Last Updated on: 4th April 2024, 12:40 am

I love Sicily; luckily, it’s just a short hop by plane or a 90-minute fast ferry ride away from my home in Malta. In this blog post, I’ll show you some of the most beautiful cities and towns in Sicily, from stunning views of Mount Etna to charming hilltop towns, historic cities and gorgeous beaches. Sicily has so much to offer. And not forgetting the fantastic Sicilian cuisine!

Agrigento

Most visitors to Agrigento, on Sicily’s southern coast, come to visit the impressive Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site and then move on. The temples are definitely a must-see, but the old town of Agrigento is also lovely and worth a visit.

I spent a couple of nights in Agrigento, and its old town, with its cobblestone streets, is a charming place to wander. But there are many stairs and steep roads to climb so you will certainly be get a workout.

You can pretty much cover most of the old town in around an hour; it’s really not that large. But allow yourself at least half a day to visit the churches and admire the old houses.

As you wander the streets and alleyways of Agrigento’s old town, also known as Girgenti, you will spot the town’s multi-cultural past – from the Arab maze of streets and courtyards to the Norman churches and palaces and gorgeous Baroque architecture.

After a full day of roaming the Valley of the Temples, remember to treat yourself to a delicious bowl of pasta with red prawns at La Scala Restaurant.

Book your ticket to Valley of the Temples here.

Castelmola

Castelmola is a lovely small hill town above Taormina, well worth a visit for its beautiful views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. It is a nice place to spend a few hours simply wandering the narrow cobblestone streets, exploring the ruins of the Norman Castle, and enjoying the fun phallic displays at Bar Turrisi. Do be sure to try their almond wine.

If you don’t have a car, regular buses to Castelmola from Taormina will drop you off at Piazza Sant’ Antonio. The journey time is about 15 minutes.

But if you fancy a bit of exercise, it’s a lovely walk up the old Saracen path. The walk takes around 30-40 minutes and brings you to the north end of Castelmola. If you walk down via the southern end of town, it makes for a pleasant circular route, but be warned—it’s steep up and down.

Catania

I loved Catania, Sicily’s second-largest city. It is a bit scruffy with many crumbling palazzos, but that adds to its charm. It’s one of those cities where the more you explore and discover new neighbourhoods, the more you will fall in love with the place.

Catania’s historic centre (Centro Storico) is centred around the Piazza del Duomo. This central piazza is surrounded by baroque-style buildings built with an eclectic mix of limestone and lava. It is also, of course, home to the city’s cathedral.

The Piazza del Duomo is also home to the quirky Fontana dell’ Elefante statue. It’s a black lava elephant balancing an Egyptian obelisk on its back. It’s said that the elephant has magical powers and can predict any eruptions from nearby Mount Etna.

For a fantastic view of Catania, head to the rooftop of the Church of the Abbey of Saint Agatha (Chiesa della Badia di Sant’Agata.), just around the corner from the piazza.

Cefalù

Cefalù is a 45-minute train ride from Palermo, so you could easily visit this postcard-perfect seaside town as a day trip. But you know what’s better than a day trip? Staying a night or two and enjoying dinner at one of the town’s many wonderful restaurants.

It has a lovely beach, but it does get incredibly crowded in July and August, so avoid visiting then.

The streets in the old town of Cefalu are a delight to explore, as is the Old Harbour.

If you’re feeling energetic, you should take the 45-minute steep climb up La Rocca, the crag that overlooks the town. This climb offers impressive views of the city and allows you to discover ancient temple ruins.

Egadi Islands

Just off the coast of Trapani, you’ll find the Egadi islands, which consist of Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo, as well as the islets of Formica and Maraone. This gorgeous archipelago has crystal-clear waters, secluded beaches, and rugged coastal landscapes.

Also known as the Aegadian Islands, this is Europe’s largest protected marine area.

Ferries depart regularly from Trapani port to the islands, just a short walk from the historic centre. Tours to the islands can be booked here or at the many kiosks that line the shore.

I took the 30-minute ferry crossing to Favignana, the largest of all the islands.

Don’t wait until just before the ferry leaves before buying a ticket, as queues can be extremely long.

The best way to explore the island is by bicycle. If you don’t want to rent a bike, the small town by the harbour is an excellent place to explore on foot, and there are a couple of beaches with beach shacks for a light lunch within walking distance.

The most popular beaches on the island are Cala Rossa, Lido Burrone, Cala Azzurra and Cala Rotonda. If you’re a beach lover and fancy staying a little longer on the island, there is plenty of accommodation to suit all budgets.

Erice

The easiest way to reach the cute hilltop town of Erice is to take the ten-minute cable car ride from Trapani.

The best part of a visit to Erice is just wandering the medieval streets and alleyways lined with ancient stone houses. And don’t miss the castles and the fabulous views overlooking the countryside, the sea, and out to the Egadi Islands from the town.

