I will be in Sicily in September (23rd-30th). Am planning on staying in Catania. Any recommendations for sightseeings/day trips? Things that I should not miss? Things I should avoid? Are there any festivals during that time? I will be a solo traveler. Thank you in advance.

Do a day trip to Mt. Etna. Should be easy from Catania. Will you have a car by any chance? Are you set on sleeping in Catania every night or can you do trips from there?

Hi scrunchy, I haven't decided on whether I want to get a car (I am horrible with a manual tansmission...). I can do trips from Catania, but as I have never been to Sicily (let alone by myself in Sicily), I figured I would ask the experts! I am not adverse to hopping on a train and exploring. I speak some Italian, so I hopefully won't get lost! Thank you.

But why base in Catania? I really should not ask you that, as I have never stayed there, but I think there are other places that might make a better base. Palermo. Siracusa. You ought to do a little research first..the island is not tiny so asking what to do there is kind of a broad question... I am not sure I would rent a car alone, either. But then I do not like to drive even in my own country so I am not the one to ask about that!

Now scrunchy, I don't know about Palermo, I read your post about that hotel robbery. I don't want to cause an international incident!

Get out of Catania and spend your time in Taormina and Siracusa---both are close and worth your time.

I've been to Catania and can't imagine using it as a base to see Sicily. Are you visiting relatives or friends? If not, you should base yourself in Taormina if you want to tour the eastern portion of the island, or Palermo for the western part. With a week, you could have two bases.

Look at the past posts on Sicily for some ideas. I would highly recommend doing the GEOEXPLORERS tour out of Catania if you are there for a day.They pick you up at your hotel and a geology expert from the university takes you in a land rover with possibly 4/5 altogether to the lava fields,lava cave and all around Mt. Etna. It ran about 6 hours total for about $50 USD per person-really interesting!
My daughter spent the semester last spring studying in the old section of Siracusa called Ortigia and loved it. Its kinda like Italy was many years ago before everyone discovered it. The old town area is 1 mile by 1 1/2 miles totally surrounded by the Ionian Sea and its really a great spot. Tell us how old you are and what you like to do so we can give you some ideas?

Thank you for the ideas everyone!!

Staying in Catania is a good choice.
I cannot recommend any hotel because I was invited by friends, but here some tips:

1)Visit the youth hostel. They have a very good wine selection and a cave inside (with a real river!)
2) Eat an arancino al ragù at l'Etoile d'Or. This is actually something everyone should do before dying ;-)
They also have croissants with ricotta and nutella at night.
3) Close to l'Etoile, there is a restaurant called "I clerici". Just take the "antipasti della casa" or a "zuppa di frutti di mare".
4) Visit the market (Fera Oluni). Be aware of pickpockets, but it will be fun.
5) On Wednesday, there is a Jam Session deluxe at the Barrique (Via Sangiuliano). Great guitar players!
6) Cross the street, and go to Las Ramblas, a salsa bar.
7) Scalinata Nievsky: like spanish stairs in Rome.
8) Taormina
9) Siracusa and Noto

Having been to Catania I would rather not stay there, it's a rough place. Why not stay in Taormina or Giardini Naxos?