Sicilian Secrets: Self-Launched Edition

Arrive at Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) and take the Alibus shuttle (€4, ~20 mins) directly into the city centre — no private transfer needed. Check into a budget hotel or B&B near the historic centre, such as the area around Piazza del Duomo. Spend the afternoon exploring independently: wander Via Etnea, admire the Elephant Fountain, and explore the colourful La Pescheria fish market (mornings only, so aim to catch it the next morning if arriving late). In the evening, join the Catanese passeggiata and grab street food — arancini and granita are unmissable. Meeting with your fellow self-launched travellers at your accommodation or a local bar is a great way to kick off the adventure.

🚌Alibus airport shuttle to city centre: €4 (~£3.50). Walk everywhere in the centre.

🛏Budget hotel or B&B near Catania city centre, e.g. B&B Katane or similar (~£35-50/night)

• →Take the Alibus shuttle from Catania Airport to city centre (~€4)
• →Explore Piazza del Duomo and the Elephant Fountain (free)
• →Wander Via Etnea — Catania's main shopping street (free)
• →Try street food: arancini, granita, and cannoli at local stalls (~€5-8)
• →Stroll the Baroque city centre — a UNESCO World Heritage Site (free)

Take an early Interbus or FlixBus coach from Catania to Syracuse (~1.5 hrs, ~£5-8). Head straight to the Archaeological Park of Neapolis to see the Greek Theatre and Ear of Dionysius — buy tickets on-site (~€16). Then cross the bridge to Ortigia island, Syracuse's stunning old town: explore the Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral (built inside a Greek temple), and grab lunch at one of the harbour-side trattorias. In the afternoon, catch a local bus or taxi (~30 mins) to Noto to admire its honey-stone Baroque architecture — the main Corso Vittorio Emanuele is free to stroll. In the evening, take an Interbus coach to Ragusa (~1.5 hrs, ~£6) and check in. Dinner at a local trattoria.

🚌Interbus Catania–Syracuse: ~£6. Local bus/taxi Syracuse–Noto: ~£4. Interbus Noto–Ragusa: ~£6.

🛏Budget hotel or B&B in Ragusa, e.g. La Piazzetta B&B or similar (~£35-45/night)

• →Interbus/FlixBus from Catania to Syracuse (~£5-8)
• →Archaeological Park of Neapolis — Greek Theatre & Ear of Dionysius (~€16/£14, book via GetYourGuide for skip-the-line)
• →Explore Ortigia old town and Syracuse Cathedral (free to walk, Cathedral entry ~€2)
• →Lunch in Ortigia at a harbour trattoria (~£10-14)
• →Bus or shared taxi Syracuse to Noto (~£3-5)
• →Stroll Noto's Baroque Corso Vittorio Emanuele (free)
• →Interbus from Noto to Ragusa (~£6)

Start the morning in Ragusa Ibla — the lower Baroque town which is a UNESCO site. Walk down the steps and explore the Ibleo Garden and the Church of San Giorgio (free to walk around, ~£2 entry for church). Pick up local products — Modica chocolate is world-famous and makes a great breakfast snack. Catch a local bus to Modica (~20 mins, ~£2) and explore its extraordinary stacked Baroque architecture. Buy Modica chocolate directly from a local chocolatier (Antica Dolceria Bonajuto is the oldest). Then take a bus or shared transfer towards Piazza Armerina to visit the Villa Romana del Casale, famous for its extraordinary Roman mosaics (entry ~€12). Note: public transport here is limited — consider a day-trip shared minibus from Ragusa (bookable via GetYourGuide, ~£25-35 including transport and entry). In the evening, continue by bus or shared shuttle to Agrigento and check in.

🚌Local bus Ragusa–Modica: ~£2. Shared minibus/tour to Piazza Armerina: included in day trip (~£25-35). Bus to Agrigento: ~£10.

