There are many places to visit in Sicily, an Italian island full of architectural heritage from various periods. Located in the Mediterranean Sea, its strategic location led to many historical events. Its rich history and well preserve ruins attracts tourists and art lovers like moths to a flame with its beautiful places, renowned art, and unique experiences. Let’s look at some lovely places to visit that will make your trip an experience to remember!
Best Places To Visit In Sicily
An island like Sicily has many tourist attractions that attract visitors. The city is known for its beautiful architecture and nature, and there’s no lack of places to visit! Below are a few must-visit places that any trip to Sicily is incomplete without!
1. Palermo Cathedral
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A cultural capital like Sicily is known for its historically and culturally important Churches, one of them being the Cattedrale di Palermo. It is considered to be one of the most important architectural monuments here due to its rich cultural history featuring several styles ranging from Gothic to Arabic to Neoclassical. The place looks beautiful in the evenings, awash with soft lights, and has quite a few sites within, like the Royal Tombs, Treasury, Crypts, and Terraces for further exploration. Bookings between Mondays to Saturdays allow you to visit all the sites in one trip! It is one of the top places to visit in Sicily.
- How To Reach: You can travel by AMAT Palermo S.p.A bus that departs from Stazione Centrale Pensilina Interna station.
- Timings: Monday to Saturday (on Sundays, only the Royal Tombs are open)
- Opening hours: 9 AM – 5:30 PM (Monday to Saturday); 9 AM – 1 PM (Sunday)
- Entry fee: None (Church), €7.00 (for the Tombs, Treasury, Crypts and Terraces)
- Nearest Railway Station: Palermo Central Train Station
- Nearest Airport: Palermo International Airport
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2. Mount Etna
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Mount Etna, one of Sicily’s main attractions, is an active Volcano at the East Coast of Sicily. It is one of the tallest active volcanoes in Europe, and has been the cause of many myths and legends from the Greek, Celts, and Roman times. At the same time, it has been under the attention of scientists recently due to a rare event called “smoke rings”, which have also been documented this year. Beyond that, it offers beautiful sights, and the slopes of Etna have wineries offering an exceptional selection of wines for wine lovers! If you are a fan of hiking, you will not regret including Mount Etna in your plans!
- How To Reach: You can hitch a bus ride from Catania to the Sapienza Refuge, or you can go by train from Borgo station to Riposto. You can also travel by car using the SS121 or SS284 roads (30-40 km).
- Timings: Everyday
- Opening hours: 8:45 AM – 4:10 PM
- Entry fee: None (if using Cable Car, €50)
- Nearest Railway Station: Riposto
- Nearest Airport: Catania International Airport
3. Norman Palace
Image Credit: Jules Vaulont for Wikipedia
Palermo is known for its Norman architecture, and what better place to experience that than Norman Palace? Also called The Royal Palace of Palermo, this beautiful building used to be the main seat of power for the rulers of Sicily and was the private residence of some rulers. Not only does this palace stand on the highest point of the ancient centre of the city, but it also contains the Palatine Chapel (Cappella Palatina) within it. The beautiful Chapel is considered the best example of the Norman-Arab-Byzantine style, and visiting it yourself is the only way to experience its true beauty.
- How To Reach: You can arrive here by train to the Palermo Reale-Orleans, after which it is a mere 5-minute walk.
- Timings: Everyday
- Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
(Monday to Saturday); 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM / 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Sunday) - Entry fee: €19 (altogether, for an adult)
- Nearest Railway Station: Palermo Palazzo Reale-Orleans
- Nearest Airport: Palermo International Airport
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4. Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum
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If you are an art history enthusiast, you will love this place. The Antonio Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum boasts an extremely rich and diverse Punic and Greek art collection. There are a variety of things to see and explore here! Phoenician and Roman cultures have been shown through a section of their underwater artefacts, while other cultures, like Greek, are represented through many objects, sculptures, and mosaics. The Museum is also beautiful and offers a calm and peaceful walk through the history of this city. It is also wheelchair-accessible and thus perfect for the elderly and wheelchair users!
