Road trip: on a journey of discovery of Sicily, from Palermo to Syracuse
Driving around Sicily by car allows you to explore the largest island in the Mediterranean and soak up the typical Sicilian charm – from Palermo to Syracuse. Ancient civilizations, Eastern and Western medieval influences, baroque-style buildings… Sicily has it all.
Explore the island freely and at your own pace, enjoy the good roads and the Mediterranean climate to stay longer in the cosmopolitan and vibrant cities. Cities celebrated by illustrious painters, singers, and filmmakers. The volcanic soils, sunny beaches, remarkable cultural and architectural heritage, and delicious cuisine all contribute to an unforgettable stay on this beautiful Italian island.
During your road trip, alternate between two-lane highways and quieter roads to discover the many treasures of Sicily.
From Palermo airport, it’s only a 30-kilometer drive to the city center. Enjoy the beautiful historical buildings and baroque-style monuments that make up the charm of the Sicilian capital, a lovely city on a large bay between the sea and the mountains.
On the way to ancient Sicily via Agrigento
To get to Agrigento from Palermo, you can take the highway for the first part of the route to Erice, a beautiful village characteristic of ancient Sicily. Then take the coastal road to Agrigento, full of salt marshes and windmills. Halfway between Palermo and Syracuse lies the archaeological site of Agrigento, one of Sicily’s main attractions listed as a World Heritage Site. The Valley of the Temples and the remains of an ancient city transport you to another time.
Syracuse, a must-see destination
Just a two and a half hour drive and 200 kilometers away is the port city of Syracuse, rightly considered the most beautiful city on the island. When you visit the magnificent monuments, whether it’s the cathedral, the Greek theater carved into the rocks, or the Ear of Dionysius, a cave located in a former quarry, you’ll understand why. Syracuse is also known for its delicious cuisine, such as spaghetti with bottarga and tuna, sausages with white wine and fennel seeds, or cannoli, sweet tasty rolls filled with ricotta.
A stop in Taormina, between sea and volcano
After fully exploring Syracuse, drive to Taormina, a town 120 kilometers further along the east coast. Visit Taormina preferably in the late afternoon when the locals dress in their finest to meet in the streets of this Sicilian Saint-Tropez, stopping for almond milk or ice cream. In the upper part, Taormina reveals its architectural and cultural gems: the medieval village, the Gothic palaces, and the ancient Greek theater where performances are still held today.
If you prefer nature outings, Taormina also offers fantastic views of the sea on one side and Mount Etna on the other. By the sea, you have access to beautiful beaches via sandy paths. If you take an excursion to the volcano, you are likely to witness one of Etna’s many eruptions, a unique and impressive phenomenon, definitely worth experiencing!
Marsala, at a crossroads of roads
Continue your road trip to the province of Trapani, on the Sicilian west coast. On the many viaducts along your way, you have a remarkable view of the varied landscape of this agricultural coastal region, where long beaches and steep cliffs alternate with vineyards and orchards. Lesser-known routes give you the chance to discover an unusual side of Sicily: Drive back to Agrigento via the panoramic coastal route with wide bends, passing the Scala dei Turchi, a quarry that has been transformed over time by wind erosion into a beautiful smooth white rock wall.
Enter the famous wine route into your GPS, with vineyards providing the whole of Western Sicily with excellent wines: delicious muscat and marsala wines, a sweet drink known for its artisanal production, traditionally known as the wine of Venus and an important ingredient for tiramisu.
Follow the coast, before concluding your road trip in Palermo, along the Via del Sale, a typical salt route in this area where old Dutch windmills and salt fields stretch over more than 900 hectares between Marsala and Trapani.
