The Leaning Tower of Pisa may just be the world’s most successful failure.
Its unintended tilt results from a few careless mistakes and many painstaking fixes, and its unique history is a marvel that captivates visitors to this day.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa was never supposed to be anything special. It was constructed in the 12th century by Bonanno Pisano, a relatively unknown architect.
Look at how much it leans! Taken March 2024
It was intended to be a simple belltower for the Cathedral of Pisa. Easy, no?
Well, many things went awry… why is why it took nearly 200 years to build a simple tower. By contrast, the Colosseum of Rome, still the largest standing amphitheater in the world, took merely ten years).
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Here, we’ll go into the history of why the Tower of Pisa (Torre di Pisa, in Italian) leans and how you can visit this unique attraction in Pisa on your upcoming trip to Italy.
Why Does the Pisa Tower Lean?
No, the Leaning Tower doesn’t lean on purpose — even though that’s now the big tourist draw!
Just three stories into building the tower, they noticed something was off when it had already begun leaning. In typical Italian fashion, they waited about a century to continue building, trying to counterbalance the shifted weight by building off-balance floors.
After a pause due to wars, they finally added the bell chamber, completing the tower… nearly two centuries later.
But herein is the problem: the tower is made of gray and white marble, a nod to the marble-rich region of Carrera not far away. However, marble is extremely heavy, and that’s a large part of why the issue with the tower leaning began.
Leaning at a cool 4 degrees in 2024
But the marble’s not the only thing to blame — the foundation was poorly planned, only three meters deep atop an unstable mix of clay, sand, and shells. Look, I’m no engineer, but that doesn’t sound like a solid start for a huge marble tower weighing nearly 15,000 metric tons.
Interventions were attempted, giving the tower some of its characteristic columns and arches, but never entirely solving the problem. Finally, in 1990, the tower’s lean grew untenable — leaning by a whopping 5.5 degrees.
They started stabilizing the foundation using soil extraction, straightening the tower significantly, and reducing the lean to a more comfortable angle, just under 4 degrees.
As of now, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is considered stable for the next 200 years, when it will undoubtedly need to be worked on again—assuming we still have a planet in 200 years.
Getting to the Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa
Most people visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa in one of two ways: on a day trip from Florence or spending a few days in Pisa, dedicating some proper time to this Tuscan city.
Personally, I recently visited Pisa on a day trip from Florence, and I didn’t think it was nearly enough time—I was left wanting a lot more!
Whether you visit on a self-guided day trip or visit Pisa for a few days independently, you will arrive at the Pisa train station, Pisa Centrale. You can leave your luggage here if it’s convenient, or you may want to check into a hotel first if you are staying in Pisa overnight.
Either way, from Pisa Centrale train station in the city center, you can make an easy 20-minute walk straight to the Piazza dei Miracoli (formerly the Piazza del Duomo).
You’ll quickly be greeted by Pisa’s most endearing and iconic attraction…. and thousands of less endearing tourists taking cheesy photos with it.
The crowds in Piazza dei Miracoli are intense – watch for pickpockets!
For a cool side trip before visiting the Leaning Tower, just around the corner from the Pisa, you can make a little detour to see the famous ‘Tuttomondo’ Keith Haring mural.
It’s one of the last murals created by Haring before he died from complications of AIDS. It’s located on the wall of the Sant’Antonio Abate church.
Some people may arrive at the Pisa airport, which is extremely close to the town center… You could even walk if you choose as it’s only 2 kilometers away from the town center!
That said, since most people have luggage, they take the Pisa Mover for five Euros to the train station and then walk to the Leaning Tower of Pisa from there.
Getting Tickets to Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa
My online ticket to enter the Leaning Tower of Pisa
To climb to the top of the tower, you need specific Leaning Tower of Pisa tickets with a dedicated time slot. You must carefully observe the time of your visit. It’s for a 30-minute window, and you must arrive on time within that window to be able to use your ticket.
You can also try to go to the ticket office on the same day, but don’t count on it, because in peak season, it’s pretty common for all the tickets for the day to be sold out.
Your timed ticket to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa will also get you fast-track access to the Pisa Cathedral anytime that same day.
The Pisa Cathedral may just be more impressive than the Leaning Tower
While visiting the Pisa Cathedral is technically free, those who do not have a bundled ticket for other sites in the Piazza dei Miracoli will have to wait in a longer line. You, on the other hand, get to skip it!
If the individual tickets to climb the Leaning Tower are sold out, don’t fret — you can take a guided tour that includes the city of Pisa as one of the stops and choose an add-on that includes tickets to the Leaning Tower.
These Pisa Tower tickets are often booked in advance from a separate supply of tickets, so you can usually get tickets this way, even when they are sold out on the official website and GetYourGuide.
What’s It Like Climbing the Leaning Tower?
Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a pretty stress-free and easy experience, especially compared to other climbs I’ve done in Italy, like Brunelleschi’s Dome in Florence and the Terraces of the Milan Duomo. In comparison, I found those really crowded and disorganized.
The line to climb the Leaning Tower is well-managed and runs quickly, so you don’t have to wait too long. However, they only allow people in the next time slot to be in line, so observe your timed-entry ticket carefully.
Three rules for waiting in line for a smooth process
The security is also speedy and efficient for easy access to the tower. Note that security does not allow any bags for security reasons — not even small backpacks! — but there is a free cloakroom that you can use.
They carefully stagger the group times so that the narrow spiral staircases to ascend and descend the tower are manageable and not too crowded.
Before climbing the tower, they have everyone sit in a rounded bench area at the bottom while listening to a brief informational overview of its history. This also helps ensure the tower staircase is manageable, as people from the previous time slot need to descend.
Eagerly awaiting our turn to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
Once you’ve heard the presentation, you can start going up the (very narrow) spiral staircases.
Prepare for some serious cardio: you’ve got 5 staircases ahead of you with 269 steps (according to this article, which went and counted every single step themselves — now that’s the kind of petty level of pedantry I can truly respect).
So many narrow steps!
You’ll reach the seventh floor first, opening to beautiful views of the Duomo of Pisa.
If you go at the right time, around 10 AM, you’ll see a cool sight: the shadow of the Leaning Tower casting a cool shadow over the Duomo!
I loved seeing the shadow of the Leaning Tower on the cathedral!
But the climb’s not over!
You can go up one more staircase to the eighth floor, where you can see the bell chamber and the tallest views over the Campo dei Miracoli, as well as 360-degree views around the rest of Pisa. Now that’s a view!
At the bell chamber, the tallest part of the towerAdmiring the 360 views over Pisa’s city center
Leaning Tower of Pisa Admission Hours and Tickets
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has straightforward admission hours that don’t change much from day to day.
From April through September, the opening hours are from 9 AM to 8 PM. From October through March, they’re just one hour shorter, from 9 AM to 7 PM.
Worth the climb!
Throughout the year, the last admission is 30 minutes before closing, as it takes a minimum of 30 minutes to climb to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and enjoy the views.
The Baptistry, one of the many interesting buildings in the complex
In addition to the must-see monument, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, don’t miss a few other highlights in the Piazza dei Miracoli if you have time. Together, they constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the interest of saving your time, I won’t go into too much detail, but the places you can visit in the Piazza dei Miracoli are:
Duomo di Pisa (Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta): A gorgeous cathedral built in 1063, a hallmark of the Romanesque style that Pisa developed. The interior is particularly ornate and unique, with its gorgeous dramatic stripes of marble and several beautiful mosaics.
The beautiful interior of Pisa’s Cathedral
Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistry of St. John): A small, rounded building with a large dome constructed in 1152, shaped so to encourage beautiful acoustics. Like the Duomo, it’s notable for its beautiful marblework that is emblematic of the Pisan style.
Camposanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery): This beautiful cemetery is set amidst a cloister filled with frescoes, surrounded by sarcophagi and tombs of prominent locals. It is a somber but beautiful place to visit away from the hordes of tourists elsewhere in the area.
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (Cathedral Museum): Just as Florence has its own museum dedicated to its cathedral, so too does Pisa. This museum houses works that were once part of the cathedral and baptistry, providing more focus and curated context on these beautiful works.
