SICILY INSIDER TIPS
These Sicily Insider Tips have been carefully curated through firsthand experience exploring Sicily, with the goal of helping our guests enjoy the very best the region has to offer.
Our dedicated team is always available to assist!
Sicily, Italy
FAQS:
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Sicily is an island on the Mediterranean Sea, located off the “toe” of Italy’s “boot.”
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Palermo (PMO) and Catania (CTA)
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Sicily is one of the few European destinations that is open year-round. April, May, June and October are ideal, with fewer crowds, lots of festivals, and mild weather. The days leading up to Easter are full of celebrations, and worth planning around.
July and August are hot and can be crowded — especially at beaches and resorts as Italians and other Europeans descend on the island (especially in August). September is the busiest (and most expensive) month. But even at its liveliest, the island is less crowded than the big, mainland Italian cities.
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Visas may be required starting in 2026 to enter Europe. The visa is called an ETIAS visa. Additional details can be found on their website here. You will also require a passport. Please be sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned date of departure.
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You can absolutely exchange money before you arrive in Italy if that is your preference. However, withdrawing cash from local ATMs is also a convenient and widely used option. Just be sure to notify your bank before your departure. Many businesses also accept credit cards.
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You will need to arrange a special international plan for texting and phone service before arriving in Italy. We strongly encourage you to bring a smartphone with an active international plan in the event of an emergency or an unforeseen delay in your arrival to Cortona.
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Italy operates on a 220-volt electrical system. You will need simple plug adapters for items such as laptops, cameras, and phone chargers.
For higher-powered items like hair dryers, curling or straightening irons, and electric shavers, you will need a voltage converter or transformer to convert the electrical current safely. You can purchase adapters HERE on Amazon.
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In Sicily, as in many towns throughout Italy, a local tourist tax (imposta di soggiorno) is charged to overnight visitors. This municipal tax is set by the town and is collected per person, per night, for a limited number of nights. The funds support local tourism services, including the maintenance of historic sites, public spaces, and visitor infrastructure. The tax is separate from your accommodation cost and is typically paid directly at check-in or check-out in cash.
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Tipping in Italy is not required in the same way it is in the United States, as service charges are often included. That said, Italians are accustomed to American travelers tipping, and gratuities are always welcomed and appreciated for good service. A 15–20% tip is considered generous and appropriate when you choose to leave one.
Services where tipping is commonly given include:
• Restaurants
• Taxis
• Tour guides
• Chefs leading cooking classes
• Hotel concierge services and bellhops
• Cleaning services in private residences and hotelsUltimately, tipping is at your discretion and should reflect the level of service you receive.
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The public transportation in Sicily is limited. A car rental will we necessary for your visit.
EXPERIENCES & ACTIVITIES
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WINERY VISIT: ARIANNA OCCHIPINTI
SP 68 Vittoria-Pedalino — Vittoria
One of Sicily's most celebrated natural winemakers, Arianna Occhipinti produces some of the island's most sought-after bottles from just 22 hectares near Vittoria. Her SP68, Il Frappato, and Nero d'Avola are internationally acclaimed. Tastings are appointment-only and offer an intimate look at biodynamic viticulture and the indigenous grape varieties of the Val di Noto.
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WINERY VISIT: MARABINO
Between Marzamemi and Noto
A beautiful biodynamic estate between Marzamemi and Noto producing expressive wines from native Sicilian varieties. The estate is set in peaceful Hyblaean countryside and also home to the acclaimed Moresca restaurant.
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VENDICARI NATURE RESERVE
Between Noto and Marzamemi
Sicily's most spectacular undeveloped coastline: 1,500 hectares of Mediterranean scrub, ancient ruins, salt lagoons, and wild sandy beaches along 13 km of protected coast. Calamosche beach — tucked between rocky promontories with crystal-clear water — is one of the finest beaches in all of Sicily. Spring and autumn bring pink flamingos, storks, and herons to the marshes. No beach clubs, no services: bring water, snacks, and sunscreen.
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SICILIAN COOKING CLASS
Various locations
Learn to make arancini, caponata, pasta alla Norma, and ricotta-filled cannoli from local chefs. Cooking classes in southeast Sicily often include a market visit to source ingredients — an education in itself.
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VAL DI NOTO UNESCO BAROQUE TRAIL
Noto · Ragusa · Modica · Scicli
Eight towns in southeast Sicily rebuilt in the late-Baroque style after the catastrophic 1693 earthquake form one of Italy's most extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Noto's golden tufa stone Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Ragusa Ibla's labyrinthine lanes and Duomo di San Giorgio, Modica's vertical churches, and Scicli's hilltop ruins are all within 45 minutes of each other. Allow at least one full day per town.
