Sicily is a crossroads of civilizations—Phoenician traders, Arab emirs, Norman kings—each leaving gifts: golden mosaics, citrus-scented gardens, and a kitchen that fuses spice with sunlight. In one week, you’ll taste panelle hot from the fryer, watch Etna breathe on the horizon, and wander lanes where Baroque balconies wear wrought-iron lace.

This itinerary focuses on two complementary bases: Palermo in the west and Taormina on the Ionian coast. You’ll travel once between them, then slow down for Greek theatres, Godfather hill towns, and the kind of meals you’ll talk about for years. Expect mid-morning coffees, late dinners, and that irresistible Sicilian rhythm.

Practical notes: Summer is hot; plan early starts and a long lunch break. ZTL (limited traffic) zones operate in historic centers—park on the edge and walk. Reserve popular restaurants and tours in advance, especially July–September and holiday periods.

Palermo

Palermo is a grand collage: Arab domes beside Baroque facades, street shrines lit with fairy bulbs, and markets that sing with vendors’ chants. The Arab-Norman UNESCO sites—Cappella Palatina, the Cathedral, and nearby Monreale—are a crash course in medieval multicultural Sicily.

Eat your way through Ballarò, Capo, and Vucciria: arancine, panelle, sfincione, and—if you’re brave—pani câ meusa. Between bites, visit Teatro Massimo (one of Europe’s largest opera houses) and the brass-framed splendor of Quattro Canti.

• Where to stay (Palermo): Base yourself near Politeama/Libertà for easy transport, or the Kalsa for historic atmosphere. Book via VRBO Palermo or Hotels.com Palermo. Look for stays near Via Maqueda or Via Roma if you want to walk everywhere.
• Getting to Palermo (PMO): Compare flights to Europe and Sicily with Omio (Flights). If you’re already in Italy, check Omio (Trains) and Omio (Buses). Travelers coming from non-European hubs can also compare long-haul options on Kiwi.com.

Taormina

Taormina is Sicily’s balcony, hovering above the Ionian Sea with Mount Etna looming like a stage set. The Greek Theatre is the headline act—third century BCE stone framing blue sea—and Corso Umberto strings together boutiques, trattorie, and almond-scented pasticcerie.

Below, the cable car swings down to Mazzarò and Isola Bella’s pebble coves. Evenings are for granita at Bam Bar, a passeggiata beneath bougainvillea, and perhaps a detour to Castelmola for views that run all the way to Calabria.

• Where to stay (Taormina): For views, look near the Greek Theatre or Via Pirandello. Beach lovers can choose Mazzarò/Giardini Naxos and ride the cable car up. Book via VRBO Taormina or Hotels.com Taormina.
• Getting to Taormina: Train Palermo→Taormina-Giardini is ~4.5–5.5 hours with a change in Messina (about €20–35) via Omio (Trains). Buses run a similar ~5–6 hours (from ~€22) via Omio (Buses). Driving is ~3 hours on the A20/A18 plus tolls. Fly out of Catania (CTA), ~1 hour from Taormina; compare fares on Omio (Flights).

Day 1: Arrive in Palermo (Afternoon Start)

Morning: Travel to Palermo. If flying into PMO from a European hub, compare routes on Omio (Flights). If arriving by train or bus from mainland Italy, check Omio (Trains) and Omio (Buses).

Afternoon: Check in and shake off the journey with an espresso at Torrefazione Stagnitta by Piazza Bellini. Stroll the “living room” of Palermo: Quattro Canti, the Fountain of Shame (Piazza Pretoria), and the Church of Santa Caterina—its cloister pastry shop sells baroque-looking cassatelle.

Evening: Dinner at Trattoria Ferro di Cavallo (convivial, no-frills classics: pasta con le sarde, involtini di pesce spada). Post-dinner, sip a glass of local Grillo at Taverna Azzurra in the old Vucciria—an institution of cheap, cheerful nightlife.

Day 2: Markets, Mosaics, and Street Food

Morning: Cappuccino and a warm brioche at Pasticceria Cappello (famous “Setteveli” cake), then dive into Ballarò Market. Try arancine at Ke Palle, panelle (chickpea fritters) from a street fryer, and seasonal fruit—ask for mulberries in early summer.

Afternoon: Join a guided tasting walk to decode Palermo’s food culture and history.

Featured Activity: Palermo Original Street Food Walking Tour by Streaty

Between bites, visit Palermo Cathedral; if you have the energy, climb the rooftop walk for a skyline of domes and terracotta.

Evening: Aperitivo on the rooftop at Seven (Hotel Ambasciatori) for sunset over domes. Dinner at Osteria Ballarò (slow-cooked Sicilian dishes; good wine list). Dessert at Gelateria Al Cassaro for pistachio from Bronte.

Day 3: Palaces, Catacombs, and Monreale

Morning: Tour Teatro Massimo’s grand marble halls, then step into the Norman Palace to see the Cappella Palatina’s gold mosaics—Arabic muqarnas carving meets Byzantine saints.

