Alice9

I'm starting to plan a 2 week trip to Sicily in 2015. I've already used the forums to help me decide that, yes, there was plenty to do for a 2 week trip. Now maybe you can help me decide when. We definitely don't want to go during high season or when it may be very hot. So I was deciding between early May and late Sept/early Oct. Can anyone help with the relative merits of these two possibilities?

Thanks as always,
Alice

aprillilacs

I have been to Sicily in both those periods and like them both. May has amazing wildflowers everywhere and the hills are a glorious green--but we have also experienced rain and wind in May. Late September has warmer days and--important if you want to swim in the Med--warmer water, and the vegetation is gives a dryer look by then. I would be happy to return in either month. I highly recommend several days on the Aeolian Islands while you are there.

adrienne

The last two weeks in May would probably give you better weather than early May. It certainly won't be hot then.

bobthenavigator

Here is Sicily in May---hard to beat !

http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3828

Click my name above to find my trip report for this trip.

kja

May is a wonderful time to visit Sicily! But with only two weeks, you'll need to be selective. Get your guidebooks ASAP so you can start narrowing down your options! FWIW, I thought the Rough Guide the best of the 6 guidebooks I used when planning my time there.

MyriamC

Both months have their pro's and con's. Early May the days will be longer than late September: 7 pm vs. 8 pm. On the other hand, late September is usually somewhat warmer than early May: average 22°C vs. 26°C. September is definitely a much better month to swim in the sea than May.

BowenLinda

I just returned from 10 days in Sicily and the temps, ranged from day time highs of 84-92 F. Locals said it was unusually hot weather.

Mimar

I like traveling in spring -- for the wildflowers and for the longer days. Longer days mean more sightseeing time. And May is better if you prefer cooler weather.

Alice9

Hmmmm. You have me leaning towards May. It's our normal time to travel, I do like the longer days. I worry about September being too hot. And I don't think we'd be doing that much swimming anyway.

Gorgeous pictures, bobthenavigator! And I am considering the Aeolian islands. Thanks for the advice on guidebooks, I JUST got the Eyewitness Guide, I like to start there.

So many things to consider! It's funny that I thought I'd never be able to fill up two weeks, now it seems it won't be enough.

Thanks so much for all the help.

Alice

MyriamC

Two weeks for the whole island? Forget it!
We did the eastern half in 2006 (2 weeks) and the western half in 2013 (2 weeks). And we still haven't seen everything.

Alice9

MyriamC, what was your itinerary? I may find, once I start planning, that I have to concentrate on just part.

Alice

MyriamC

In 2006 we visited the eastern part and were based in Taormina for the whole two weeks (which was not very practical, but we weren't experienced travelers at that time). We visited Mt. Etna, Siracusa (& Ortigia), Ragusa, Noto and Capo d'Orlando and spent some time at the (not very attractive) beach.

Last year we flew in and out of Palermo and stayed near Erice for 5 nights to see the westernmost part of the Island (Trapani [loved it!], Erice, Marsala, San Vito Lo Capo), then moved on to Agrigento for 3 nights to see the south (Agrigento, Sciacca, Licata, Gela, ...). The south is still so very pure and authentic! After that we drove to the north (visited Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina on our way) to Cefalù. From here we visited Palermo, made a roadtrip in the Madonie Mountains, and had some quality-time with my sister who lives here part of the year.

You can do some more in two weeks but we are slow travelers and we like some beach-time in between sightseeing.

Alice9

We tend to be slow travelers too, and like to find a few bases and do day trips. MyriamC, your itinerary is intriguing, I will look into it.

Alice

kja

It isn't possible to see Sicily with just 2 or even 3 bases -- the distances are prohibitive. And you will, as already noted, need to be selective if you have only 2 weeks. There are a LOT of trip reports on Fodor's, and don't skip the planning threads, where you can find out what people skipped and why.

Alice9

Yes, kja, I just started looking at maps last night and realized this is a BIG place. I note there are two airports - do many people fly into one and out of the other? That would make it easier to figure out an itinerary.

When we were in Scotland last year, and not ALL of Scotland, Edinburgh, west and then the highlands, we ended up staying in 5 different places over 2 weeks. Well, 6, we did stay close to the airport the night before we left for home. And we've been to Italy (continental Italy) 3 times, completely different itineraries each time, and still haven't seen most of the country!

Alice

Alice9

Yes, kja, I just started looking at maps last night and realized this is a BIG place. I note there are two airports - do many people fly into one and out of the other? That would make it easier to figure out an itinerary.

When we were in Scotland last year, and not ALL of Scotland, Edinburgh, west and then the highlands, we ended up staying in 5 different places over 2 weeks. Well, 6, we did stay close to the airport the night before we left for home. And we've been to Italy (continental Italy) 3 times, completely different itineraries each time, and still haven't seen most of the country!

Alice

bon_voyage

Alice9, I loved our two weeks in Sicily in 2010 and the trip has aged very well in my mind--one of my alltime favorites. Here's the link to my trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ecial-trip.cfm.

kja

"I note there are two airports - do many people fly into one and out of the other? That would make it easier to figure out an itinerary" -- yes and no. The airports are in Palermo and Catania, and if you plan to be in both the east and the west, then you should definitely plan on flying open jaw to avoid backtracking. BUT with only 2 weeks, some people prefer to visit EITHER only the western or only the eastern parts of Sicily, and in that case, it might make sense to fly into and out of the same airport, even though it would mean backtracking a bit. It really depends on what YOU want to see and do.

Alice9

Thanks, bon_voyage! And kja, of course you're right, I need an itinerary first, the I can see if I do open-jaw or round trip. Much reading and research to do.

Alice

Ian

bon_voyage

>the trip has aged very well in my mind

I may have to steal that line.

Ian