Sicily in 7, 10 and 15 days: what to see and what to eat
Complete itineraries combining sea, culture and traditions with NCC transfers and private TDS Transfer tours.
Practical guide to planning a tailor-made trip to Sicily, stress-free, with comfortable transfers to and from airports, cities and villages.
Sicily in 7, 10 or 15 days: what to see and what to eat – TDS tips
Sicily is a large and diverse island: art cities, archaeological sites, villages, sea, volcanoes and iconic cuisine. With TDS Transfer private NCC transfers and private tours, you can avoid driving stress and parking issues, optimize travel times and choose tailor-made itineraries (families, couples, trekking, sea, food & wine).
How to plan your trip (choosing a “base” + transfers)
Practical tip: in Sicily it works very well to split your trip into 2–3 bases (e.g. Palermo/Trapani + Catania/Taormina + Syracuse/Val di Noto), taking daily excursions with a private driver.
Main arrival airports: Palermo (PMO) and Catania (CTA); Trapani (TPS) and Comiso (CIY) are also excellent depending on the area.
Sicily 7-day itinerary (classic “best of”)
Ideal for: first-time visitors, a fast-paced but complete experience.
Day 1 – Cefalù
- Cefalù between historic village and beach
- What to eat: fresh fish, granita/gelato.
Day 2 – Palermo – Monreale
- Historic center (markets, churches, squares), evening street food
- Monreale Cathedral and panoramic view
What to eat: pane e panelle, arancine/arancini, cannoli.
Day 3 – Trapani + Erice + Salt Pans (sunset)
- Medieval Erice
- Trapani
- Nubia/Paceco salt pans at sunset
What to eat: busiate with Trapani pesto, almond pastries.
Day 4 – Segesta + Scopello
- Segesta Temple and Theatre
- Scopello (village + sea stacks)
What to eat: pane cunzato (local style), tuna.
Day 5 – Zingaro Nature Reserve + San Vito Lo Capo
- Coves, hiking trails and sea
- Evening in San Vito Lo Capo
What to eat: fish couscous.
Day 6 – Agrigento (Valley of the Temples)
- Archaeology: Valley of the Temples (full half-day)
What to eat: pistachio, ricotta, traditional desserts.
Day 7 – Catania (or departure)
- Baroque historic center
- Fish market (if time allows)
- Flight/transfer
What to eat: pasta alla Norma, granita.
Recommended TDS formula (7 days): airport transfer + 2/3 private daily tours (west) + one long transfer (west → east or vice versa) to optimize travel time.
Sicily 10-day itinerary (more sea + iconic highlights)
Ideal for: a slower pace, more beach time and greater variety.
Days 1–5
Follow the 7-day itinerary up to the Zingaro/San Vito day.
Day 6 – Egadi Islands (Favignana or Levanzo)
- Full-day boat excursion from Trapani
What to eat: tuna and seafood specialties.
Day 7 – Agrigento + Scala dei Turchi (optional)
- Valley of the Temples
- Scala dei Turchi (if desired)
Day 8 – Piazza Armerina + transfer east
- Villa Romana del Casale (mosaics)
What to eat: inland cuisine (cheeses, baked pasta).
Day 9 – Mount Etna + Catania
- Mount Etna (easy excursion or trekking)
- Evening in Catania
What to eat: arancino/a, pasta alla Norma.
Day 10 – Taormina (and departure)
- Ancient Theatre
- Sea views
- Final relaxation
Recommended TDS formula (10 days): a “two-base” itinerary (Palermo/Trapani + Catania/Taormina) with inter-base transfers and daily tours.
Sicily 15-day itinerary (complete, balanced, unhurried)
Ideal for: travelers who want to include Baroque cities, volcanoes, islands and nature at a sustainable pace.
Recommended macro-structure
- West (6 days): Palermo/Trapani + sea and nature reserves
- Central (2 days): Agrigento + Piazza Armerina
- East (5 days): Catania/Etna + Taormina
- Southeast (2 days): Syracuse + Val di Noto
Day 1 – Palermo
Day 2 – Palermo + Monreale
Day 3 – Cefalù (beach/village) or relax
Day 4 – Trapani + Erice + Salt Pans
Day 5 – Segesta + Scopello
Day 6 – Zingaro + San Vito Lo Capo
Day 7 – Egadi Islands (Favignana/Levanzo)
Day 8 – Agrigento (Valley of the Temples)
Day 9 – Piazza Armerina (Villa Romana del Casale)
Day 10 – Catania (historic center)
Day 11 – Mount Etna (tour/trekking) + tastings
Day 12 – Taormina + Isola Bella
Day 13 – Beach day (Giardini Naxos / Riviera) or relax
Day 14 – Syracuse (Ortigia)
Day 15 – Val di Noto (Noto/Modica/Ragusa) + departure
Recommended TDS formula (15 days): “grand tour” with a private driver on alternating days (or full service), long-distance transfers handled by TDS and free days for beach and relaxation.
