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A Week in Sicily

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A Week in Sicily: Palermo, Syracuse & Taormina

with Rome extension

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This tour itinerary varies by year.

Duration: 8 or 11 days
Group size: 15-38
Reviews: 10

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Discover a multicultural island in the middle of the Mediterranean.

Sicily’s traditions and cuisine take on a new life as the summer comes to an end and locals take to the streets. From fresh fall harvests and beautiful blue-sky winters to warm spring weather, each season brings a unique reason to visit. Travel to lively Palermo, seaside Syracuse, and charming Taormina to uncover the island’s beautiful landscapes and interesting history.

Your tour package includes

6 nights in handpicked hotels
6 breakfasts
3 dinners with beer or wine
4 guided sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides

Included highlights

Cappella Palatina
Monreale Cathedral
Piazza Armerina
Island of Ortygia
Syracuse Cathedral

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Day-by-day itinerary

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Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Palermo today.

Palermo2 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Palermo

Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to Italy! Meet with your Tour Director and fellow group members at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Palermo & Monreale

Included meal: Breakfast

This morning, embark on a guided tour of the bayside city of Palermo and the hilltop town of Monreale.

Discover the city’s Baroque architecture as you pass the Quattro Canti piazza in the historic center
Step inside the Cappella Palatina to see the stunning mosaics and artwork
Head to nearby Monreale and enter Monreale Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site that combines Norman, Arab, and Byzantine architectural styles

Spend a free afternoon in Palermo or add an excursion.

Cefalù Wine Tasting & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Syracuse2 nights

Day 4: Syracuse via Piazza Armerina

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

On the way to Syracuse, stop for a guided tour of Piazza Armerina and view the stunning mosaics in the UNESCO-listed Villa Romana del Casale.

After, continue on to Syracuse and sit down for an included dinner.

Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Syracuse

Included meal: Breakfast

Embark on a guided tour of Syracuse, a historic city known for its rich Greek history.

Visit the Greek theater, the most complete ancient Greek theater still in existence
Tour the massive Paradise Quarry and gardens, featuring the cave that Caravaggio dubbed “The Ear of Dionysius” for its unique acoustics
Visit the Roman amphitheater, then cross a bridge to the Island of Ortygia to see the Temple of Apollo and Syracuse Cathedral

Enjoy a free afternoon in Syracuse or add an excursion.

Baroque City of Noto

Excursion (additional cost)

Taormina Region2 nights

Day 6: Transfer to Taormina & sightseeing tour

Included meal: Breakfast

Transfer to Taormina, where a local guide introduces you to this scenic town perched high above the sea.

Stroll along the city’s cobblestone streets to see Taormina Cathedral and Palazzo Corvaja, seat of the first Sicilian parliament
Visit the town’s 2nd-century Greek theater which, on clear days, offers panoramic vistas of Mount Etna

Day 7: Free day in Taormina

Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Spend a free day in Taormina or add an excursion.

This evening, celebrate your trip at a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.

Museo Storico dello Sbarco & Historic Catania

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 8: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the Catania airport for your flight home or continue on to explore Rome.

Extension to Rome

Have your sights on more art, history, and street life? Rome is sure to deliver. Only in the Italian capital can you sip cappuccino in front of the Pantheon and have an audience with the pope all in one morning. After a flight, admire the highlights during guided sightseeing.

Rome3 nights

Day 8: Flight to Rome

Included meal: Breakfast

Fly to Rome and enjoy a free evening in the city or add an excursion.

Rome Home-Hosted Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Rome

Included meal: Breakfast

Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a guided tour of the Eternal City.

Soak up over 2,000 years of history in Imperial Rome, viewing the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus
Enter the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire
Stop at the ruins of the Forum, once the setting of parades, elections, and trials
Pass by Palatine Hill to see Circus Maximus, the stadium where ancient Romans raced chariots, and the Baths of Caracalla

Spend a free afternoon in Rome or add an excursion.

Ancient Rome: St. Paul’s Basilica & the Catacombs

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 10: Free day in Rome

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Rome or add excursions. This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

Iconic Sights: Vatican City

Excursion (additional cost)

Rome Cooking Class & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 11: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

4.5 average

Our reviews are authentic and unedited.

Sicily with Rome extension

01/29/2020 by 4th time traveler Judy C.

This tour was a fabulous mix of countryside and city sites. We had wonderful meals, saw a variety of cultural, historic sites (both antiquities and modern history), wonderful art and street life. It was a sensation for the senses. I've been traveling with EF/ Go Ahead for many years and always co...

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10/29/2019 by 2nd time traveler James M.

Out Tour Director Judy Corollo was the best. We would travel with Judy again. And so was EF Go Ahead Tours. Thx

10/28/2019 by 2nd time traveler Barbara M.

We had a wonderful trip! The tour guides were all very knowledgeable and made the tours so fun and interesting! The Hotels were all nice, and the rooms comfortable. We learned so much, and made new friends! It was great!

Fabulous!!

10/28/2019 by 2nd time traveler Mary A.

Our tour guide, Fabio was wonderful! Very knowledgeable, funny, very accommodating, helpful to all, customized when necessary and went the extra mile to please all. Accommodations were great, local guides excellent and food was excellent!!!

Sicily Has It All

10/28/2019 by 2nd time traveler Kathleen P.

Looking to get a sense of Greek and Roman history? Love exploring beautiful towns and actually experiencing them? Then this tour is for you! Our outstanding tour guide Fabio was dedicated to insuring everything went smoothly for all of us and was very knowledgeable. Meemo (sp) our bus driver handled...

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Hotels, flights & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Hotel Mercure Palermo Centro

This modern hotel is located in the Palermo city center. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a bar, and a spacious lobby. Nearby, you'll find Teatro Politeama, T...

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Hotel Romanico Palace

This luxurious hotel is located in Rome's Ludovisi neighborhood. Guests enjoy a rooftop garden, spa and fitness center, and air conditioning. Nearby, ...

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Grand Hotel Villa Politi

This grand hotel is located near the historic archeological zone. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and spa. Nearby, you’ll find the Greek Theater of Sy...

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Excelsior Palace Hotel Taormina

This historic hotel is located in the city center. Guests enjoy an outdoor swimming pool, sun deck, and restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find Corso Umberto,...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

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Passport & visa requirements

In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for at least 1.5 hours daily across uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and unpaved roads.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Palermo and depart from Catania (or Rome on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
A flight from Catania to Rome is included in the price of your tour extension.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to Italy.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

Sicilian cuisine in particular is heavily influenced by Spanish, Greek, and Arab traditions. The Spanish brought New World influences to the region in the form of tomatoes, chocolate, and maize, while the Arab influence can be tasted in recipes that include rice, spinach, saffron, and citrus fruits. Regional specialties include arancini, cannoli, and granita.
For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.
On the tour extension, Roman food is typically freshly prepared and varies depending on the season. Must-try bites include cacio e pepe (a simple dish of pasta, cheese, and pepper) and supplí (a fried rice ball similar to Sicily’s arancini ).

Electricity & air conditioning

Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

Italy is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the euro on tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

Dates & prices

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202020212022

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2020

A Week in Sicily: Palermo, Syracuse & Taormina

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