Can we extend the trip?

Absolutely. Common extensions include the Baroque towns of Noto and Ragusa (1–2 nights), the Aeolian Islands (2–3 nights), or Mount Etna as a full-day excursion. We'll build the extension seamlessly.

Is this trip suitable for children?

Yes. Sicily's beaches, street food, and archaeological sites are engaging for families. We'll adjust the pacing and add age-appropriate activities. Isola Bella beach and the Ear of Dionysius are particular favourites with kids.

What happens after I request this trip?

You'll complete a short planning form with your dates, group size, and any preferences. A travel specialist will respond within one business day with a personalised proposal and exact pricing. No obligation — it's a conversation.

7-Day Private Package Journey

Essence of Sicily

Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse & Taormina — Sicily's essential highlights in seven days.

Available as Private Semi-Private Self-Guided

From €2,490 per person 7 days / 6 nights

View Itinerary

Tour Overview

7 days across Sicily.

Seven days from Palermo to Taormina, tracing Sicily's Greek, Arab, and Norman heritage through ancient temples, Baroque towns, and a coastline that rivals anywhere in the Mediterranean. This private journey covers the island's essential highlights — the street markets of Palermo, the Valley of the Temples, the archaeological treasures of Syracuse, and the volcanic drama of Taormina — with enough free time to linger over a granita, swim in a hidden cove, or simply watch the light change over Mount Etna.

Detailed Itinerary

Your journey, day by day.

Every day is designed with breathing room. Sleep in, take a detour, linger at lunch — the itinerary flexes around you, not the other way around.

Day 1

Arrival in Palermo

Where Arab domes meet Norman towers and the markets never sleep.

Your private driver meets you at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport and delivers you to your hotel in the historic centre. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to absorb the city at your own pace: wander through the Ballarò or Vucciria street markets where vendors shout over mountains of swordfish and blood oranges, find a café in the Quattro Canti, or try your first arancino from a street vendor. We'll share our curated list of favourite restaurants for your first Sicilian evening.

Private airport transfer to central Palermo
Curated restaurant recommendations for your first evening

4–5★ centrally located hotel, Palermo

Day 2

Palermo Highlights

Nine centuries of power, prayer, and extraordinary mosaics.

Your private guide meets you after breakfast for a morning that reveals Palermo's layered history. Begin at the Norman Palace and its jewel, the Cappella Palatina — every surface covered in Byzantine gold mosaics so fine they shimmer in the candlelight. From there, walk through the historic centre: Villa Bonanno's palm-shaded gardens, the Cathedral with its mix of Arab, Norman, and Gothic elements, the elegant Quattro Canti crossroads, and Piazza Pretoria with its Renaissance fountain. Continue to the twin Arabo-Norman churches of La Martorana and San Cataldo — one dazzling with mosaics, the other austere with its three red domes. The afternoon is free to explore Palermo's street food scene, the puppet theatre tradition, or the quieter corners of the Kalsa quarter.

Norman Palace and Cappella Palatina gold mosaics
Palermo Cathedral, Quattro Canti and Piazza Pretoria
La Martorana and San Cataldo churches
Free afternoon for markets and street food

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Palermo

Day 3

Agrigento, Valley of the Temples & Scala dei Turchi

Twenty-five centuries of stone, and a cliff carved by the sea.

After breakfast and checkout, your private driver takes you south through the golden Sicilian interior to Agrigento. The morning centres on the Valley of the Temples — a UNESCO World Heritage Site where eight Greek temples stand on a ridge above the Mediterranean. The Temple of Concordia, remarkably intact after twenty-five centuries, is considered the best-preserved Greek temple in the world. Your guide brings the ancient colony of Akragas to life: the politics, the rituals, the sheer ambition of a city that rivalled Athens. After the temples, continue to the Scala dei Turchi — dramatic white chalk cliffs rising fifty metres from a turquoise sea, sculpted by wind and waves into something unearthly. Late afternoon, your driver continues east to Syracuse, where you check into your hotel on or near the island of Ortygia.

