Offering a heady mix of dazzling diverse landscapes, captivating cultural treasures, and delicious cuisine you won’t be able to get enough of, Sicily is an amazing place to go on vacation. From bustling cities bursting with Baroque architecture to sleepy coastal villages that time forgot and some of the most beautiful bays you’ve ever seen, Sicily really is a feast for the eyes!
Whether you want to spend your days admiring ancient ruins and exploring fascinating museums or relaxing on Instagrammable beaches and exploring unspoiled nature reserves, you’ll never be stuck for what to do in Sicily.
Visit during the summer months when you can enjoy leisurely hikes and sun-kissed boat trips or travel in winter for the skiing and snowboarding opportunities – there’s never a bad time to visit this Italian island!
With such a great choice of things to see and do, it can be almost impossible to know where to begin. To give you a helping hand, we’ve put together a list of the absolute best things to do in Sicily. Add these fun activities and attractions to your Sicily bucket list, and you’re guaranteed to have a wonderful time exploring this beautiful and historic island.
Don’t forget to check out our web story: The 15 Best Things to Do in Sicily
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).
15 Fun and Unique Things to Do In Sicily
1. Hike Up The Tallest Active Volcano in Europe
Mount Etna is one of the biggest (literally!) and most impressive Sicily attractions. It rises proudly out of the center of the island and can be seen from almost every city, town, resort, and village. While it looks spectacular from anywhere on the island, it looks even more incredible up close.
The largest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna is blanketed in layers of thick black and red volcanic sand. It stands a staggering 3,322 meters tall, and if you’re up for the challenge, you can hike to the top along one of the many trails that pass through the woods. If you want something a little easier, there’s also a cable car you can ride to the top to enjoy the sweeping panoramas without all the effort.
If you visit Sicily in winter, there’s a good chance Mount Etna will be covered in snow. At this time of year, the region’s two ski areas are open for business and provide you with an excellent opportunity for intermediate and advanced skiing.
2. Wander The Colorful Streets Of Syracuse’s Citta Vecchia
For some of the best Sicily sightseeing, head to the island of Ortigia. Here you can explore one of the most beautiful and charming places in Italy – Syracuse’s Citta Vecchia (Old City). This spot dates back to ancient times and is tightly packed with labyrinthine streets just waiting to be explored.
You could spend hours just wandering around here, underneath flower-laden balconies, past dazzling coastal scenes, and around dramatic fountains that you’ll struggle to believe were hand-carved. Grab a coffee, and people-watch from a small cafe or shop for fresh, local ingredients at the daily open-air market.
The ancient Greeks fortified the city and built incredible temples dedicated to Athena and Apollo inside. They aren’t the only historic buildings you can see in Citta Vecchia. Take the time to explore, and you’ll also come across a Roman amphitheater, Greek theater, a magnificent cathedral, and the Necropolis of Pantalica, all of which form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Step Back In Time At The Valley Of The Temples
You’ll find some of the best sights in Sicily just outside Agrigento in the Valley of the Temples. This archeological park is home to the remains of eight imposing temples, which were built between the 5th and 6th centuries BCE. Although the temples are mostly ruins, some of them are in pretty good shape. It’s easy to imagine what they were like in their heyday.
From typical temples with towering stone columns to giant statues dedicated to Greek gods, there’s a lot to see here. The park covers a sprawling 1,300 hectares, making it the largest archeological site on the planet.
The Temple of Concordia is one of the most popular because of its great condition. It’s one of the best-preserved Greek ruins in the world and was even the inspiration for the UNESCO symbol.
Other points of interest include the Temple of Hercules, which features a bronze statue of the god, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, which boasts giant human statues once used as pillars.
To make the most out of your trip to the Valley of the Temples, we highly recommend this guided tour. The knowledgeable guides will pepper you with all sorts of facts and insider info about the site.
4. Admire Stunning Baroque Architecture At Ragusa And Modica
Back in 1693, a huge earthquake destroyed a lot of the southern region of Sicily, including the towns of Ragusa and Modica. When things settled down, both the towns were rebuilt in the Baroque style, which was fashionable at the time. Despite being Baroque, the architecture had a distinctly local flair, which led to the style being called Sicilian Baroque.
Today, Ragusa and Modica are protected UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are two of just six cities where you can admire this form of architecture in the world.
A new Ragusa was built from scratch on a hill above the old town. But there were still enough remaining buildings in the original town for life to go on. Any buildings that were destroyed were replaced with Sicilian Baroque ones. Modica was built in the same way, too – on two levels with a combination of architectural styles.
Both towns are wonderful places to just wander and get lost in. Exploring the streets really does make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. Try and plan your visit for just after sunset, when the towns are illuminated with twinkling lights. The sight is simply stunning!
