Palermo Trip Overview
A perfect occasion to enjoy the highlights of the beautiful Sicilian island in private, for max 8 people with transportation and English-speaking tour guides included. A luxury experience that will acquaint you with the Unesco world heritage sites of Agrigento and Syracuse as well as delight your palate with delicious food tastings and cooking classes. This five star tour experience, will guarantee you a full immersion in the culture and traditions of Sicily with the privilege of skipping lines, enjoying transfers in private deluxe minivans and having professional tour guides at your complete disposal during the whole trip.
Additional Info
Duration: 5 days
Starts: Palermo, Italy
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Palermo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Palermo, Province of Palermo, Italy
A perfect occasion to enjoy the highlights of the beautiful Sicilian island in private, for max 8 people with transportation and English-speaking tour guides included. A luxury experience that will acquaint you with the Unesco world heritage sites of Agrigento and Syracuse as well as delight your palate with delicious food tastings and cooking classes. This five star tour experience, will guarantee you a full immersion in the culture and traditions of Sicily with the privilege of skipping lines, enjoying transfers in private deluxe minivans and having professional tour guides at your complete disposal during the whole trip.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Baroque Palermo
Stop At: Monreale, Monreale, Province of Palermo, Sicily
Upon arrival in Sicily, your English-speaking guide and driver will greet you at the airport of Palermo. Have a private transfer from Palermo airport to Monreale and enjoy the guided visit of the magnificent Norman Cathedral, known as one of the best displays of sacred architecture with its stunning painting of Christ Pantocrator.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Palermo, Palermo, Province of Palermo, Sicily
Reach Palermo: have a fast check-in at your hotel and enjoy a guided tour of the historic city center of Palermo with the incredible Arab-Norman circuit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Palermo boasts more than 2700 years of history and a unique richness of art and culture.
It was founded by the Phoenicians and became a strategic location for Greeks and Romans; then it was beautified by Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Swabians, Angioins, Spanish and French.
Discover many important attractions such as the Cathedral, Piazza Pretoria, “Quattro Canti”, Church of Gesù, the numerous outdoor markets, the Massimo Opera House (featured in The Godfather part 3) and many more interesting sites as you make your way through the famous old city-center of Palermo.
Palermo’s heritage is also greatly reflected in the city’s many culinary delights. This cultural walk gives you the opportunity to taste some of Palermo’s most unique street foods right in the heart of the city: Palermo is ranked 5th among the world’s best cities for quality of street food!
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation in centrally located 4 stars **** hotel in Palermo
Day 2: Full Day Trip to Caccamo and Cefalù
Stop At: Caccamo, Caccamo, Province of Palermo, Sicily
Meet your driver and your English-speaking guide and move to Caccamo, to get out from the classic tourist patterns and breathe the atmosphere of a medieval town.
Enjoy a guided visit of the medieval castle of Caccamo. The “unconquered fortress”, built by Normans directly on a rocky outcrop about 1000 years ago, it is the largest in the island and has breathtaking views.
Then meet Maria, an authentic Sicilian housewife and engage in a hands-on cooking class at her welcoming country house.
Maria will instruct you in the preparation of traditional Sicilian recipes including fresh pasta, parmigiana, Norma sauce and other family cooking secrets. You will also enjoy the delicious Sicilian olive oil with traditional bread and some cheese.
Since the lunch includes a endless-course Sicilian menu, this is one of the best cooking classes in Sicily…
Be ready to enjoy yourself to the fullest!
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Cefalu, Cefalu, Province of Palermo, Sicily
After lunch time move to Cefalù and spend a couple of hours visiting the old city center of this nice medieval town: relax on its beautiful beach or walk through the narrow streets that lead to the Norman Cathedral, built in 1131.
Return to your hotel in Palermo in the late afternoon.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch: The lunch includes an endless-course Sicilian menu.
