Sicily in September

aabarnes1

Hi,

Me and the good woman are planning Sicily for 10 days for our 5th anniversary.

Never been, so complete virgins as to what's what.

Would welcome advice on where to stay fairly near to Catania, or not if that's the case.

We would like to be in a substantial size town for all the amenities, as well as close to the beach and the road network for travel.

I have read a couple of posts on Boards from a while ago and they were neither help nor hindrance.

Googling the physical layout of the island is ok, but I would like to hear from people's personal experience.

Thanks in advance.

Lia_lia

We were there a few years ago. Great place! Was there for about 10 days in total. It was in June. We didn't go near Catania and spent most of our time on other islands. So not sure if my experience would help!

Flew into Palermo. Palermo is very busy, crazy drivers. Didn't do much there. From there went to Trapani. Lovely town. I would recommend checking out Erice. Went to Favignana Island for a day. Really loved it there. If we were to do it again we would have stayed there for a few days. Quiet island and lovely beaches. From there went to Lipari island and visited most of the Aeolian islands from there. We climbed Stromboli volcano at night and it erupted! Was really cool. After those islands we flew back from Palermo.

I've heard Taormina is very nice and it's close to Catania.

meeeeh

Is it a beach holiday or do you wish to do sight seeing? We were in Marina di Ragusa with kids and it was lovely for beach holiday. Nobody speaks English though and very often there are no menus available in English.

aabarnes1

We want a bit of both tbh, I like sightseeing and driving around more than herself, she prefers shopping/beaches more than me. But we both love our food so we have to have a happy combination of everything, if you get me.

BailMeOut

If flying into Catania then you should definitely stay in Taormina. Getting from one side of the Island to the another is a long trip so I'd plan everything on the side you are arriving. Toarmina is a brilliant place to base yourself and I'd try find somewhere central in the town to stay. If you need a recommendation on an apartment to rent I know of one that is right in the middle of Taormina so everything walk-able and it has a terrace that looks out onto the ocean. You'll be on the bottom of Mt Etna which is worth touring especially to its lava fields. When we were there it was erupting which was very cool to see. From Taormina it is also a short drive to where the Godfather was made (Savoca) and another place for your list as it still looks exactly as it does from the movie.

Good luck and go hungry as the food is amazing!

Yamanoto

Really enjoyed this series on the Beeb OP, well worth a look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfajWXlnlBw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMbhrc6eJr4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy4A5C2RcjQ

aabarnes1

Thanks very much for the info, brilliant stuff

BrigidH

Sicily is a wonderful island but remember it's the biggest island in the med so don't plan to drive all over! Taormina is a good base, as suggested above. I'd also recommend visiting Savoca and Forza Dagra, both used in Godfather and lovely little hilltop villages. Also visit Castelmola, which overlooks Taormina and Taormina Mare. Views are amazing but be careful on the twisting road! Isola Bella is beautiful as the name suggests but the actual beaches are more sandy elsewhere.
Do visit the Greek theatre....if you decide to go to an event there, bring a cushion as seats are stone!
Taormina is quite upmarket where shopping is concerned but if you go off the main streets you'll find more reasonable restaurants.
Catania itself is worth a look but be cautious, it's a bit like Naples in that you should stay on the tourist track in the city centre. There are some areas you definitely don't want to find yourself in! Also be careful driving to the airport. Have your passport etc in a place not easily grabbed. I've heard of a few occasions where near crashes were staged and then tourists bags being grabbed while occupied. Not trying to scare you but forewarned is forearmed.

If you want to go further afield Piazza Armeria, famous for the Roman Villa and mosaics, is wonderful. So is Agrigento but all places take longer to get to than you might imagine.

Bring good walking shoes/sandals as everywhere is hilly.

