Sicily in 10 days

The 7-day loop, minus the rush

Ten days takes the same route as Sicily in 7 days and gives it room to breathe: an extra day around Syracuse to properly reach Ragusa Ibla and Modica, and a full dedicated day on Etna rather than a rushed half-day squeeze. If you have even more time, Sicily in two weeks adds the west coast and a genuine Aeolian Islands stop to this same backbone.

Best for	Second Sicily trips, or first trips where you’d rather go deep than fast
Getting around	Rental car
Total budget guide	Around 1,400-1,900 € per person for ten days, excluding flights
Car needed	Yes

Day 1 — Palermo

Morning and afternoon: The Cappella Palatina, Quattro Canti, and Ballarò market for street food.

Evening: Early night before tomorrow’s drive.

Day 2 — Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples

Morning: Drive to Agrigento, about 2 hours. Book a guided Valley of the Temples and old town tour.

Afternoon: Budget three to four hours for the full site.

Evening: Overnight in Agrigento.

Day 3 — The drive to Syracuse

Morning: Drive to Syracuse, about 2 hours 45 minutes — a travel day. If you have the energy: detour via Piazza Armerina for the Villa Romana del Casale’s Roman mosaics, adding roughly an hour.

Afternoon: Settle into Ortigia and note its ZTL zone.

Evening: A first walk to Piazza Duomo.

Day 4 — Syracuse’s Neapolis park

Morning: The Greek theatre and the Ear of Dionysius. Book a guided tour of Ortigia and the Neapolis archaeological park.

Afternoon: A slower walk through Ortigia itself — the Fountain of Arethusa, the old Jewish quarter.

Evening: Dinner near, not directly on, Piazza Duomo.

Day 5 — Noto

Morning: Drive to Noto, about 40 minutes, for the Val di Noto’s showpiece Baroque Corso.

Afternoon: Walk the Corso twice if the heat allows — once at midday, once in late-afternoon light.

Evening: Drive back to Ortigia.

Day 6 — Ragusa Ibla and Modica

Morning: Drive to Modica, about an hour and 20 minutes from Syracuse, for its ravine-set Baroque streets and cold-processed chocolate tradition. Book a guided Modica chocolate tasting.

Afternoon: Drive the short 20-25 minutes to Ragusa Ibla, the older lower half of Ragusa connected to the upper town by a long staircase. Book a combined Noto, Modica and Ragusa Ibla tour if you’d rather do this whole day guided.

Evening: Drive back to Ortigia, about an hour and a half, for a final Syracuse-area night.

Day 7 — On to Catania

Morning: Drive to Catania, about an hour. La Pescheria fish market and the Baroque core around Piazza Duomo.

Afternoon: Walk Via Etnea toward the volcano itself on a clear day.

Evening: Settle in for two nights — tomorrow is a full Etna day.

Day 8 — Mount Etna, properly

Morning: Drive to Rifugio Sapienza, about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. Book the Etna cable car return ticket.

Afternoon: The cable car reaches around 2,500m; 4x4 vehicles continue toward 2,900-3,000m depending on conditions. Above roughly 2,900m a licensed guide is mandatory, and access depends entirely on volcanic activity — never expect a guaranteed summit. Our Mount Etna guide covers this properly.

Evening: Bring a windbreaker regardless of season — it’s cold and windy above 2,000m even in August.

Day 9 — Taormina

Morning: Drive to Taormina, about 50 minutes from Catania. Corso Umberto and the ancient theatre.

Afternoon: Take a guided Taormina and Isola Bella tour with a swim stop. Watch for Taormina’s ZTL.

Evening: A final Taormina dinner.

Day 10 — Departure

Morning: A slow final morning, then drive back to Catania, about 50 minutes, for departure.

Practical notes

ZTL zones apply in Palermo, Ortigia, Noto, Ragusa Ibla, Catania and Taormina — park in marked lots outside each historic core rather than risking a camera fine. Catania Fontanarossa can close for a few hours during heavier Etna ash episodes; build slack into a same-day departure.