Afternoon: Cover more ground in style with a convertible CruiserCar circuit that threads through the historic center, the Capuchin Catacombs, and hillside Monreale—home to one of the world’s most dazzling medieval mosaic cycles.

Featured Activity: Palermo: Tour Historic Center, Catacombs & Monreale in CruiserCar

Evening: Seafood dinner at Osteria Mercede (catch of the day, raw crudi if available). Nightcap along Via Spinuzza, where music spills into the street.

Day 4: Palermo to Taormina (Coast-to-Coast)

Morning: Travel day. Train Palermo→Taormina-Giardini ~4.5–5.5 hours (from ~€20–35) on Omio (Trains), typically changing in Messina. Buses are ~5–6 hours (from ~€22) via Omio (Buses). Driving the A20/A18 takes ~3 hours plus tolls (ZTL at both ends—park outside old towns).

Afternoon: Check in, then head straight to the ancient Greek Theatre for golden-hour views of Etna and the Ionian Sea. Granita stop at Bam Bar: try almond or coffee with whipped cream, served with a soft brioche.

Evening: Dinner at Trattoria Da Nino (terrace views; excellent spaghetti alla bottarga and grilled fish). Post-dinner cocktail at Morgana Lounge Bar—creative, garden courtyard vibe.

Day 5: Mount Etna—Craters, Caves, and Moon Landscapes

Today is a volcano day—pack layers, closed shoes, and sunscreen. Your guide handles logistics and safety.

Featured Activity: Etna Morning Trip

Expect scenic drives, short hikes on lava fields, a visit to a lava tube with helmets/lamps, and epic views over the Valle del Bove. Many tours pause for honey, pistachio, and wine tastings from Etna’s fertile slopes.

Evening: Back in Taormina, recover at Isola Bella’s pebble beach (late light is lovely). Pizza night at Villa Zuccaro (classic Sicilian toppings; airy cornicione), then a passeggiata and gelato at Pasticceria D’Amore.

Day 6: Godfather Villages and Sicilian Lunch

Fans of cinema and history will love this route through Savoca and Forza d’Agrò, where time seems to idle on church steps and viewpoints. The day includes a proper Sicilian pasta lunch.

Featured Activity: Godfather vs Mafia Tour & Pasta Lunch (Small Group or Private)

Beyond film locations, your guide unpacks the real story of the Mafia and anti-Mafia movements. The hilltop panoramas alone are worth the trip.

Evening: Keep dinner light: share plates at Tischi Toschi (seasonal, homey) or go for swordfish rolls and caponata at Osteria Nero D’Avola. Sip a Malvasia or Nerello Mascalese to toast the day.

Day 7: Sea Morning and Departure

Morning: Early granita-and-brioche at Bam Bar, then ride the cable car down to Mazzarò for a swim. Hire a small boat at the bay for a circuit around Isola Bella’s grottoes if the sea is calm.

Afternoon: Check out and transfer to Catania Airport (CTA). Interbus runs Taormina→CTA in ~1h10–1h30 (about €7–10)—search schedules on Omio (Buses). Taxis/transfers take ~60 minutes. Compare onward flights on Omio (Flights). If you have time for lunch before leaving, try beachside spaghetti alle vongole at Lido La Pigna.

Evening: Fly home with pistachios in your bag and Etna on your camera roll. Arrivederci, Sicilia.

Optional Add-Ons (If You Extend)

• Cefalù: A seaside day from Palermo—Norman cathedral mosaics and a sandy beach beneath La Rocca.
• Ortigia (Siracusa): Baroque squares, a brilliant daily market, and Caravaggio’s Burial of St. Lucy.
• Sicilian Cooking: In Palermo, consider a hands-on class with market shopping: Wanna be Sicilian: Palermo Cooking Class and Market Tour

  

Dining Cheat Sheet (Highlights You’ll Use All Week)

• Breakfast/Coffee: Pasticceria Cappello (Palermo); Torrefazione Stagnitta (Palermo); Bam Bar (Taormina) for granita.
• Casual Lunches: Nni Franco U’ Vastiddaru (Palermo; pani câ meusa/panelle); Da Cristina (Taormina; arancini and baked pasta); Lido La Pigna (Taormina beachside classics).
• Dinners: Trattoria Ferro di Cavallo, Osteria Ballarò, Osteria Mercede (Palermo); Trattoria Da Nino, Villa Zuccaro, Osteria Nero D’Avola, Tischi Toschi (Taormina). For a splurge: La Capinera (Taormina) for creative seafood—reserve ahead.
• Sweets: Cannoli at Costa (Palermo) or D’Amore (Taormina); pistachio gelato anywhere you see “Bronte.”

Where to Book Stays Again (Quick Links): VRBO Palermo | Hotels.com Palermo | VRBO Taormina | Hotels.com Taormina

Getting Around (Save These): Omio Flights | Omio Trains | Omio Buses | Omio Ferries | Long-haul search: Kiwi.com

In one week you’ve tasted Palermo’s markets, traced gold mosaics in Monreale, watched the sea from Taormina’s Greek Theatre, and walked the flanks of a living volcano. Sicily rewards curiosity: every piazza, every pastry has a story. Come back for the stories you missed this time.