Itinerary for a one week trip to Sicily, Italy (April 2026)
Introduction
One week trip to Sicily, Italy in April 2026 with two adults. Main activities are sightseeing and enjoying nature, with the highlight of visiting one of the world's most active volcanoes: Mount Etna.
Where possible, links are to an original source or OpenStreetMap.
Activities
Day 1
- Flight to Palermo Airport.
- In the airport you can take a direct train from Palermo Aeroporto to Palermo Centrale. Tickets are EUR 7 per adult.
Day 2
- Visit (unticketed parts of) Palermo Cathedral.
- Visit Palazzo dei Normanni, including Palatine Chapel. Tickets are EUR 20. Once inside, prioritize the Palatine Chapel if the queue is short.
- Visit the Botanical Garden in Palermo. Tickets are EUR 8 per adult. There is a cafe with light snacks near the exit.
Day 3
- Hike to Santuario di Santa Rosalia and the vantage point at the statute of Santa Rosalia. 450m elevation with a solid path. There is almost no shade, so avoid going up during the hottest part of the day. There is a cafe next to the Santuario di Santa Rosalia (rather expensive).
- Visit Chiesa di Santa Caterina. Tickets are EUR 3 per adult. Highly recommend to also visit La Dolceria di Santa Caterina in the same building for some excellent pastry.
Day 4
- Take the train back to Palermo Airport and pick up the rental car. Highly recommend you purchase a car rental voucher in advance.
- Drive from Palermo Airport to Riposto (275km / 3-4h drive). Road works appear to be common. Driving in busy areas is not always easy, so make sure you are not distracted.
Day 5
- Drive to Piano Provenzana, on the north side of Etna. There is ample parking at EUR 3 per day. We booked a tour with Etna Travel Service (1 day in advance). Tickets are EUR 69 per adult.
- At the south side of Etna, there is also a cable car for which you can book tickets. This cable car was closed for maintenance during our stay.
Day 6
- Drive to Taormina.
- Parked at Parcheggio Porta Catania. Quite expensive but easy to reach and ample parking. We paid EUR 16 for 7h.
- Visit Castello di Taormina. Tickets are EUR 10.
- Visit Teatro antico di Taormina. Tickets are EUR 16.
- Visit the beach at Isola Bella.
Day 7
- Drive from Riposto to Palermo Airport (275km / c. 4h drive).
Day 8
- Return flight.
Flights
| Day | Destination |
|---|---|
| 1 | Flight to Palermo Airport |
| 8 | Return flight |
Stays
| Night | Location |
|---|---|
| 1 - 3 | Stay in city center of Palermo. |
| 4 - 6 | Stay in Riposto |
| 7 | Stay near Palermo Airport (to catch early morning flight). |
Cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Flight (intra-EU) | EUR 320 |
| Car (4 days) | EUR 125 |
| Airbnb night 1 - 3 (City center Palermo) | EUR 305 |
| Hotel night 4 - 6 (Riposto) | EUR 270 |
| Hotel night 7 (Palermo Airport) | EUR 69 |
| Local expenses (train, gas, tickets, food and restaurants) | EUR 1200 |
| Total for 2 adults | EUR 2289 |