek's influence is still evident today. They introduced vines and olives to this fertile island, which put Sicilian ingredients on the map. History lovers in Sicily are in for a treat with some of the best preserved Greek temples in the world still to be found in Agrigento. The ancient Greek Theatre in the centre of Taormina is also a must-see for visitors who want to feel part of the magical history of Sicily.

Sicily's HistoryOver the years, Sicily has been invaded by a host of nations, including Romans, Arabs and Normans. Even the British Administration briefly invaded in 1806. Its varied history means Sicily's towns and villages have a unique feel with some interesting sites to explore. Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armerina has the world's largest collection of ancient Roman mosaics, which were unearthed in the 19th century. While the Normans' fascination with Arab architecture resulted in them expanding, altering and adding to many existing buildings. Fine examples of this can be seen mainly in Sicily's capital, Palermo. One example is Palazzo dei Normanni, originally an Arab Castle to which the Normans added towers, levels and the Capella Palatina, a delightfully ornate chapel that was completed in 1143. Other historic buildings in Palermo include the churches of San Giovanni degli Eremiti and San Cataldo, which are crowned with a series of red domes mounted on cubic towers - reminiscent of the modern Arab architecture you can see in North Africa today.

Excursions and experiences in and around Sicily and the Aeolian Islands

Experience more of Italy by adding an excursion to your holiday. To pre-book one of our specially selected excursions, please call our Italy Experts on 01293 765055*.

/holidays/italy/sicily-and-the-aeolian-islands/cooking-class-taormina/Cooking Class TaorminaEmbark on a hands-on experience as you craft your own Sicilian meal

/holidays/italy/sicily-and-the-aeolian-islands/the-godfather-movie-excursion/Sicily Godfather TourHalf-day excursion to some of the most famous location from The Godfather

/holidays/italy/sicily-and-the-aeolian-islands/mount-etna-alcantra-excursion/Mount Etna and AlcantaraVisit the stunning Alcantara Gorge, before heading up the slopes of Mount Etna

/holidays/italy/sicily-and-the-aeolian-islands/cefalu/sicilian-gems-mount-etna-taormina-excursion/Mount Etna & Taormina ExcursionVisit the beautiful clifftop town of Taormina, before heading to the slopes of Mount Etna

/holidays/italy/sicily-and-the-aeolian-islands/syracuse-excursion/Syracuse Guided TourA full day's tour of the historic city of the Syracuse, experiencing its archaeological gems with an expert guide

/holidays/italy/sicily-and-the-aeolian-islands/cefalu/wine-tasting-in-castelbuono-excursion/Wine Tasting in CastelbuonoA half-day trip tp the beautiful hill town of Castelbuono, finishing up with a tasting at an award-winning winery

Handpicked hotels in Sicily

Discover the real Sicily while staying in one of our carefully selected hotels

Recommended

Sicily, Taormina

Hotel Villa Belvedere

Secluded location on the hillsides of Taormina, above the Ionian Sea
Just ten minutes from the centre of Taormina and its many attractions
Family run and offering great Sicilian hospitality

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Recommended

Sicily, Cefalu

Cefalù Sea Palace

Private beach and fantastic seafront location
10 Minute walk to the historic centre of Cefalù

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Syracuse, Sicily

Grande Albergo Alfeo

Located a short walk to the island of Ortigia
A modern hotel in ancient surroundings

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Sicily, Vulcano

Therasia Resort Sea & Spa

Impressive volcanic backdrop and stunning views from the terrace and infinity pool
Complimentary shuttle bus to/from Baia di Ponente and Porto di Levante

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Sicily, Taormina

Atlantis Bay

Close to Taormina cable car
Built into a cliffside

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Sicily, Marina di Ragusa

Acacia Palace Hotel

The large swimming pool with a terrace and loungers is ideal for relaxing
Just 100 metres from a private stretch of sandy beach on Sicily’s spectacular south coast

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Flight Information

Flights from the UK to Sicily arrive into Palermo (PMO), Catania (CTA) or Comiso (CIY) airports. Flights to Palermo are available from London Gatwick and London Stansted and take approximately 2 hours 50 minutes, while flights to Catania depart from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester and take approximately 3 hours. Flights to Comiso depart from London Stansted and take approximately 3 hours 15 minutes.

When to go

Thanks to its southerly location, Sicily weather offers mild temperatures all year round. Spring and autumn are both lovely times to visit, with temperatures in the high teens and early 20s (although up in the hills and on the slopes of Mount Etna it can be significantly cooler). Visiting Sicily in summer, you can expect temperatures in the high 20s – perfect for spending time on the island's beautiful beaches.

Visa Information

At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up.

On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.

On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.

Insider tips

Recommendations from our well-travelled team

Antonia Coppolella

Sicily is known for its history and diverse cultures due to being invaded many times over the years, it also home to the stunning Aeolian Islands. Whilst staying in Taormina take a trip to Stromboli and Panarea. It is timed perfectly so that you go past Stromboli just as the sun begins to set so you can see the lava spurting out the top! It is truly amazing.

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Sicily and the Aeolian Islands Holidays

Discover Sicily and the Aeolian Islands like no other

Your plans, our expertise

Things to do in Sicily and Aeolian Islands

Destinations: Sicily and the Aeolian Islands

Sicily Multi Centre Holidays

From £2065 per person

From £1499 per person

Excursions and experiences in and around Sicily and the Aeolian Islands

Handpicked hotels in Sicily

Hotel Villa Belvedere

Cefalù Sea Palace

Grande Albergo Alfeo

Therasia Resort Sea & Spa

Atlantis Bay

Acacia Palace Hotel

Flight Information

When to go

Visa Information

Tipping

Introduction to languages

Insider tips

Antonia Coppolella

What our customers think