5. Start The Morning With Granita Con Brioche
One of the best things to do in Sicily on a hot day is to treat yourself to a breakfast of granita con brioche. This classic local breakfast is made up of a bowl of icy-cool granita and fresh-from-the-oven warm brioche. It’s the perfect thing to make you feel refreshed and ready for a day of sightseeing.
If you’ve never had granita before, it’s a cold drink sweetened with sugar that isn’t 100% frozen. It has a similar texture to a frozen cocktail or a snow cone. In Sicily, the granita that’s served for breakfast is usually flavored with fresh fruit, nuts, chocolate, or strong coffee. It sounds like a strange drink to start your day with, but it really works!
Typical brioche may be French, but Sicilian brioche is simply sublime. This bread is served in individual round rolls with a tiny roll on top. It’s often flavored with citrus or vanilla and is meant to be dipped into the granita.
Granita con brioche is so popular that you’ll find it available from pretty much every single cafe throughout the island.
6. Admire Ancient Mosaics At Villa Romana Del Casale
If you’re a fan of art, one of the top things to do in Sicily is to visit the Villa Romana del Casale. This stunning building was built during the 4th century and is home to some of the finest and most complex mosaics from the Roman Empire in all of Europe.
Today the villa is a prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts thousands of curious visitors each year. But back in the 12th century, it was abandoned and left for ruin. It wasn’t until 700 years later that the villa was once again discovered, and the dazzling mosaics were unearthed.
One of the most interesting mosaics here is the one depicting women doing various exercises and sports which was excavated in 1959. With beautiful mosaics covering practically every inch of the floor, walls, and ceiling, there are plenty of other masterpieces to admire, too.
7. Celebrate Spring With The Flower Festival
If you’re planning your trip for May, one of the most fun things to do in Sicily is to attend the Flower Festival. Held on the third weekend of May each year in Noto, this festival celebrates spring and everything the season has to offer.
At this time of year, many of the city’s pedestrian streets are transformed into quirky art galleries, with giant stretches covered in beautiful symbols and images made entirely out of flower petals. Everything from the ideas and the colors to the details and the accuracy is incredible.
As well as the artistic flower displays, the Flower Festival is also celebrated with more typical art exhibitions and live music performances. The parade is definitely worth checking out, too. It’s filled with locals wearing extravagant costumes from the Baroque period of the 18th century.
Check the website for the exact dates and a map that shows you where all the flower carpets, art exhibitions, music concerts, and parades are.
8. Discover Geothermal Wonders At Gole Dell’Alcantara
Gole dell’Alcantara is where you’ll find some of the most spectacular things to see in Sicily. This natural attraction was created by waves of lava hundreds of years ago and is unique in all of Europe.
Centuries ago, between the Catania and Messina provinces, magma flowed along the Alcantara River. This resulted in giant canyons made of black lava, which tower up to 50 meters into the sky. As the lava cooled and solidified, it created the one-of-a-kind shapes you can see today.
The canyons form prism-like shapes made up of countless thick layers of lava. Not only are they fascinating to look at, but they’re also home to many species of rare fauna and flora. Up until the 1950s, no one even knew the place existed. Because it was left alone for so long, it became a peaceful haven for all kinds of creatures and plants that continue to live there today.
9. Visit the Antonio Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum
Sicily is full of ancient wonders, and you’ll find some of the best inside the Antonio Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum. The oldest and most important museum on the island, this gallery is where you’ll find huge displays of ancient Greek art and other intriguing objects which were discovered throughout Sicily.
The exhibits are divided into separate themed sections, making it really easy to work your way around the whole museum. Some of our favorite sections include the underwater discoveries, Phoenician relics, and Roman artifacts.
If you haven’t got time to explore the whole museum, we suggest you head straight for the Palermo Stone. This ancient relic is millennia old and is engraved with a list of Egyptian kings that go back as far as the first dynasty. We also recommend checking out the marble statue of Satyr and the lion statues, which were discovered during an excavation at Selinunte.
10. Snack On Arancini
When you’re feeling hungry but don’t want to sit down for a full meal, one of the best things to do in Sicily is to snack on some arancini.
One of the island’s local delicacies, arancini (also known as arancina or arancino – the singular version) is a delicious snack made of saffron-infused rice wrapped around yummy ingredients and shaped into a ball. The rice ball is then covered in fine breadcrumbs and deep-fried until it’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
You’ll come across an almost never-ending number of arancini fillings in Sicily, from rich lamb ragu to simple creamy mozzarella. You’ll also find them in many different sizes. Some arancini are as large as your hand and will fill you up like a full meal, while others are literally bite-sized.