Enjoy. You'll have a wonderful time ��

aabarnes1

BrigidH wrote: »

Sicily is a wonderful island but remember it's the biggest island in the med so don't plan to drive all over! Taormina is a good base, as suggested above. I'd also recommend visiting Savoca and Forza Dagra, both used in Godfather and lovely little hilltop villages. Also visit Castelmola, which overlooks Taormina and Taormina Mare. Views are amazing but be careful on the twisting road! Isola Bella is beautiful as the name suggests but the actual beaches are more sandy elsewhere.
Do visit the Greek theatre....if you decide to go to an event there, bring a cushion as seats are stone!
Taormina is quite upmarket where shopping is concerned but if you go off the main streets you'll find more reasonable restaurants.
Catania itself is worth a look but be cautious, it's a bit like Naples in that you should stay on the tourist track in the city centre. There are some areas you definitely don't want to find yourself in! Also be careful driving to the airport. Have your passport etc in a place not easily grabbed. I've heard of a few occasions where near crashes were staged and then tourists bags being grabbed while occupied. Not trying to scare you but forewarned is forearmed.

If you want to go further afield Piazza Armeria, famous for the Roman Villa and mosaics, is wonderful. So is Agrigento but all places take longer to get to than you might imagine.

Bring good walking shoes/sandals as everywhere is hilly.

Enjoy. You'll have a wonderful time ��

Thank you so much, that's great info.

meeeeh

Old part of Raguzza is also nice. And so is Modica apparently.

76544567

Lovely coastal towns all over Sicily.
I wouldnt bother with Catania or Messina, unless you are just going there to get a boat trip.

ScottSF

If you haven't booked the flights yet, considering flying into Catania (or Comiso) and out of Palermo (or Trapani), or vice versa. Then you can stay in both halves of the island. It is a great place for a scenic drive with lots of historic towns along the way. My wife and I spent two weeks starting in Syracusa and winding our way through the Baroque towns of Modica and Ragusa and then drove up the middle to Palermo. I like to look at the Top 10 lists like on TripAdvisor or travel guidebooks to pick out a few things that are a must-see for us. The food was amazing all around too.

stargazer 68

Gorgeous place. Definitely recommend Erice - we parked and got the lift up and then stayed up there for the evening. Eating dinner in a restaurant outside balancing on the cobblestones - fantastic
Another couple of small towns - Castellemere De Golfo, and Scopello. Oceans 12 (11?) was filmed around there.

zig

I figured there was no point starting a new thread.

Im wondering does anyone know that if I booked a trip could I reliably see eruptions/lava at Stromboli? Thats really the only reason Id be going to be honest!
Cheers!

springhill6

aabarnes1 wrote: »

Hi,

Me and the good woman are planning Sicily for 10 days for our 5th anniversary.


Thanks in advance.

Excellent suggestions on Sicily. We as group of Art History fans travel to Italy each year, and just book a city or two to explore. We went to Sicily a few years ago, and are still talking about it in awe. Due to it’s size we chose the comfort of organised tour, The Travel Department 2 centre holiday at Palermo and Taormina - Naxos Beach, excellent hotels, brought us to Piazza Armeria, Taormina, Syracuse etc. It did not go to Agrigento, a must. So one day we booked a coach for the day trip, from Taormina, and enjoyed the day at this valley of the temples. Hotels were excellent, and Taormina Hotel had fine beach and pool. Yes , a must , visit Castelmoro at top of Taormina, to see Etna lighting up the sky. Enjoy. Excursions this September by The Travel Department, and Riviera Travel.

76544567

zig wrote: »

I figured there was no point starting a new thread.

Im wondering does anyone know that if I booked a trip could I reliably see eruptions/lava at Stromboli? Thats really the only reason Id be going to be honest!
Cheers!

The answer is yes.
You can walk right up to the crater and look at it.
mY advice is stay the night and go to the crater after dark, with a guide.
Going on a day trip won't give you enough time to get up and down

please helpThank YOU

Sicily would love go there Italian guy I know told me beautiful paradise what the cheapest way to get there?

endofrainbow

Having been there twice (first time backpacked across the north of the island to Trapani - second time stayed in Lettojanni, just north of Taormina), I would recommend basing yourself in somewhere like Cefalu (fabulous beach) but not far from Palermo.

