14 Day Sicily Road Trip: The Best of the West
Sicily is one of the best places to visit in Italy and by far one of the best summer destinations in Europe. If you’re dreaming of soaking in the sun while enjoying an aperitivo at sunset on the beach, this 14 Day Sicily road trip has you covered.
Sicily is one of the two major islands in Italy. Also, Sicily is one of the best places to visit to experience Italian culture and cuisine. While the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites offer alpine adventure in the north, Sicily seduces with sun-soaked coastlines, ancient ruins, and food so good you’ll consider moving here right away.
In this 14 day Sicily road trip blog post, I cover the main highlights, landmarks, historical sites, beaches and much more in Western Sicily. But, if you have an extra week, I recommend exploring Eastern Sicily as well.
Overview: 14 Day Sicily Road Trip Itinerary
Our Sicily road trip adventure started and finished in Palermo, the capital of the island. We initially spent 3 days in Palermo, exploring its historic center, before collecting the rental car from the airport.
- Duration: 14 days (2 weeks)
- Starting and Ending Point: Palermo
- Distance Covered: 400 km
- Highlights: Palermo, Agrigento, Valle dei Templi, Scala dei Turchi, Sciacca, Marsala, Erice, San Vito Lo Capo, Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro
- Accommodation: we opted for a mix of Booking and Airbnb accommodations
- Best Time: late spring or early summer, although we visited end of July
Best Time to Visit Sicily
The best time to visit Sicily on a 2 weeks road trip is either in spring (April to June) or fall (September to October). The main reason for this is weather dependent. In fact, in spring and fall weather is pleasant with temperatures averaging 20°C (68 °F), making it perfect to explore Sicily.
On the other hand, summer in Sicily can be very crowded, especially in August. If your goal is relaxation, travel during the shoulder season, when popular tourist destinations are less crowded.
This being said, we visited Sicily end of July and despite the heat, we still managed to have a great holiday. But, our main holiday goal was not relaxing at the beach. In fact, our trip was more targeted to exploring archeological sites, learn about local habits and traditions.
Getting Around Sicily
One of the best parts about traveling to Sicily is getting around the island, exploring the small historical towns and stunning beaches. The ideal way to explore Sicily is therefore by car, especially on a road trip. Renting a car gives you the opportunity to visit both well-known sites as well as hidden gems. Below I list some key facts about driving in Sicily.
- Rental Car Tips: most cars in Sicily and Italy are manual, so if you’re used to drive automatic make sure to request it when booking your car. Keep in mind that usually automatic cars cost a bit more.
- Car Rental Insurance: even if it costs a bit more, always opt for a comprehensive car insurance. It is common that driving on narrow roads can lead to minor bumps and scratches.
- Driving License: if you’re visiting from outside the EU, you might need an International Driving Permit (IDP). Make sure you check it before flying to Sicily.
- Road Conditions: are generally good, but in smaller towns streets can be narrow and winding. I would recommend choosing a smaller rental car.
- Toll Roads: are mainly on highways that connect major cities. Alternatively, there are free side roads that require no payment.
- Parking: when visiting tourist centers park a little farther out and walk in. This will save you some stress of finding parking in the city centers, especially in the summer months. Also, remember that blue zone parking areas are paid.
Insider: when visiting Agrigento, we somehow managed to get stuck on a narrow, one-way road. In fact, this road was barely wide enough for one car and I had to do small maneuvers to get us out of there. On top of this, the car was manual! I don’t think I’ve ever been this stressed out.
Best Must-Try Food in Sicily
One of the highlights in Italy and Sicily specifically is food. Sicilian cuisine is fresh, rich and flavorful. On a trip to Italy, you should definitely not miss the amazing culinary scene in Sicily. Below I list some of my favorite dishes and desserts:
| Savory | Desserts |
|---|---|
| Arancini: deep-fried rice balls filled with cheese, minced meat or over stuffings; | Granita with brioche: must try sorbet-like drink available in many flavors with brioche bun |
| Caponata: sauteed eggplants with tomatoes, onions, capers, celery and olives; | Cannoli: my absolute favorite, curled pastry filled with sweet ricotta cheese; |
| Pasta dishes: truly everything is unbelievably good; | Cassata: sponge cake with sweet ricotta cheese and marzipan; |
Itinerary Overview: 14 Day Sicily Road Trip
Sicily is one of the best destinations in Italy and one of the most beautiful spots to visit to enjoy the Italian dolce vita. Below, I prepared an overview by day of my Sicily itinerary, including each stop, highlights and tips on how to make your trip to Italy perfect.