Valley of the Temples guided tour (UNESCO)
Temple of Concordia — world's best-preserved Greek temple
Scala dei Turchi white chalk cliffs
Evening arrival in Syracuse

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Syracuse

Day 4

Syracuse: Ancient Greece Meets Baroque Sicily

The city where Archimedes shouted Eureka — and the beauty hasn't faded.

Syracuse was once the most powerful city in the Greek world, and the morning's guided tour reveals just how extraordinary it was. Begin at the Neapolis Archaeological Park — the ancient Greek Theatre carved into the hillside, the mysterious Ear of Dionysius cave with its remarkable acoustics, and the vast Roman Amphitheatre. From the mainland, cross onto Ortygia Island, the historic heart of Syracuse and a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Duomo, built directly into the columns of an ancient Greek temple to Athena, is one of the most remarkable buildings in Sicily. Wander the narrow streets, the Baroque piazzas, and the waterfront promenade where the sea shimmers against honey-coloured stone. The afternoon is free to explore Ortygia at leisure — the local market, the Fountain of Arethusa, or a swim from the rocks at the island's southern tip.

Neapolis Park: Greek Theatre, Ear of Dionysius, Roman Amphitheatre
Ortygia Island and the Duomo (UNESCO)
Free afternoon on Ortygia — market, waterfront, swimming

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Syracuse

Day 5

Syracuse to Taormina

From the ancient Greek heartland to the volcano's balcony.

After breakfast and checkout, your private driver takes you north along the Ionian coast toward Taormina — a drive of roughly ninety minutes with Mount Etna growing larger at every turn. Arrive by late morning and check into your hotel, perched on the clifftop with views that stretch from the coast to the volcano's snow-capped summit. Your guide leads a walking tour through the historic centre: the elegant Corso Umberto I with its shops and cafés, the Piazza IX Aprile where the terrace hangs above the sea, and the crown jewel — the Greco-Roman Theatre, one of the most dramatically sited ancient theatres in the world, with Mount Etna framed perfectly by the ruined stage wall. The rest of the day is free to explore: descend to the beach at Isola Bella, browse the boutiques, or simply find a restaurant with a terrace and a view.

Coastal drive with Mount Etna views
Guided walking tour of Taormina's historic centre
Greco-Roman Theatre with Etna and sea panorama
Free afternoon: Isola Bella or Corso Umberto

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Taormina

Day 6

Free Day in Taormina

A day shaped entirely by your curiosity.

Today belongs entirely to you — and Taormina rewards those who take it slowly. Sleep until the church bells make it impossible, then choose your own path. Descend to Isola Bella for a morning swim in water so clear you can count the pebbles on the bottom. Take the cable car to Mazzarò beach. Browse the antique shops and artisan boutiques along Corso Umberto. Find a table at a café in Piazza IX Aprile and spend an hour watching the light change on Etna's summit. For those who want an adventure, we can arrange a half-day Mount Etna excursion or a boat trip along the coast. Or simply do nothing at all — in Taormina, that's a perfectly honourable option. We'll have restaurant recommendations ready for your final Sicilian evening.

Free day — no schedule
Optional: Mount Etna excursion or coastal boat trip
Isola Bella beach and Mazzarò cable car
Final evening in Taormina

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Taormina

Day 7

Departure

Arrivederci, Sicilia.

A final Sicilian breakfast on the terrace, a last look at the sea from your hotel, and perhaps a quick walk through Taormina's quiet morning streets before the town wakes up. Your private driver will collect you from the hotel and transfer you to Catania Airport in plenty of time for your flight. If your departure is later in the day, we can arrange a morning visit to the lively fish market in Catania or simply a late checkout. Your travel specialist remains on call until you're home.

Private transfer to Catania Airport
Optional morning visit to Catania's fish market

Meals: Breakfast

Where You'll Stay

Hand-picked hotels, every night.