Sinopie Museum: Here, you can find some drawings made for the frescoes inside the Camposanto, which show a beautiful insight into the artistic process for creating these larger-than-life works.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
While Rome is filled with wonderful squares, fountains, and awe-inspiring ancient ruins, nothing will capture your interest like the Colosseum!
The nearly 2,000-year-old amphitheater is the symbol of the Eternal City and a must-see on any Rome itinerary — whether you have one day, 3 days, or a full week!
But visiting the Colosseum comes with tips and tricks. You may think it’s as easy as showing up, getting a ticket, and visiting the place… but you’d be wrong!
View of the ground level of the Colosseum
In my opinion, you’d be missing out if you skip a proper Colosseum tour, and you even risking having a bad experience without knowing a few key pieces of advice beforehand.
Tourists often make quite a few mistakes when visiting the Colosseum — I’m here to help you avoid them.
In fact, I recently visited the Colosseum and made a few mistakes of my own, just to ensure you won’t make those mistakes on your trip. (I’d like to see an AI with that level of dedication /j).
Read on to find out how to make the most of your visit and avoid falling into some easily avoidable errors.
But first — let’s quickly go over some history for context, to get you excited for visiting the Colosseum!
📝 This post was completely re-written after Allison visited the Colosseum in March 2024. She's since updated this post to reflect her experience, ensure its accuracy, and add recent photographs.
Want a Colosseum Tour? My 3 Top Picks
This post goes heavily into detail into everything you can expect about visiting the Colosseum.
But maybe you just want to skip all that and have a tour guide figure that all out for you?
Here are my top Colosseum tour recommendations in case you want to outsource all the planning!
Colosseum and Vatican Museums Full-Day Tour ✔️ Skip long lines at the two most iconic sights in Rome ✔️ No need to plan meals, timing, or transport – it’s all handled for you
The two mains reason to visit the Colosseum is its record-setting size as well as its history: even to this day, it’s the largest standing amphitheater in the world. Standing since 80 CE, the world has had nearly two millennia to beat this record… but no other structure has unseated it.
Taking about a decade to build, during the period from 70 and 80 CE, it was built by Emperor Vespasian, the successor to Nero. And, in typical Roman petty one-upping fashion, Vespasian decided to built it right alongside Nero’s old villa, the Domus Aurea, in a drained lake in the former gardens of the house.
Everyone who’s seen Gladiator has some idea of the macabre spectacles that took place in the Roman Colosseum: dark, violent ‘games’ of gladiators fighting each other (or animals) to death, as well as public executions.
These executions were particularly gruesome: crucifixions, burning alive, and being fed to beasts. It’s hard to believe that these were the Eras and Renaissance Tours of Ancient Rome, drawing up to 50,000 spectators at a time… but times certainly were different back then.
Luckily, visiting the Colosseum in Rome today is a much more peaceful affair — the only fighting you’ll be doing is for good angles amidst the crowds.
How to Get to the Roman Colosseum
The Colosseum metro stop — pretty straightforward, no?
It’s quite easy to get to the Roman Colosseum either on foot or by public transport within Rome.
You can get to the Colosseum via the Metro from many places in Rome. Simply take Line B to the Colosseo stop.
Insider Tip: Have a little time before you need to pick up your tickets or meet your group? Put “Giardinetto del Monte Oppio” into your Maps app and walk there from the Colosseo stop before visiting the Colosseum — you’ll be able to get a great angle for a perfect photo!
Exiting the metro, you’ll be right on Piazza del Colosseo, where most small group tours meet up. You can also go to the security point to enter if you are doing a fast-track entry and you already have your ticket printed and ready to go.
The Arch of Constantine (pictured here) was my tour’s meeting point. My guide was holding a white flag to help me find him.
If you pre-booked some sort of ticket through a tour company like Get Your Guide and you need to pick up your ticket in person, like I did, be sure to check the meeting point.
For my self-guided fast-track entry with audioguide, we had to meet at the Arch of Constantine, about 15 minutes before our entry time. We met the guide, got our printed tickets, and audioguide access information — but more on this part later.
Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting the Colosseum in Rome
Mistake 1: Not booking your ticket online in advance
Exploring the interior of the Colosseum
The biggest mistake to avoid when visiting the Colosseum is showing up without a ticket — seriously, if there’s one thing you glean from this article, let it be this!
To avoid long lines (and potentially not even getting in!), especially in peak season, buy your tickets for the Colosseum online.
When planning my trips, I tend to use GetYourGuide since they have more ticket availability than official websites, which sell out quickly. But more importantly, I always buy skip-the-line tickets to popular attractions because my time while I’m traveling is one of my most precious resources!
The few extra dollars I spend pre-booking a skip-the-line ticket is well-worth it when I consider the opportunity cost of waiting in line on a trip I’ve invested time, money, and planning into.
I will always pay a little extra to avoid the lines!
The first time I visited the Roman Colosseum many years ago, I took a guided tour because I wanted to know all the history of this fascinating place.
Unless you really hate guided tours, I would recommend this. The history of the Colosseum is incredibly fascinating, and the tour guides usually do a good job of relaying this information in an engaging way.
Printed ticket from my self-guided visit to the Colosseum in March
On my most recent visit, I chose to just book this skip-the-line ticket with an audioguide, since I had done a tour in the past and I wanted the freedom to wander and take photos at my leisure. However, I was pretty disappointed with the audioguide portion of the experience.
I hadn’t read the fine print (which is my mistake) and it was a phone app audioguide, not a physical audioguide. That would be just mildly annoying, except for the small fact that… the audioguide app wouldn’t work, and I spent much of my time at the Colosseum attempting to contact the tour company to get it fixed.
They were never able to fix the issue, claiming they sent me an SMS with a new link to access the audioguide, but I never received it. GetYourGuide did refund a portion of my tour, which I appreciated. That’s another reason why I book with them — the (very) few times I’ve had a bad tour, they’ve always issued a full or partial refund.
I didn’t love this experience, but for some, it may still be the right choice. If that’s you, you can still book this skip-the-line ticket and audioguide here. Be sure to read the email carefully and download the audioguide app a few days before so you can troubleshoot if it doesn’t work.
No matter what kind of ticket you get, you need to show up 15 minutes before at the dedicated meeting point.
If you already have the exact ticket you need for entry, you can just go straight to the dedicated entrance to show your ticket and go through the security checkpoint.
Mistake 2: Not knowing all the ticket options
One of the guided tour meeting points
There are actually a ton of different options for visiting the Colosseum, including certain parts of the Colosseum that are only accessible with a ticket add-on… and these can be a little confusing.
Your standard ticket gives you access to the Colosseum’s first two floors and the museum exhibits within it. It also gives you access to another site just a few minutes’ walk away: the combined site of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
But there is also a few other parts of the Colosseum that you can access! One is the arena floor, where you can wander the base of the amphitheater and see the entirety of the Colosseum towering above you.
Bifurcation point for two different areas (and ticket types) of the Colosseum
Different from the arena floor, there’s also the underground area where you can explore the cells where animals and prisoners sat in purgatory before their executions were put on display to tens of thousands of spectators.
You’ll see the tunnels and hidden entrances and understand how the underbelly of the Colosseum really operated, which is fascinating for those with the stomach for a little dark history.
Finally, there’s another option that might be interesting if you are visiting during the high season in Rome: the night tour. Availability for this is extremely limited — there are only a few dates remaining for the 2024 summer season — but you can try to get one of the last remaining dates.
I know these options can be a little intimidating so here’s a quick summary:
I’m not sure exactly why, but it is mandatory to show a photo ID to enter the Colosseum nowadays, at least it was true for my March 2024 visit. This wasn’t the case for visiting the Vatican, which I had done the day before, but it is part of the Colosseum’s security process.
I don’t always carry all my important documents on me when I’m traveling around Italy due to the high risk of pickpockets. Luckily, I did notice the part of the booking details where it told me to bring my ID and I wasn’t caught off-guard by this.
I’m not sure how strict they are on this and if they would accept a photograph or printed copy of your ID if you didn’t have your actual ID with you. I wouldn’t risk it though.
Presumably if you are reading this article, you’re not yet at the Colosseum, so you can just bring your ID and avoid any issues!
Mistake 4: Visiting at the wrong time of day
Peaceful opportunities to enjoy the Colosseum at 9:30 AM
Another big mistake people make when visiting the Colosseum is picking a time right smack-dab in the middle of the day — avoid this if at all possible.
