In that case I recommend you to travel by train instead of flying.

Getting to Sicily by train is a beautiful journey along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and crossing the Strait of Messina on the rail ferry is something very unique(there are only 2-3 places in the world where you can do that).

It'll be a journey to remember and be a part of your Italian travel experience, and not just another boring flight, not to mention it helps to reduce your carbon footprint.

It saves you the hassle of how to travel from Catania airport to Siracusa, because the trains from Rome and Milan go direct to Siracusa where the railway station is only a 15 minute walk from Ortigia and the trains stop in Taormina as well.

https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-ro...-to-sicily.htm

https://rail.cc/en/blog/night-train-sicily

https://rail.cc/en/blog/volcano-etna-train

Interesting idea. I'll definitely consider it..TY

We flew into Palermo from Rome, easy airport to navigate, and at the end of the trip, departed from Catania airport which was a total zoo that morning.
We loved Sicily and plan to return. We’ll skip Taormina next time, though.

My own trip in 2013 was inspired by bobthenavigator and thurdsdayd. I went for 3.5 weeks, including 5 nights on the Aeolian Islands and it still wasnt enough. I would recommend taking as long as you possibly can! Another here who did less than 24 hours in Taormina and would not go back.

Good stuff.

Unlike everyone else here, I think that Taormina is worth a visit. I have been three times in April and did some day trips, and I didn't find the city too crowded. It definitely is worth getting a hotel room with a view there though, and being a little off of the main drag. The Hotel Villa Schuler is lovely.
If you want to visit Etna or a vineyard, that is easily done from Taormina or Catania.
In siracusa, stay in Ortigia, the oldest part, and agree that you should definitely go to the market and visit Casificio Borderi. We also liked Fratelli burgios, next door to Casificio Borderi for a sit down lunch. I found a guide helpful for visiting the archeological park in Siracusa.
I think you should plan based on your interests. Greek theatres: Taormina, Siracusa, Segesta. Mosaics: Villa Romana (in the middle of the island - a great stop if you are traveling from one side to the other), Monreale, Palermo: Capella palatina. Greek temples: Agrigento, Segesta. I haven't been to Selinunte myself. I have only ever had a week so I had to pick and choose places. Palermo is noisy and gritty, but has a fascinating mix of cultures and a lively nightlife. Ortigia seems to be a hit with most people. I loved Erice, on the west coast above Trapani, for a short visit if you want a peaceful medieval town with incredible views. There is hiking in various places. I have always flown into Catania and out of Palermo and rented a car.

I would look up some info about Sicily, or watch a Rick Steves video and figure out what appeals to you to narrow it down.

Thanks. Good, helpful input.

My husband and I were assured by a b&b owner that walking from the Ortigia bus stop to her inn was easy and quick. Ha! Main streets that lacked sidewalks, road beds made from cobblestones, and two 26" inch suitcases made this less than desirable. We are in excellent health, but even so, dodging trucks and cars was nerve-racking. Get a cab!

Carol

We only had a a shade over a week in Sicily but made the most of it anyway. Yes, it's true that the island has much to see and one could spend weeks there. However, if you have only a week, it's still well worth a visit.

Our fast-paced trip: flew into Palermo, a couple of days there. We LOVED Palermo and were able to see quite a bit, Capella Palatina, the Cathedral, Norman Palace, la Martorana, the churches with the Serpotta stuccoes, Quattro Canti, Fontana Pretoria, Piazza Marina, Teatro Massimo and Teatro Politeama, an afternoon at Monreale. Many of these sights are close to each other and some we just did as walk-bys. I'm a fast walker and have lots of energy, so your mileage may vary.

We drove to Agrigento, stopping to see Segesta on the way. We spent one night at Agrigento for the Valle dei Templi, where we spent several hours. Drove to Modica, spent three nights, one day for Modica and Ragusa, one day we drove to Villa Romana del Casale. That day we stopped briefly, not really on purpose, got lost and decided to get out, at Caltagirone.

We finished the trip with a few nights on Ortigia, where we dropped the car off. Had a driver take us to Catania for our flight onward to Rome.

I was the sole driver and was pretty tired by the time we got to Rome. Luckily, we had all been to Rome several times, so we just took it easy there. In retrospect, I would have devoted more time to Sicily because it was a lot of driving for me, but there you go. We all enjoyed Sicily immensely and I hope to return someday.

Have a wonderful trip.

Thanks, especially for the info on Palermo.