Erice is well worth a visit and we stayed in a little beach town called San Vito lo Capo. Trapani has interesting boat trips to the offshore islands.

Taormina was very upmarket and quite expensive, in relation to the rest of the island.

Temperatures will still be very hot in September , expect 30C with maybe a couple of thunderstorms.

please helpThank YOU

endofrainbow wrote: »

Having been there twice (first time backpacked across the north of the island to Trapani - second time stayed in Lettojanni, just north of Taormina), I would recommend basing yourself in somewhere like Cefalu (fabulous beach) but not far from Palermo.

Erice is well worth a visit and we stayed in a little beach town called San Vito lo Capo. Trapani has interesting boat trips to the offshore islands.

Taormina was very upmarket and quite expensive, in relation to the rest of the island.

Temperatures will still be very hot in September , expect 30C with maybe a couple of thunderstorms.

love to go there Sicily whats the best way to get there from Ireland ?

endofrainbow

please helpThank YOU wrote: »

love to go there Sicily whats the best way to get there from Ireland ?

by plane

BailMeOut

zig wrote: »

I figured there was no point starting a new thread.

Im wondering does anyone know that if I booked a trip could I reliably see eruptions/lava at Stromboli? Thats really the only reason Id be going to be honest!
Cheers!

Stromboli or Etna?

76544567

BailMeOut wrote: »

Stromboli or Etna?

I thought he said stromboli.
That's erupting all the time.
Have to get lucky with Etna.

BailMeOut

76544567 wrote: »

I thought he said stromboli.
That's erupting all the time.
Have to get lucky with Etna.

Can you see Stromboli from Sicily or so you get to Stromboli from Sicily? Seems like a long way away?

Etna is erupting right now.

76544567

BailMeOut wrote: »

Can you see Stromboli from Sicily or so you get to Stromboli from Sicily? Seems like a long way away?

Etna is erupting right now.

You get a boat to it from Sicily.
Take a couple of hours.
Even when Etna is erupting you won't get near it.
But with stromboli it's erupting all the time and you can get very close to it.
Guaranteed to see explosions up close every day, better at night. But as i said, stay the night for the best experience.
Look up stromboli videos on YouTube, from both the crater and the see. It's impressive.

Yamanoto

76544567 wrote: »

Even when Etna is erupting you won't get near it.

Just this week, a BBC crew & tourists appear to have got too close for comfort.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-wyo7lmjEI

76544567

Yamanoto wrote: »

Just this week, a BBC crew & tourists appear to have got too close for comfort.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-wyo7lmjEI

Don't be expecting that when you book your hols to Sicily though.

Belt

I'm going too in September. We are staying for a week, flying in to Palermo and out of Catania. I was thinking of the below itinerary:

- Palermo x 1 day
- Ceaflu x 1
- Vulcano or Lipari x 2
- Taormina x 2
- Catania x 1

Is there anywhere else between Palermo and Catania that anyone could recommend or might be better use of our time?

Has anyone experience of the Aeolian islands? Not sure which island to stay on

dizzyn

Belt wrote: »

I'm going too in September. We are staying for a week, flying in to Palermo and out of Catania. I was thinking of the below itinerary:

- Palermo x 1 day
- Ceaflu x 1
- Vulcano or Lipari x 2
- Taormina x 2
- Catania x 1

Is there anywhere else between Palermo and Catania that anyone could recommend or might be better use of our time?

Has anyone experience of the Aeolian islands? Not sure which island to stay on

I'd go to more than one island, we went to vulcano and lipari in the one day, absolutely beautiful! Stromboli is supposed to be a good trip too. Lipari is quite small, but again beautiful. I would have loved to have stayed overnight in either island.

Have you looked at going up Etna? Really cool experience!

Belt

dizzyn wrote: »

I'd go to more than one island, we went to vulcano and lipari in the one day, absolutely beautiful! Stromboli is supposed to be a good trip too. Lipari is quite small, but again beautiful. I would have loved to have stayed overnight in either island.

Have you looked at going up Etna? Really cool experience!

