We will be revisiting Sicily next spring but haven’t been to Palermo before. I was originally going to stay 4 nights, but I need to squeeze out a night.
Current itinerary
Arrive Palermo
4 nights Palermo
2 nights Agrigento
2 nights Piazza Armerina (to see Palazzo Romana de Casale)
3 nights Siracusa
3 nights Taormina
Depart Catania
A couple of questions, given that we take things slow
Can we see Palermo in two days (we don’t see much on the travel days, to that’s 3 nights)?
Is Taormina still as charming as it was when I last went 20 years plus ago? Or is it overrun.
Any hotel rec’s in those places with decent size rooms with prices not in the stratosphere (say 500-600 euros or less)?
4 days in Palermo is 2 too many.
We did in September
2 days in Taormina Villa Carlotta
2 day Oritigia Palazzo Artemide (Syracuse) we visited the *Villa Romana del Casale from this spot
2 days Noto Seven Rooms Villia Dorata
2 day Agrigento Villa Athena (very close to the Valley of the Temples)
1 day at the Rocco Forte Resort in Sciacca
and them off to visit with friends in Trapani
Thanks. Very timely. You move around quicker than us!
When were you last in Palermo? Do you like Naples? (asking to see if we have similar tastes in gritty cities).
It’s 2 hours for the Palazzo Artemide to the Villa Romana, you did a day trip from Siricusa? It’s sort of on the way to Agrigento.
I’ve been looking at the rates at the Palazzo Artemide and Villa Athena, lovely looking but small rooms unless $$$$. Also was looking at Villa Carlotta. Did you like all 3?
We stayed at the Ortea palace in Siracusa and it was magnificent. The rooms are enormous; I believe all of the rooms are two story suites; we were there on a custom wine/food oriented tour, though so didnt book anything. We went to piazza armerina as a day trip too, in transit between Siracusa and the south. I don’t think you need multiple days there, there isn’t much to see besides the villa. Personally I would spend more days in Siracusa, it’s my favorite city in Sicily, although Noto, Ragusa, and Modica are underrated too. We didn’t visit Vittoria but I heard that’s cool too.
Taormina is still nice, but there are more tourists than Siracusa and the south eastern cities. I wouldn’t spend any time in Catania.
yes liked all three.
Taormina was touristy. Food was not outstanding. But it was fun to shop and around and a there is a beautiful park the Public gardens
A good day trip from either Taormina or Ortigia is a trip to Etna. You take a cable car and then a jeep type people mover up to 3000 meters.
Indeed, it was 2 hours from Siricusa to the mosaics
I think 3 days in Palermo is totally fine. Yes, Taormina is very busy these days, especially during summer. Not sure when you’re going, but if it’s not peak season, you might be ok. I stayed in Palermo for a whole week two years ago and took day trips from Palermo - I did Etna/Taormina/Catanina and Agrigento. The drives were long, and I wouldn’t recommend doing what I did.
When you’re in Palermo though, check out Ristorante Quattro mani. Their menu changes daily based on what’s available and good at the market, and I ate there four times in one week. It was truly amazing.
Oh April should be just fine for Sicily, even Taormina. If you haven’t been there in 20+ years, it’s definitely changed a lot. It is more luxury focused and touristy today but still beautiful with gorgeous views and amazing restaurants. I think you’ll still enjoy it, especially without the summer crowds.
We head to Sicily for Easter for 5 nights in and out of Palermo. we spend the first couple of nights in Palermo and the have found a gorgeous looking countryside villa on the outskirts of Adrano - its about a two and half hour drive from Palermo and then gives us a base for full day trip to Etna and then one full day to either Taormina or Syracuse, both just over an hour drive. Would be interested in views on which one would be best.
Looking at your route I don’t really think Adrano fits in, if you decide to shorten time in Palermo, but here it is just in case.
We stayed in an airbnd in Palermo for 2 nights and it was good for us. We were adjacet to the market and the 4 corners. I would stay at Villa Athena again, you are not located in the town but you cannot beat view and access to the Valley of the temples
Some great feedback here. I’m toying with skipping 3 days in Taormina (been there once) and putting in a couple of nights in Ragusa and adding a night to Siracusa.
I’ll be coming from Agrigento, so Ragusa is closer than Noto. Noto looks like the better town for hotels, but it’s very close to Siracusa (Ortigia) so would do it as a day trip. That’s a small backtrack, Siracusa to Ragusa is much more.
Anyone whose been there welcome to comment on choosing Ragusa vs. Noto for the extra two nights and whether Noto can be comfortably covered as a day trip.
Noto can definitely be a day trip. Ragusa is nice, but I’m not sure I’d want to spend multiple days there. I’d much rather spent extra days in Taormina or Siracusa. Taormina is also closest to etna.
For us, 2 nights in Ragusa would be one day in Ragusa and then leave to Siracusa (catching Modica on the way). Then 4 nights in Siracusa.
Alternative (since we don’t like one nighters) is to skip Ragusa for Taormina which I think you are preferring (although you were talking about extra days ).
Yes i strongly prefer Taormina to Ragusa, there’s just a lot more to do and it’s more scenic. Ragusa is cool but you can see it all pretty quick, a few good restaurants though. Modica was pretty underwhelming