I highly recommend booking one of the first openings of the day — on my March 2024 visit, I booked a 9:30 AM opening and it was perfect. The Colosseum was busy but not crowded.
Virtually no lines to enter the Palatine Hill area at 10:30 AM
By the time I made it over to Palatine Hill, there was virtually no one there and I could enjoy that area in peace.
However, by the time I reached the Roman Forum around 11:30 AM (having already visited the Colosseum and Palatine Hill)… it was extremely crowded.
That gave me a taste for what seeing the Colosseum is like later in the day (and I didn’t like it).
The crowds gathering later in the day at the Roman Forum (around 11:30 AM)
If you really can’t handle getting up early the morning, late afternoon isn’t a terrible second choice… but keep in mind that the Colosseum and its related sites close roughly an hour before sunset.
In winter, that means it closes as early as 4:30 PM (with the last entry at 3:30 PM) — but in the peak of summer, it costs around 7:15 PM (last entry at 6:15 PM).
You need at least 3 hours to properly see the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum.
However, also keep in mind that your standard entry ticket is valid for 24 hours. If you are doing a self-guided tour experience, you can break up your time between the two sights, even on different days if you like!
If you don’t mind returning to the same place twice in order to minimize crowds (and summer heat), you could always see the Colosseum in the late afternoon before it closes.
Then you can visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill the following morning. This would be a nice way to break up the sightseeing and avoid the crowds.
Mistake 5: Skipping the Palatine Hill & the Roman Forum
Don’t ignore the excellent Palatine Hill complex area!
One of the biggest mistakes you can make? Not realizing that even the most basic entrance ticket for the Colosseum also includes two other world class sites: the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. This alone makes it the best money you can spend in all of Rome, in my estimation.
Don’t be tempted to skip the Roman Forum just because you can see it while you walk down Via dei Fort Imperiali… trust me, there’s a world of difference between walking past the ruins of ancient Rome and being completely immersed in it, imaging the agora that used to stand where you’re standing.
Plus, Palatine Hill is an incredibly rich and diverse site that’s absolutely worth dedicating at least an hour of your time to. Between its gardens, viewpoints, and interesting ruins — as well as its smaller-than-average crowds — it was actually one of the highlights of my self-guided visit to the Colosseum and its related sites.
The Roman Forum is definitely a highlight for many!
Personally, I loved Palatine Hill the most of all simply because it was so peaceful; after that, I enjoyed the Colosseum, and at the bottom of my list was the Roman Forum simply because it was so crowded at that point. But that’s just my personal two cents!
If you are self-guided your own visit to the Colosseum and not going with a group, you can structure your Colosseum itinerary any way you like — even doing it on separate days, like I mentioned above.
There is no order in which you need to access the Colosseum or Roman Forum and Palatine Hill complex (which are together in the same area, so you only present your ticket once).
With your entry ticket, you can decide the order of your visit so long as everything takes place within 24 hours of your designated entry time.
Mistake 6: Bringing a big backpack or a rolling bag
Unsurprisingly… no cloakrooms in an ancient amphitheater!
This is a big mistake some people make when visiting the Colosseum — one that unfortunately is quite a hassle to deal with if you are caught unawares.
There is a strict policy in place that doesn’t allow visitors to enter with big luggage, and there is no cloakroom available on-site at the Roman Colosseum.
Put simply, if you show up with a large backpack or rolling bag at the entrance to the Colosseum, you won’t be allowed entry at all until you have found a place to store your bag.
That means you may lose out on your entry slot, and there’s no obligation for the staff to accept your ticket if you arrive outside of your designated time slot.
If you plan on visiting the Colosseum before check-in or after an early check-out, prepare in advance. Leave your luggage at your hotel, or use a luggage storage company like Bounce.
Aside from not being able to enter the Colosseum, carrying a roller bag on Roman roads is no one’s idea of fun!
Mistake 7: Not wearing the right shoes
Trendy? No. Comfy? Yes!
Listen. I get that you want to look cute during your Roman holiday and take some banger Instagram pictures.
But wearing the wrong shoes during a trip to the Colosseum and (to a larger extent) the Roman Forum is a big mistake. A big, uneven cobblestone, ankle-twist-waiting to happen mistake.
You’ll definitely want to hedge your bets and wear a comfortable, sporty shoe — sneakers would be ideal here, or a pair of hiking sandals that will ensure you can walk on this uneven ground without injuring yourself.
These cobblestones are begging you have some sense!
These roads are nearly two millennia old and haven’t been maintained in any traditional sense of the word, so trust me, you’re going to be uncomfortable if you don’t have the right footwear.
And heeled boots or flip flops? Forget about it. You’ll be miserable. Cute, but miserable.
Mistake 8: Not preparing for the weather
At first I was happy for my hat and vest… and later regretted it!
The Roman Colosseum is an all-season attraction, but depending on what time of year you’ll be visiting, you’ll still want to keep an eye on the weather forecast to avoid any unpleasantness on your outing.
Put simply, the weather in Rome is really unpredictable… on my March visit, I found it actually extremely warm — about 20° C / 68° F but very sunny — and I definitely found myself wishing I had slathered on some sunscreen before my visit (and left my heavier jacket at home).
And visiting in the summer? May the odds be ever in your favorite. Roman summer days are not to be messed with — they can get unbearably hot.
Wear light colors like white, taupe, and beige and pick quick-drying natural materials like linen. Avoid cotton, which doesn’t dry well when it gets sweaty, and for god’s sake, stay away from anything with polyester in it if you value not feeling like a baked potato.
You also should definitely bring a hat because there’s very little shade in any portion of this visit — and you’ll also want sunscreen no matter the season.
Layers are going to be your friend if you visit Rome in any season outside of summer, as the mornings and evenings are often rather cold before the mercury soars up in the middle of the day.
Wear a lightweight layer underneath, and don’t carry too heavy of a jacket as it heats up during the day.
And of course, rain is always a reality in Rome, so be sure to bring a rain jacket or umbrella if there’s even the slightest inkling of rain in the forecast.
Mistake 9: Bringing any prohibited items
Make sure you don’t have any prohibited items!
When entering the Colosseum, you’ll have to go through a security checkpoint like at the airport (only with much friendlier workers), and your bag will also be checked during that process.
It is forbidden to bring any sharp objects (including Swiss army knives), glass bottles, tripods, selfie sticks, weapons, or any sort of aerosol. Yes, that includes spray-on deodorant and even aerosol sunscreens!
Given that there is no cloakroom to store any of your items in, any prohibited items found on you will simply be confiscated, so avoid bringing them altogether if you don’t want to risk losing them.
Mistake 10: Not carrying a water bottle
One of Rome’s many public fountains
As long as you bring a plastic, non-glass reusable water bottle, you can bring it into the Colosseum and refill as much as needed.
Rome is pretty warm for much of the year, and you’ll walk more than you ever thought possible when visiting sites like the Colosseum. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the duration of your visit and thinking you won’t need water!
Luckily, there are so many great free-to-use public foundations available all over Rome, including plenty of ones in the area of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum.
Avoid the touts selling water around the Colosseum and Roman Forum for overpriced water — you will certainly overpay for it. Just bring your own bottle and fill up!
Just head to the closest fountain (fun fact: they are called nasoni in Italian, which means big noses). You’ll get as much fresh water as you need, all for free!
Colosseum Ticket Options
I briefly went into this above, but here, I’ll explain the different Colosseum ticket types with more detail about what’s included and how they differ.
Guided Tour Including Colosseum Arena Floor & Colosseum Underground
In addition to your regular Colosseum and Roman Forum ticket, it also includes a multi-hour guided tour to help bring all of these unique facets of Roman history to life, adding color and detail to your sightseeing.
This tour in particular offers special access to the arena floor and the Colosseum underground, which many other Roman Colosseum tours do not include.
The underground area (called the hypogeum) is a really interesting piece to add to a Colosseum tour. It includes tunnels and passageways that connect a series of cages and dungeons underneath the arena floor of the colosseum.
This part of the Colosseum was a purgatory of sorts, where enslaved people and prisoners were kept before being publicly executed, as well as the wild animals who were fought and slaughtered by the gladiators for entertainment.
If you’re interested in dark history — or just getting the full story of the historical places you visit — adding the Colosseum underground is a must-do.