But a highlight for foodies is a visit to the Pasticceria Grammatico Maria to try the traditional pastry, Genovesi. Genovesi are traditional Sicilian pastries filled with ricotta or milky custard cream, then covered in icing sugar and served warm. Ooh, so delicious.

Modica

I visited Modica on a day trip from Ragusa, just a forty-minute drive or a twenty-minute train ride away.

Packed with churches, ancient palaces, and so many steps, it’s a lovely town to get a full workout as you explore the maze of narrow streets.

The city’s historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a maze of narrow alleys and grand churches, including the ornate Duomo di San Giorgio.

But the main reason I wanted to visit Modica was for the chocolate.

At one time in its history, Sicily was part of the Spanish Kingdom, and the Conquistadors brought cocoa and the Aztec chocolate-making methods to Modica.

There’s even a chocolate museum with a giant chocolate map of Italy and its islands.

Chocolate is available in hundreds of weird and wonderful sounding flavours – I was in chocolate heaven.

Mount Etna

Well, you can’t go to Sicily and not see Mount Etna. Even if you don’t actually go to the volcano, you will still see it on the skyline.

Mount Etna is Europe’s highest and most active volcano. The surrounding Etna Regional Park has hiking trails suitable for all skill levels, with opportunities to discover lava caves, ancient forests, and incredible viewpoints. And if you’re lucky, you will have a fiery eruption. If only we had been there one week later.

We stayed in Linguaglossa, a small town near the volcano. But if you’re just planning a day trip, it’s easy to drive or join a tour from Catania or Taormina.

Ortigia

I loved Ortigia, a small island just off the coast of Syracuse. It is a gorgeous place full of history, culture, and natural beauty. Its streets are lined with Baroque palaces, ancient Greek ruins, and picturesque piazzas, including the stunning Piazza del Duomo with its beautiful cathedral.

There’s also a lovely market, fabulous restaurants, a castle, and a small beach.

From Ortigia, it’s a half hour’s walk to Neapolis Archeological Park, where you can see one of the largest Greek theatres in the world, built in the fifth century. While not as aesthetically stunning as the one in Taormina, it’s still very impressive.

Palermo

Palermo, the capital of Sicily, is a great place to visit because it has history, culture, and impressive buildings. You can see influences from many different civilizations, like the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and the Baroque period.

Be sure to visit Palermo Cathedral and stroll along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. You can also go to the fascinating No Mafia Memorial Museum.

And make sure you try some local Sicilian dishes like arancini, cannoli, and fresh seafood—they’re delicious!

Ragusa

Ragusa, nestled in the heart of Sicily’s southeastern countryside, is a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its stunning Baroque architecture.

The city is divided into two parts: Ragusa Ibla, the historic centre and the more modern but still with plenty of history Ragusa Superiore. The view of Ragusa Ibla from Ragusa Superiore is incredible.

Ragusa Ibla is a beautiful town where you can wander through narrow cobblestone streets, admire the many ornate churches and palazzos, relax in Giardino Ibleo, or indulge in traditional Sicilian cuisine at quaint trattorias.

Ragusa Superiore has impressive street art and fabulous restaurants near its cathedral.

Trapani

Trapani is a gorgeous historic port city on Sicily’s western coast. Its old town is picturesque, and it’s lovely to lose yourself in its maze of narrow streets. The oldest and most characteristic streets in the old town are Corso Italia, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and Via Garibaldi.

Be sure to visit the fish market and stroll along its scenic seafront promenade.

The town is also a great base from which to explore the nearby salt pans, the ancient Greek ruins at nearby Segesta, a boat trip to the Egadi Islands, or a cable car ride up to the hilltop town of Erice.

Taormina

I have a love/hate relationship with Taormina. I admit Taormina was my least favourite town in Sicily – it’s just a bit too touristy and overpriced for me, but having said that, if this is your first visit to Sicily, then I do recommend you go.

Why? Because its location on a hilltop overlooking the Ionian Sea and views of Mount Etna are stunning and the ancient Greek Theatre is breathtaking and a must-see.

Once you come off the busy Corso Umberto, exploring the backstreets, artisan shops, and lovely gardens is fun.

We were mostly disappointed with the meals we had in Taormina. They were very much catering to tourists, were not made with the usual love, and were overpriced. However, we found delicious cannoli at the Laboratorio Pasticceria Roberto, a lovely old-fashioned bakery tucked away on one of the side streets.

But the best thing about all these beautiful places is the food (except Taormina). Check out this post for the best Sicilian food.

Have you been to Sicily? What’s your favourite most beautiful city or town in Sicily ? Do you have any suggestions for other locations in Sicily that you can recommend to me?

Enjoyed This Post On Most Beautiful Cities And Towns In Sicily?

Save this post for later

Disclaimer:This article may contain affiliate links, where I receive a small commission that helps towards the cost of running this blog but don’t worry, there’s no extra cost to you.

Sharing is caring!