The Best Highlights 7 Day Sicily Tour 2024

Embark on a private 7-day Sicily highlights tour and discover the captivating cities of Catania, Taormina, Siracusa, and more. Explore ancient ruins, indulge in Sicilian cuisine, and immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of this beautiful island.

Duration: 7 days
Cancellation: 6 days learn more
Highlights

Arrival (Catania airport)

Catania - Receive a warm welcome (with an option to explore the city center if time allows) and transfer to a charming wine resort in the Etna region.

Includes overnight stay and wine tasting with food.

Etna-Taormina

Mount Etna - Today, we will explore the majestic Queen of eastern Sicily, known locally as ‘a muntagna’ (The Mountain): Mount Etna.

After breakfast, we will head to Rifugio Sapienza (Sapienza Refuge, at an elevation of 1800 m), stopping at the Crateri Silvestri.

Here, we will shop at the area’s unique lodges and later enjoy lunch.

Ancient Theatre of Taormina - In the afternoon, we will reach Taormina. Strolling along Corso Umberto, we will visit the stunning Greek theater, Palazzo Corvaja, and the Odeon, while also taking time to admire the breathtaking seascape.

Overnight in the Noto area.

Siracusa-Noto

Parco Archeologico della Neapolis - Today, we will explore Siracusa (Syracuse), a city that once rivaled Athens in power and wealth.

We will delve into the past at the Neapolis archaeological park, visiting its renowned Greek theater, the Ara di Ierone II (Altar of Hieron II), the Latomia del Paradiso (Latomie of Paradise), the Roman amphitheater, and the impressive Orecchio di Dioniso (Ear of Dionysus).

Ortigia - We will wander through the white stone alleys of Ortigia, visiting the Cathedral built over an ancient temple dedicated to Athena, the Fonte Arestusa (Fountain of Arethusa), and other significant monuments.

Noto - Next, we will head to Noto, a Baroque gem and World Heritage Site since 2002.

The city will reveal its splendor, rebuilt after the devastating 1693 earthquake. We will visit the church of Santa Chiara, the St. Nicholas Cathedral, Palazzo Ducezio, Nicolaci street with its beautiful balconies, the Fontana d’Ercole (Fountain of Hercules), the Municipal Theatre, and other major architectures. Along the main street, we can shop and discover Sicilian culinary delights like cannoli (a crunchy dessert with sweet ricotta) or granita (a frozen dessert).

Piazza Armerina-Agrigento

Villa Romana del Casale - Today, we will journey to the heart of Sicily to marvel at the Roman mosaics of Villa del Casale, located a few kilometers from Piazza Armerina. Dating back to the fourth century, the villa’s mosaics depict scenes of Roman daily life, their vivid colors remarkably preserved over the centuries.

Our second stop will be Agrigento, a city on the southwestern side of the island.

Valle dei Templi - Visiting the Valle dei Templi (Valley of the Temples) is like traveling back through the ages. You will be awed by the grandeur of the Tempio di Giunone (Temple of Juno), Tempio della Concordia (Temple of Harmony), and Tempio di Ercole (Temple of Hercules). We will also explore the archaeological site with the Tempio di Zeus (Temple of Zeus) and Tempio dei Dioscuri (Temple of Castor and Pollux). The true beauty of this site will be fully appreciated during a mesmerizing night tour before returning to the city.

Selinunte-Erice

Parco Archeologico Selinunte - After breakfast, we will start our day at Selinunte, the largest archaeological park in Europe. Amidst temples and natural paths, we will rediscover the grandeur of an ancient civilization.

We will visit the Acropolis, pausing to admire temples E, F, and G, before heading to the salt road between Marsala and Trapani for some photos.

Erice - Finally, we will arrive at the historic town of Erice. The stunning landscape of Monte Cofano and the Egadi islands will frame our journey through this storied place.

In the heart of the city, we will taste the sweet delicacies of Maria Grammatico.

Palermo-Monreale

Norman Palace - The entire day will be dedicated to Palermo, the capital of Sicily. From the Greeks to the Arabs and the Bourbon dynasty, Palermo has withstood numerous invasions, blending the unique traits of each culture into a singularly rich heritage.

We will visit the Cathedral, the Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel), Piazza Pretoria (also known as the Square of Shame), and the Chiesa of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (commonly called the Martorana).

Duomo di Monreale - A short drive from Palermo, we will reach Monreale, renowned worldwide for its spectacular cathedral adorned with gold mosaics. After visiting the beautiful cloister next to the cathedral, we will head to the hotel for the night.

Cefalù - End of the tour

Cefalu - After breakfast, we will visit Cefalù, a quaint fishing town dominated by a towering cliff on Sicily’s northern coast.