We choose properties for character, location, and the kind of service that makes you feel looked after — not just checked in. Every hotel can be swapped for an alternative if you prefer.

Palermo

2 nights

4–5★ centrally located hotel

Historic centre

Walking distance to the Norman Palace, Cathedral, and street markets

Syracuse

2 nights

4–5★ centrally located hotel

Ortygia Island / city centre

On or near the historic island, walking distance to the Duomo and waterfront

Taormina

2 nights

4–5★ centrally located hotel

Historic centre

Clifftop setting with sea and Etna views, steps from Corso Umberto

Hotels shown are indicative of the standard we book. Upon request, we will provide a detailed itinerary with specific hotel options tailored to your preferences and budget.

What's in the Price

Included

6 nights in 4–5★ centrally located hotels (double occupancy)
Daily breakfast at each hotel
Airport meet & greet on arrival
Private airport transfers in Palermo and Catania
Private driver for all excursions and inter-city transfers
Private expert guides in Palermo, Valley of the Temples, Syracuse, and Taormina
Skip-the-line access at major sites
Valley of the Temples guided tour
Syracuse Neapolis Park and Ortygia guided tour
Taormina walking tour with Greco-Roman Theatre
All entrance fees and museum tickets
24/7 travel specialist support throughout your trip
Hamilton & Chase digital travel booklet with restaurant & local recommendations

Not Included

International flights to Palermo / from Catania
Travel insurance (required — we can arrange coverage on request)
Lunches and dinners
Personal expenses (shopping, additional tastings, spa treatments)
Gratuities for guides and drivers (optional but appreciated)
City tax (collected directly by hotels, typically €1–4 per person per night)

Good to Know

This itinerary is a starting point — days can be reordered, towns swapped, and the pace adjusted to suit your group.
Sicily is best explored by private vehicle. Your driver handles all the driving so you can enjoy the scenery.
All guides and experiences are arranged exclusively for your group — never shared with other travellers.
Comfortable walking shoes are essential — archaeological sites and old towns involve uneven terrain.
Flexible booking: adjust or postpone your dates up to 60 days before departure at no charge.

Make It Yours

Optional add-ons & upgrades.

Every trip is different. These extras can be woven into your itinerary — just let your travel specialist know what catches your eye.

Mount Etna half-day excursion

Ascent to Rifugio Sapienza at 2,000m with crater walks and volcanic landscape

From €140 pp

Etna winery tasting

Visit a volcanic-slope winery and taste the distinctive Etna DOC wines

From €95 pp

Sicilian cooking class

Market visit and hands-on cooking — pasta alla Norma, caponata, and cannoli

From €120 pp

Noto & Ragusa Baroque day trip

Full-day excursion from Syracuse to Sicily's UNESCO Baroque masterpieces

From €165 pp

Godfather filming locations tour

Visit Savoca and Forza d'Agrò where the iconic film scenes were shot

From €140 pp

Professional photo session

1-hour portrait session at iconic Sicilian locations with a local photographer

From €350

"Seven days wasn't enough — we're already planning to go back. The Valley of the Temples was unforgettable, Syracuse took us completely by surprise, and Taormina's views of Etna are something we'll never forget. Hamilton & Chase made Sicily feel effortless."

Jennifer & Paul M.

San Francisco, CA · Essence of Sicily, October 2025

Common Questions

Questions about this trip.

When is the best time to visit Sicily?

April–June and September–October are ideal — warm, sunny, and without the intense heat of July–August. Spring brings wildflowers to the temple sites, and autumn is perfect for the grape and olive harvests. Winter is mild and uncrowded.

How does this differ from the Best of Sicily 9-day tour?

The 7-day version focuses on the essential stops — Palermo, the Valley of the Temples, Syracuse, and Taormina. The 9-day adds the Segesta and Erice day trip plus the Mount Etna wine adventure, with more breathing room throughout.

Private Package Journey

Essence of Sicily

7 days / 6 nights

From €2,490

per person

Ready to go?

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More Sicily Tours

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On-trip support is 24/7.

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