Choosing: Taormina ,Ragusa, Cefalu
 

I think we'll have an extra day in our May trip to Sicily and I'm going nuts trying to decide between Taormina and Ragusa (main choices) or maybe Cefalu. We'll be traveling independently, using public transportation. We will definitely spend a day in Noto, and I have read a lot but can't seem to get a feel for how different Ragusa would be from Noto. As for Taormina, I understand that it's really beautiful but have seen a few people say that it's only good for a few hours. We're not going to do Etna-related stuff. Or, we could tack on Cefalu to the earlier part of our trip. I'm just looking for a place that is pleasant to roam around it, perhaps with some charming shops (ceramics, etc.), and nice buildings or scenery. Hard choices but hoping your opinions will help me decide. Thanks!

I didn't get to Ragusa, so can't help with that. I found Taormina far too touristy, but the views are good. Not especially wowed by Cefalu, either. What's the rest of your itinerary? Maybe you should just stay longer somewhere.

Not been to Ragusa but have the other two - Taormina yes has only one main sight - its Roman (?) Arena but it's setting is spectacular with the whole visage of Mt Vesuvius in full view, smoke and all. But Taormina is more a nice watering hole base and when I was there one October it was still hopelessly mobbed with tourists - the tourist town of Sicily as far as I can see.

Naxos-G? is a seaside resort right under the mini mountain Taormina is perched on - could make a delightful one day stand - lots of stores like you want and a string of seaside hotels and restaurants.

Cefalu was a dream though I only day tripped there from Palermo - a lovely seaside town and a neat old town - not too large not too small with lots of shops to peruse. I would use it as a base for nearby Palermo if going there (I would not necessarily recommending that for all).

Sicily used to at least have a cheap rail pass sold locally - for info on trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

I'm not sure how to help without knowing what else you are planning to see, but FWIW:

Like thursdaysd, I didn't go to Ragusa, but would expect a certain similarly to Noto as they are both counted among the late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto. I could easily be wrong, but I don't think the architecture of Ragusa has the same touch of humor as that of Noto.

I also skipped Cefalu, but it's cathedral has recently been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites (same inscription as the Arab-Norman buildings of Palermo and the Cathedral of Monreale).

I did stop in Taormina -- loved the views, hated the crowds. If you aren't planning to visit Mt. Etna, other options for getting away for part of a day include going up to Castelmola and/or down to Isola Bella.

May is a delightful time to visit Sicily -- enjoy!

Thanks for your comments so far. Here's what I'm thinking at this point.
day 1 arrive Palermo
day 2: sightsee Palermo.overnight Palermo
day 3: Monreale in morning; hang out P. in afternoon OR add Monreale to previous day and use this day for Cefalu. Overnight Palermo.
day 4: all day guided tour Segesta, Erice, salt flats. Overnight Palermo.
day 5: train or bus Palermo to Siracusa; stay in Ortygia so hang out Ortygia in afternoon
day 6: sights around Siracusa/Ortygia. night: Ortygia
day 7: Friday - Noto - watch artists working on flower festival- (entire itinerary built around this). Night Ortygia
day 8: Sat. either Ragusa or Taormina
day 9: Sun. leave from Catania Airport

I wanted more time than you've allowed in both Palermo and Siracusa.

You can always do a day trip to Cefalu if you finish seeing all you want to see in Palermo early.

So it seems to me that your question is really about day 8 -- Ragusa or Taormina ... or another day in Siracusa.

Also -- have you firmly decided to skip Agrigento? It really is worth seeing, IMO. You could stop there after Palermo -- plan to spend a night, and make sure you allow enough time for the extensive ruins. Then on to Siracusa. All by public transportation -- check rome2rio Personally, I would definitely make Agrigento a higher priority than either Ragusa or Taormina. YMMV.

I don't see the Villa Casale on your list. I would say that was the second must-see after Monreale. Also, I would want more time for Erice and would add Trapani.