- How To Reach: From Palermo Central Train Station, you can arrive by bus using the 101 and get down at Roma-Poste, or use 102 or 103 to stop at Cavour.
- Timings: Tuesday – Sunday
- Opening hours: 9 AM – 6 PM (Tuesday to Saturday); 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM (Sunday)
- Entry fee: €7
- Nearest Railway Station: Palermo Central Train Station
- Nearest Airport: Palermo International Airport
5. Teatro Massimo
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For music lovers, and especially fans of opera (and The Godfather), this place is a must-have on your list. The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is the third-largest opera house in Europe and is well-known for its perfect acoustics. The building itself is beautiful as well, having been designed in the high Neoclassical-Renaissance style with elements from Greek temples. The final scenes of The Godfather III (as well as a scene from The White Lotus) were filmed here, attracting even more visitors. While this is a must-visit for music lovers, architecture lovers will enjoy this place equally due to its beauty, refinement and building expertise.
- How To Reach: From Palermo Central Train Station, you can arrive by bus using the 101 route, get down at Roma-Poste, or use 102 or 103 to stop at Cavour.
- Timings: Monday – Friday
- Opening hours: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM (Monday to Friday); 3 PM – 5 PM (Tuesday to Thursday)
- Entry fee: €12 (for a performance, tickets must be booked separately)
- Nearest Railway Station: Palermo Central Train Station
- Nearest Airport: Palermo International Airport
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6. The Capuchin Catacombs
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Sicily, where the bond between the living and the dead is strong, hosts one of the unique places to visit. The Catacombe dei Cappuccini are burial passages where many well-known pastors and people have been mummified and is home to 8,000 bodies and over a thousand mummies. It sounds like a set for a horror movie, but in reality, it is a peaceful and sacred place full of religious faith and a deep sense of mortality. While not for the faint of heart, walking through these catacombs, where there are more dead than living people, is an experience like no other.
- How To Reach: From Piazza Indipendenza, you can travel by bus on Route 327 and get off at Piazza Cappuccini.
- Timings: Everyday
- Opening hours: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM/3 PM – 5:30 PM
- Entry fee: €5
- Nearest Railway Station: Palermo Palazzo Reale-Orleans
- Nearest Airport: Palermo International Airport
7. Villa Romana del Casale
Image Credit: Rino Porrovecchio for Wikimedia Commons
Art lovers, this one’s for you. The Villa Romana del Casale is an elegant and enormous Roman villa in Piazza, Sicily. The beautiful structure doubles as an open-air museum, showcasing one of the world’s richest, largest and most varied collections of Roman mosaics. These mosaics offer a glimpse into how the Roman wealthy lived in their times. These mosaics have also granted this Villa the designation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting even more tourists. What makes them unique is how well-preserved they are, making them a must-visit for anyone who loves art. When taking the time to appreciate the details, it makes for a 2–3 hour long experience.
- How To Reach: You can ride a bus to Piazza
Armenia, and then have a 20-minute walk to the villa or grab a taxi. - Timings: Everyday
- Opening hours: 9 AM – 5 PM (Monday to Friday)
- Entry fee: €10 (adults)
- Nearest Railway Station: Enna Station
- Nearest Airport: Comiso Airport
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8. Valley Of The Temples
Image Credit: Berthold Wernerfor Wikipedia
One of the main attractions of Sicily, the Valle dei Templi, is an archaeological site full of outstanding Greek architecture. Hosting seven temples within, each dedicated to well-known gods in Greek mythology, this place is an amazing example of Doric-style architecture. It also contains the Tomb of Theron, which may have been built to commemorate Romans killed in war. This place is a must-visit for anyone who loves Greek mythology, as temples are dedicated to famous deities like Zeus, Hera, and Heracles, among others. There are also smaller sanctuaries dedicated to goddesses like Demeter and Persephone. It is also close to the Regional Museum listed above!
