Best of Sicily — Self-Launched
8 days · Sicily, Italy
G Adventures charges £1,650
No-markup version: ~£598 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day independent loop of Sicily from Catania — Palermo's chaotic markets and Monreale's golden mosaics, the UNESCO Baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica and Scicli, wine and chocolate tastings in the Hyblaean hills, Syracuse's Greco-Roman seafront, a night in an Etna farmhouse, and a hike across the lava flows of Mt Etna. All done with regional buses and trains, hostel/guesthouse beds and self-booked tastings and guided hikes, for roughly a third of the group tour price. Costs are approximate estimates based on current budget-traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Catania — Baroque backstreets and street food
Catania
Fly into Catania Fontanarossa and take the Alibus into the city centre (€4, every ~25 min, ~25 min to Stazione Centrale), then walk or hop a local bus to your guesthouse near Via Etnea. Check in, then head out for an easy self-guided wander: Piazza del Duomo with the black-lava elephant fountain, the fish market (La Pescheria) if you're there in the morning, Via Crociferi's Baroque churches and the Roman theatre ruins tucked behind the shops. Dinner is arancini, pasta alla Norma and a glass of Etna Rosso.
🚌Alibus airport bus €4 + walking
🛏Central guesthouse or hostel private double near Via Etnea (~£30-40/night)
- →Self-guided walk of Piazza del Duomo and Via Crociferi
- →La Pescheria fish market (mornings)
- →Roman theatre (Teatro Romano) — ~€6
- →Street food dinner: arancini, pasta alla Norma
Bus to Palermo — orientation walk and street markets
Palermo
Morning bus or train to Palermo (SAIS or Interbus from Catania, ~2h45-3h30, €14-19; trains also run but are slower and less frequent). Drop bags at your hostel near the Quattro Canti, then do a free self-guided orientation loop: Quattro Canti, the Fontana Pretoria, the Cathedral and the Norman Palace exterior. Late afternoon, dive into the Ballarò or Vucciria street markets for pane e panelle, sfincione and cheap wine — the closest thing to a guided market visit you'll get, and better. Palermo's free walking tours (tip-based, ~€10-15 tip) run daily if you want the history explained.
🚌SAIS/Interbus Catania–Palermo ~€16
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Palermo old town (~£28-38/night)
- →Self-guided old town orientation walk
- →Ballarò and Vucciria street markets
- →Optional tip-based free walking tour (~€12 tip)
- →Palermo Cathedral (free entry to church)
Monreale mosaics and La Conca d'Oro
Monreale / Palermo
Take local AMAT bus 389 or the shuttle from Piazza Indipendenza up to Monreale (~30-40 min, ~€2 each way, or a shared taxi from the station). The Cathedral's 6,000 sq m of gold mosaics are the highlight of the trip — entry to the church is free, the cloisters and roof terrace cost a few euros. Walk to the terrace viewpoints over La Conca d'Oro valley and the citrus groves below. Back in Palermo by mid-afternoon: the Capuchin Catacombs (€3) are a genuinely creepy hour well spent, then a slow evening in Piazza San Domenico or along the seafront at Mondello if you fancy a swim.
🚌Local bus Palermo–Monreale ~€4 return
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Palermo old town (~£28-38/night)
- →Monreale Cathedral mosaics (church free, cloisters ~€6)
- →Conca d'Oro valley viewpoints
- →Capuchin Catacombs visit ~€3
- →Optional beach trip to Mondello
South to Ragusa Ibla — Baroque lanes and wine tasting
Ragusa
Travel south by bus (SAIS or AST Palermo–Ragusa via Catania, roughly 4-5 hours with a change, ~€20-25; or take the train to Ragusa with a change at Modica, ~€18, scenic but slow). Base yourself in Ragusa Ibla, the lower old town, which is UNESCO-listed for its Baroque architecture. Late afternoon self-guided walk: the Duomo di San Giorgio, the Giardino Ibleo with its valley views, and the stepped lanes of Ibla. Book a wine tasting directly with a local cantina or enoteca in Ibla (~€20-30 including Etna/Nero d'Avola wines and local snacks) — small family cellars in the area are happy to take direct bookings by phone or email.