This is one of the best tours if you want the full Colosseum experience and are curious to get a bit off the beaten path and learn some of the Colosseum’s more macabre history by adding the underground access!
This is the most affordable and flexible way to visit the Colosseum — great if your budget is short on time or money. This is what I personally did in March 2024.
Pre-booking your Colosseum ticket (you can do so online here) allows you to skip the long line at the ticket booth. Instead, you just find the guide at the designated meeting point, mine was at the Arch of Constantine and was very easy to find.
This ticket includes an audioguide which you access on your phone. Mine didn’t work, unfortunately, but I was still able to enjoy the Roman Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum independently.
You will be on your own to explore the site, but you won’t have to deal with any queues besides the normal security line (which is unavoidable and moves really fast — I was in within minutes).
Note that this ticket does not include the arena floor or the Colosseum underground or an in-person tour guide: it’s the bare bones option.
If you have a little more room in your budget, I definitely suggest booking this guided tour, which includes a guided walking tour and admission tickets.
There is simply so much to learn about the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill that you won’t really be able to appreciate without the expertise of a licensed guide who is an expert in Roman history.
This tour is rather affordable with not much of an up-charge for the tour guide, especially when you consider the initial price of the ticket.
You’re paying roughly another $30 USD for a 3 hours of a tour guide’s time!
You can book in a small group of up to 10, 20, or 30 people, at different price tiers based on how many people are in the group.
Did you know you can visit the Colosseum after the doors have officially closed? There are a number of tours which offer exclusive access to the Colosseum after dark!
This is a really fun way to beat the crowds (or the summer heat) if you are planning to visit the Colosseum in the peak season, June through August.
It is more expensive than other ticket options, but not by a drastic margin… which may be a nice price to pay, given the peace you’ll enjoy!
However, if you want those classic daytime photos of the Colosseum, you won’t be able to get those, so if photography is a big aspect of why you are visiting the Colosseum, that is something to consider.
But if all you want is a unique way to see the Colosseum and learn its history without the crowds or heat of peak summer travel, a night tour is an epic way to do it!
Note that night tours sell out extremely fast and nearly all of the 2024 tour offerings are gone, totally sold out — the only remaining tours I could find are linked below.
Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & Colosseum Full Day Tour
If you want to see all of Rome’s most essential (and crowded) sights under the expert eye of a tour guide,I strongly suggest this tour option.
Visiting the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel with a guide is really helpful because these sights can be quite stressful to navigate on your own.
It’s very crowded, tickets must be booked well in advance (same-day ticket waits often exceed 2 hours), and there is so much to see that it is helpful to go with a guide w ho will ensure you see the most essential parts and skip the rest.
This tour also includes transportation between Colosseum and the Vatican so you can simply sit back and sightsee and enjoy your day, without having to worry about anything other than taking in the sights and history and making memories.
This tour includes all entry tickets, skip-the-line access, lunch, guides, and transportation.
It’s a little pricy, but it plans you the perfect day in Rome seeing its two most iconic attractions without a second thought.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
The gateway to the spectacular Valley of the Temples, Agrigento is one of the most popular places to visit in Sicily.
Whether you only have a few days or you’re planning a longer road trip around Sicily, you should absolutely spend at least a day in Agrigento and appreciate its small town charms.
I visited Agrigento on one of my road trips through Sicily, and it was among my favorite places on the island.
Wandering through the Valley of the Temples is an experience unlike any other, but the historical center of Agrigento is also worth exploring in its own right!
In this short guide, you’ll find the best landmarks and activities in Agrigento, along with a few tips to make the most of your trip (no matter how short!)
Tips for Visiting Agrigento
Before diving into the attractions, I want to give you a few quick tips to help you plan your trip. Firstly, you’ll have to plan your trip according to the season you visit Agrigento.
You won’t be surprised to hear that summer is the most popular time to travel to Sicily, but if that’s the only time you can visit, you can make life easier by preparing for crowds and increased prices.
Booking your accommodation in advance, buying attraction tickets online, and choosing weekdays over weekends can all help you have a more pleasant experience. If you can, choose the shoulder seasons to make the most of your time in Sicily!
Early spring and late fall are the perfect mix of good weather and smaller crowds. However, winter is also a good time, since the temperatures rarely go below 14°C (57°F).
While you can visit Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples in one day if you move quickly and plan carefully, I really recommend spending at least a night in the city.
This will give you the chance to get to know it better without rushing through your visit to the archaeological park.
One last tip: Agrigento is the perfect stop on a Sicily road trip itinerary, so if you’re traveling with a rental car, you’ll be in luck!
Best Things to Do in Agrigento
Agrigento is among the most popular cities in Sicily, but to be honest, most people just visit for the Valley of the Temples. While this is a must-see, Agrigento has so much more to offer than just this!
Here are the best things to do in this charming hilltop Sicilian city, one of the best places in Sicily for history and culture!
Explore the Valley of the Temples
Of course, we still have to mention the Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park (in Italian, Valle dei Templi), since is by far the most popular tourist attraction in Agrigento and among the most visited in Sicily.
Being so popular, be prepared for crowds at these ancient ruins. However, it’s absolutely worth the visit, so go ahead and schedule the time to explore this wonderful archaeological site.
Just south of Agrigento’s historic center, the Valley of the Temples is an archaeological area featuring incredibly well-preserved ancient Greek temples and other ruins.
In 1997, the site was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its status as one of the most outstanding examples of Greek architecture in what used to be the Magna Grecia region.
Prepare to spend several hours exploring this area and wandering through the magnificent temples and other ancient remains. Fun fact: this is Europe’s largest archaeological park!
Visiting the park takes at least 2 hours, and that’s assuming you move at a fast pace and don’t stop much. I recommend setting aside 3-4 hours for an independent visit to really take in all the sights.
The most impressive structure is the Temple of Concordia, a Doric temple dating to the 4th century BCE. Other notable buildings are the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Castor, the Temple of Heracles, and the Temple of the Dioscuri.
You can explore the park by yourself, following the marked route to see all of its Greek ruins and Doric temples. The park is open daily from early in the morning until pretty late in the evening, so you can easily fit this into your schedule.
An adult entry ticket is 13€, and can be purchased online directly from the archaeological site here. Note that if you happen to visit on the first Sunday of the month between 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM, entrance is free!
Another option is to join a guided tour of the Valley of the Temples, such as on this2-hour guided tour: the perfect choice if you don’t have much time and want to make the most of your time in the park.
Plus, this way, you can learn more about the magnificent ancient Greek architecture from your guide. The activity even includes the chance to save time by skipping the line — definitely worth special consideration in summer!
One last option worth exploring is theValley of the Temples sunset tour. You’ll start exploring the park with your guide just as the sun goes down so you can enjoy a magical view of the temples in the soft sunset light.
While you’re exploring the Valley of the Temples, you ought to also stop by the Kolymbethra Garden.
This peaceful garden within the archaeological park captures Sicily’s flavors, scents, and colors in a delightful green corner.
These gardens date back over two millennia when the Greek city of Akragas (now known as Agrigento) designed a series of irrigation channels leading to a nearby reservoir called Colimbetra (hence the name).
In the garden, you can walk through olive groves, almond trees, and citrus trees and enjoy their delightful fragrances.
Just a heads up as you’re planning, access to the garden requires an extra fee on top of the access to the Valley of the Temples. However, the fee is just a reasonable 3€, so it’s a small price to pay.
Visit the Archaeological Museum Pietro Griffo
Photo Credit: Von Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you want to learn more about the Valley of the Temples, supplement your itinerary with a visit to the archaeological museum of Agrigento, Pietro Griffo.
The museum complements your visit to the archaeological park for a small extra fee if you buy the combined ticket. It costs more when bought separately, so if you’re interested, it’s better to get the combined ticket.
Pietro Griffo is home to a vast collection of archaeological artifacts that were unearthed from the Valley of the Temples, including vases, sculptures, coins, inscriptions, and decorative elements from ancient sanctuaries.
Explore the old town of Agrigento
While you might want to dedicate most of your time to exploring the Valley of the Temples, save some time for the old town of Agrigento.
Agrigento’s medieval center dates to the 11th century and features charming alleys, squares, and stairways, all of which are not to be missed!
