RovingLibrarian2012

Hello,

I had planned to visit Sicily for my first time ever in September, but I would have more time to spend if I go in October. I have consulted a few guidebooks, but I'd rather get information from people who can answer my specific question:

If I visit Sicily in early-to-mid- October, will it still be warm enough to visit a beach - preferably near Palermo - and swim? (I'm not spending the whole week on the beach, but I have always wanted to swim in the Mediterranean). I am used to New York beaches where the water is pretty cold even in summer, and always murky. Swimming in relatively clear blue water is something I very much want to experience.

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for good, (preferably sandy) beaches within easy commuting distance of Palermo, that would be most appreciated.

Thank you for any feedback you can give me. This is a dream vacation for me (I've never been out of the USA, and my family on my late Father's side is Italian), and the swimming is an essential element of it.

Tom

adrienne

I can't advise on the weather in October (I went in May and except for a few days it was cold and rainy and not swimming weather) but Mondello beach, about 30 minutes outside Palermo by bus was recommended. I didn't get there but spoke with people who did go to that beach and they loved it. There were restaurants on the beach where people were grilling octopus, etc. Sounded like a fun place.

Enjoy Sicily, it's a wonderful place.

Rubicund

Try this link, for info on beaches:

http://www.bestofsicily.com/beaches.htm

RovingLibrarian2012

Thank you, Adrienne and Rubicund!

belted_galloway

We were there two years ago in the last week of October. We swam every day but are from Scotland not Florida. The weather was 18oc ish with frequent clouds and a little rain.

bellini

We were in Sicily in November. I'm not a sea swimmer but in Cefalu on the north coast and accessible from Palermo people were on the beach and in the sea. Advise reading Peter Robb's Midnight in Sicily.
We toured from Palermo by car to Erice, Agrigento, Siracusa, and Cefalu. Loved Sicily and hope to revisit some day.

aprillilacs

I was in Sicily (Aeolian Islands) the last 3 weeks of September last year and swam frequently. And I swam in the Med a lot in October in Turkey. I think you'll be able to get some swimming in.

tdk320n

We were there for the first week of OCT. several years ao.
Do not know about swimming or the beach but it was hot enough for us to wear shorts and t shirts.
We went from north to south and east to west during the week and the weather was glorious.

baldrick

No one can assure you nice weather.
We were in Sicily in the second half of October 2007 and had rather lousy weather; windy, cold, showers, some general 15C weather...
We met a Sicilian living in England who said it was the first time in ages he had bad weather at the end of October. He even had to buy trousers because he only had shorts in his luggage...
We swam on 2 sunny moments in the mediterranean, in San Vito Lo Capo and in Castellamare del Golfo. We were in the hotel where some of the actors from Ocean 12 stayed when filming.