- How to Reach: You can reach Agrigento by train and then catch a local bus from Piazza Rosselli. Alternatively, you can take a bus and get off at Piazza Rosselli, from where local buses to the site are available.
- Timings: Everyday
- Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 7 PM
- Entry fee: €12 (adults)
- Nearest Railway Station: Agrigento Railway Station
- Nearest Airport: Palermo International Airport
9. Palermo Botanical Garden
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There’s something in Sicily even for botanists and plant enthusiasts! The Orto Botanico di Palermo is a beautiful botanical garden that hosts about 12 thousand species of fascinating flora, like the Moreton Bay Fig and the Egyptian papyrus (which was nearly lost forever). The building itself is beautiful, with the neoclassical style of the central building, and the tranquillity of the place makes it a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Palermo. The various statues within also give it a unique Sicily feel and make it stand out. For those who love to read, it also contains a public library and conference and expository halls for further exploration.
- How To Reach: You can ride a bus on route 231 or 107 from Palermo Railway Station to Orto Botanico.
- Timings: Everyday
- Opening hours: 9 AM – 6 PM (Monday to Saturday); 10 AM – 5 PM (Sunday)
- Entry fee: €7 (adults)
- Nearest Railway Station: Palermo Railway Station
- Nearest Airport: Palermo International Airport
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10. Roman Amphitheatre of Catania
Image Credit: Matthias Süßen for Wikipedia
Built in 1-2 AD, this Amphitheatre is the largest in Sicily and can seat 15 thousand spectators. It was excavated starting from the 18th century, and while not all has been excavated, what has been unearthed is highly impressive. Its size is comparable to the Roman Colosseum, the Amphitheatre of Capua, and the Verona Arena. The amphitheatre also has quite a few arenas in which battles were staged, and some say sea battles were staged by filling the stage with water. It is a great place to explore for an art history or theatre enthusiast and has the Pallazo Tezzano nearby. It is one of the best places to visit in Sicily.
- How To Reach: You can get there by bus using the 503M route and get down at Stesicoro Sicilia.
- Timings: Everyday
- Opening hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Entry fee: €6
- Nearest Railway Station: Catania Centrale Railway Station
- Nearest Airport: Catania International Airport
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The many unique places to visit in Sicily reflect its nature as a rich hotspot of architectural and artistic heritage. It is a place made for art, history, and architecture enthusiasts to step back in time and see beauty with their own eyes. Sicily is a huge island, and these are merely a few of all available to visit and explore. From the Valley of Temples to the Capuchin Catacombs to the Palermo Botanical Gardens, Sicily has many places to explore and experience. So what are you waiting for? Plan your next trip to Italy today and embark on an unforgettable journey.
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Cover Image Credit: Giampaolo Macorig for Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Places To Visit In Sicily
What is the best time to visit Sicily?
The best time to visit Sicily is April-May and June-October. Also consider February-March, as the days leading up to Easter celebrations are beautifully vibrant.
I’m planning a trip to Mount Etna. Any tips?
Make sure to wear the right clothing according to your plans. If you aim to go above 1500 metres, pack some warmer clothes with you. If you are hiking, make sure to carry hiking gear and shoes.
What to keep in mind while visiting the Valley of Temples?
A one-day trip visit tends to last for 3-4 hours, and you will need to walk quite a bit, so make sure to prepare accordingly. You can also purchase tickets online in advance, including ‘fast track’ tickets that let you skip the queue.
Should I be mindful of what to wear at the Palermo Cathedral or the Capuchin Catacombs?
Absolutely, as these are religious places. In Italy, religious etiquette is for men to wear long pants and for women to wear dresses or skirts that reach below the knee or long pants. Shoulders must also be covered.
I’m visiting the Teatro Massimo. What should I keep in mind?
As in all opera houses, the audience must stay silent during the performance and only clap at the start or the end. Recording and photography are not allowed. Food and drinks in the theatre is also not allowed.
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