If I was going for an extra couple of days, i' d probably fit in an extra island, will probably do a day trip to the one we don't stay on anyway! Yep, hope to go to Etna one of the days we are in Taormina

Stephen15

Sicily is beautiful and people are really friendly just like in Ireland. I recommend Palermo and stay in Mondello a seaside town with regular buses to Palermo lovely city and exquisite food especially Arachini.

BailMeOut

Belt wrote: »

I'm going too in September. We are staying for a week, flying in to Palermo and out of Catania. I was thinking of the below itinerary:

- Palermo x 1 day
- Ceaflu x 1
- Vulcano or Lipari x 2
- Taormina x 2
- Catania x 1

Is there anywhere else between Palermo and Catania that anyone could recommend or might be better use of our time?

Has anyone experience of the Aeolian islands? Not sure which island to stay on

Add a day trip to Savoca while you are in Taormina. It's where they filmed the Godfather and well worth the short drive.

zig

Hey all,

so im going to Stromboli next week.

I have booked a tour of the volcano for the Thursday , it leaves a 5pm but am arriving on the Wednesday and not leaving until the Saturday morning!

2 questions:

1. I am staying in Ginostra and looking at the map it looks impossible to get to the other side of the island. I cant find much info online, Im a little worried because the hike leaves the other side and I am pretty sure we arrive back late at night in the dark, only because the tour starts at 5pm I have no idea how Id get back to Ginostra for sleep. What is transport like between the two areas? Do boats/taxi boats run regularly?

2. From looking at the pics it looks like there is NOTHING there. I am thinking maybe I have opted to stay there too long. Even arriving Wednesday evening I have no idea what Im going to do and if there are no boats I am stuck on the Ginostra side (I think?). Im looking for a relaxing trip to be fair (outside of the hike) but am I wasting the opportunity of seeing more of Sicily? Is there anything to do there in the evenings or anything?

There aint even tiny beaches by the looks of it!

Im flying in to Catania Tuesday night and flying out Saturday evening so its pretty much all go really but if you've any suggestions to change Im all ears.

BailMeOut

zig wrote: »

Hey all,

so im going to Stromboli next week.

I have booked a tour of the volcano for the Thursday , it leaves a 5pm but am arriving on the Wednesday and not leaving until the Saturday morning!

2 questions:

1. I am staying in Ginostra and looking at the map it looks impossible to get to the other side of the island. I cant find much info online, Im a little worried because the hike leaves the other side and I am pretty sure we arrive back late at night in the dark, only because the tour starts at 5pm I have no idea how Id get back to Ginostra for sleep. What is transport like between the two areas? Do boats/taxi boats run regularly?

2. From looking at the pics it looks like there is NOTHING there. I am thinking maybe I have opted to stay there too long. Even arriving Wednesday evening I have no idea what Im going to do and if there are no boats I am stuck on the Ginostra side (I think?). Im looking for a relaxing trip to be fair (outside of the hike) but am I wasting the opportunity of seeing more of Sicily? Is there anything to do there in the evenings or anything?

There aint even tiny beaches by the looks of it!

Im flying in to Catania Tuesday night and flying out Saturday evening so its pretty much all go really but if you've any suggestions to change Im all ears.

is this not what you want?

http://www.directferries.ie/ginostra_stromboli_ferry.htm

zig

Cheers, but they'd be more like proper ferries to get to and from the island etc. I am literally talking about trying to get around the island itself which is tiny. I did a bit of digging and found this http://wikitravel.org/en/Stromboli , I think I might be able to walk it, wont be fun after a day of hiking!

"Ginostra, though steep, is also accessible by foot."

BailMeOut

zig wrote: »

Cheers, but they'd be more like proper ferries to get to and from the island etc. I am literally talking about trying to get around the island itself which is tiny. I did a bit of digging and found this http://wikitravel.org/en/Stromboli , I think I might be able to walk it, wont be fun after a day of hiking!