Stroll along the main street, explore hidden alleyways, and check out the beautiful Baroque churches. Cattedrale di San Gerlando, Chiesa di Santo Spirito, and Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci are three absolute must-see churches in Agrigento.
One spot you can’t miss is Scalinata degli Artisti or the Artists’ Stairway. Check out the painted steps on this picturesque stairway and admire the beautiful street art in the area!
And of course, be sure to head to Belvedere Domenico Modugno for a stunning panoramic view of the valley surrounding Agrigento.
Enjoy tasty local food
To complete your stay in Agrigento, try some delicious local food. The historical center offers countless options for every taste.
If you’re craving tasty, heartwarming food, head to Naif and try local dishes like caponata, cavatelli alla norma, and linguine with almond pesto.
If you’re looking for a quick bite and you’re a fan of seafood, you have to try the sandwiches or fried fish at Cusà Fish.
Lastly, for a special night out, enjoy the fine dining at Sal8. The specialties are fish-based, but they also serve meat and vegetarian options so you’re sure to find something to enjoy!
Have a beach day in Porto Empedocle
Agrigento isn’t itself a coastal town, but it’s just a short distance inland, making it easy to pop over to the beach town of Porto Empodocle (halfway to the Scala dei Turchi, the next spot on this list).
Grab a patch of beach in the free section of Spiaggia di Marinella, or for more amenities, you can also rent a chair and umbrellas at the Lido Marinella.
Take a day trip to Scala dei Turchi
If you’re going to spend a more than one day in Agrigento, you ought to take at least half a day to explore the impressive Scala dei Turchi (Turks’ Stairs)
These white cliffs sinking in the turquoise waters is one of the most scenic spots on the southern coast of Sicily.
You can reach the parking area in under 20 minutes by car from Agrigento or by bus during the summer months.
Note that access to the cliffs themselves is forbidden, but you can admire the stunning landscape from a nearby beach or from above at Belvedere Scala dei Turchi.
Take a boat tour of the Scala dei Turchi
Another way to explore this scenic spot is by joining thisStair of the Turks Boat Tour and admire the white cliff from another vantage point — down below it!
During this 4-hour tour, you can admire the beautiful cliffs from the boat, swim in the clear waters just off the coast, and enjoy other spectacular views along the gorgeous Sicilian seascape.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Messina sits almost at the northeastern tip of Sicily, just across the strait from Reggio Calabria, the southernmost city in mainland Italy.
Despite its prime location, Messina is one of the less frequently visited places in Sicily, and it’s often overlooked in favor of other, more famous cities.
Sadly, Messina has a long history of devastating events, especially in the 20th century.
After a massive earthquake in 1908 destroyed a great part of Reggio Calabria and Messina, bombardments during World War II damaged the city even further, adding insult to injury.
Though it was mostly reconstructed after this series of disasters, Messina still has many abandoned buildings, which stand a sort of monument to this history of devastation and the slow process of rebuilding.
Viewpoint in Messina of one of its many churches, the Tempio di Christo Re
I stopped off in Messina during one of my trips to Sicily, since I was crossing the strait from Reggio Calabria.
While yes, it may lack some of the charm of small seaside towns like Taormina or Siracusa, I can tell you that it’s still a lovely city worth a visit.
Without any further ado, here’s a short guide of things to do in Messina, one of Sicily’s most underrated cities.
Tips for Visiting Messina
Church of the Madonna di Montalto in Messina
Just being one of the bigger cities in Sicily somehow isn’t enough to attract visitors.
With most travelers heading to Palermo, Agrigento, and Siracusa, Messina is mostly just visited by travelers who have already seen the rest of the island and are looking to avoid the crowds.
On the bright side, the fact that Messina isn’t so famous among tourists means you can often enjoy the city without having to put up with crowds.
While summers are still popular, especially given the many cruises stopping by, you’ll still find fewer people overall in Messina than in most other Sicilian cities and beach towns.
Downtown street in Messina, with a view of the clocktower
Given the island’s summer tourism boom, visiting in the shoulder season can be great; in particular, months like April and October offer the perfect compromise with good weather and moderate crowds.
Also, if you don’t mind passing up your Sicily beach time in exchange for solitude and winter prices, winter can also be a good time to visit, since Messina is not really a beach-centered destination.
Most people will find one day is enough time to explore Messina, so plan your schedule accordingly.
Especially if you’ll be taking a renting a car in Sicily before going on a road trip, I recommend spending the day in Messina before moving on to nearby places like the charming Taormina and beautiful Mount Etna and its wine-growing region.
Things to Do in Messina, Sicily
Details of the Messina cityscape
I’ll be honest: unlike some of the more popular cities in Sicily, Messina isn’t exactly packed with attractions and landmarks. However, this doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do!
You can take your sweet time walking around the city, all while admiring the beautiful churches, and checking out some stunning viewpoints.
Read on for a few more of my favorite things to do in Messina.
Explore the center of Messina.
Traditional old architecture in Messina
Start your visit to Messina off with a walk around its historical center, where you can admire beautiful buildings, check out impressive squares, and visit beautiful churches.
The city may be big, but the historical center is nice and compact, so you can explore it in a couple of hours.
Make your way down to stroll around Cairoli Square, one of the main city squares.
From the square, you can walk along Viale San Martino, Messina’s shopping street, lined with everything from clothing and jewelry stores to bars, bakeries, and gelateria
If you’re short on time but want to see the main sights and learn some cool facts about Messina, you can join this 2-hourWalking Tour.
Your knowledgeable guide will show you around the historical center and tell you legends and historical facts about the city’s landmarks for context.
Admire Messina’s fountains.
The ornate fountains of Messina
Scattered all over Messina’s historical center, you’ll see several artistic fountains which is one of the halmmarks of the city.
The most famous is Fontana di Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune), but others worth checking out include Fontana di Orione, in front of the cathedral in the Piazza del Duomo, and Fontana Falconieri.
Close to Fontana Falconieri, you can also check out a variety of sculptures lining a lovely stairway leading to Santuario Parrocchia S. Maria Di Montalto.
Tip: From here, you can enjoy a lovely view of the Cristo Re Sanctuary.
Discover Messina’s churches.
The Messina Cathedral and its belltower
Messina’s churches are among its most beautiful landmarks, especially when set against the backdrop of the waters of the gorgeous Strait of Messina.
Along with the Messina Cathedral, the Tempio di Cristo Re (pictured nelow) and the Chiesa Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani are the most famous and photogenic churches in town.
TheBasilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assuntais known for its astronomical clock (which we’ll talk about in a bit), but it’s also just a beautiful church worth visiting in its own right: its cupola is especially gorgeous!
Interior of the cathedral basilica
Though mostly destroyed in the 1908 earthquake, some elements survived, like the Gothic portal and an apse.
You can get an audio guide for a small fee when visiting the cathedral interior.
Located on top of a hill, Tempio di Cristo Re offers spectacular views over the city and features unique architecture.
View of Tempio di Cristo Re with Reggio di Calabria on the other side of the water
The church was built on the spot previously occupied by the medieval castle of Matagrifone and actually incorporates the ruins of the fortress, including the only tower still standing.
The last church we’ll talk about here, the lovely Chiesa Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani, dates to the Byzantine period and combines both Norman and Arab architectural elements in a blend that is typically Sicilian.
The 12th-century church occupies the place of an ancient temple dedicated to Neptune and is one of the few structures that survived the 1908 earthquake.
Watch the astronomical clock strike noon.
The astronomical clock of Messina
The Cathedral of Messina (aka the Duomo di Messina) is perhaps best known for its astronomical clock, the largest and purportedly most complex (though how that’s measured, I’m not exactly sure) in the world.
The clock was added to the bell tower in 1933 following the cathedral’s reconstruction after the 1908 earthquake.
Built by a Strasbourg-based company, the clock resembles the one in the French city from which it hails.
The clock has several symbolic decorations, the most significant one being the carousel of the days of the week, with a deity representing each day.
Symbols of the zodiac on the clock in Messina
Other parts of the clock are a carousel depicting the stages of life, as well as a statue of Messina’s patron saint, a separate clock that marks the sun’s zodiac symbols, the Madonna of the Letter, and several biblical scenes.
Every day at noon, visitors gather around the clock to watch it come alive.
Watching the statues come to life one by one, complete with movement and sounds, is a must-see attraction in Messina.
