Greek Roman Theater with Etna erupting, Taormina, Sicily, Italy

Self Drive Italy – Discover Authentic Sicily

  • TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY IDEA

Duration

9 Days

Prices Start from

$4,444pp(ex. flights)

Sicily, the largest island in the Med with Mount Etna dominating much of its skyline, is an incredibly beautiful and alluring destination. Discover the highlights at your own pace with a self-drive holiday to Italy.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Cefalu Cathedral, Palermo, Sicily, Italy 1

Palermo's Labyrinthine Streets

Explore Palermo and its extraordinary mix of cultures, architectural styles and intriguing fusion cuisine.

Taormina, Sicily, Italy 2

Enthralling Archaeological Sites

Visit the Greek Theatre in Taormina with its stunning backdrop of Mount Etna and The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento.

Mount Etna, Taormina, Sicily, Italy 3

Get In the Driving Seat

Private hire car means your Sicily experience is yours to own, choose where to visit and take at your own pace.

Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy 4

Wander through Catania

Spend some time wandering through Catania, visiting the Baroque style, large wide open squares and avenues.

Why we like it

Visit the well-kept secret that is Sicily. An authentic Italian island. The beaches and hidden coves are boundless, pick one for every day week of the year, including the nature reserve managed by WWF home to loggerhead sea turtles. Unesco listed towns with exotic architecture,  built-in beautiful baroque style, the volcanic slopes of Mt Etna – Europes tallest active volcano- is rich in minerals and supports incredible winemaking. And then there is the food… where do we start? Sicily is an island for everybody.

Explore our suggested itinerary

Italy on your wishlist? Talk to our experts about tailoring this trip for you.

  • Days 1-2

    Palermo

  • Day 3

    Palermo - Catania

  • Day 4

    Catania

  • Day 5

    Catania - Agrigento

  • Day 6

    Agrigento

  • Day 7

    Agrigento - Sciacca

  • Day 8

    Sciacca

  • Day 9

    Sciacca - Palermo

Days 1-2

Palermo

Cefalu Cathedral, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Explore Palermo and its extraordinary mix of cultures, architectural styles and intriguing fusion cuisine.

Day 3

Palermo - Catania

Piazza Del Duomo, Catania, Sicily, Italy

Spend some time wandering through Catania, visiting the Baroque style, large wide open squares and avenues.

Day 4

Catania

Day 5

Catania - Agrigento

Day 6

Agrigento

Giunone Temple, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy

Visit the Ancient sites of Syracuse and Agrigento

Day 7

Agrigento - Sciacca

Day 8

Sciacca

Day 9

Sciacca - Palermo

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

More Details

Palermo with views of Norman palace Sicily, Italy
Palermo, Italy
Cefalu Cathedral, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Palermo, Italy

Welcome to Palermo

Your journey begins in Palermo, a city with its own distinct atmosphere, a buzzing Mediterranean centre and an interesting, colourful past. This past is reflected clearly in its vast range of architectural styles, the intriguing fusion of ingredients used in local dishes, and in many place names which are obviously not of Italian origin. It is a place for those who still love to adventure and discover – some parts of the old town have remained untouched since they were bombed during the war. Much of Palermo hasn’t given itself over to modern life and therefore wonderful treasures are there to be found.

Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy
Mount Etna
Catania and Volcano Etna, Sicily, Italy
Catania and Mount Etna

Baroque Architecture of Catania

Explore the beautiful squares and Baroque architecture that adorns the city of Catania.  If time allows travel out of the city up to Mount Etna for some remarkable views.  Visit the hilltop town of Taormina, known for its ancient Greco-Roman theatre still used today. Near the theatre, cliffs drop to the sea forming coves with sandy beaches. It is a stunning spot – cross the narrow stretch of sand connecting the mainland to Isola Bella, a tiny island and nature reserve.

Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
Agrigento
Giunone Temple, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
Giunone Temple, Agrigento
Valley of Temples, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
Valley of Temples, Agrigento

The Valley of the Temples

A vast archaeological site with well-preserved Greek temples and the ruins of the ancient city of Agrigento. The modern city itself is not worth visiting but the UNESCO listed Valley of the Temples is one of the most mesmerising sites in the Mediterranean. A private guide will accompany you around the site so that you make the most of your visit.

Swimming Pool, Verdura Golf and Spa Resort, Sciacca, Italy
Verdura Resort
Coastline, Taormina, Sicily, Italy
Taormina

For Beach Lovers

Sicily has beaches galore, with cafes serving fish straight off the boat to nature reserves and hidden coves. Extend your holiday with a relaxing few days at any one of our favourite locations.  Particularly good for families is the Rocco Forte Verdura Resort, located on the rugged coastline of southern Sicily. The resort offers extensive olive grove grounds, first-class facilities including golf, a kids club, football academy, several restaurants and a Rocco Fort Spa. A perfect end to an amazing trip.

Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Verdura Resort £££££

  • Italy
  • Beach and Island Escapes

Set amongst 230 hectares of olive groves and countryside, two championship golf courses and boasting almost two kilometres of coastline, the Verdura resort offers the perfect choice for a luxury hideaway or an active family holiday. Open all year round.

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Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea £££££

  • Italy
  • Boutique

Set on its own exclusive beach, beside the most beautiful coastline, Belmond Villa Sant’ Andrea overlooks the aquamarine sea. Built by an aristocratic family in 1830 among lush, subtropical gardens, this secluded retreat retains all the charm of a private residence.

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Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo £££££

  • Italy
  • Boutique

Set high in the rugged hills of Taormina on Sicily’s eastern coast, the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo is one of Sicily’s most glamorous retreats. Positioned in Taormina town, it is in an ideal location for exploring the pretty cobbled streets or the ancient Greek amphitheatre. Many of the rooms and the restaurants have wonderful terraces looking out towards the sea with magnificent views of Mount Etna on the horizon.

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A note on price

Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.

This Itinerary
Price
From $4,444 Per person

When to travel

Italy’s cities are wonderful to visit at any time of the year. Coastal regions are best between June and September. Mountainous regions such as the Dolomites are wonderful for winter sports between December and March and extremely pretty for summer stays from June through to October.

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