Greetings,

My husband & I are planning a trip to Sicily for 5 days from 20th Feto 25th Feb. We will be staying for two nights in a resort in Sciacca. For next three days we want to do sight seeing and day trips. My first question is which area should be our base. After Sciacca should we head to Taromina and go for day trips to Mt Etna, Cantania. Or we should head to Palermo and do day trips to Erice, Tarapani or Cefalu?

Should we hire a car? I am hearing mixed reviews about driving in Sicily, especially in Palermo it's not advisable.

Two nights in a resort, presumably without day trips. If so, spend the three days to visit Agrigento and the mosaics of the Roman villa near Piazza Armerina and finally Palermo with a visit to Monreale in its suburbs.

Concur with Michael. See the Temples, then the Villa at Piazza Armerina, then drive to Palermo perhaps via Cefalu. We liked Palermo and the west much better than Catania and the east.

We drove around Sicily a few years ago. Traffic in the cities is not good but not nearly as bad as Naples.

The absolute hgighlights of Sicily are Palermo/Monreale, Siracusa, Agrigento, Taormina.
Other places like Cefalu, Segesta, Selinunte, Piazza Armerina, Noto, Modica, Ragusa, Zingaro Park, Lipari Island, Vulcano Island, Trapani/Erice ar well worth a visit too.
Google for these places and pick out 1 or 2 of them; you cannot do more.
http://oldweb.enit.it/navgraficacomu...lang=UK&id=624

In terms of time, I think that the OP should forget eastern Sicily.

Thank you all. I agree we can't do more than two places.We want to stay somewhere in a hillside area. Is Monreale the best option? Can you please suggest some budget hotels/B&B's?( Ideally with nice view)