Sicily rewards the curious. Ancient Greek temples and Arab-Norman cathedrals rise over markets that hiss with frying panelle, while vineyard-covered lava slopes climb toward Europe’s most active volcano. In one week you’ll taste, walk, and boat your way from Catania’s black-lava baroque to Palermo’s UNESCO-studded heart.

The island’s crossroads history is everywhere: Phoenician trade routes, Byzantine mosaics, Norman palaces, Spanish plazas. Expect layers—Catania rebuilt after the 1693 quake in exuberant baroque; Palermo flaunting golden mosaics and Moorish courtyards. Food tells the story too: swordfish and pistachio in the east, ricotta and street snacks in the west.

Practical notes: trains connect major cities; ZTL (limited-traffic zones) protect historic centers—park outside or go car-free. Summer heat can be intense, so plan indoor sights at midday and carry cash for markets. You’ll find excellent espresso, late dinners, and warm hospitality everywhere you turn.

Catania

Have your first espresso under Etna’s watch. Catania’s streets are built from black lava stone, giving its baroque palaces and churches a dramatic sheen. By day, stroll Via Etnea to the Duomo; by night, the old fish market morphs into a pocket of lantern-lit eateries and wine bars.

Top sights and tastes:

• Duomo di Sant’Agata and Fontana dell’Elefante, the city’s lava-elephant mascot.
• La Pescheria fish market for morning theater and fried seafood cones.
• Villa Bellini gardens and Via Etnea for people-watching and granita.
• Day trips: Mount Etna’s craters and cool-climate wineries; Syracuse–Ortigia and Noto for golden Baroque façades.

Where to stay (Catania):

• VRBO apartments in Catania for central kitchens and balcony views.
• Hotels.com: Catania stays to compare neighborhoods and deals.
• Romano Palace Luxury Hotel for a resort feel near the Playa.
• Hotel Villa Romeo opposite the station, with old-world touches.
• NH Catania Parco Degli Aragonesi for beach access and a pool.
• NH Catania Centro for shopping and dining along Via Etnea.
• Catania International Airport Hotel for crack-of-dawn departures.

Getting to Catania: If you’re flying within Europe, compare fares to CTA (Catania Fontanarossa) on Omio flights. From elsewhere, browse global options via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Trains around Sicily can be searched on Omio trains.

Palermo

Palermo is a feast for the senses: Byzantine-gold mosaics, citrus-scented cloisters, and markets where vendors sing the price of swordfish. The Arab-Norman–Byzantine route (UNESCO) strings together palaces and cathedrals unlike anywhere in Europe.

Top sights and tastes:

• Palatine Chapel’s 12th-century mosaics; Quattro Canti and Piazza Pretoria’s theatrical heart.
• Markets—Ballarò, Capo, and Vucciria—for panelle, cazzilli, and stigghiola.
• Monreale Cathedral’s glittering nave; seaside Kalsa quarter and the Foro Italico promenade.
• Beach day in Mondello or a boat ride along Palermo’s bays.

Where to stay (Palermo):

• VRBO apartments in Palermo for Kalsa courtyards and kitchen space.
• Hotels.com: Palermo stays to compare central hotels.
• Hotel Garibaldi by Teatro Politeama for easy transport and shops.
• NH Palermo on the waterfront near Kalsa.
• Grand Hotel Villa Igiea for grand-belle-époque vibes by the marina.
• Astoria Palace Hotel for value stays with parking.
• Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel for five-star heritage luxury.

Arrival and local transport: Palermo Centrale connects by train and bus across the island—search options on Omio trains and Omio buses. Flights to PMO are easy to compare on Omio flights.

Day 1 — Arrive in Catania, lava-stone baroque and the fish market

Afternoon: Land in Catania and drop bags. Start at Piazza del Duomo to see the lava-elephant fountain and Sant’Agata’s Cathedral, then stroll Via Etnea to Villa Bellini. Espresso and ricotta cannoli at Prestipino near the Duomo set the tone.

Evening: Dive into La Pescheria’s backstreets: try fried calamari cones at Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab or swordfish involtini at Osteria U Fucularu. For a guided tasting of local classics—arancini, cipollina, and crisp panelle—join this food walk:

Catania Street Food Walking Tour and Market Adventure (≈3 hours; ~$50–65). Meet vendors, learn market lore, and sample generously.

Night: Negroni or Etna-rosé at Circus Cocktail Bar; for a local classic, order “seltz limone e sale” at a city kiosk (refreshing lemon soda with a pinch of salt).

Day 2 — Mount Etna craters and cool-climate wines

Morning–Afternoon: Spend the day on Etna: walk older craters, explore a lava cave, and visit a winery on the volcano’s north slope. Expect basalt soils, nerello mascalese reds, and sweeping views of the Valle del Bove.

Mt Etna and Wine tasting tour from Catania (≈7–8 hours; ~$95–140) typically includes transport, helmets for cave visits, and tastings at an Etna DOC cellar.

Evening: Back in town, book a table at Me Cumpari Turiddu for slow-food Sicilian recipes (try pasta alla norma with local ricotta salata). For an easygoing alternative, FUD Bottega Sicula does creative burgers with Sicilian cheeses and pistachio.

Day 3 — Syracuse–Ortigia and Noto, baroque brilliance

Morning: Head south to the Greek heart of Sicily. In Syracuse, tour the Neapolis Archaeological Park for the Greek Theater and the Ear of Dionysius cave.

