Sicily is a crossroads of civilizations—Phoenician traders, Arab emirs, Norman kings—each leaving treasures from Byzantine mosaics to citrus-scented gardens. In one week, you’ll taste panelle and cannoli in Palermo, watch sunset spill across Taormina’s ancient theater, and tread the ash of Mount Etna. This is a trip for seekers of history and coastline, cuisine and countryside.

Expect Mediterranean rhythms: late dinners, long passeggiate, and a devotion to seasonal ingredients—anchovies, pistachios, wild fennel. Sicily rewards curiosity; duck into markets, peek into side chapels, and order what the nonna at the next table is having. Note ZTL (limited traffic) zones in historic centers; consider staying car-free in both bases.

Practicalities: Fly into Palermo (PMO) or Catania (CTA) and move between cities by train or bus. Use Omio flights for routes into Sicily, and Omio trains, Omio buses, or Omio ferries for mainland connections and intra-island travel. Summer is hot—carry water and sunscreen; Etna excursions can be windy and cool even in July.

Palermo

Palermo is a kaleidoscope: Arab domes, Baroque facades, laundry-draped alleys, and markets that sing with vendors’ calls. The Norman Palace’s Palatine Chapel glows with gold mosaics; nearby, Ballarò and Capo markets dish up arancini, sfincione, and panelle the way locals eat—standing with a paper napkin and a grin.

Top sights include the Palatine Chapel, Cathedral roof terraces, Quattro Canti, Teatro Massimo, and the seaside quarter of Mondello. Don’t miss Monreale’s cathedral for mosaics that shimmer like a medieval comic book.

• Where to stay (Palermo): Old Town (for history on your doorstep), Politeama/Libertà (quieter, elegant boulevards), or Mondello (beach vibes). Search stays on VRBO Palermo or Hotels.com Palermo.
• Getting in: Fly to PMO via Omio flights; or ferry from Naples (10–12 hours overnight; from ~$45 foot passenger) via Omio ferries. From the airport, the Prestia e Comandè bus reaches the center in ~50 minutes.

Day 1: Arrival in Palermo, Golden Hour Old Town

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off the flight with an espresso at Pasticceria Cappello (famous for its seven-layer Settimino/Setteveli cake) and a slow wander through Piazza Bellini and the Arab-Norman churches of San Cataldo and La Martorana.

Evening: Do as Palermitani do: a passeggiata down Via Maqueda to Quattro Canti. Dinner at Antica Focacceria San Francesco (since 1834; try the pani câ meusa if you’re adventurous, or panelle and sfincione if you’re not). For seafood pastas and Sicilian whites, book Osteria dei Vespri (near Piazza Croce dei Vespri). Nightcap at Taverna Azzurra in the Vucciria quarter—rustic, loud, unforgettable.

Day 2: Palatine Chapel, Markets, and a Local-Led Walk

Morning: Cappuccino and cornetto at Pasticceria Costa (ornate pastries since 1960s). Then dive into a private orientation with a local: Palermo : Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide. Customize for mosaics, street life, or hidden oratories.

Afternoon: Visit the Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel—its 12th‑century mosaics are Sicily’s crown jewels. Lunch at the Capo Market: grab panelle and crocchè fritters from a friggitoria, then a wedge of sfincione (fluffy, anchovy-scented pizza). If you prefer a guided nibble-fest, the city’s most beloved tasting stroll is the Palermo Original Street Food Walking Tour by Streaty.

Evening: Aperitivo at Bocum Mixology (craft cocktails) near the marina. Dinner at Ferro di Cavallo (homey, affordable, always lively—order pasta con le sarde). Gelato con brioche at Brioscià to finish.

Day 3: Monreale Mosaics and Mondello Sea Breezes

Morning: Espresso at Caffè del Kassaro, then head to Monreale (25 minutes by taxi; or bus 389). The cathedral’s golden nave portrays the life of Christ in glittering tesserae; the cloister’s carved capitals are a scholar’s dream.

Afternoon: Back in Palermo, consider a hands-on lunch: Wanna be Sicilian: Palermo Cooking Class and Market Tour—shop a neighborhood market with a chef, then cook caponata and fresh pasta in a convivial kitchen.

Evening: Ride out to Mondello beach for a seaside stroll on the liberty-era pier. Dine at Trattoria da Calogero (catch of the day, spaghetti alle vongole) or Alle Terrazze for a view. If you’re staying in town, Osteria Ballarò offers a great Sicilian wine list with platters of local cheeses and salumi.

Taormina

Taormina sits like a balcony between sea and volcano. Ancient Greeks chose well: the theater frames Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea in a single breathtaking glance. Below is pebble-perfect Isola Bella; above, the hilltop village of Castelmola pours almond wine with a wink.

