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The Sicilian sun shines light on a different side of Italy.
In the midst of the Mediterranean, discover an island with personality all its own—full of flavor and teeming with one-of-a-kind art and architecture. From multicultural Palermo to breathtaking Taormina, each stop on this tour of Sicily reveals unexpected treasures.
Your tour package includes
10 nights in handpicked hotels
10 breakfasts
4 dinners with beer or wine
1 wine tasting
1 food tasting
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Included highlights
Cappella Palatina
Monreale Cathedral
Agrigento's Greek ruins
Piazza Armerina
Syracuse Cathedral
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Start planning today
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Welcome to Italy! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers 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
Day 4: Free day in Palermo
Included meal: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day in Palermo or add an excursion.
Ancient Ruins: Segesta & Erice
From $119 per person
Enna Region1 night
Day 5: Enna Region via Agrigento
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel south through the Sicilian countryside to Agrigento for a guided walking tour of the city’s fascinating Greek ruins.
Continue on to the Enna region and sit down for an included dinner.
Syracuse4 nights
Day 6: 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 Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Sit down for an included dinner this evening.
Day 7: 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
Day 8: Free day in Syracuse
Included meal: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day in Syracuse or add an excursion.
Traditions of Sicily: Villa Lunch & Noto Village
From $125 per person
Day 9: Modica & sightseeing tour of Ragusa
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting, Wine tasting
Head out into the Sicilian countryside today.
Make a stop in the city of Modica for a tasting at the oldest chocolate shop in Sicily
Head to the hilltop town of Ragusa for a tour with a local guide
Stroll through Ragusa Ibla, the UNESCO-protected old town, past Baroque-style palaces and churches
Step inside a local shop for a tasting of Cerasuolo di Vittoria wine
Taormina Region2 nights
Day 10: 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.
Enjoy views of Mount Etna, Taormina Cathedral, and Palazzo Corvaja, seat of the first Sicilian parliament
Visit the town’s 2nd-century Greek theater
Enjoy a free evening in the Taormina region or add an excursion.
Traditional Sicilian Dinner & Wine Tasting
From $109 per person
Day 11: Free day in the Taormina Region
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Enjoy a free day in the Taormina region or add an excursion.
This evening, celebrate your trip with your group during a farewell dinner.
Mount Etna: Sicily's Volcanic Landscapes
From $95 per person
Flight Home
Day 12: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the Catania airport for your flight home or extend your stay in Taormina.
Extension to Taormina Region
“Picturesque” is the word that springs to mind when we think of the Taormina region’s pretty piazzas and ocean vistas (although “jaw-dropping” and “mesmerizing” work, too). Extend your stay in Sicily to soak in more of this lovely locale with your Tour Director by your side.
Taormina Region2 nights
Day 12: Free day in the Taormina Region
Included meal: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day in the Taormina region or add an excursion.
Hidden Sicily: Medieval Savoca & Forza d’Agrò
From $65 per person
Day 13: Free day in the Taormina Region
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend a free day in the Taormina region or add an excursion.
This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Museo Storico dello Sbarco & Historic Catania
From $65 per person
Flight Home
Day 14: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the Catania airport for your flight home.
That's all it takes to secure your spot on tour with AutoPay. Then, pay for your trip in interest-free, monthly installments.†
Reviews
4.7 star rating
Overall rating 4.7 out of 5
Based on 270 authentic traveler reviews
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5.0 star rating
Sicily, A Cultural Journey
10/19/23 by 5th-time traveler Janet
Best Italy tour ever, traveling to Sicily’s most interesting places with our wonderful tour guide, Carmelo. I learned so much about the complex history of Sicily. Such a beautiful country! Started in Palermo and ended in Taormina. So beautiful.
Visited the WWII Museum in Catania. Please make this ...
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5.0 star rating
Sicily
10/19/23 by 5th-time traveler Kenneth
A great trip with a lots of history. Our director Carmelo made it extra special. He is by far the best we have had. Salvatore the bus driver was extra special too.
5.0 star rating
10/19/23 by 1st-time traveler Bernie
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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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Federico II Palace Hotel
This countryside hotel is located in Enna. Guests enjoy the indoor and outdoor pools, spa and elegant on-site restaurant. Nearby you’ll find the Vallo...
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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
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.
Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code SFS.
You will walk for about 1.5 hours daily across uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and unpaved roads, at high altitudes.
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
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Palermo and depart from Catania. A representative from Go AheadTours 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.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Airlines have varying weight restrictions on baggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs.
Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that our travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
One carry-on bag of 45 total inches (length + width + height) is also permitted.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
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).
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code SFS.
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.
The cuisine of Southern Italy is often what diners think of when imagining Italian flavors—pasta with tomato sauces, olives and olive oil, zucchini, veal, and fish are all featured prominently on menus throughout the region.
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_.
Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and use 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 hotel may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
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.
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 $8USD 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.
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 optional 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.
International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.
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