Days 1-3: Spend 3 days in Palermo
Palermo is a “fimmina” city, a town deeply inspired by women. From patron saints, to witches, and even poets, the city carries along the influence exercised by several women in its architecture, history, and literature. Moreover, even the food was not spared. While in the rest of the island the masculine form of arancino is used, here, however, you would say arancinA.
Walking around the city centre feels like being in another era. Indeed, the Arab-Norman influence is clear in the mosaics, arches, and domes. So, these features are seen in the sumptuous churches, ancient buildings, and palaces.
Main Attractions to Visit in Palermo
I recommend booking a walking tour around the city centre to better understand the history of Palermo. Moreover, these are some of the main attractions you should not miss:
- Palermo Cathedral: you can book a tour to go on the roof as well;
- Quattro Canti: square with four facades that represent the four seasons and carry a symbolic meaning;
- Piazza Bellini: square in the heart of the city, surrounded by sumptuous buildings;
- Martorana Church: beautiful medieval church with impressive mosaics;
- Norman Palace: also knows as the Royal Palace, not to miss is the Palatine Chapel;
- Teatro Massimo: third largest theater in Europe;
- The Capuchin Catacombs: underground cemetery with nearly 8,000 mummified remains (spooky);
- Ballaro or Capo markets: try some local food and experience the local traditions;
Take a Day Trip from Palermo
If you have some extra time, you can organize one of the many day trips from Palermo. Besides, the best part is that you don’t even have to drive there yourself, as they’re well connected by train and bus. For instance, two of my favorites are:
- Cefalu
How to get there: train from Palermo for approx. €10 and 1 hour of drive
What to do: head to the beach, explore the city centre and/or hike la Rocca for great views - Mondello Beach
How to get there: by bus from Palermo, approx. 30min
What to do: head to the beach and explore the Liberty style villas
Days 4-6: Drive to Agrigento and Spend 2 Days at the Beach
Continuing our Sicily road trip, we first headed through the interior of the island to the south. Then, near Agrigento, we walked around temples at sunset and reminisced about the history of the Greek-founded town. After that, we admired the shiny white cliff of Scala dei Turchi and finally dipped in the blue waters of the sea to cool off from the boiling sun.
Local Tip: I recommend visiting Valle dei Templi in the afternoon, when the heat starts coming down. This way you can also stop to admire the sunset.
Day 7: Drive to Sciacca and explore the small Sicilian town
Facing the sea, Sciacca is a picturesque town of many narrow roads and open squares. You can explore the city on foot, stop at the many shops in the squares and alleys, or enjoy some delicious food.
Days 8-11: Head to Marsala and stop overnight in Trapani
Our Sicily road trip took us next to the Marsala Stagnone Lagoon and Saline. Here, fields of salt of different shades stretch for as long as our eyes can see. As a matter of fact, the windmill and the nearby channel make it look like a postcard!
Heading west, Trapani is a strip of land between two seas. Notably, it faces the Egadi Islands and lies at the foot of Monte Erice.
One morning, we left early on a boat to reach Favignana, and then, we headed towards Levanzo. Tickets are readily available for purchase at the harbor in Trapani. Besides, the trip to the islands usually lasts an entire day.
We explored the islands on foot, but we also experienced its local traditions and enjoyed the Sicilian seasoned bread “pane cunzato” between a swim and another.
One of our favorite spots on this trip was definitely Erice. It is a medieval town that offers beautiful views over the sea, the islands, the Saline, and Trapani itself. To reach the top of the hill, you can either take the car or the cable car. Furthermore, we really enjoyed getting lost around the narrow streets. We admired the castle, the cathedral, and the many churches along the way.
Day 12: Stop for the day at San Vito Lo Capo
Bue Marino and San Vito lo Capo Beach were definitely not to be missed on this Sicily road trip! Firstly, you can go explore the crystal clear waters, surrounded by rocky cliffs and caves. Additionally, you can also sunbathe and relax on the soft sand.
Day 13: Hike in Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro
We could not have missed the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro on our Sicily road trip. If you’re doing this hike in summer, make sure you start early in the morning. Also, make sure you have enough water with you as there are no shops or refilling stations on the way.
At the trailhead, you will get a map with the main bays and routes you can choose from. Additionally, if you prefer, you can also arrange a boat tour instead. However, I would recommend walking at least part of it. Along the way, the views over the ocean are truly breathtaking. Furthermore, you can stop at multiple bays for a jump in the cool waters. Moreover, you can also opt for a slice of watermelon for a refreshing twist!
Day 14: Flight back home
We only wish we had more time to continuing our Sicily road trip. It’s the kind of place that leaves you wanting more. But like all great adventures, ours had to come to an end. Before catching our flight home, we dropped off the rental car at the airport, already dreaming about the next time we’d return.