Accommodation included: Accommodation in centrally located 4 stars **** hotel in Palermo
Day 3: Scala dei Turchi, Valley of Temples, Ragusa and Syracuse
Stop At: Scala dei Turchi, 92010, Realmonte, Sicily Italy
After breakfast meet your driver and your English-speaking guide at your accommodation in Palermo and depart to the Scala dei Turchi, an astonishing white cliff with one of the most beautiful Sicily beaches.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Valle dei Templi, Piazza Archeologica 1 Via Panoramica Dei Templi, 92100, Agrigento, Sicily Italy
Visit the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento, an archaeological park included in the Unesco Heritage Site list since 1997. Spend a couple of hours while walking through the park. Discover the magnificent temples dedicated to the Greek Gods, such as the Temple of Juno and the Temple of Concordia, one of the best examples of Doric art in the world.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Ragusa Ibla, 97100, Ragusa, Sicily Italy
Depart to Ragusa Ibla. Enjoy a guided visit of this stunning village (also a Unesco Sites), and discover the unique architectural phenomenon in the world, the Val di Noto Baroque. We will show you a timeless Sicily in a maze of narrow cobbled streets, churches, palaces from the 17th century: the most of them are adorned with capitals made of stone and inlaid by the hands of skilled craftsmen.
Then it’s off to reach the east side of Sicily and check-in at your hotel in Ortigia, the old city center of Syracuse (Unesco site).
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch: Enjoy a typical Sicilian lunch at one of the best restaurants in front of the Valley of the Temples
Accommodation included: Accommodation in centrally located 4 stars **** hotel in Ortigia, Syracuse
Day 4: Mount Etna, Wine tour and Taormina
Stop At: Mount Etna, 95030 Catania, Sicily Italy
After breakfast you will depart to Mt. Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe (10.922 ft). It was added to the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites.
A guided tour to Etna volcano combine a pleasant walk to admire stunning landscapes, extinguished craters and the signs of last eruptions. (Supplement for funny 4×4 off-road adventure with guided visit of a lave cave).
At lunchtime you will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the best wine tours in Sicily: you will discover and incredible Sicilian winery on the slopes of the volcano, surrounded by vineyards and fascinating natural environment.
An enologist-sommelier will show you the old cellar where the refined Mount Etna wine is aged. You will then enjoy a complete traditional lunch with great Sicilian food and delicacies and a terrific wine tasting.
Engage your senses during a memorable food and wine pairing!
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Taormina, Taormina, Province of Messina, Sicily
After lunch, it’s off to discover Taormina, the jewel of Sicily: Taormina was originally the center of Hellenistic culture and today is the most fashionable destination in Sicily thanks to its archaeological heritage and its spectacular views on the bay of Naxos and Mt. Etna!
A pleasant guided walking tour in Taormina will give you the opportunity to discover the cathedral, the narrow streets of the old town and the public botanic gardens. You can stroll around Corso Umberto and do some shopping before enjoying the visit of the famous ancient Greek theater (2nd century BC).
If you are a sea lover, we recommend you to take the cable car ride to the gorgeous Isola Bella, one of the best beaches in Sicily, along the stunning coastline of Taormina! (Private boat tour on request).
Return to Syracuse in the late afternoon and overnight: Ortigia, Syracuse
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch: Complete traditional lunch with great Sicilian food and delicacies and wine tasting
Accommodation included: Accommodation in centrally located 4 stars **** hotel in Ortigia, Syracuse
Day 5: Ortigia and Catania
Stop At: Ortigia, Corso Umberto, 96100, Syracuse, Sicily Italy
Hotel check-out and discover Ortigia and Syracuse.
Syracuse has been one of the greatest ancient Greek colonies in Sicily! The town is almost 2700 years old and it is one of the most beautiful Unesco sites in Sicily. In Ortigia (the historic center of Syracuse) you will pass through the narrow streets and discover its hidden treasures, in particular the Temple of Apollo.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Catania, Catania, Province of Catania, Sicily
At lunchtime your will reach Catania and enjoy a funny food experience at Piscarìa, an authentic Sicilian outdoor fish market where you will be seduced by colors and flavors while tasting the popular street seafood of Catania.
Then you will be amazed by the charm of this “black town”: Catania is on the slopes of the Mount Etna and it is completely made by lava stones. Catania is a UNESCO Site and it has been founded in the 8th century BC by the ancient Greeks. Enjoy a guided visit of its Baroque historic center that boasts the Roman amphitheater, the historical churches, the Ursino Castle and the Piazza Duomo with the famous elephant, symbol of the city.
Transportation to Catania airport included.
End of trip.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch: Food experience at Piscarìa, an authentic Sicilian outdoor fish market
Accommodation included: No accommodation – last day of the trip