Days here are for granita breakfasts, mellow cliff walks, and twilight performances at the Teatro Antico. It’s an ideal base for Etna’s craters and lava fields, plus food-and-wine forays deep into DOC Etna vineyards.

• Where to stay (Taormina): Corso Umberto (right in the action), Mazzarò (steps from the cable car and beaches), or Castelmola (panorama-first). Browse VRBO Taormina and Hotels.com Taormina.
• Getting from Palermo to Taormina (morning transfer on Day 4): Train via Messina ~4–5 hours, from ~$20–35 on Omio trains. Buses can take ~4.5–5.5 hours, ~$18–30 via Omio buses. Aim for an early departure to maximize your afternoon.

Day 4: Travel to Taormina, Greek Theatre at Sunset

Morning: Depart Palermo by train to Taormina-Giardini (via Messina). Grab a market breakfast to go—arancini from KePalle or a ricotta cannolo from Pasticceria Cappello. Estimated travel: 4–5 hours, from ~$20–35 on Omio trains.

Afternoon: Check in and ride the cable car to Mazzarò for a late lunch: Da Cristina (famed arancini and scacce) or Pizzeria Villa Zuccaro (slow-fermented dough). Walk the Belvedere to the Teatro Antico; explore the theater’s stone tiers as Etna smokes on the horizon.

Evening: Join a flavorful introduction with the Taormina: Sicilian Street Food & Wine Tour by Do Eat Better—four tasting stops paired with local wines and stories.

Day 5: Mount Etna—Craters, Caves, and Tastes

Morning: Head out on the Mount Etna nature and flavors half day Tour from Taormina. Walk old craters, explore a lava cave with helmets/lamps, and sample local honeys, olive oils, and Etna DOC wines. Wear layers and sturdy shoes.

Afternoon: Recover beachside at Isola Bella. Rent a lounger or wander the narrow spit at low tide. Snack on granita and brioche at Bam Bar (almond and mulberry are classics).

Evening: Dinner at Osteria RossoDiVino (seasonal seafood, thoughtful wine list) or Trattoria da Nino (old-school service, terrace views). For cocktails, Morgana Lounge Bar does inventive Sicilian infusions.

Day 6: Cook with a View, Castelmola Vistas

Morning: Tie on an apron for the Cooking Class with Seaview & Taormina's Market with Chef Mimmo. Shop for swordfish, tomatoes, and herbs, then prepare arancini, pasta alla norma, or involtini di pesce spada in a convivial seaside kitchen.

Afternoon: Bus or taxi up to Castelmola (20 minutes). Sip almond wine on the terrace at Bar San Giorgio, then meander alleys to belvederes that feel suspended over sea and volcano.

Evening: If film history intrigues you, consider the Godfather vs Mafia Tour & Pasta Lunch earlier in the day (villages of Savoca and Forza d’Agrò). Otherwise, a leisurely dinner at Osteria Nero D’Avola (local meats, Etna reds) or Tischi Toschi (creative trattoria plates). Gelato nightcap at Gelatissimo Taormina.

Day 7: Slow Morning in Taormina, Departure

Morning: Breakfast like a local: granita at Bam Bar or a warm ricotta cannolo at Pasticceria D’Amore. Last stroll along Corso Umberto—pop into ceramic shops for Caltagirone tiles and testa di moro planters. Quick detour to the Public Gardens (Giardini della Villa Comunale) for one final Etna-and-sea panorama.

Afternoon: Depart from Taormina-Giardini station to Catania (1–1.5 hours) for flights out of CTA, or continue by train to Palermo if needed. Book on Omio trains or Omio buses; for flights, check Omio flights. If sailing to the mainland, compare routes on Omio ferries.

Optional Upgrades and Insider Tips

• Etna at higher altitude: For cable car and 4x4 up to ~2850m, consider the Etna excursion 3000 meters with 4x4 cable car and Trekking if you’re keen on loftier craters.
• Palermo overview ride: Prefer wheels to walking? The Palermo: Grand Tour in CruiserCar glides past highlights in an open-top 9-seater.
• Dining etiquette: Dinner starts around 8 pm; order seasonal—blood oranges in winter, swordfish in summer, prickly pear in early fall.
• ZTL awareness: Historic centers have camera-enforced zones. If renting a car for countryside days, choose hotels with parking outside ZTLs.

Accommodation quick links: VRBO Palermo | Hotels.com Palermo | VRBO Taormina | Hotels.com Taormina

In one week, you’ll taste the spectrum of Sicily—from Palermo’s mosaic-clad chapels and legendary markets to Taormina’s amphitheater skies and Etna’s black sands. The island lingers long after you leave—in the scent of lemon, the flash of tile, the memory of a sunset over stone.