14-Day Sicily Road Trip – The Best of the West

Whether you’ve seen The White Lotus or dream of an Italian holiday, this 14-Day Sicily Road Trip is for you. This post will revisit main landmarks, beaches, and historical sites in Western Sicily. But, if you have an extra week, I recommend exploring Eastern Sicily too.

Sicily is one of the two major islands in Italy. It is also one of the best places to visit to experience the Italian culture and cuisine. Be warned though, food is so good that you think of moving here right away.

Table of contents

Sicily Road Trip Itinerary & Map

Our adventure started and finished in Palermo, the capital of the island. First, we took an inland flight into the main airport. Then, we rented a car for our Sicily road trip.

Also, you can visit parts of the island by relying on public transportation only. Nevertheless, for a better experience, I recommend renting a car.

Best Sicilian Food

You can’t visit Sicily and not try all the amazing food this island has to offer. To begin with, below are some of my favorite dishes and desserts:

Savory food:

• Arancini: deep-fried rice balls filled with cheese, minced meat or over stuffings;
• Caponata: sauteed eggplants with tomatoes, onions, capers, celery and olives;
• Pasta dishes: truly everything is unbelievably good;

Desserts:

• Granita with brioche: must try sorbet-like drink available in many flavors with brioche bun;
• Cannoli: my absolute favorite, curled pastry filled with sweet ricotta cheese;
• Cassata: sponge cake with sweet ricotta cheese and marzipan;

DAYS 1-3: 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.

Palermo Main Attraction

I recommend booking a walking tour around the city centre to better understand the history of the place. Moreover, these are some of the main attractions you should not miss:

1. Palermo Cathedral: you can book a tour to go on the roof as well;
2. Quattro Canti: square with four facades that represent the four seasons and carry a symbolic meaning;
3. Piazza Bellini: square in the heart of the city, surrounded by sumptuous buildings;
4. Martorana Church: beautiful medieval church with impressive mosaics;
5. Norman Palace: also knows as the Royal Palace, not to miss is the Palatine Chapel;
6. Teatro Massimo: third largest theater in Europe;
7. The Capuchin Catacombs: underground cemetery with nearly 8,000 mummified remains (spooky);
8. Ballaro or Capo markets: try some local food and experience the local traditions;

Day Trips from Palermo

If you have some extra time, there are multiple day trips you can arrange. Besides, the best part is that you don’t even have to drive there yourself. For instance, two of my favorites are:

1. 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
2. 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: Agrigento area

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.

DAY 7: Sciacca

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: Marsala & 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 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: 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: Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro

We could not have missed the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro on our Sicily road trip. Although I would recommend to take this hike when temperatures are not too high, starting early is another good option. 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 purely 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 would have wished to spend more time on this Sicily road trip. Still, our holiday had to come to an end. Before taking the plane back home, we returned the car at the airport.

Frequently asked questions

1. How can I plan my visit in Palermo?
   We opted for a Free Walking Tour, which gave us an introduction to the history and traditions of the city. But, there are many other options and tours you can choose from. Also, exploring on your own can offer unique experiences that structured tours might not cover.
2. What is the best time to visit Sicily?
   We went in July and it was quite hot. Nevertheless, we planned many visits closer to sunset, such as Valle dei Templi. Also, we avoided lying in the sun during the warmest times of the day. Moreover, August is the busiest month in Italy. Aside from that, I believe any time is a good time to visit Sicily.
3. Can I visit Western Sicily by public transportation?
   You can cover some stretches by using either buses or trains. For example, you can travel from Palermo to Cefalu or from Trapani to Erice. But, it will take you longer and logistics might be more complicated.