Get there a few minutes earlier to catch a good spot for the show!
Check out the art at the Interdisciplinary Regional Museum of Messina.
The Regional Museum of Messina outside the center | Photo Credit: I, Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Regional Museum of Messina is home to a vast collection of artworks and archeological artifacts, including important works by Caravaggio and Antonello da Messina.
The museum highlights art and culture in Messina dating back between the 12th and 18th centuries.
In addition to its core focus, the museum also houses paintings, sculptures, and artifacts retrieved in the aftermath of the 1908 earthquake.
The museum has a unique location that is itself quite historical: it’s set in a former spinning mill.
Although it’s a bit farther than the other the main landmarks in Messina, you can still easily reach it by bus or a pleasant 30-minute walk.
Stroll through the University Botanical Garden.
Bougainvillea in Messina
Admittedly, Messina is a bit lacking in green spaces for the most part, at least compared to other places in Sicily.
That said, the University Botanical Garden is a delightful exception!
This little green area was first established in the 17th century… but sadly, it was destroyed shortly after during Messina’s revolt against the Spanish.
The botanical garden as you’ll see it today dates to the late 19th century, a little oasis in the center of a busy city. Best of all, it’s free of charge!
However, it’s important to note that it’s only open on weekdays; weekends, it’s closed!
Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the Camposanto.
The Camposanto of Messina
A graveyard walk might sound a bit unusual, but strolling through the Monumental Cemetery is one of the more popular things to do in Messina, and it’s also one of the city’s few green spaces.
Also known as Camposanto, the 18th-century cemetery features beautifully decorated chapels, sculptures, and monuments.
Going for a walk through Camposanto is a relaxing and peaceful way to spend an hour in Messina if you run out of things to do.
The cemetery is just a 20-minute walk from Piazza Cairoli, but you can also catch the tram.
Roxana is a Romanian-born freelance travel writer who has lived in Italy for over 15 years. She has a Master’s in Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Film Studies, and she studied at Università degli Studi di Roma Tre. Besides her native Romania, Roxana has lived in Rome, Lisbon, and Berlin, and she has traveled through much of Europe in search of hidden gems, history, and culture.
If you’re planning a trip to Sicily, you’re probably planning to visit its epic coastline, stunning beaches, charming beach towns, and countless historical spots.
But there’s one thing you simply can’t miss: visiting the iconic Mt. Etna, the tallest active volcano in all of Europe.
The towering, simmering Mt. Etna is located near the city of Catania and the charming commune of Taormina, making it a convenient spot to visit.
And when you realize that the Etna region is home to some of Italy’s best wines, that’s all the more reason to check one of these Etna wine tours on your trip.
Whether you’re staying in Catania or Taormina, you’ll be close to all the best spots in Sicily, surrounded by beautiful beaches all along the coast.
While there’s a lot of history in the area, let’s be honest: just the views of Mount Etna alone would be worth the trip!
But of course, Sicilian food is incredibly delicious, and made even more so by the local Mount Etna wine.
From rich and deep Nero d’Avola to the region’s signature Etna Rosso wine, made from a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, the winemaking scene in the Etna wine region is fantastic.
And while Sicily’s better known for its red wines, don’t sleep on its white wines, primarily the Etna Biancos which are made from the local indigenous Carricante and Catarrato grape varieties.
The mineral-rich volcanic terroir of the Etna slopes has allowed for some pretty unique wines to emerge here, distinct from what you’d find in Tuscan Chianti region or Veneto’s Prosecco area.
Italy’s wines are as diverse as its landscapes and people, after all, and Sicily is an important part of that equation.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, spend the day taking a Mt Etna wine tour, and give your palette the treatment it deserves!
We’ll go into the top 11 Etna wine tours below and details of what’s included in each, but if you don’t have time for that, here’s the quick run-down of my favorite picks!
Mt. Etna wine has a distinct terroir from its volcanic soils, which are mineral-rich as a result of past volcanic eruptions, as the soil has mingled with lava and ash.
Another distinctive factor that separates Mt. Etna wine from the rest is its relatively high altitude of cultivation, as it’s typically grown from 600-1,000 meters up — that’s 2,000 to 3,000 feet!
High altitudes = cooler weather and longer ripening times, creating more complexity and structure in the wines.
Plus, many Etna wineries preserve the indigenous grape varieties unique to the island, like Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and Nero d’Avola.
You likely won’t taste these grapes outside of Sicily!
Etna wines come in several varieties: Etna Rosso (red wines), Etna Bianco (from Carricante and Catarratto white wine grapes), Etna Rosatao (a rosé made from Nerello Mascalese grapes), and Etna Passito (a lush dessert wine).
⌛ Tour Length: 7 hours | 🌟 Rating: 4.8/5 stars (20+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: -Full day trip with pick up and drop off from Catania -Sampling 7 different Mt Etna wines, local honey, and olive oil -Enjoying a large three-course meal at the second winery visit
You’ll get the ball rolling at your first stop, Zafferana Etnea, a commune of Catania known for its honey and olive oil.
And yes, you will be sampling the local products, don’t you worry!
Once you hit your first winery with your small group, you’ll learn about the harvesting and production process of Mt Etna wines.
This way, you have some context for the delicious local wines before your first taste test.
The fun (and drinks) continue over at the second winery, but that’s not all – there’s also a tasty, local Sicilian lunch to go along with the 3 different Etna DOC wines you’ll be tasting paired with your meal!
The antipasto, primo, and secondo should keep you nice and full for the final leg of the tour, where local experts will give you a guided walk through the Mt Etna vineyards.
The Mt Etna tour concludes in the early evening, giving you plenty of time to explore Catania before tucking in for the night!
⌛ Tour Length: 8 hours | 🌟 Rating: 4.3/5 stars (10+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: -Hiking the lava caves, craters & volcanic region of Mt. Etna -Wine tasting and light lunch after exploring Etna -Positive English language guides with in-depth knowledge of the Etna region
This Etna wine tour will take about 8 hours of your day, but there’s a good reason for that: this tour combines a trip to both the Mt Etna volcano and the Etna wineries around it!
First, your guide will show you around the general Mount Etna area before taking you to see a lava tube (created by running lava flow from previous eruptions that cooled over time) and its surrounding craters.
Needless to say, you want to make sure you’re appropriately dressed since there’s a lot of exploring and light trekking on this tour.
Hiking shoes, some layers (as it can get cold on Mt. Etna!), and some light snacks are a must!
After immersing yourself in the fascinating geology and volcanic landscape of Mt Etna, it’s time to enjoy the spoils of all that volcanic activity – a series of delicious wines!
If all that learning and tasting leaves you feeling a bit peckish, next up is a delicious light lunch before wrapping things up.
You’ll then be transported back to your hotel in Catania at the end of the tour.
⌛ Tour Length: 6 hours | 🌟 Rating: 4.8/5 stars (120+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: –An unforgettable drive through some of Sicily’s most charming coastal villages -Sampling wine and snacks at wineries and an open-air amphitheater -Enjoying some farm-to-table goods, such as pasta, produce, and limoncello
After picking you up, your guides will take you on a scenic drive through various villages in coastal Sicily – these beach towns are so charming.
Plus, the flora and architecture here along the coast really are unique, so you’ll probably be taking pictures throughout the entire drive!
Your first stop after the scenic drive is a visit to a family-run Mt Etna winery, where you can try some fine Etna rosé to start the wine tasting part of the tour!
After checking out the wine cellars, you’ll hit the ruins of a historic open amphitheater and indulge in some snacks and even more Etna wine samples!
You’d better save some room, though, since you’ll also be going to a farmhouse and trying out a typical Sicilian lunch that makes use of the pasta, produce, and typical products of the region.
After all, Sicily is famous for more than just its wine production!
The last step is trying out some limoncello before heading back to Taormina.
⌛ Tour Length: 7 hours | 🌟 Rating: 4.8/5 stars (50+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: -A memorable drive to Rifugio Sapienza with photo stops -A scenic uphill hike or cable car ride, followed by a lava tube visit -Sampling a wide variety of wines, still and sparkling, along with local snacks
This Etna wine tour might be the best way to experience just how scenic the Etna National Park really is.