"Ginostra, though steep, is also accessible by foot."

check again. My link is the "Ginostra to Stromboli Ferry". Says it takes 10 mins and runs 4 times per day.

zig

BailMeOut wrote: »

check again. My link is the "Ginostra to Stromboli Ferry". Says it takes 10 mins and runs 4 times per day.

Sorry , you're right. I dont know what I was doing there when I started clicking, I never bothered to click the map and select the proper routes when it said "get price". Ive just booked my way to the other side of the island. I had contacted the B&B in the mean time and she said I will need to book a private boat back!

Thanks for that

please helpThank YOU

zig wrote: »

Cheers, but they'd be more like proper ferries to get to and from the island etc. I am literally talking about trying to get around the island itself which is tiny. I did a bit of digging and found this http://wikitravel.org/en/Stromboli , I think I might be able to walk it, wont be fun after a day of hiking!

"Ginostra, though steep, is also accessible by foot."

Wow Cool
.

RebelButtMunch

I'm just back from a eurocamp trip to El Bahira. North west coast. Absolutely stunning place. Took a day trip to palmero but stayed outside there mostly. If anyone has any questions about the place, fire ahead.

scout353

Went to Sicily two years ago and loved it so much we are returning this summer. Ryanair now fly into Comiso in the south east which is perfect. Stayed in Marina Di Ragusa for the first visit and really enjoyed it. The choice of restaurants in the village is limited but don't let that put you off. We travelled into Ragusa itself which is a beautiful city - particularly the old town. Some fantastic restaurants there.

While in Marina Di Ragusa we spent our time on the beach at the Margarita Beach Club. They do deals on sunbeds and have a nice restaurant there too.

We have decided to spend our first week this year in Ragusa and may do a few day trips. Our second week will be in Avola on the coast.

Another poster mentioned the lack of menus in English which wasn't our experience and the people were fantastic. One restaurant in Ragusa - Quattro Gatti is worth a visit. We ordered way too much food and when we couldn't even taste some of the dishes, the owner took the cost off the bill! Now that's service.

Flying into Cosmiso leaves just about 25km to Ragusa and a similar distance to Marina Di Ragusa on the coast.

We rented a car and had no issues anywhere.

Enjoy!

zig

Just at the airport now getting ready to go home !! What a trip . Stromboli far exceeded my expectations, huge explosions and lava everywhere !! Great trip overall too! Stayed in Ginostra , the small village the other side of Stromboli , felt completely away from it all for a few days.

Daisy78

Also going in September! We are thinking of basing ourselves in Taormina and doing day trips. Syracuse also looks like it might be worth a visit. The thought of driving over there has me a little worried, are the drivers as crazy as the mainlanders?

Stephen15

Daisy78 wrote: »

Also going in September! We are thinking of basing ourselves in Taormina and doing day trips. Syracuse also looks like it might be worth a visit. The thought of driving over there has me a little worried, are the drivers as crazy as the mainlanders?

In cities like Palermo, Catania and Mesina yes in more rural parts it probably isin't as bad as theres far less traffic on roads. I didn't drive myself but saw what the roads looked like while on a train from Palermo to Agrigento and they looked fairly quiet however I've heard the roads are in poor nick and signposts are bad. The trains I took seemed decent enough.

I stayed in Mondello which is a seaside suburb of Palermo about 10km from the city centre and really liked it. Theres regular buses to and from Palermo city centre. Did a few daytrips to Cefalu a nice seaside town which been compared to a more laid back cheaper version of Taormina and Agrigento which I wouldn't reccomend as I thought the town was a bit dead and the temples were a little disapointing.

RebelButtMunch

Daisy78 wrote: »

Also going in September! We are thinking of basing ourselves in Taormina and doing day trips. Syracuse also looks like it might be worth a visit. The thought of driving over there has me a little worried, are the drivers as crazy as the mainlanders?

I found driving outside Palermo to be fine. Worst thing about it was people driving up your arse trying to overtake.
Driving in Palermo however was something else... ANY gap on the road is immediately filled with either a car, bike, cyclist or pedestrian. Crazy stuff, but organised crazy. No one lost their cool when I made a few last minute manoeuvres. Small car is way better than a big one for these trips.

