Holidays to Sicily meet the brief if you’re after postcard-ready beaches, ancient ruins and unreal food.
Italian island
If you look at a map, Sicily’s the big island in the Med being kicked by Italy’s boot. It’s technically part of it, too, but it’s got a whole personality of its own – and whatever you do, don’t call the locals ‘Italians’. They’re proud to be Sicilian and we don’t blame them. The island’s got a lot of clout and is constantly being name-checked on travel award shortlists. It serves up a mix of volcanic landscapes with textbook beaches, and towns so aesthetic that the Amalfi Coast’s jel, plus ancient ruins that could make Rome quake in its boots. And if one island’s not enough for you, the Aeolian Islands give you seven more to work with.
A bit of everything
The island is like the perfect picky-bits lunch – you get a taste of loads of stuff in one trip. Live the dolce life on dreamy beaches, hike up Mount Etna – Europe’s tallest volcano – and get your ancient history on at the Valley of the Temples. And nothing screams ‘main character’ more than sipping an espresso and soaking up the chic vibes in one of Palermo’s piazzas. Bellissimo.
History for days
With Sicily looking this fine, it’s no wonder everyone’s wanted a slice of it over the centuries. The Greeks, Romans, Normans and Spanish have all left their mark, as well as the island’s OG inhabitants – the Sicanians. Head to Taormina to see a classic Greek amphitheatre, and the Roman version in Siracusa. The city on the east coast was the place to be back in the day, with big names like Plato, the ancient philosopher, showing their face here.
Beaut beaches
Sicily’s coastline had to one-up everyone else too, ofc. It’s got every kind of beach going, from Taormina’s rocky coves and Cefalu’s sandy sweep to boujie lidos in Giardini Naxos. Wherever you pick, you’re guaranteed a backdrop of colourful towns or lush hills, and some spots have their own little islands just off the shore. From Milazzo and Messina, on the north coast, you can catch a ferry over to the Aeolian archipelago and spend the day hopping from island to island.
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Sicily FAQs
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are the sweet spots – warm weather, quieter beaches and perfect conditions for sightseeing and hiking around Mount Etna. July and August bring the hottest temps and the biggest crowds, so be prepared for busier beaches and peak-season prices.
Sicily all about beach holidays! The island has everything from pebbled coves in Taormina to sweeping sandy bays in Cefalù, plus boujie lidos if you want comfy loungers and waiter service. For island-hopping beach days, head to Milazzo or Messina and catch a ferry to the Aeolian Islands.
If you’re travelling from the UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you can visit Italy – and Sicily – for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.
This information is correct at the time of writing. Please make sure you check the FCDO website for the most up-to-date information.
It depends on the type of holiday you’re after. Sicily tends to be more affordable than mainland hotspots like the Amalfi Coast. Street food, buses and many local trattorias are reasonably priced and can keep the cost down. Of course, using taxis to get around, visiting beach lidos with waiter service and eating out in fancy restaurants will drive the price up.
The easiest routes are ferries from Milazzo or Messina, which run all year. Summer also brings extra services from Palermo. Most crossings take two to three hours depending on your destination island, and there are several sailings a day in peak season.
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Sicily travel advice
Passports and Visas
British passport holders don’t need a visa to enter Italy but must have a valid passport. You can check your passport’s valid for Italy using our handy tool. For the most up-to-date passport and visa info, visit the FCDO website.
Don’t forget to arrange your travel money and insurance before you go.
Health and safety
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover you while you’re away. If you’re travelling to the EU and you apply for a card now, you’ll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC. This entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Italian nationals. It won’t, however, cover you for medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or non-urgent treatment. Visit the NHS website for full details on what it covers. You do not need to apply for a GHIC if you already have an EHIC. Your EHIC remains valid in the EU until it expires. An EHIC or GHIC is free of charge. For the latest health and safety information, visit the FCDO website.
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