Afternoon: Cross to Ortigia’s island old town—white limestone lanes, Caravaggio in Santa Lucia alla Badia, and sea-sprayed promenades. Continue to Noto to admire its honey-colored Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the San Nicolò Cathedral.

Syracuse, Ortigia and Noto walking tour from Catania (full day; ~$75–120) bundles transport and expert guiding.

Evening: Treat yourself to pistachio gelato or almond granita with brioche at Pasticceria Savia along Via Etnea. Dinner at Trattoria del Cavaliere for classic arancini starters and mixed grill.

Day 4 — Train to Palermo, UNESCO gems and Kalsa by night

Morning (Travel): Depart Catania for Palermo by rail. The direct train from Catania Centrale to Palermo Centrale takes about 3–3.5 hours and costs ~€15–30—check times and tickets on Omio trains. Buses take ~3–3.5 hours for ~€12–20 via Omio buses. Aim for a morning departure.

Afternoon: After check-in, walk the “crossroads” of Quattro Canti and the fountain at Piazza Pretoria, then step into La Martorana and San Cataldo for glittering mosaics and red domes. Coffee at Torrefazione Stagnitta (roasting since 1928).

Evening: Join a focused city intro to connect the dots between Arab-Norman architecture and local life: Discover the Charm of Palermo: A 3-Hour UNESCO Sites Walking Tour (~3 hours; ~$35–55).

For dinner, go traditional at Antica Focacceria San Francesco (sfincione pizza-bread, panelle) or book Osteria Ballarò for local cheeses, salumi, and seafood. Drinks at Bocum for Sicilian wines and thoughtful cocktails.

Day 5 — Monreale mosaics and market-to-table Palermo

Morning: Head to Monreale (≈25–35 minutes by taxi or public bus) for the cathedral’s 12th-century gold mosaics and cloister—one of Europe’s finest medieval interiors. Return to the city for lunch: try Ferro di Cavallo (bustling, inexpensive Sicilian fare) or Bisso Bistrot near the Teatro Massimo.

Afternoon: Wander Ballarò and Capo markets. Taste seasonal fruit, panelle, and cannoli; watch for pickpockets in crowds and carry small bills.

Evening: Eat as Palermitani do with a local foodie: Palermo Original Street Food Walking Tour by Streaty (~3 hours; ~$45–60) covers caponata, arancine, and market legends.

Late evening, join locals at Taverna Azzurra in Vucciria for a rustic nightcap, or stroll Piazza Olivella’s bars.

Day 6 — Sea day: Mondello and a Palermo boat cruise

Morning: Beach time in Mondello: turquoise water, Liberty-era villas, and a long crescent of sand. Grab a brioche con gelato at Brioscià or a coffee and cornetto along the waterfront.

Afternoon: See Palermo’s coastline by boat—swim coves, snorkel, and sip an onboard aperitivo: Palermo Half Day Boat Tour with Palermo Experiences (~4 hours; ~$70–110).

Evening: Back in town, seafood at Trattoria da Calogero in Mondello or return to Kalsa for Porta Termini’s casual spots. Gelato at Cappadonia, then a seaside passeggiata along the Foro Italico.

Day 7 — Palermo finale: theater, pastries, and departure

Morning: Tour Teatro Massimo (one of Europe’s largest opera houses) and linger over pastries at Pasticceria Cappello (try torta Setteveli). Pick up wine or olive oil at Enoteca Picone, a century-old institution with knowledgeable staff.

Afternoon (Departure): Head to the airport or your next Sicilian stop. For flights, compare on Omio flights; for trains and buses onward, use Omio trains and Omio buses. If flying intercontinentally, also check Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Optional swaps and add-ons

• From Catania: combine Etna with Taormina’s Greco-Roman theater on this full-day option if you prefer coastal glamour to Syracuse: Mt. Etna and Taormina village full day tour from Catania.

Where to eat and drink (quick reference)

• Catania breakfast/coffee: Prestipino (classic pastries near the Duomo), Pasticceria Savia (granita and arancini), Caffè Europa (sleek local favorite).
• Catania lunch: Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab (seafood cones), A Putia dell’Ostello (casual Sicilian plates near the lava cave), Uzeta Bistro (seasonal small plates).
• Catania dinner: Me Cumpari Turiddu (traditional with slow-food ethos), Trattoria del Cavaliere (hearty classics). Nightcap at Circus Cocktail Bar.
• Palermo breakfast/coffee: Torrefazione Stagnitta (historic roaster), Pasticceria Cappello (famous Setteveli cake).
• Palermo lunch: Ferro di Cavallo (beloved trattoria), Bisso Bistrot (Sicilian comfort dishes), markets for panelle and arancine (Ballarò, Capo).
• Palermo dinner: Osteria Ballarò (local cheeses, charcuterie, seafood), Antica Focacceria San Francesco (street-food icons). Drinks at Bocum or Taverna Azzurra.

How this itinerary fits 7 days

• Days 1–3 in Catania with Mount Etna and Syracuse–Ortigia/Noto.
• Day 4 morning train to Palermo (3–3.5 hours) and UNESCO sights.
• Days 5–7 in Palermo with Monreale, markets, and a boat day in Mondello.

In a week you’ll trace Sicily’s full arc—from lava fields and Etna wines to Palermo’s golden mosaics and boisterous markets. Savor the street food, linger over sunsets, and let the island’s layered history guide your steps.