🚌Intercity bus or train to Ragusa ~€20
🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Ragusa Ibla (~£32-42/night)
- →Self-guided Ragusa Ibla walk
- →Duomo di San Giorgio and Giardino Ibleo
- →Direct-booked wine tasting with local snacks ~€25
- →Evening passeggiata in Ibla
Modica chocolate, Scicli and on to Syracuse
Modica / Scicli / Syracuse
Short local bus or train to Modica (~30 min, €2-3). Walk the historic centre — the Duomo di San Giorgio climbing the hillside is a stunner — and self-book a chocolate tasting at one of the historic dolcerie (Antica Dolceria Bonajuto runs short tastings/visits, ~€10-15; just turn up or email ahead). Carry on to Scicli by bus (~30 min, €2), another Baroque gem where Montalbano was filmed — climb to the Church of San Matteo for the view. Then continue by bus or train to Syracuse (~1h30, €7-8). Check in on Ortigia island and eat seafood by the water.
🚌Local buses/trains Ragusa–Modica–Scicli–Syracuse ~€12 total
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse on Ortigia, Syracuse (~£35-45/night)
- →Modica historic centre walk
- →Chocolate tasting at Antica Dolceria Bonajuto ~€12
- →Scicli and Church of San Matteo viewpoint
- →Ortigia evening wander
Syracuse's Greek ruins, then an Etna farmhouse
Syracuse / Randazzo
Free morning in Syracuse: the Neapolis Archaeological Park with its Greek theatre (€13, or €17 combined ticket), the Paolo Orsi museum, the Duomo built into an ancient temple, and a swim off Ortigia's rocks at Cala Rossa. After lunch, catch the bus/train north towards Catania and on to Randazzo (via Catania, roughly 3-4h, ~€15-18). Randazzo sits in the lava fields on Etna's north flank. Book a night at an agriturismo or farmhouse stay directly (Interhome/Booking or the farm's own website, ~£40-55) — many include a home-cooked dinner of local produce, mushrooms, sausages and Etna wine for ~€25-30.
🚌Bus/train Syracuse–Catania–Randazzo ~€17
🛏Farmhouse agriturismo near Randazzo (~£45/night)
- →Neapolis Archaeological Park (Greek theatre) ~€13
- →Duomo di Siracusa and Ortigia swim
- →Farmhouse dinner with local produce ~€28
Mt Etna hike and back to Catania
Mt Etna / Catania
Get up early. From Randazzo, local buses or a shared transfer reach the Rifugio Sapienza / Piano Provenzana trailheads (~€5-10, or a taxi/transfer ~€25 split between a few travellers). Hike the south side past lava flows on the marked Sentiero dei Crateri Silvestri and the 2001/2002 lava front — free, self-guided, 2-4 hours depending on how far you go; sturdy shoes and a windproof layer are essential as weather turns fast. For the summit craters you must go with a licensed Etna guide (book via GetYourGuide or the Funivia dell'Etna directly, ~€65-90 including cable car, weather permitting). Then bus back to Catania (~1h30, €4-6) for a final night of pasta and gelato.
🚌Local bus/transfer to Etna trailhead ~€8 + bus to Catania ~€5
🛏Central guesthouse or hostel private double in Catania (~£30-40/night)
- →Self-guided Etna lava flow hike (free)
- →Optional guided summit trek with cable car ~€75
- →Final evening in Catania
Depart Catania
Catania
Last espresso and a cornetto at a standing bar, maybe a quick morning stop at the Cathedral or the Bellini gardens, then take the Alibus back to the airport (€4). Depart at any time.
🚌Alibus to airport €4
🛏—
- →Morning espresso and cornetto
- →Optional Catania Cathedral visit (free)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£598 | £1,650 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,052 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£598
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Best of Sicily — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £598 per person for 8 days in Sicily, Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £598 — a saving of roughly £1,052 (64%) per person.
How long is the Sicily, Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Sicily, Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, hiking trip through Sicily, Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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