What to see in Sicily (quick “must-see” list)
- Palermo, Monreale, Cefalù
- Trapani, Erice, Salt Pans, Egadi Islands
- Segesta, Scopello, Zingaro Nature Reserve, San Vito Lo Capo
- Agrigento (Valley of the Temples)
- Villa Romana del Casale
- Catania, Mount Etna, Taormina
- Syracuse (Ortigia) and Val di Noto
What to eat in Sicily (by area)
West (Palermo/Trapani)
- Fish couscous
- Busiate with Trapani pesto
- Pane cunzato, caponata, grilled fish
Central Sicily (Agrigento/Enna)
- Cheeses and ricotta
- Baked pasta dishes
- Traditional desserts
East (Catania/Etna/Taormina)
- Pasta alla Norma
- Seafood specialties
- Granita
Classic desserts
- Cannoli
- Cassata
- Almond pastries
Why choose TDS Transfer for a Sicily tour
- Stress-free transfers to/from airports and between cities
- Customized private tours (sea, villages, cultural sites, food & wine)
- Flexible schedules, photo stops, luggage handling
- Ideal solution for families, couples and small groups
Discover private transfers and tours at www.tdstransfer.it
FAQ – Sicily in 7, 10 and 15 days
How many days do you need to visit Sicily?
It depends on the type of trip.
- 7 days are ideal for a first overview of the main highlights.
- 10 days allow you to add beach time and UNESCO sites.
- 15 days offer a complete and relaxed tour of the entire island.
What to see in Sicily in 7 days?
In 7 days it is recommended to focus on one area or a west–east itinerary: Palermo, Cefalù, Trapani, Erice, Segesta, Zingaro Nature Reserve, Agrigento and Catania are the most requested stops.
What is the ideal Sicily itinerary for 10 days?
A 10-day itinerary combines culture, sea and nature: western Sicily (Palermo, Trapani, Zingaro), Agrigento, Mount Etna and Taormina, with one or two days of relaxation.
What does a complete 15-day Sicily tour include?
A 15-day trip allows you to explore western, central and eastern Sicily, including villages, archaeological sites, islands, Mount Etna and Val di Noto, without rushing and with personalized stops.
Is it better to rent a car or use private NCC transfers in Sicily?
Private NCC transfers with a driver are often the best solution to:
- avoid stress and parking issues
- optimize travel times
- move comfortably between airports, cities and attractions
TDS Transfer offers tailor-made solutions for every itinerary.
Which airport is best to start a Sicily tour?
It depends on the itinerary:
- Palermo or Trapani for western Sicily
- Catania for eastern Sicily
With TDS Transfer you can arrive at one airport and depart from another.
What is the best time to visit Sicily?
- Spring and autumn: ideal for cultural visits and full tours
- Summer: perfect for the sea (plan transfers early in the morning)
- Winter: suitable for art cities and gastronomy, less crowded
Which typical dishes should you try during a Sicily tour?
Must-try dishes include arancine/arancini, pasta alla Norma, fish couscous, busiate, cannoli, cassata, fresh seafood and local wines such as Marsala and Etna DOC.
Can you customize an itinerary in Sicily?
Yes. With TDS Transfer you can create a tailor-made itinerary based on available days and interests (sea, culture, food & wine, nature), for couples, families or small groups.
Is Sicily suitable for traveling with children?
Yes, especially with a well-organized itinerary. Families appreciate the sea, villages, short transfers and private tours that avoid long waits and complex logistics.
How can you organize a stress-free Sicily tour?
The ideal solution is to rely on private transfers and organized tours: TDS Transfer manages transport, schedules and logistics, allowing you to enjoy Sicily in total relaxation.
Useful information recommended by TDS
Institutional resources and official websites recommended for planning itineraries, schedules, tickets and visits in Sicily.
- Visit Sicily – Official tourism portal of Sicily
Official information on itineraries, experiences, events and destinations. - Archaeological Parks – Sicilian Region
Institutional sites with information on archaeological parks, opening hours and tickets. - Segesta Archaeological Park – Sicilian Region
Official information on the temple, theatre and services. - Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park – Agrigento
Official institutional portal of the park. - Syracuse Archaeological Park – Sicilian Region
Official information for planning visits to the Syracuse archaeological area. - Villa Romana del Casale – Official website
Opening hours, tickets and visits in Piazza Armerina. - Stagnone Islands Nature Reserve (Marsala) – Sicilian Region
Official regional information sheet of the reserve. - Mozia (Motya) – Whitaker Foundation
Information about the island and museum. - Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area – Official website
Information on rules and permitted activities. - Mount Etna Park – Official website
Trails, maps and official notices. - UNESCO World Heritage – Mount Etna
Official UNESCO page dedicated to Mount Etna. - UNESCO World Heritage – Val di Noto (Late Baroque Towns)
Official UNESCO page about the Val di Noto site.