Sicily Grand Tour — Self-Launched

Fly into Catania (CTA) and take the Alibus shuttle or local bus 457 into the centre (~£4, 30 mins). Check into a budget guesthouse in the historic centre near Via Etnea. Spend the evening wandering Piazza del Duomo, Via Crociferi and the baroque streets around the Roman theatre, then eat a cheap pasta alla Norma or street-food arancino (from ~£4).

🚌Local airport bus (~£4)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel dorm in Catania historic centre (~£22-30)

• →Airport bus transfer to Catania centre
• →Evening orientation walk of Piazza del Duomo
• →Street food dinner (arancini, granita)

Book a half-day Etna tour independently through GetYourGuide or Klook (shared minibus from Catania, ~£40-55 including the Sapienza cable car area and some walking) or take the AST bus toward Rifugio Sapienza (~£7) and pay locally for the cable car + 4x4 to the crater zone (~£60). Optional Etna DOC wine and cheese tasting at a local cantina (~£25). Back in Catania for dinner.

🚌Shared minibus tour or AST public bus to Rifugio Sapienza

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel dorm in Catania (~£22-30)

• →Guided or self-organised walk on Mount Etna's volcanic slopes
• →Optional cable car + 4x4 to crater zone
• →Optional Etna DOC wine and cheese tasting

Morning self-guided walk through Catania's fish market (La Pescheria, busiest before 10am) and the baroque centre. In the afternoon take the train or Interbus to Syracuse (~1.5 hrs, ~£7). Check in near Ortygia and do a free/short orientation walk. Join a two-hour GetYourGuide walking tour of Ortygia and the Duomo (~£20) or just explore independently with a podcast guide.

🚌Trenitalia regional train or Interbus (~£7)

🛏Hostel or budget B&B in Syracuse/Ortygia (~£25-35)

• →Catania fish market and baroque centre walk
• →Train to Syracuse
• →Ortygia orientation walk / optional local guide

Day to explore Syracuse independently. Buy a combined ticket for the Neapolis Archaeological Park (Greek Theatre, Roman amphitheatre, Ear of Dionysius, ~£12) — a self-guided audio tour is ~£5. Afternoon options: Paolo Orsi archaeological museum (~£7), Catacombs of San Giovanni (~£7), or laze at Ortygia's Piazza del Duomo with a granita. In summer check if the Greek Theatre Festival is on — book direct via the festival website.

🚌Walking / local bus

🛏Hostel or budget B&B in Syracuse/Ortygia (~£25-35)

• →Neapolis Archaeological Park self-guided visit
• →Optional Paolo Orsi museum
• →Optional Catacombs of San Giovanni
• →Evening in Ortygia

Train to Noto (~35 mins, ~£4) and walk the golden baroque centre and Cattedrale di San Nicolò. Continue by bus/train toward Ragusa (~2-3 hrs via Modica or Siracusa, ~£8). Check in, then walk over to Ragusa Ibla across the Santa Maria delle Scale stairs — the baroque old town and Duomo di San Giorgio are outstanding at golden hour.

🚌Trenitalia regional train + AST bus (~£12)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Ragusa/Ragusa Ibla (~£28-38)

• →Noto baroque town walk
• →Local bus/train connections
• →Ragusa Ibla walk and viewpoints

Morning bus or train to Modica (~30 mins) for the baroque San Giorgio church and the famous Antica Dolceria Bonajuto chocolate shop (tasting free/small fee ~£4). Then head onward to Piazza Armerina by bus (~3 hrs with a change, ~£10). Arrive in the evening for a wander through the medieval centre.

🚌Local bus/train connections (~£12)

🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Piazza Armerina (~£28-38)

• →Modica baroque walk
• →Chocolate tasting at Antica Dolceria Bonajuto
• →Evening walk in Piazza Armerina

The Villa Romana del Casale — with its extraordinary Roman mosaics — is the day's highlight. Shuttle bus or taxi from Piazza Armerina (~£4 each way) and an entry ticket (~£10). Take a self-guided audio tour (~£5) or join a small local guide group at the site. Optional afternoon trip to the archaeological site of Morgantina (~£8 entry, taxi ~£25 return shared).