Samuel T. Cogley

Just back and hoped to come across this thread again. Covered about 1000Kms so not massive but bloody hell it was an experience.

Actually they are very good drivers, amazing hazard perception but you'd bloody well want it. We started off near Catania (flying into Cosimo) and went up to Palermo and back. This thread and the drive around the ring roads of Palermo made us decide Palermo was for another trip! The gap filling is fairly laid back but very 'different'. Road markings seem to be a bit of a luxury and in many cases people just made up how many lanes there actually were.

Firstly the Autostrade (motorway) - Green = main road, Blue is not motorways. Fairly civilised apart from the speed limits vary between 80-130 and absolutely no one pays any attention to them what so ever. If you are in the overtaking lane (don't make the mistake of driving in the outside lane like people do here), they will tailgate you and I mean an inch off your back bumper until you move. We noticed two major accidents and one prang in the week we were there on the motorway. Also joining and leaving the motorway is actually a lot easier than the three car lengths (if you're lucky) of slip road would have you think. People know how to merge.

In the towns they actually drive a bit slower than we do, well some do, and with good reason, it's impossible to see anything due to the parking so people are actually very laid back if you pull out a bit to see, or even just go. They tend to define 'gap' very differently. Make sure you are adept at parallel parking - on hills. Make sure to use your indicators!

Also once you're on the main country routes (the blue routes) speed limits (20 - 90) are even more irrelevant than then Autostrade. There would be times I was in a 50, doing 80 still holding up traffic. I found trips on the blue routes actually quite frustrating as it was impossible for me to drive fast enough and cope with the extremely narrow roads which twist and turn, and it's not uncommon to hit a near 180 degree hairpin.

All in all I found a polite aggressiveness to sum it up nicely. Very glad we had the car as we hit Syracuse (google parking paradise) and mount Etna, and stayed in some not-so-touristy places which were pretty cheap. Oh I also notice petrol was much cheaper in the self service place vs. serviced, but maybe that was a one off. Two wing mirror clatters (one my fault the other completely the other guy's fault) but they didn't notice when I handed the car back and had third party excess insurance anyway.

Edit: If you're staying in Toarmina - I strongly suggest avoid the scenic route out. Tried to get to Toarmina from Mascalucia via the scenic route on the first full day, and it was not fun, locals trying to get places, weekenders, stalls in the road etc. I'd also suggest if you're mobile, maybe come out of the main tourist areas like Toarmina and save some money - airBnB etc.

mean gene

meeeeh wrote: »

Is it a beach holiday or do you wish to do sight seeing? We were in Marina di Ragusa with kids and it was lovely for beach holiday. Nobody speaks English though and very often there are no menus available in English.

Ian Rush used say that about the Italians allright:)

RebelButtMunch

On the petrol situation, yes it's much cheaper to go to an automated machine, but the ones I saw only took italian bank cards, or cash.

Samuel T. Cogley

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

On the petrol situation, yes it's much cheaper to go to an automated machine, but the ones I saw only took italian bank cards, or cash.

Irish Visa used no problems for me. Other than me being a complete thick and jamming it in the receipt slot and having to fish it out with a key.

Belt

OP did you go on your trip yet? Heading myself tomorrow - heading to Cefalu and Taormina for 6 days

Planning a trip to Sicily myself in July. I've the dates entered into Google flights and they are €319 for the two of us with Ryanair.

Just wondering how this price compared to others around the same time of year. Should I wait for a further reduction or is this the lowest they will go?

Thanks

BailMeOut

TheTorment wrote: »

Planning a trip to Sicily myself in July. I've the dates entered into Google flights and they are €319 for the two of us with Ryanair.

Just wondering how this price compared to others around the same time of year. Should I wait for a further reduction or is this the lowest they will go?

Thanks

€319 for one or two return flights in July? If for both then that seems very cheap.

BailMeOut

BailMeOut wrote: »

€319 for one or two return flights in July? If for both then that seems very cheap.

Yes for both. Bags and seats etc not included.