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VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES
Agrigento
One of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean world — a stunning series of ancient Greek temples in various states of preservation set along a ridge above Agrigento. The Temple of Concordia is among the best-preserved Greek temples anywhere outside Greece. The site is especially beautiful at sunset. Combine with a visit to the nearby white marl cliffs of Scala dei Turchi, which slope dramatically into the sea.
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MARZAMEMI VILLAGE & PIAZZA
Marzamemi, Province of Syracuse
One of Sicily's most beautiful and atmospheric fishing villages, centered on a sun-soaked piazza framed by the old tuna fishery.
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ORTIGIA MARKET
Ortigia Island, Siracusa
The most beautiful food market in southeast Sicily: a riot of glistening fish, Etna pistachios, Noto almonds, prickly pears, and seasonal produce. Don't miss cheesemonger Andrea Borderi, whose artisan smoked mozzarella — sliced with a squeeze of lemon and chopped parsley — stops crowds in their tracks.
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CAVA D'ISPICA
Between Ispica and Modica
A remarkable ancient canyon stretching 13 km through the Iblei plateau, dotted with prehistoric cave dwellings, Byzantine catacombs, and early Christian rock-cut churches. One of the most unusual and undervisited archaeological landscapes in Sicily — a world away from the baroque towns, and equally unforgettable.
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DONNAFUGATA CASTLE
Contrada Donnafugata — near Ragusa
A sumptuous 14th-century castle just outside Ragusa, featuring a striking Venetian Gothic facade and a labyrinth of theatrical baroque interiors. The castle and its gardens featured in the Visconti film The Leopard and are one of the most romantic architectural detours in the region.
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SUNDAY RICOTTA BREAKFAST AT A DAIRY FARM
Ragusa area / Chiaramonte Gulfi
A true local tradition: visiting a working dairy farm on Sunday morning to eat hot, freshly made ricotta with bread. Arrive by 9am to watch the ricotta being made, then pair it with honey and local bread for one of the most memorable breakfasts of any trip to Sicily.
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MODICA CHOCOLATE MUSEUM
Via Pizzo, 15 — Modica
Modica's Aztec-inspired chocolate making tradition — processing cacao cold, without tempering, with only sugar and natural spice — is unlike anything in the chocolate world. The museum traces its history from the Aztec origins through the Spanish colonial period to its current revival. An excellent half-hour visit before a chocolate-shop crawl along the Corso Umberto.
BEACHES & COAST
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CALAMOSCHE BEACH
Vendicari Nature Reserve
Consistently rated one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Italy. Set within a sheltered cove inside the Vendicari Nature Reserve, flanked by rocky promontories and Mediterranean scrub, with calm, crystal-clear water ideal for snorkeling. There are no beach clubs or services — bring everything you need. A 30-minute walk from the Calamosche parking entrance through the reserve.
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SAMPIERI BEACH
Marina di Scicli / Sampieri
A long, clean sandy beach fronting the charming fishing village of Sampieri, just minutes from Scicli. The ruins of a 19th-century tuna factory (La Fornace Penna) stand dramatically at one end.
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PUNTA SECCA
Marina di Ragusa / Santa Croce Camerina
The small beach and lighthouse at Punta Secca served as Inspector Montalbano's iconic home-by-the-sea in the beloved TV series. The lighthouse is still there and the beach remains quiet and beautiful — a pilgrimage for fans of the show and a lovely morning swim for everyone else.
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SCALA DEI TURCHI
Realmonte — near Agrigento
Sicily's most iconic coastal landmark: blazingly white marl cliffs that cascade in natural terraces down to the sea. The name means "Staircase of the Turks," after the pirates who once sheltered here. Best viewed from the beach below at golden hour. Combine with a visit to the nearby Valley of the Temples for a full day trip from the southeast.
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MARIANELLI BEACH
Vendicari Nature Reserve
The most secluded and peaceful beach in the Vendicari reserve — set among almond trees, lemon trees, and flowering sand dunes. Shallow, clear water and very few visitors even in summer. A true sanctuary for those seeking absolute quiet by the sea.
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MARZAMEMI HARBOR & BEACH
Marzamemi
The small harbor of Marzamemi combines Sicily's most charming piazza with a lovely beach nearby. Swim in the morning, then stroll to the piazza for a glass of wine at Liccamuciula wine bar as the afternoon light falls on the boats. One of the most complete small pleasures southeast Sicily offers.
RESTAURANTS
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CAFFÈ SICILIA
Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 125 — Noto
One of Sicily's most legendary café institutions, in operation since 1892. Run by fourth-generation pastry chef Corrado Assenza, it is world-famous for its almond granita — served the traditional way, with a soft, pillowy brioche.
