We're in the process of researching and putting together several options for a three-week trip starting in mid-November and going through the first week of December. One of the options high on our list is Sicily and Malta. Italy is one of our favorite places in Europe and our travels have only taken us as far south as Rome. Given the time of year, we're considering two weeks in Sicily followed by one week in Malta.

Our itinerary for the Sicily portion of the possible trip is largely done and is as follows:

Palermo, 4 nights
Agrigento, 2 nights
Enna, 2 nights
Taormina, 3 nights
Syracuse, 4 nights

We plan on using public transport between locations, but we understand trains and buses may be limited for some of the day trips we're considering, as follows:

From Palermo to Monreale and Segesta
From Agrigento to Scala del Turchi (probably for a couple of hours, assuming the weather is good)
From Enna to Villa Romana del Casale
From Taormina to Mount Etna
From Syracuse to Pozzallo ferry port (to Malta)

Are there any drivers you've used and would recommend? How easy is it to hire taxis for the day on the days we would need it? We're open to booking private tours for the day as well.

Thank you for your assistance.

We had a rental car for 80% of our Sicily trip but did hire drivers at the end and were pleased with them. They are based in Taormina but told us they cover the whole island. Contact SicilyLife.com
They drove us from Ortigia to Taormina and from Taormina to Catania Airport. Nice cars, good drivers.
In Siracusa , stay on Ortigia Island, the original historic settlement of the city.

Having been to both Sicily and Malta, I would scrub Malta and concentrate on Siicly where there is more than enough to fill 3 weeks. Also there are a number of TRs here where people used solely public transport to get around, which would be another reason for concentrating on Sicily because having to wait for trains and buses is going to use up your time.

As for places to add in, I would want to spend a day at the Villa Romana del Casale, some time in Ragusa, add a night to Ortigia, and go down to the far south east and see Scicli which, along with Ragusa, is one of the places where a lot of Montalbano is filmed.

HappyTrvlr, thank you. I will take a look at SicilyLife.

Annhig, good to see you here. The places you've listed are on our draft itinerary. We intend to visit Villa Romana del Casale from Enna. We intend to stay on Ortigia for our nights in Syracuse and from there visit Ragusa, Scicli, as well as Modica and Noto, not on the same day of course.

We stayed four full days in Ortigia. You have way too many day trips listed from there.
Stay a night in Noto, either coming or going from Ortigia.

Tripplanner, we spent 13 nights in Sicily this April, using only public transportation. Five nights in Palermo, with a day trip to Monreale, there’s a very convenient bus. Four nights in Ortygia with a day trip to Noto, we waited a long time as the scheduled bus didn’t come, maybe because it was a Saturday?

We also waited quite a bit for the bus to Agrigento after visiting the Valley of Temples. No one seemed to know where the bus stop was, we went up and down and finally walked to what was probably the next stop. But this apart the trains and buses worked perfectly as per schedule, we even took the bus from Agrigento to Siracusa/Ortygia, with a change at Catania.

And you too, Tripplanner. I have to agree with Geetika that you are trying to cram too much into what amounts to only 3 days in Ortigia. By the time you have explored Ortigia [one day], and Syracuse [another], you will not have enough time for your excursions, which would realy take at least 2 if not 3 days. Plus looking at google maps and putting in public transport, the bus which goes from Ortigia to Ragusa takes over 2 ½ hours and goes though all those places, which are quite close together, [apart from Noto] so it would make sense to base your self in one of them and use it to tour that area specifically.

Thanks for your confirmation that relying on public transport is doable even if there are some hiccups, Geetika. Thank you too Annhig and HappyTrvlr for your advice regarding SE Sicily.

<<Thanks for your confirmation that relying on public transport is doable even if there are some hiccups, Geetika. Thank you too Annhig and HappyTrvlr for your advice regarding SE Sicily.>>

No probs, Tripplanner. I should just like you to enjoy your trip as much as we did, whatever you choose to do . Buon viaggio!