🚌Local shuttle bus or shared taxi (~£8)

🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Piazza Armerina (~£28-38)

• →Villa Romana del Casale visit
• →Optional Morgantina archaeological site

Bus to Agrigento (~2.5 hrs, ~£10). Spend the afternoon in the Valley of the Temples — combined ticket ~£14, audio guide ~£5, or a GetYourGuide small-group tour ~£25. Then continue by train or bus to Castelvetrano/Selinunte (~3 hrs, ~£10) and check in near the coast.

🚌Local bus + train (~£20)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel near Selinunte/Marinella (~£30-40)

• →Valley of the Temples self-guided visit
• →Travel to Selinunte area

Explore the vast Selinunte archaeological site (~£10 entry) in the morning. Then travel via Mazara del Vallo to Marsala and take the ferry to Mozia island (~£7 return including the Whitaker Museum). Continue on to Erice by bus via Trapani (~£8) and spend the evening strolling this medieval hilltop town in the cool air.

🚌Local bus + ferry (~£15)

🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Erice/Trapani (~£32-45)

• →Selinunte archaeological park
• →Ferry to Mozia and museum visit
• →Evening walk in Erice's medieval lanes

Early bus down to the coast and into the Zingaro Nature Reserve for the half-day coastal trail (~£7 entry) with a swim at one of the coves. From Scopello/Trapani take the bus to Segesta (~£4) to see the Doric temple and Greek theatre (~£10 entry). Then continue by bus/train to Palermo (~1.5-2 hrs, ~£7).

🚌Local buses + train (~£18)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in central Palermo (~£28-40)

• →Zingaro Nature Reserve coastal walk and swim
• →Segesta temple and Greek theatre
• →Travel to Palermo

Start with a self-booked Palermo walking tour (GetYourGuide ~£20) covering Quattro Canti, Pretoria Square, Marina Square, the cathedral and the Palermo markets — or do it independently. In the afternoon take bus 389 or the AMAT bus to Monreale (~£3 return) to see the golden Norman cathedral mosaics and cloister (~£10). Back in Palermo for street food dinner at Ballarò.

🚌Local bus to Monreale (~£3)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in central Palermo (~£28-40)

• →Palermo historic centre walking tour
• →Monreale Cathedral and cloister
• →Evening street food at Ballarò market

Morning exploring Palermo's markets (Capo, Vucciria, Ballarò) and any sites you missed. Then take the regional train along the coast to Cefalù (~1 hr, ~£6) — one of Sicily's prettiest train journeys. Settle in and enjoy a sunset swim at the town beach.

🚌Trenitalia regional train (~£6)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Cefalù (~£28-40)

• →Palermo market wandering
• →Coastal train to Cefalù
• →Beach swim

Visit the Norman cathedral with its Byzantine mosaics (free) and climb the Rocca hilltop (~£5) for the best views of the coast. Optional Museo Mandralisca (~£6). Afternoon for the beach and harbour-side seafood lunch.

🚌Walking

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Cefalù (~£28-40)

• →Cefalù Cathedral
• →Rocca climb for panoramic views
• →Optional Museo Mandralisca
• →Beach relaxation

Train from Cefalù to Taormina-Giardini (~2.5 hrs, ~£11). Shuttle bus up to Taormina town (~£2) and check in. See the famous Greek Theatre (~£12 entry, go late afternoon for Etna backdrops), then wander Corso Umberto. Positano-style aperitivo and dinner, or walk down to Isola Bella for a swim.

🚌Trenitalia regional train (~£11)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Taormina/Giardini Naxos (~£30-45)

• →Train to Taormina
• →Greek Theatre of Taormina
• →Corso Umberto walk
• →Optional Isola Bella beach

Optional morning walk or bus up to hilltop Castelmola (~£3 return) for one last panorama. Then head to Catania Fontanarossa airport (Interbus/SAIS ~£6, ~1 hr from Taormina-Giardini) for your flight home, or extend your stay.

🚌Interbus/SAIS to Catania airport (~£6)

🛏—

• →Optional Castelmola walk
• →Transfer to Catania airport