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ACCURSIO RISTORANTE
Via Clemente Grimaldi, 41 — Modica
Modica's only Michelin-starred restaurant, helmed by Chef Accursio Craparo in a stunning baroque palazzo. The tasting menu is widely regarded as one of the finest dining experiences in all of Sicily — deeply rooted in Sicilian tradition yet executed with extraordinary creativity. The lunch tasting offers a more accessible entry point.
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ACCURSIO RADICI
Via Clemente Grimaldi, 55 — Modica
The more relaxed, more affordable sister restaurant of Accursio Ristorante, just a few doors down. The same culinary philosophy — seasonal, local, inventive — in a relaxed brasserie setting. An ideal choice for a memorable weeknight dinner without the full tasting-menu commitment.
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OSTERIA DEI SAPORI PERDUTI
Corso Umberto I — Modica Bassa
"The Inn of Forgotten Flavors" — a name that lives up to its promise. Pasta and bread are made in-house by hand using age-old methods, ricotta is made on premises, and the menu honors the deep culinary traditions of Modica and the Iblei countryside. The sidewalk seating and unhurried atmosphere make for a classic Sicilian afternoon.
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SINGOLA RISTORANTE NATURALE
Via Risorgimento, 88 — Modica
Chef Pasquale Passannante's all-vegetarian restaurant is a surprise revelation. Plant-based Sicilian cuisine executed with the same technical mastery and local sourcing as any carnivore's table — earning some of the highest ratings of any restaurant in the Ragusa province.
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RAPPA ENOTECA
Corso Santa Teresa, 97/99 — Modica
An atmospheric outdoor wine bar in Modica Alta where guests perch on stools at wine-barrel tables on the piazza. An excellent selection of Ragusa province wines and Sicilian bottles, available by the glass or bottle at very reasonable prices, paired with bruschette and small bites. The ideal spot to end a day of wandering.
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DUOMO DI RAGUSA
Via Capitano Bocchieri, 31 — Ragusa Ibla
Chef Ciccio Sultano's legendary restaurant in Ragusa Ibla, set inside the historic Palazzo La Rocca with views of the domed San Giorgio cathedral. A two-Michelin-star experience that blends Sicilian baroque grandeur with extraordinary culinary artistry — one of the most celebrated restaurants on the entire island.
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SALUMERIA IL BAROCCO
Corso Venticinque Aprile 80 — Ragusa
A charming salumeria ideal for a slow aperitivo or light lunch in Ragusa Ibla. Owner Tina guides guests through a world of Sicilian cheeses and cured meats — from Ragusano Caciocavallo DOP to Nebrodi Black Pig salami — with a glass of local wine. Perfect before or after a stroll through the Giardini Iblei.
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GELATERIA DIVINI
Piazza Duomo, 20 — Ragusa
A wine shop and gelateria in one — an inspired combination. The single-flavor gelati are made with exceptional local ingredients and rotate seasonally.
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BAQQALA
Piazza Angelo Ficili, 3 — Scicli
Widely regarded as the best fish restaurant in Scicli, loved by locals and visitors alike. The menu focuses on the finest catch from the waters off Portopalo and Capo Passero, Sicily's southeastern tip, prepared with creativity and restraint.
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MY NAME IS TANNINO
Via Aleardi, 36/38 — Scicli
Named after the owner, Taninno — the Sicilian word for the tannins found in grape skins — this charming wine bar on the waterway in central Scicli serves creative tapas alongside a well-curated local wine list. A relaxed spot for an afternoon aperitivo that often stretches into the evening.
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CANNOLIA
Via S. Bartolomeo, 10 — Scicli
A historic pasticceria in the heart of Scicli with an extraordinary commitment to freshness — the cannoli shells are fried to order, ensuring a perfect, crisp bite every time. A simple but essential stop in one of Sicily's most cinematic towns.
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ANTICA DOLCERIA BONAJUTO
Corso Umberto I, 159 — Modica
The oldest and most beloved chocolate shop in Modica — and the best place to understand why Modica chocolate is unlike anything else. Made cold, without tempering, from just cocoa beans, sugar, and a natural spice such as cinnamon or chili, the result is crystalline, crumbly, and extraordinary.
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BAR DEL DUOMO
Via S. Michele, 6 — Modica
After climbing the many steps to the majestic Duomo di San Giorgio, stop at this classic Sicilian bar to the right of the church. Simple outdoor seating on the church steps, excellent granita, and one of the most theatrical settings for a mid-morning break in all of Sicily.
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MORESCA AT TORRE MARABINO
C.da Marabino — Ispica
Set in a tranquil Hyblaean countryside estate adjacent to the Marabino biodynamic winery, this gourmet restaurant uses produce from its own farm. Chef Carmelo Floridia creates dishes of genuine refinement — goat pearls with Ispica sesame, lacquered black piglet with carob syrup. A serene escape for a long, unhurried lunch.