The first order of business is to drive up to Rifugio Sapienza up on the slopes of Mt Etna, all while making stops at scenic vistas along the way – don’t worry, your camera will eat just as well as you will on this trip!
Your guide will explain the geology and history during each stop, so this is a great tour if you’re interested in the region’s history – both of the land and of the people.
Next up, you can either take a two-kilometer hike across various scenic hiking paths or take a cable car up the mountain for some scenic photo ops at the top of the mountain.
Whichever one you opt for, everyone unites at the next point: a lava cave – not something you get to see every day, and not something you likely associate with a wine tour!
After all that fun and excitement, it’s time to get to the wines… because this is just as much a wine tasting Etna experience as it is a hiking tour!
You’ll get to toast with some sparkling Sicilian wine, try four local kinds of still wine (with grapes grown on the slopes of Mount Etna), and have a bunch of Sicilian snacks to go along with them!
⌛ Tour Length: 1.5 hours | 🌟 Rating: 4.8/5 stars (20+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: -Quick Etna winery tour perfect for quick Sicily trips -Perfect for people who prefer more independent travel to guided tours -Trying Etna wines with local Sicilian food pairings
In case you’re looking for something short yet scenic, this 1.5-hour Etna wine tour has your name written all over it!
However, this is only a good tour option if you have rented a car in Sicily, since you’ll need to drive yourself to the tour’s meeting point – transportation is not included.
You’ll get into the action right away with some white wine tasting, followed by an underground winery tour led by an expert sommelier.
You get to learn which local products go well with which types of wine – pretty useful information for any aspiring wine aficionado!
After that, there’s even more wine to be had. Up to seven glasses for you to sample, to be specific, depending on which tour you opt for!
Applying what you learned at the start of the tour, you get to mix and match these wines with black Nebrodi pork, ricotta cannoli, and some other mouth-watering Sicilian delicacies!
⌛ Tour Length: 6.5 – 7 hours | 🌟 Rating: 4.9/5 stars (40+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: -Visiting 3 different wineries – more than most Etna wine tours on this list -Getting to try a total of 12 wines, enjoying as much as you’d like -Private tour with pickup in either Catania, Taormina, or Messina
This private tour covers three wineries, some of the most prestigious in the Etna area.
Between the three of them, you can sample a total of 12 wines – and they won’t hesitate to top you off on any of your favorites, either.
The first winery sets the tone with some delicious Etna white wine, as well as a guided tour of the winery premises and a rundown of the production process, including how the volcanic soil impacts the wine region.
The breathtaking views from the terrace don’t hurt, either!
Each of the following Etna wineries offers an even greater variety of drinks and food, so you’ll definitely be going home with your stomach full (and head a-buzzing).
Best of all, since this tour is private, you’ll have individualized attention and can ask as much as you want about the winemaking process!
⌛ Tour Length: 7 hours | 🌟 Rating: New! | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: -The chance to get a 3,000-meter-altitude view from the Etna summit -Option for shorter hike instead, plus all enjoy a guided tour of a lava flow cave -Sampling five wines with appetizers at one of Etna’s best wineries
This Etna group tour is perfect for wine geeks and geology nerds alone: this Etna wine tour not only educates you on the wine, but also the volcano’s history along the way.
Plus, the drive climbing up to the Sapienza Refuge is an adventure in itself: the landscape is awe-inspiring, to say the least.
There have been more recent lava flows in the area that have affected the volcanic terrain, and your guide will tell you all about it – and what that means for Etna wine in general!
After some exploring, your options include a shorter hike or alonger trek under the guidance of a local mountain guide – your choice (either is a good option, especially since you haven’t started the wine tasting yet!)
Fair warning, you’re missing out on quite a view if you don’t go with the latter!
I highly recommend that if it’s at all possible: you’ll reach the summit of the volcano, around 3,000 meters above sea level!
Either way, at Rifugio Sapienza (at 1,920 meters of altitude), you’ll be visiting a lava flow cave to conclude the sightseeing portion of the tour.
Finally, it’s time for the wine, but it sure is worth the wait – the appetizer platter that goes along with it is what really seals the deal.
You’ll try five delicious local Etna wines, made all the better by a sample of fritters, local cheese, Italian cold cuts, olive oil, and farm-made pâté.
⌛ Tour Length: 6 – 7 hours | 🌟 Rating: 4.7/5 stars (10+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: -A chance to go as high as 3,300 meters up Mount Etna to the summit -Exploring Silvestri Crateri and looking at lava-made souvenirs -Indulging in a hearty meal and several different kinds of wine
There’s a lot to see on the drive from Catania, but the best part is when you reach Zafferana Etnea and start tasting some local honey, jams, and liquors made from local produce.
Even further up the road is Rifugio Sapienza, one of the most scenic parts of all of the Etna region, near the Silvestri Crateri.
No reason to stop there though – for an even better view, you can take a cable car to go even higher to the summit for an additional €65 fee.
The tour is private, so as long as you and yours all agree, you really ought to make the trip up to the summit.
Either way, your trekking will be rewarded on the way down with a memorable winery visit at the end of the Etna tour.
Besides the obligatory local red and white wines, you’ll be served everything from veggies and olive oils to meat and cheese from the surrounding region.
⌛ Tour Length: 9 hours | 🌟 Rating: 5/5 stars (300+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: -Hiking in Mt. Etna, Monti Sartorius, and Alcantara River Park -Enjoying a large meal along with generous wine samples -Visiting the stunning, scenic Alcantara Gorge
This 9-hour Etna wine tour is worth every penny, as it covers virtually everything you could hope to experience along Sicily’s eastern coast.
Starting off from Taormina, you’ll set out on an amazing hike on Mt Etna, taking in the lava caves and moon-like volcanic landscapes that Mount Etna is known for.
Afterwards, you’ll check out two more scenic hiking areas, Monti Sartorius and Alcantara River Park.
You’ll definitely want to wear some trekking shoes for this combined hiking and Etna wine tour.
After all that hiking, you’ll have worked up quite the appetite. Luckily, there’s a three-course meal waiting for you, along with some of Sicily’s best wines.
Still, the best part is probably getting to see the Alcantara Gorge – pictures don’t do this place justice, so you’ll just have to see for yourself.
All that eating and trekking will knock the wind out of you, so rest easy on the way back in the air conditioned minivan.
You can relax, because your tour operator will drop you back off at your accommodation once you’re done.
⌛ Tour Length: 6 hours | 🌟 Rating: 5/5 stars (210+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: -Tasting up to 12 different Etna wines -Thorough tour of each of three distinct Etna wineries -Enjoying a variety of local food and Sicilian snacks throughout the day
One thorough winery tour may be enough for casual wine drinkers, but it won’t quite do it for the serious wine drinker who is looking to dive deep on their Etna wine tasting excursion.
Luckily, this private 6-hour wine tour covers a whopping three wineries near Mt Etna!
The drive there has some unique stops that other Mount Etna wine tours skip, which makes it a pretty unique Etna experience.
I mean, how many people can say they’ve seen a church made of volcanic rock… while on a wine tour, nonetheless?
Once you hit your first Etna winery, you’ll get to enjoy a guided tour of the estate and a variety of wine samples to get you started on the right foot.
Hard to resist a large plate of deliciousness and five different wines with a scenic balcony view!
There’s more where that came from, though, as the second winery will have you tasting another four wines!
Ending things on a high note, the final winery offers three particularly high-caliber Mt Etna wines and even more snacks.
No one could blame you if you couldn’t eat or drink anymore at that point, though!
⌛ Tour Length: 7 – 9 hours | 🌟 Rating: 5/5 stars (35+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
Unique Features: -Getting to explore the Silvestri Craters at 2,000 meters high -Tasting produce at a local farm alongside a wine tasting -Lunch at a scenic winery, complete with a wine tasting flight
If you’re a couple or small group looking to get pampered for a day, it doesn’t get better than this Etna wine tour!
Wherever you are in the general Catania region, your friendly guides will go above and beyond to pick you up.
If you’re not feeling confident about driving up the mountain yourself (or if you’ve opted not to rent a car in Italy), this tour is the perfect way to see the Silvestri Craters firsthand.
By the way, the 2,000-meter-high view is probably one of the most spectacular sights you’ll see in all of Sicily!
To get you salivating before the big wine tasting finale, your guides will take you to a farm to sample some local specialties first.