🛏Budget hotel or B&B in Agrigento, e.g. Hotel Akrabello or similar (~£35-50/night)

• →Explore Ragusa Ibla and Ibleo Garden (free)
• →Visit Church of San Giorgio, Ragusa Ibla (~£2 entry)
• →Bus from Ragusa to Modica (~£2)
• →Explore Modica's Baroque UNESCO sites and buy local chocolate (~£5-10)
• →Shared minibus day trip to Villa Romana del Casale including entry (~£25-35 via GetYourGuide)
• →Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina (~€12/£10 entry if going independently)
• →Bus or shared shuttle to Agrigento (~£8-12)

Rise early for the Valley of the Temples — one of the greatest Greek archaeological sites in the world. Buy your ticket at the gate (~€15) or book in advance via GetYourGuide. The temples of Concordia, Juno, and Hercules are staggering at any hour but golden in the morning light. After the Valley, take the intercity bus from Agrigento to Marsala (~2.5 hrs, ~£10-12 via Autolinee Lumia). In Marsala, join a winery tour and tasting — Cantina Florio or Cantine Pellegrino both offer excellent tastings bookable directly or via GetYourGuide (~£12-18). Then head to the Via del Sale (Salt Road) and the Stagnone nature reserve for beautiful saline landscapes and a historic windmill. In the late afternoon, catch a bus or train to Palermo (~1.5 hrs, ~£6-8) and check in.

🚌Bus Agrigento–Marsala: ~£11. Bus/train Marsala–Palermo: ~£7.

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Palermo city centre, e.g. Hostel Palermo or Al Giardino dell'Alloro (~£30-45/night)

• →Valley of the Temples, Agrigento: Temples of Concordia, Juno & Hercules (~€15/£13 entry)
• →Intercity bus Agrigento to Marsala (~£10-12 via Autolinee Lumia)
• →Winery tour and Marsala wine tasting at Cantina Florio or Cantine Pellegrino (~£12-18, book direct or GetYourGuide)
• →Walk the Via del Sale and visit the Stagnone salt marshes and windmill (free or ~£2 entry)
• →Bus or train Marsala to Palermo (~£6-8)

Palermo is one of Italy's most captivating cities — a feast of Norman, Arab, Byzantine and Baroque architecture, and a street food culture unlike anywhere else in Europe. Take bus 389 from central Palermo up to Monreale (~30 mins, ~£1.50) to visit the extraordinary Monreale Cathedral and its gold Byzantine mosaics (entry ~€5) and the adjoining Cloister (~€6). Back in Palermo, explore the Palermo Cathedral (free exterior, ~€5 for roof access), the Byzantine Church of the Martorana (entry ~£3), and the dazzling Palatine Chapel inside the Norman Palace (entry ~€12, book in advance). In the afternoon, dive into Palermo's legendary street food scene: head to the Ballarò or Capo markets and try panelle, sfincione, pani câ meusa (spleen sandwich), and arancini. Round off with a cannolo from a local pasticceria.

🚌Bus to/from Monreale: ~£3 return. Walking within Palermo centre.

🛏Same budget hotel/hostel in Palermo (~£30-45/night)

• →Bus 389 from Palermo to Monreale (~£1.50 each way)
• →Monreale Cathedral and Byzantine mosaics (~€5/£4.50 entry)
• →Monreale Cloister (~€6/£5 entry)
• →Palermo Cathedral — exterior free, rooftop ~€5/£4.50
• →Church of the Martorana (~£3 entry)
• →Palatine Chapel, Norman Palace (~€12/£10, book in advance via official site or GetYourGuide)
• →Street food tour of Ballarò or Capo market (self-guided, budget ~£10-15 for tasting)
• →Cannolo at a local pasticceria (~£2-3)

Check out and make your way to Palermo Falcone–Borsellino Airport independently. The Prestia e Comande express bus runs every 30 minutes from the city centre to the airport (~45 mins, ~€6.30). If you have time before your flight, grab a final Sicilian breakfast — brioche col tuppo and granita at a local bar near your hotel. Sicily will have you planning your return before you've even reached the departure gate.

🚌Prestia e Comande bus to Palermo Airport: ~£5.50.

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Sicilian breakfast: brioche and granita at a local bar (~£4-6)
• →Prestia e Comande airport express bus from city centre to Palermo Airport (~€6.30/£5.50)