Italy / Sicily 

A charming wine bar in the heart of old Taormina, Al Grappolo D’uva serves up delicious local wines showcasing Etna’s unique terroir in a charming setting with a neat outdoor seating area.

Serving delicious food in an incredible setting on the cliffs high above Taormina, the restaurant at the Hotel Villa Ducale is a great option for dinner during your time in Taormina.

Sicily has a nascent craft brewing scene, but you wouldn’t necessarily know it from the number of places that offer local beers (especially on draft). Sikaru’ Beerstro is an exception. It offers a number of local craft brews on tap as well as a number of bottles. It’s got a nice vibe, and the bartenders are friendly and helpful.

This is Noto’s most famous gelato place. It’s a 124-year old cafe with a fourth-generation owner who serves the best almond-milk granitas you will ever try. Do yourself a favor and get the cappuccino ghiacciato, which is iced coffee with the almond milk granita.

Most authorities agree that the debate over the best gelato on Sicily is between Caffè Costanzo and Caffè Sicilia, which is right around the corner. We really like Caffè Costanzo, though we didn’t get a chance to try Sicilia. We highly recommend the almond granita.

This is an excellent restaurant located in Syracuse’s most beautiful square, Piazza Duomo. Dine with some of the prettiest views in all of Italy, especially as the sky darkens and the monuments light up. Opt for the local fish, orata or merluzzo, and enjoy the ever changing menu.

Delicious pizza, as well as a decent selection of Sicilian craft beer and wine, on Ortigia’s charming Via Cavour.

This place, a historic trattoria in Palermo, is popular with locals. They have excellent seafood options, though also great Italian classics. Definitely try their caponata and stuffed sardines. Closed Monday.

A nice spot for lunch or dinner on Cefalù’s bustling Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi and conveniently located near the end of the hike to Rocca di Cefalu. We had salads and pizzas, all of which were great.

A bar and gelateria, Naselli offers outdoor seating in the heart of Castelbuono’s main square.

Barrel 44 is a neat beer bar in the heart of Palermo. It offers a large selection of bottles, including several interesting local craft brews. The atmosphere is pleasant, and there’s a small outdoor seating area.

Good pizza and a wide selection of Sicilian wines.

La Lanterna has a wonderful selection of locally sourced meats, cheese, and mushrooms. They have a wide selection of antipasta that you should fully enjoy.

A fantastic bakery located on the cloisters of Chiesa di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria. Make sure to stop by here and try one of their fantastic, incredibly fresh cannolis.

A great option for gelato in Syracuse, with more flavors than most other Sicilian gelaterias; also has great granita (though we don’t like it quite as much as Gelateria Fiordilatte).

The best gelato in Palermo. Well worth a stop (or two) when you’re in town.

A charming restaurant in Sicily’s Ortigia neighborhood that fuses French and Sicilian cuisines. We loved the fish and meat dishes, as well as the salads and the wine. There’s a nice outdoor seating area in alley next to the restaurant.

A cozy wine bar in Taormina offering a small selection of local wines.

Good spot for pizza and salads accompanied by a substantial wine list.

Neat spot across from the Cathedral of Syracuse offering delicious creamy gelato; this is our favorite gelato place in Syracuse. The seating spills out onto the Piazza Duomo, so it’s a great place to nurse your dessert while people watching or enjoying the beautiful buildings surrounding the square.

A nice spot on the water in Cefalu for drinks and snacks.

Ortigia’s waterfront is chock full of cookie cutter bars blaring music and offering overpriced drinks, but Marina Cafe is one of the better options if you want a mellower atmosphere. The drinks still may be a little pricey, but its outdoor seating is comfy and offers a pleasant spot to sip a cocktail and take in the sights.

One of Sicily’s best-known tourist attractions, this Norman cathedral sits atop a hill above Palermo, the island’s capital and largest city. While it’s definitely worth a visit, we didn’t find it quite as impressive as Capella Palantina.

Galleria Bellomo showcases a local artist’s paintings on papyrus, which grows locally. The art is fantastic, and the store is worth a visit just to browse the paintings or a spot to get a special Sicilian souvenir.

The ruins of an ancient Greek city on a picturesque ridge in central Sicily, Morgantina is an active archaeological site. That means it’s well-preserved, but visitors unfortunately can’t walk through the main town area with the agora, theater, market, and some of the larger houses. However, you can see the ruins from a hill that gives you a very good overview of this ancient town, and it’s possible to walk through some of the outlying homes.

This Norman-era church in Palermo doesn’t look like much from the outside—it was founded in 1143, but a rather uninspiring baroque facade was added in 1588. However, the interior is worth a visit. The highlight is the remarkably well-preserved original mosaics, likely created by Greek artists from Constantinople.

A beautiful baroque church in Palermo. Highlights include the old convent and terrace with views of the city.

Palermo’s massive cathedral is worth stopping by if you’re in the area, but it pales in comparison to the intimate beauty of Capella Palantina or the grandeur of Monreale Cathedral.

The Nicolaci Palace is a lovely building from the 18th century that from the outside boasts iron balconies and looms impressively over the street. Inside you’ll get to wander up a marble staircase and into rooms with richly frescoed ceilings, papered walls, and period furniture. Catch a view from one of the many windows and […]

Remarkable historical site containing an ancient quarry, as well as a Greek theater and a Roman amphitheater. We highly recommend hiring a guide, as someone who can tell you in detail about the sites adds a lot to the experience.

The fortress at the southern tip of Ortigia offers beautiful views of the surroundings ocean as well as interesting historical exhibits.

Syracuse’s archaeological museum contains a large collection of prehistoric, Greek, and Roman artifacts. The collection is extensive but not as impressive of some of Sicily’s other historical sites. It’s worth a visit nonetheless.

This is Palermo’s bustling historic open-air street market where you’ll find an amazing array of exotic vegetables and fruit, meat, cheese, tantalizing street food, and goods from both Italy and North Africa. While each of the four historic quarters of Palermo have their own market, the Ballaro is the most famous.

The Catacombs of San Giovanni are a Christian burial site, likely used from the third through sixth centuries. The catacombs are interesting to explore, and they offer excellent examples of several different types of burial. However, we found the tour somewhat overwhelming.

This beautiful park in Taormina across from the Teatro Antico di Taormina are worth a visit for peaceful walks through the gardens and stunning views of the coast and Mount Etna. Admission is free.

Agua Beach Resort, about a twenty minute drive from Noto and just south of the Vendicari Nature Reserve, Agua Beach Resort is a great place to spend an afternoon, or even a full day. The beach is beautiful, and the water will feel wonderful on a hot day.

Syracuse’s cathedral is remarkable more for its history than its decor. The cathedral was built on the site of a Greek temple whose columns are still visible as elements of the structure’s wall. It’s worth a visit to see that alone.

In the heart of Siracusa’s charming Oritigia neighborhood lies the ruins of a Greek temple to the god Apollo, dating from the sixth century B.C. Some of the foundation and stairs, as well as much of one wall and a few columns, still stand.

Castelbuono’s castle dates to 1316 and is very well-restored. The main attraction is the Cappella di Sant’Anna, dating to around 1683, with its beautiful stucco decorations. The castle also houses an art museum that’s largely skippable.

Truly one of the more unusual attractions in Sicily, the Manna Museum will teach more than you thought there was to know about manna, a sweet substance made from the sap of ash trees. The museum is quite basic, with simple exhibits, and you’ll be offered free samples of cookies made with manna, rather than sugar, and a liqueur made from manna.