Discussion
Any recommendations of which part of the island not really looking beach type location like the idea of some sight seeing just can't make mind up Cefalu
Taormina,Syracuse any help appreciated even if avoid and go elsewhere to be honest me and wife were looking Madiera or Malta but Sicily came up only because easier to get to local airport would have to go from Stanstead which is hour and half away to go Madiera or Malta
Taormina,Syracuse any help appreciated even if avoid and go elsewhere to be honest me and wife were looking Madiera or Malta but Sicily came up only because easier to get to local airport would have to go from Stanstead which is hour and half away to go Madiera or Malta
Catania is pretty grim. Syracusa is simply beautiful and charming with lots of Roman ruins. Really liked Syracuse.
Not been to Taormina but heard it is good.
Worth going up Etna, I really enjoyed that. Also enjoyed the Valley of the temples at Agrigento although it is not in a valley, it is on a ridge, and the Villa Romana del Casale was one of the best Roman villas I have ever visited.
Not been to Taormina but heard it is good.
Worth going up Etna, I really enjoyed that. Also enjoyed the Valley of the temples at Agrigento although it is not in a valley, it is on a ridge, and the Villa Romana del Casale was one of the best Roman villas I have ever visited.
Just got back from a week in Cefalu - package holiday with Jet2.
I've never been to Taormina so can't comment on that area, but found Cefalu to be busy but very relaxed with plenty of places to eat / drink and an interesting old town to wander round. We stayed in the 'Astro Suites' hotel which has the benefit of an underground car park, and hired a Fiat 500 from Europcar which is on the same road as the car park entrance; the old town has lots of B&Bs etc but you can't drive in that area so it's better to be a little further along the seafront.
We didn't go to Palermo, but it's only 40 minutes by train from Cefalu.
We did go to Etna, Syracuse and Agrigento, using the hire car except for Agrigento where we booked a coach trip but in hindsight driving would have been better.
These three trips along with the coach transfers from Catania meant we became VERY familiar with the A19 Autostrada; this is only two lanes and has some long-term roadworks in the northern section, but we didn't encounter any traffic to speak of except around Catania. We didn't find the driving to be a problem.
The motorways from Messina to Palermo and Catania both have tolls, but the A19 and the E45 south from Catania to Syracuse are toll-free.
All in all we loved it; we found the people friendly and easy-going, at least in the places we visited!
One lesson learnt though; at Catania airport on your return flight don't go through passport control any sooner than you have to, because there's sod all to do / eat / drink the other side.
I've never been to Taormina so can't comment on that area, but found Cefalu to be busy but very relaxed with plenty of places to eat / drink and an interesting old town to wander round. We stayed in the 'Astro Suites' hotel which has the benefit of an underground car park, and hired a Fiat 500 from Europcar which is on the same road as the car park entrance; the old town has lots of B&Bs etc but you can't drive in that area so it's better to be a little further along the seafront.
We didn't go to Palermo, but it's only 40 minutes by train from Cefalu.
We did go to Etna, Syracuse and Agrigento, using the hire car except for Agrigento where we booked a coach trip but in hindsight driving would have been better.
These three trips along with the coach transfers from Catania meant we became VERY familiar with the A19 Autostrada; this is only two lanes and has some long-term roadworks in the northern section, but we didn't encounter any traffic to speak of except around Catania. We didn't find the driving to be a problem.
The motorways from Messina to Palermo and Catania both have tolls, but the A19 and the E45 south from Catania to Syracuse are toll-free.
All in all we loved it; we found the people friendly and easy-going, at least in the places we visited!
One lesson learnt though; at Catania airport on your return flight don't go through passport control any sooner than you have to, because there's sod all to do / eat / drink the other side.
I was married to a Sicilian who came from the west side of the island. Palermo is wonderful with a fabulous market and beautiful buildings, all kind of down at heel so makes it even more beautiful.
As above Agrigento and Syracuse are well worth a visit as is Noto and Modica.
The west side is far less touristy and seaside resorts like Sciacca and Mazaro del Vallo have good beaches. I only came across a handful of English speakers and they were Americans with family links to the area. Erice near to Trapani is beautiful with fab views.
As above Agrigento and Syracuse are well worth a visit as is Noto and Modica.
The west side is far less touristy and seaside resorts like Sciacca and Mazaro del Vallo have good beaches. I only came across a handful of English speakers and they were Americans with family links to the area. Erice near to Trapani is beautiful with fab views.
Thanks guys for replies so far also struggling hotel wise looked at some so much variation seen some at £2000 for a week but with poor reviews basically saying in need of refurbishment and some at £500 with good reviews such a minefield probably why we stick to same places every year because you know they are great every time just fancy a change
I’d recommend Western Sicily. You can fly into Birgi (between Marsala and Trapani) from Stansted and Manchester or it’s about 100km west of Palermo. Also there are no road tolls west of Palermo.
There are beach clubs but the best beach is at Can Vito lo Capo if you do want a day on the beach.
Sights are the Segesta amphitheatre and ruins plus Moria island where the Punic wars took place. Plenty of wine and Marsala producers to visit (booking recommended) and a good number of restaurants.
Taormina will be rammed with coach loads of tourists at this time of year
If you can find accommodation, Favignana in the Egadi islands is a nice relaxing break.
As mention Erice is great but make sure to take the cable car up and down. Parking is restricted at the top and you cannot drive into the town itself.
Gratuitous picture of the current view of Favignana from my terrace (5kms outside Marsala).
There are beach clubs but the best beach is at Can Vito lo Capo if you do want a day on the beach.
Sights are the Segesta amphitheatre and ruins plus Moria island where the Punic wars took place. Plenty of wine and Marsala producers to visit (booking recommended) and a good number of restaurants.
Taormina will be rammed with coach loads of tourists at this time of year
If you can find accommodation, Favignana in the Egadi islands is a nice relaxing break.
As mention Erice is great but make sure to take the cable car up and down. Parking is restricted at the top and you cannot drive into the town itself.
Gratuitous picture of the current view of Favignana from my terrace (5kms outside Marsala).
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