Here, we will explore the Cathedral, a grand structure with Norman origins, featuring two lateral towers and rich mosaics set against a gold background.

Our final journey together will be to the airport or another destination, where we will bid farewell before your departure.

Palermo Airport - Transfer from the Palermo hotel to Palermo airport.

What's Included
  • Transport by Luxury Mercedes vehicles with all the comforts
  • English speaking driver/guide or driver + English speaking tour guides every day
  • Overnight in 4-star hotel or B&B with breakfast in Agrigento
  • Overnight in wine resort in the Etna area with a wine tasting and food
  • Dinner
  • Overnights in 4-star hotel or B&B in Noto or Siracusa center with breakfast
  • Airport transfers
  • Overnights in 4-star hotel or B&B with breakfast in Palermo
What's Not Included
  • City Taxes or Tourist Tax, payable directly at hotel, during the check out (only in some cities)
  • Lunches, dinners (Except 1 dinner on day 1)
  • Tips
  • Admissions /entrance fees (about € 100 per person)
Additional Information

This excursion incorporates the following locations: Catania, Etna, Taormina, Siracusa, Noto, Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Selinunte, Erice, Palermo, Monreale, Cefalù. It begins in Catania and concludes in Palermo. Key attractions on this tour feature: the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, a nighttime visit to the Valley of Temples in Agrigento, Sicilian cookie tasting in Erice, Granita or Cannolo in Noto, a tour of the historic center and a seaside view in Cefalù, Greek ruins with a seaside viewpoint in Selinunte, and three dinners featuring Sicilian specialties.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(9 Ratings)
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Kathrynmz7650pv
Apr 21, 2024
Family Tour of Sicily - perfect vacation - Words cannot express how amazing this vacation was for my family. There were 16 of us (ages 6 - 76) and Paolo and Barbara made every minute perfect. There was something for everyone - kids and adults. We were not an easy crew either! My Father and Uncle wanted to see the small town they were born in (Melilli). The kids wanted pools and beaches, and others wanted museums and historic sights. Somehow it all worked. Paolo worked with me for over a year leading up to this vacation. He got on the phone with me twice and was very accommodating, changing things as we needed. He also gets an A+ for the hotels which were all beautiful and different – we had multiple experiences – beautiful downtown Palermo to sprawling hotels with pools and beautiful grounds to explore. The pasta making class was the overall favorite – we still make fresh pasta at home almost a year later! Paolo, thank you so much. I think about our week in Sicily almost every day and I very much appreciate the time and energy you spent on us. Kathy Mullins and Family
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kennethmp
Oct 11, 2023
We loved our Sicily trip--and the way Handy Sicily made it happen! - We had a fantastic 14 days with overnight stays in six locations—all arranged by Handy Sicily and Paolo who were fantastic as a guide and companion, and in planning and customizing to meet our interests and needs. We wouldn’t have included the eye-popping Roman mosaics at the Villa Casale, which became a highlight of our trip, except for Paolo. We didn’t know if our physical limits and rest needs would keep us out of hill towns like Cefalu, Erice and Ragusa Ibla, and stunning Greek temples and theatres near Selinunte, Agrigento, Ortygia and Taormina but Paolo made it happen. Is a sudden rain shower interrupting a Syracuse walk? No problem—Paolo proposes an unscheduled drive to see a Caravaggio painting in a nearby Church and an ancient coin collection that knocked our socks off in a nearby Museum. He chose hotels for us also, which were excellent—and more affordable than some. In addition to all the local knowledge, Paolo went out of his way to help us meet our needs and preferences in food, sundries, and people-watching .If you’re interested in a customized tour of Sicily and a private driver, for either long or short trips, we feel Paolo and Handy Sicily are the top of the line and deserve 5 stars--at least!.
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Togethertheywalked
Oct 10, 2023
Spectacular Sicily - Traveling with Paolo throughout Sicily was a spectacular adventure that exceeded all our expectations! Paolo planned the perfect itinerary based on his deep understanding of history and culture. His passion for Sicily and wealth of knowledge was evident in everything he planned, from our trips to archeological parks to exquisite hotel properties and dining experiences throughout our journey. Each day brought new experiences that opened our eyes to the diversity of culture and breaktaking landscapes of each region. Paolo is a first class guide and driver, extremely professional and a charming travel companion. We hope to have many more excursions throughout Sicily with him. We highly recommend Handy Sicily!
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Sansa31
Oct 10, 2022
Best guide in the world ! - Are you taking a trip to bella Sicilia? Don't go without Handy Sicily! Paulo and his team will make your trip seamless . Professional, timely, flexible, gorgeous comfortable vehicles ,funny,and most important they know everything about the Sicily they love . Don't wait . Plan as far in advance as you can because the best locations book quickly . My husband and I have traveled all over the world and have had many guides. Paolo and team are #1. Can't wait to go back with my girlfriends ! C'e vediamo a dopo Paulo !!
