5 Days in Sicily on a Budget: Palermo, Catania & Mount Etna Itinerary
Sicily, the Mediterranean’s crossroads, has been shaped by Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spaniards. Their legacies are everywhere—from Palermo’s Arab‑Norman mosaics (a UNESCO site) to Catania’s black‑lava baroque facades and the ever‑smoldering silhouette of Mount Etna. This 5‑day itinerary focuses on two cities—Palermo and Catania—perfect for a first taste of Sicily without rushing.
Expect food to be part of the story: arancini, panelle, sfincione, pasta alla Norma, swordfish, cannoli, and granita stuffed into a brioche. Markets here aren’t just for shopping—they’re performance stages of sizzling grills, shouted prices, and fresh citrus piled like jewels. We’ve baked in budget‑friendly choices and local gems, so you can splurge on what matters (like that extra gelato or an Etna tour).
Practical notes: summers run hot and bright; plan a slow midday. Many shops close for riposo in the afternoon. Public transit connects the island well; intercity trains and buses are cheap, and city centers are walkable. Keep an eye on personal items in busy markets. If you’re heading up Etna, bring layers and proper shoes—the mountain writes its own weather.
Palermo
Palermo is Sicily’s untamed capital—sunlit piazzas, domes and arches in every direction, and street food stalls perfuming the alleys. Its Arab‑Norman route links the Royal Palace’s glittering Palatine Chapel with churches where Byzantine gold meets Islamic geometry. Evenings belong to markets like Vucciria and Ballarò, where grills pop and plastic cups of local wine flow.
- Top sights: Palatine Chapel and Norman Palace, Quattro Canti, Fontana Pretoria, Monreale Cathedral (10 minutes by bus uphill), and Teatro Massimo.
- Eat and drink: panelle and crocché, sfincione, stigghiola, pasta con le sarde, and cannoli. Try historic institutions alongside tiny family kitchens.
- Neighborhood tips: Kalsa/La Loggia for history and nightlife; Politeama/Libertà for calmer, mid‑range stays; near Stazione Centrale for budget picks.
Stay (budget‑friendly picks via our partners): Browse apartments and small hotels on VRBO Palermo or compare deals on Hotels.com Palermo. In the €60–120 range you’ll find tidy B&Bs steps from the historic center.
Getting to Palermo: Fly into PMO (Falcone–Borsellino). Compare flights with Omio (Flights). Airport bus to city center ~50 minutes, ~€6 (runs every 30 minutes). If arriving from elsewhere in Italy, consider Omio (Trains) or Omio (Ferries).
Great coffees & bites: Morning espresso and cassatella at Pasticceria Cappello (home of the “Setteveli” cake). For quick arancine, Ke Palle has many flavors; for classic sit‑down Palermo plates, Antica Focacceria San Francesco is a landmark for panelle and focaccine.
Day 1: Arrival, Old Palermo Stroll, Street‑Food Night
Morning: Travel to Palermo. Use Omio (Flights) to find options that fit your schedule and budget. If you arrive early, fuel up with a cappuccino and a warm iris pastry near Via Maqueda.
Afternoon: Check in, drop bags, and stretch your legs at Quattro Canti and the theatrical Fontana Pretoria. Duck into the Chiesa di Santa Caterina pastry rooms for a ricotta cannolo still crisp. Peek at the Kalsa quarter’s palazzi and sea breeze along Foro Italico.
Evening: Join the top‑rated Palermo Original Street Food Walking Tour by Streaty to eat like a local—panelle, sfincione, arancine, perhaps adventurous bites like stigghiola—while hearing market lore.
Day 2: Mosaics, Markets, and Sunset Spin
Morning: If you love cathedrals, bus up to Monreale for gold‑leaf Byzantine mosaics that shimmer like sunrise. Prefer to stay central? Visit the Royal Palace and the Palatine Chapel—Arab muqarnas ceilings meet Latin script and Greek icons in one jaw‑dropping hall. Coffee break with a slice of setteveli at Pasticceria Cappello.
Afternoon: Lunch on classic sandwiches at Antica Focacceria San Francesco (order the panelle or the famed spleen sandwich if you’re curious). Wander the Capo or Ballarò markets for produce and banter, then tour Teatro Massimo (film buffs will recognize it). Cool off with a brioche‑con‑gelato at Brioscià.
Evening: See Palermo’s facades glow with an open‑air circuit on the Palermo: Grand Tour in CruiserCar—unique, breezy, and photo‑friendly at golden hour.
Catania
Catania is Etna’s city: dark‑stone baroque palaces built from the volcano’s own lava, a lively fish market, and a grand spine—Via Etnea—that points straight at the mountain. It’s a perfect base for day trips to Etna and Taormina while offering a vibrant street life and great value.
