inor

How does this itinerary sound? We are taking our first trip to Sicily. We will not have a car and have 13 nights. Are we spending too many nights in one location?

Fly into Catania
Take a private car from the airport to Syracusa - stay 3 nights
Take train to Taormina - stay 3 nights and include a Mount Etna tour
Take train (or train and bus) to Cefalu - stay 3 nights
Take train to Palermo - stay 4 nights
Fly home from Palermo

Thank you, Inor

julies

What are you planning to do in Cefalu? Lie on the beach? We had a car, so I can't tell you how difficult it is to do day trips from there by bus. If you don't want to go to the beach and you don't have a car, I think it might be a bit long.

kja

I'm sure this itinerary would make for a nice trip, but I notice that you have not included some of the things that many of us consider to be the highlights of this highlight-filled island, namely the Greek ruins at Agrigento, Selinunte, and Segesta and the Roman mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale. Maybe that's intentional? I realize that getting to these places without a car can be a bit tricky, but it is certainly possible. Search this board for trip reports by those who visited the island using public transportation only.

FWIW, I thought the views from Taormina absolutely stunning, but hated being there during the day -- the place can be so densely packed with daytrippers that one is unpleasantly jostled and rammed and bumped.

Also, I'm sure you realize that you can get from Catania to Siracusa using bus or train?

Be sure to stay in Ortygia (rather than any other part of Siracusa) and be sure to visit the Cathedral of Monreale and its cloister, just outside of Palermo.

Hope that helps!

inor

Thank you for your replies. I was thinking of going to the beach in Cefalu. Do you still think 3 nights is too many.

Do you think 4 nights in Palermo is a good number.

I was thinking of taking a day tour to some of the ruins, but hadn't figured that part out yet.

Inor

kja

For MY interests, 4 nights in Palermo would be a good minimum. For MY interests, 3 nights in Cefalu would be 2 or 3 too many. But of course, its YOUR trip, not mine, and only you can decide what will work for your interests.

Whathello

I think there is a club med in Cefalu.
One of the best at a time.
I could stay 3-4 nights in a club med.

I have nothing more to add Kja had access to my brain and told everything I could have said.

kja

@ Whathello: Oh no -- I thought I was channeling pariswat! So sorry for inadvertently accessing YOUR brain. Interesting, though, that we ended up with some similar ideas... Maybe pariswat has taken over both of our brains?

kja

"include a Mount Etna tour"

I enjoyed my tour of Mt. Etna, which was from Taormina, took a full day, and also included the Gole Alcantara. BUT I don't think I would have made it a greater priority than the Greek ruins or Roman mosaics -- YMMV.

If you do take a tour to Mt. Etna, be sure to go prepared! I was glad to have very thick soled hiking shoes, protective eyeglasses, earmuffs (180s), gloves, a hat, and lots and lots and lots of layers -- it gets COLD up there!

Whathello

ParisWat, who is this guy ?
A friend of HelloParis (yet to come) ?

willit

Personally, I'm very fond of Cefalú and have spent several weeks there, but I agree that while it is a restful place to stay, with good restaurants and a decent beach, there is not a huge amount to do there for more than a day or so.

TrendGirl2

CEFALU Town does have some amazing restaurants with food that was mindblowing delicious! It was a short 2 day visit (which was more them enough)
It was only a quick stop for us enroute to Taoromina from Palermo to break up the trip for day of relaxation at the Beach.
Best Sardine lunch ever at restaurant in the town overlooking sea view!
TrendGirl2

Lois2

I did not see what month this trip is for but assume spring summer? Rather than sitting in Cefalu a tourist beach like so many others I would take an Aliscafi and head to the Aeolian Islands...each one different including Stomboli and the volcano. Those island are some of the most dramatic landscapes I have ever enjoyed and brought me back to Sicily twice. They are easily visited basing on just one island maybe Salina. Just a thought.

yestravel

Just to echo some of what has been said above -- Taormina is jam packed with tourists. It's got some gorgeous views and a Greek Amphitheater and lots of shops.

I really enjoyed our day outing to Mt Etna (self drive), but agree that if you can somehow fit in a trip or time to see the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale I would definitely do that. As mentioned other ruins are also worthwhile if you enjoy visiting ruins. If you take a day off Cefalu and Taormina you could rework your itn and get some ruins in.

I'm not a beach person so would not spend that much time in Cefalu. Do you prefer spending a day at the beach or seeing some ruins? We had fabulous food all over Sicily so restaurants alone would not be a draw for me. Defintiely stay in Ortygia (rather than any other part of Siracusa). Monreale is spectacular and can be visited by bus from Palmero. Four days would be fine in Palmero assuming you like buzzy cities.

Sicily has a wealth of destinations and its always difficult to figure out where to spend time.

julies

re: Cefalu and beaches. IMO unless all you really want to do is totally veg out and bake yourself in the sun, it isn't a totally great beach destination. I've seen much better beach destinations. But, to each his own.