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Michaelgh8029gz
Aug 28, 2022
Vey satisfied customer - Sicily if mind-blowing. From the beauty of the countryside to the rich history of the cities, temples, churches and the layers of different cultures they represent, there is a never ending amount of mental stimulation. Beautiful wines, cocktails and food. Very friendly people. Two great winery tours included. Above all was the friendly, relaxed professionalism of our wonderful guide(s). Everything happened with a minimum of fuss. Excellent transport in air conditioned Mercedes Benz comfort. I recommend Handy Sicily. Highly!
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Vincent7trips
Aug 24, 2022
A Spectacular Sicily Experience - This was a SPECTACULAR tour that greatly exceeded my expectations. Our tour included stops in Palermo, Erice, the Valley of the Temples, Noto, Siracusa, Taormina, and Cefalu and more. We visited a diversity of sites including amazing churches, fishing villages, Greek, Norman and Roman ruins, castles and downtown walking tours. Many of the historic locations were UNESCO World Heritage sites and are unmatched in their history, quality and beauty. The Hotel accommodations were amazing and some we’re four star, estate like and very unique. The dinner accommodations were excellent. An outdoor, evening dinner over looking the Valley of the Temples was a highlight. Barbara, our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable, flexible, patient and courteous. Our driver was very safe and kept a supply of water on hand. Given that the weather was hot and humid the off schedule stops at the beach for a swim was greatly appreciated by all. We were a group of ten on an air conditioned, comfortable mini bus for about twenty. There was plenty of room. There is only one way to go for a tour of Sicily and that’s with Handy Sicily. Without hesitation I would use Handy Sicily again.
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52stephenv
Sep 2, 2021
FANTASTIC CUSTOMIZED TOUR WITH HANDY SICILY AND PAOLO MORTELLARO - I contacted Paolo Mortellaro in May to design a tour for six adults for late August 2021. I explained that we are experienced travelers that wanted to experience the beauty, history, culinary and vineyards of Sicily. Paolo went to work to design a private tour to meet our needs and budget. I am extremely detail oriented and Paolo met my challenge of providing precise details for cities to visit, boutique hotel accommodations, restaurant and dinner reservations, and getting of the tourist path. Paolo is extremely personable, knowledgeable, has quick wit and is extremely kind. He introduced us to hidden gems, and provided a historical narrative, that would remain unknown to us without his local knowledge. We started our tour in Catania where we were picked up at the airport in a very clean and spacious Mercedes travel van. From our pickup in Catania, we proceeded to the foothills of Mt. Etna where we stayed at a charming Sicilian winery to relax after our long flight from the USA. Over the next six days, we proceeded south to visit Mt. Etna, Taormina, Siracusa, Noto, the Roman villa of Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, and ended our tour in Palermo where we departed for Sardinia. I have traveled extensively worldwide and utilized the services of many excellent guides. I consider Handy Sicily to be among the finest and it is without hesitation that I offer my highest recommendation of Paolo and Handy Sicily. This is a professional company on every level that is able to offer the personalized details to make your visit to Sicily the trip of a lifetime.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Atlantan1972
May 13, 2019
Outstanding Guide - Four of us spent a week with Paolo of Handy Sicily Tours seeing the highlights of Sicily. Paolo is an extremely knowledgable and professional guide with a nice sense of humor and love of Sicily. The trip that he provided was a wonderful way to see the highlights of Sicily. We rode in his extremely comfortable luxury van and he took care of our every need. On the next to last day of our trip my husband had an accident and tripped on some stairs which necessitated a visit to the Emergency Room in Palermo. Paolo accompanied us and stayed with my husband during the 18 hour ordeal and even went to the medical supply place to get what we needed when we returned to the hotel. We are experienced travelers and I would highly recommend seeing Sicily with Handy Sicily.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kenneth
Sep 4, 2018
A fascinating and educational tour of Sicily - My wife and I have recently returned from a week tour of Sicily with Paolo of Handy tours. It was a wonderful experience. The first thing to note is that Paolo is passionate about his island, its history, its people and its culture. He is a charming traveling companion. We were taken to all of the major historical and archeological sites-the Roman villas and Roman and Greek temples. Paolo is knowledgeable about the historical sites and the various churches and cathedrals we toured. He was always ready with a bit of esoteric information to bring the site we were viewing to life, His tour takes you a bit off the beaten path to give you a true sense of the people and culture of Sicily. We spent two nights on a farm where we were treated to two sumptuous meals-all from locally grown produce. Another day we spent at a winery and after a brief tour of the vineyard we settled down to an evening of wine tasting. This all gave you a true flavor of Sicily. Thank you, Paolo, for a delightful vacation.
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