- Top sights: Piazza del Duomo and the Elephant Fountain, Cathedral of Sant’Agata, Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena, Teatro Romano, Villa Bellini park, and La Pescheria fish market.
- Eat and drink: pasta alla Norma, cartocciata, cipollina, fresh seafood at the market, and almond or coffee granita for breakfast.
- Easy day trips: Mount Etna’s craters and lava tubes; Taormina’s Greek Theater and cliffside views.
Stay (value finds via our partners): Look for central B&Bs and apartments near Via Etnea and the Duomo on VRBO Catania or compare hotel deals on Hotels.com Catania. Expect €55–110 for clean, central rooms outside peak August.
Getting from Palermo to Catania: Morning trains take ~2h50–3h15, typically €15–€25; buses ~2h35–3h, about €12–€20. Compare and book on Omio (Trains) or Omio (Buses). It’s a scenic ride across Sicily’s interior hills.
Local flavors to target: Arancini from Savia (try ragù or pistachio), cones of fried seafood at Scirocco Fish Lab by the fish market, and almond granita with warm brioche at dawn.
Day 3: Transfer, Catania Core, Night Food Tour
Morning: Take a morning train from Palermo to Catania (~3 hours). Check in, then grab a celebratory arancino and cannolo at Savia or Spinella on Via Etnea—both are Catania institutions.
Afternoon: Walk Via Etnea to Villa Bellini, then loop back to Piazza del Duomo to meet the Elephant Fountain and Cathedral. Dive into La Pescheria fish market—photogenic and loud—then slip into the Roman Theater complex nearby. Espresso and almond cookie at Prestipino by the cathedral.
Evening: For a guided tasting of Catania’s specialties (cipollina, cartocciata, seafood, and sweet endings), join the Catania Sicilian Street Food Tour: Small Group by Do Eat Better.
Day 4: Mount Etna Adventure + Seaside Sunset
Morning: Head up the volcano on the budget‑friendly Etna Morning Trip—short treks on old craters, a peek into a lava cave, lunar views, and geology made fun.
Afternoon: Return to Catania for a relaxed lunch: seafood pasta at Osteria Antica Marina by the market or pasta alla Norma at Trattoria U Fucularu. Siesta at your stay or hop a short bus to Aci Trezza on the Cyclops Riviera for basalt stacks and a sea breeze.
Evening: Aperitivo with Sicilian cheeses and a spritz at Fud Bottega Sicula, then gelato at Don Peppinu on Via Etnea. Night owls can check MA Catania for live music or simply enjoy a passeggiata under Etna’s watchful glow.
Alternative upgrade: Foodies can swap today for the full‑day Etna Tour and Lunch in a Winery with Wine Tasting—craters plus a hearty vineyard lunch and Etna DOC wines.
Day 5: Taormina Morning Escape, Departure
Morning: Day‑trip to Taormina: trains from Catania to Taormina‑Giardini take ~50–70 minutes and start around €4–€10—check Omio (Trains) or Omio (Buses). Bus or funicular up the hill to the old town. Visit the Greek Theater for Ionian Sea and Etna views, stroll Corso Umberto’s boutiques, and recharge with granita (almond or coffee) at Bam Bar.
Afternoon: Quick slice or arancino at Da Cristina or a pizza at Villa Zuccaro if time allows. Return to Catania for your flight; the Alibus runs ~every 20 minutes from the center to CTA in ~20–25 minutes (~€4). Compare flight options on Omio (Flights).
Evening: If you’re flying later, squeeze in the Benedictine Monastery (a baroque giant) or one last espresso in Piazza Università. Pick up pistachio cream or almond cookies for the trip home.
Budget notes and local tips: With a mid‑range budget, aim for €15–25 lunches, €20–35 dinners, and €2–3 for espresso. Most churches are free or a few euros; bundle big‑ticket items (like the Royal Palace) on the same day. Tap water is potable; refill a reusable bottle. In markets, small cash helps; elsewhere, cards are widely accepted.
Suggested intercity bookings at a glance: Palermo→Catania train (~3h, €15–€25) via Omio (Trains). For flexibility, long‑distance buses (~2h35–3h, €12–€20) via Omio (Buses). If you plan any ferry legs on your wider trip, check Omio (Ferries).
Extra experiences you can plug in: Prefer Siracusa’s antiquities? Consider the Tour of Ortigia and the Neapolis Archaeological Park from Catania by morning train (about 1 hour each way) if your flight is late.
Across five days you’ll collect mosaics and markets in Palermo, street‑life and baroque drama in Catania, and the raw beauty of Etna—plus a seaside detour to Taormina. It’s a compact, flavor‑packed Sicily itinerary that balances history, nature, and great eating without straining the budget. Buon viaggio!