Yes, definitely skipping Agrigento. I hate to sound blase, but we have seen a lot of Greek temples already and would see the one in Segesta on this trip.That, and Villa Casale, just didn't work well geographically and within our time frame, plus we also try to limit the # of nights in different hotels (unless there's something we haven't seen before that we're dying to see). villa Casale does sound gorgeous, but we'll have to make do with the mosaics in other places in Sicily! I don't know if our tour that goes to the salt flats in/near Trapani also goes to the town itself.

The other mosaics will be totally different. The Villa Casale is Roman. Arguably the best in situ Roman mosaics anywhere. Monteale et al. are from the Norman period.

We've been to Ragusa and Taormina, and I would choose Taormina in a heartbeat. We don't love crowds either, but you can spend the day at the beach during the afternoon. Taormina is magical at night.

Sylvester, who are you using for your day tour from Palermo? Just interested, as it seemed awkward to get to salt pans without a car.

Cefalù! And say 'hi' to my sister who lives there 6 months a year.
It's a pretty little city with a nice boardwalk, narrow streets with shops (ceramics, wine, olives, fashion boutiques,...) and lots of restaurants and bars, of course. And the hotel Kalura has the nicest outdoor terrace in town with a panoramic view of the bay and of the Rocca de Cefalù.

Sylvester, have you decided yet? I would also suggest to add a day to either Palermo or Syracuse. From Palermo we did a very pleasant day trip to Cefalu.
Don't forget to schedule a market visit one morning in Palermo.

Ragusa is 1 hr 45 min bus trip to Catania airport, too far away to stay the night before you leave IMO.

You really only have 1 day and one evening in Syracuse, and it's a delightful town.

When is the flower festival in Noto, we are hoping to be there at that time?

>>>day 7: Friday - Noto - watch artists working on flower festival- (entire itinerary built around this). Night Ortygia<<<

If your entire itinerary is built around this then I suggest you give yourselves a time-buffer around the event so that -- in the outside chance there are snafus that delay your getting there or inclement weather that delays parts of the event itself -- you can roll with that and not be disappointed you had to leave without seeing what you came for.

So suggestions is: hang around that area and you can see Ragusa or possibly Taormina if you don't need or want to return to Noto.

Answering various questions/comments: day trip from Palermo to Segesta, Erice, salt pans, and light lunch in olive oil producer via tourofsicily.com. For various reasons, we decided on a day in Cefalu instead of Ragusa or Taormina. The annual Noto flower festival is always the third Sunday in May so that's May 15 in 2016. I almost made a huge mistake because, in my mind, I had translated that into the 3rd weekend in May! My understanding is that the artists work on the flowers on Friday, and I'm not sure what they do on Sat. vs. Sunday. And then Mon. the children of the area are allowed to run through the flowers and scatter them! Re Palermo markets, we love markets and will visit one on our own the afternoon we arrive, and then will do a street food tour one morning for 3 or 4 hours which goes to all 3 markets and also has a bit of history. We engaged a private guide a day later to take us through Monreale and cover more of Palermo and its history.

"Re Palermo markets, we love markets and will visit one on our own the afternoon we arrive,"

Are you sure any will be open when you get there?

Thanks for that information, Sylvester.

We aren't leaving for Sicily until April 19th......and we're spending 3 weeks traveling. However, from all that I have read.....those folk who have spent 3 nights on Ortigia had wished it were longer. We shall be staying 3 nights.

YOU may want to consider another day/night there.

On the other hand.....as touristy as Taormina is.....we are spending 4 nights there. (Please don't roll your eyes folks). First night to get over jet lag....a definite hike to Castelmola......a definite Etna experience.....and the rest to wander,eat,drink,and enjoy.

Quite frankly, it who we meet that makes our travel, much more than the things we see.

kja, I had read that at least one market was open until 7 p.m. Of course, I also read lots of travelers who said many things in Sicily were not open when they had expected, so we'll see! We've had lots of experiences in other places where the "main sight" was closed for renovation, under scaffolding, etc., so much so that it's become a sort of joke for us.

FOOD IS AMAZING IN SICILY.

Will especially remember the swordfish, the sardines, the cannolis......anything with Eggplant.....I could go on and on. Diet when you return home!!!!!!

Monreale was a nice & easy day visit from Palermo.

CEFALU did have some amazing restaurants. It was a stop off for us enroute from Palermo to Taormina.
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