Arancini can be found throughout Sicily, from restaurants and cafes to street food stalls. If you’re in Palermo, we recommend ordering some from Bar Vabres. In addition to the savory arancini, this restaurant also serves dessert arancini on weekends.
11. Go Birdwatching in Sicily’s First Nature Reserve
If you love spending time outdoors surrounded by nature, one of the top Sicily activities we recommend for you is to go birdwatching at the Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro. Established in 1981, this park was the very first nature park set up in Sicily and boasts all kinds of stunning landscapes you’ll fall in love with.
From rugged mountains blanketed in lush trees to rocky coastlines that guard white sandy beaches, the environment is extremely diverse here. And thanks to the great variety, the Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro is home to many different species of birds.
There are more than 40 species of birds that permanently reside in the park. If you’re quiet and hidden enough, you may be able to spot swift peregrines, Bonelli eagles, Greek partridges, barn owls, tawny owls, river nightingales, and wrens.
In addition to the resident birds, the park also features the Uzzo Grotto (one of the first prehistoric settlements in Sicily), several fascinating museums, and a number of footpaths you can follow to discover it all.
12. Have A Lazy Day At The Beach
When you need a break from all that Sicily sightseeing, enjoy a relaxing beach day. Some of Italy’s very best beaches can be found along the Sicilian coastline, where powder-soft stretches of white sand gradually descend into the dazzling azure water.
If you’re looking for a busy beach with a lively atmosphere, lifeguard, sun loungers, and umbrellas, spend the day at Mondello Beach. Just a 15-minute bus ride from Palermo, this beach has excellent facilities. The water is gentle and shallow, making it ideal for children as well as snorkeling. If there’s a breeze, you’ll even find windsurfing equipment to hire.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer something more remote and tranquil, we suggest Torre Salsa. Hidden away inside a World Wildlife Fund nature reserve next to Selinunte and Agrigento, this beach is made up of almost 6.5 kilometers of pure, natural sand backed by impressive white chalk cliffs. You won’t find any facilities here, but the crystal-clear water brimming with marine life more than makes up for it!
13. Island Hop Between The Aegadian Islands
If you’re in the mood to explore, one of the coolest things to do in Sicily is to hop on a boat and check out the Aegadian Islands. Sicily is surrounded by a number of small islands and islets, but the Aegadian Islands stand out from the crowd because they’re part of a protected marine reserve.
This full-day boat trip takes you to the islands of Levanzo and Favignana for a day of relaxation and fun. Here you can chill out on picture-perfect islands inaccessible to bigger boats while you enjoy a refreshing drink on board.
So you get a real feel for the area, the boat will also stop at a local village where you can explore and enjoy lunch at a typical restaurant in the sunshine. You’ll also get the chance to swim into Lovers’ Cave and go snorkeling for the chance to see all kinds of magical marine life.
14. Get Into the Sicilian Spirit With The Festival Of Sant’Agata
One of the must-do things in Sicily in February is to join in with the Festival of Sant’Agata. This annual festival is held in Catania every year at the beginning of the month and celebrates the patron saint of Catania.
Throughout the three-day festival, the city comes to life with all kinds of parties, events, and celebrations. The first day is rather solemn and features a formal midday procession from the Church of Sant’Agata alla Fornace up to the Cathedral. This is followed by an upbeat and remarkable fireworks display in Piazza Duomo.
During the second and third days, the Sant’Agata statue is paraded throughout the city in extravagant processions. The streets are filled with locals cheering and screaming in support.
The final night is celebrated with another fireworks show, a group game of endurance in which thousands of locals pull on a single cord, and a spiritual choir performance. It really is unlike any other festival in the world and is definitely worth checking out!
15. Find Comfort in Pasta Alla Norma
One of Sicily’s most iconic dishes, pasta alla norma is something you’ve got to try during your vacation. This comforting, moreish dish makes the most of fresh, local eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and salted ricotta cheese.
The combination of textures is simply divine. Al dente pasta mixed with a creamy tomato sauce full of crisp eggplant chunks and thick shavings of salted ricotta is one of the best things you’ll ever eat in Sicily. It’s enough to make even the fussiest meat-lovers consider going vegetarian!
You can find pasta alla norma in restaurants throughout Sicily, but it’s most common in Catania. Nuova Trattoria del Forestiero is where we had some of the most amazing pasta alla norma. This family-run restaurant has been going for more than 50 years, and they make the iconic dish from an authentic recipe passed down by their great-grandmother.
There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Sicily. What’s your favorite thing to do in Sicily?
Planning a trip to Italy? Check out our favorite books and travel guides!
SHARE THIS ON PINTEREST
