Valenciano

Hi NeoPatrick, I'm planning on visiting Agrigento as a day trip or, perhaps, with a tour operator. I figure that it must be beautiful at night, but I won't have a car and I don't like moving so much with bags on a train just for one night.

I was also looking at some pictures of Segesta and the setting looks beautiful, specially at night as well. Segesta seems to be an easier day trip.

Erice looks beautiful too. There's so much to see and so little time, but I'm working on it.

panecott

Yes, I think 4 nights instead of 5 in Palermo would work just fine. You could see a lot in 3 1/2 days, including the beach at Mondello, easily reachable by local bus.

The excursion up to Monreale, with the local bus, can easily be done in a 1/2 day, so you'd have 3 full days to see Palermo. BTW, if you have the opportunity to take the train from Palermo to Cefalu at night, as you approach Cefalu you will see the cathedral illuminated -a really beautiful sight.

I think Patrick's suggestion about Agrigento is a good one, but I understand not wanting to schlep luggage around, so that's your decision.

Also, I know you said you'd probably not get to do the 3 islands on separate trips, but, if you eventually decided to spend your full 3 weeks in Sicily, you probably wouldn't regret it. As you said, so much to see, so little time. I have spent about 4 months there, in as many visits, and still haven't seen everything. It's one of my favorite places on earth.

NeoPatrick

An alternative to schlepping luggage to Agrigento: You're "sailing out of Palermo for Sardinia in the evening, right? The day before that, check out of your Palermo hotel, but have them hold your luggage there, except for an overnight bag or what you'll need for one night. Take the train to Agrigento and spend the night and come back to Palermo the next day, picking up your luggage at the hotel there before heading to the ferry.

You'd probably need to check out of that hotel before noon and you'd want to leave your luggage there until evening for the ferry anyway. Just do that a day earlier and go to Agrigento.

Valenciano

Hey,

I'll visit Agrigento as a day trip from Palermo. I was checking out some pictures of it at night and it does looks beautiful at night but I already think I'm moving too much.

I want to thank you all for your help and advice! I can't wait to go there!

Valenciano.

Valenciano

Hi again,

2 more questions,

1. Are 2 nights enough in cefalù? Should I spend 3?

2. Am I making a mistake by not including Syracuse?

What do you think?

Thanks... again.

Zerlina

Your latest Sicily itinerary seems to be:

Taormina, 3 nights.
Cefalù, 2 nights.
Palermo, 5 nights (Monreale).

Opinions differ about Taormina; I personally find it overtouristed and
vastly overrated. You can see and do whatever there is to see and do in Taormina in a day, including a local bus trip up to Castelmola. If you want to do a Mount Etna tour, that would be one additional day. But I see you mention the beach at Taormina, so if you really want to do that AND Mount Etna, I guess it would fill your three days.

Now to your questions:

1. Are 2 nights enough in cefalù? Should I spend 3?

Unless you are planning lots of beach time, two nights are more than enough in Cefalu. It's less than an hour from Palermo by train or bus, so you could even do it as a day trip.

2. Am I making a mistake by not including Syracuse?

In my opinion, yes. Ortygia (the old part of Syracuse and the only place to think of staying) is small and charming and not yet totally overtouristed. The Greek theater is as well preserved as the one in Taormina (but admittedly doesn't have the same wonderful views). And you can take an easy day trip by bus to Noto, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Baroque cities.

There are good bus connections directly from Catania airport to Syracuse and between Syracuse and Palermo. For Syracuse-Taormina, you would have to change buses in Catania. There are schedules here:
http://www.interbus.it/interbushtm/homepage.asp

As a rule, buses (except those of the AST, which tend to be slow and grungy) are faster and more convenient in Sicily than trains.

kja

Hi, Valenciano -

> Am I making a mistake by not including Syracuse?

That depends on what you want to see and do, but like Zerlina, I loved Siracusa!

Hope that helps. . . .