After all, Etna is first and foremost an agricultural region!
Once you’re at the winery, you also get to enjoy a full Sicilian lunch alongside some wine samples before heading back home from your Mount Etna wine tasting tour.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
With rolling hills and vineyards as your everyday backdrop, renting a Tuscany villa with a private pool is one of the best ways to experience the bucolic landscapes of Italy’s most beautiful countryside.
And with fully-equipped kitchens, al fresco dining areas, and beautiful gardens, a home’s comforts meets nature’s beauty in these villas.
Of course, the crown jewel of many of these Tuscan villas are their private pools, a little secluded sanctuary to float clear blue skies or lounge at the water’s edge with a glass of Chianti in hand.
Renting a villa in Tuscany with a private pool is not just about luxury, though it can be if you want it to be — there are plenty of luxe jewels in this list, but also some budget sleeper hits that will surprise you with how affordable they are.
It’s also about embracing the experience of traveling with a group of loved ones, whether that’s the family you’re born into or the family you’ve chosen.
In between relaxing at your Tuscan pool villa, you can explore medieval towns, taste your way through the humbly decadent Tuscan cuisine, or merely indulge in the sweet art of doing nothing at all!
My Top 3 Picks For Tuscany Villas with Private Pools
These pool villas in Tuscany are pretty much impossible to reach with public transportation, and they are often in the countryside, not within walking distance of any amenities.
If you don’t want to feel isolated, you’ll definitely want to rent a car in Tuscany to make the most of your stay.
I recommend renting a car as soon as you fly into Florence (assuming you are starting your trip there), since you’ll get the best rates at the Florence airport.
I use Discover Cars to search for the best car rental prices in Italy, since they compare 500+ agencies (including smaller local ones, not just the big names) to find the best deal on your rental.
Best Villas in Tuscany with Private Pools for Large Groups
Overall Best For Big Groups: Villa Il Turchetto – Book Here
This massive Tuscany villa with private pool is the perfect choice for large groups — it can fit as many as 16 guests in its 8 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms (no bathroom hold-ups here!).
Even with a full house, you won’t be cramped at all. Villa Il Turchetto is a whopping 5,000 square feet, larger than life on the inside with high ceilings and exposed wood beams.
The bedrooms are a variety of sizes, from smaller rooms perfect for kiddos to larger master-style suites, but truly no one will feel shafted by the rooms — they’re all very comfortable.
Some of the bathrooms even have bathtubs, for those of us who love a good soak at the end of a day on vacation.
… and speaking of good soaks, the location in Saturnia means that you’re right next to one of Tuscany’s hidden gems, the thermal springs right in town.
When you’re this close, it’s a breeze to be there bright and early to be some of the first ones to enjoy the springs, which can get rather busy after the morning hours.
Back to this villa: with a living room with a fireplace, comfy armchairs, and a wall of built-in bookcases just begging you to curl up with a good novel, you absolutely will find yourself wishing you can move in.
The outdoor spaces here are massive too: plenty of comfortable cushioned chairs shaded by a thatched-style awning, giving you shade with hints of sun as you enjoy a Tuscan afternoon on the porch.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Tuscany without many a dinner al fresco.
Luckily, with a massive, well-equipped kitchen (I think I counted a whopping 8 burners to use on the massive, hood-range stove) and enough outdoor seating to fit the whole crew, you’re ready to host unforgettable dinners in the cool Tuscan night breeze.
As for the pool, you won’t make any sacrifices here: it’s huge, so every single one of 16 guests could be in the pool without feeling crowded.
It’s large enough to swim laps in, but it’s also just a wonderful place to relax in, admiring the Tuscan countryside all around you and the lovely rolling hills you can see out of every corner of your eye.
Best For Spa Lovers: Podere La Piscina – Acqua Termale e Relax – Book Here
This gorgeous villa is more like a typical Tuscan pool villa meets a full-on spa — complete with a sauna and a thermal pool and hot tub with natural spring water, it really does check all the ‘spa’ boxes!
Yes, Podere La Piscina literally has its own hot spring on the property — how’s that for a unique pool villa in Tuscany?
The spring has a constant temperature of 38°C or 100°F, so it’s perfect for visiting outside of the summer season if you want a heated pool.
If you’re looking for a colder pool for swimming laps and cooling off on hot Tuscan days, this may not be the right villa for you in the summer months!
Some of the bathrooms also feel very spa-like, including one where two people can take baths side by side using the thermal water!
Located in the countryside of Val d’Orcia in the charming village of San Casciano dei Bagni, this is one of the most scenic areas of Tuscany to stay in.
Think of that beautiful winding road lined with trees that you likely think of the image of Tuscany, and that’s the Val d’Orcia!
The town it’s near, San Casciano dei Bagni, is part of the association of most beautiful villages in Italy.
Best of all, it’s only a kilometer away, so you can reach it on foot or with a car — so this is a great mix of a private-feeling villa yet still not feeling cut off from the delight of Tuscan small towns.
This five-bedroom Tuscany villa with a private pool is very traditional, made of stone in the old-fashioned way (as a natural form of air conditioning) — but of course, it has regular A/C as well, because this villa will not let you miss any of your creature comforts.
Sleeping up to 10 guests, the bedrooms are great for a mix of families or a group of friends — 4 of the rooms have large double beds, but there’s one bedroom with two twin size beds.
There are many common spaces to enjoy with your group, like the large living room with three huge plush couches to gather around, all surrounding a fireplace.
This room is set in a high-ceilinged room complete with an exposed wooden ceiling with its original beams and a skylight — and a piano, in case any of you are musical!
All that plus a huge, well-equipped kitchen for making delicious meals with local ingredients and plenty of room to gather around the table, and you’ll see why this is the perfect Tuscany villa with private pool — nay, private hot springs — for larger groups!
Largest Pool Villa: Locanda in Tuscany – Book Here
This may be the largest Tuscany villa with a private pool on the list: the large house can sleep up to 24 guests in its 9 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and a whopping 7,500 square foot floor plan!
Included in your stay is a daily breakfast at the nearby restaurant, which you can also visit for lunch or dinner if you don’t feel up to cooking for yourself.
That said, they do have a fully-equipped massive kitchen as well as outdoor BBQ facilities, so you can opt for self-catering or going out to as many meals as you like.
The outsized villa, of course, has an outsized private pool to match: stretching nearly as long as the house itself, it’s the perfect place to swim laps or take a dip during the hot afternoons in Tuscany.
There are also lots of loungers, as well as a shaded area for enjoying the afternoons outside without worrying about getting to much sun.
The pool area also has an epic sunset view, and the rolling hills of the Val d’Orcia of Tuscany is one of the entire region’s most scenic areas.
Let’s talk about the inside, now: the villa is freshly renovated, with an updated farmhouse-inspired aesthetic in all its bedrooms.
Some of the bedrooms even have their own fireplace or clawfoot bathtub in the room!
Nearly every square inch of this Tuscany villa with a pool is absolutely begging to be photographed, from its huge pool with floating chairs and rolling hill views to its fringed hammocks to its lovely minimalist décor to, of course, its lavender field!
Note, of course, lavender fields are not a year-round phenomenon — expect it to be at its peak from mid-June through mid-July — so you’ll want to book those dates in particular if the lavender field is a major selling point.
Located in the countryside of Marsiliana, this 5-bedroom, 6-bathroom villa is over 2,000 square feet and has plenty of room to accommodate up to 11 guests.
Rooms all have a very boutique hotel feel, with lovely high ceilings, a muted earth tone color palette livened up by thoughtful bursts of color, and bathrooms with rain showers!
The kitchen is massive and open, perfect for entertaining a large group while you cook, as well as outdoor BBQ facilities.
Plus, this villa has its own pizza oven — how amazing is that?
And of course, since you’re looking for a Tuscany villa with a pool, I’d be remiss to mention just how large this pool is: perfect for laps or simple afternoon swims, the entire group could be in the pool at one time and it wouldn’t feel cramped!
There are also plenty of comfortable chairs and hammocks around the poolside to curl up with a book in between swims.
The lovely Casa Terzerie has all the structure of the typical regal villas of Como, with more old-fashioned features like four-poster beds, high ceilings with exposed wooden beams, and typical Tuscan tiling.
It’s great for a medium-sized group, sleeping up to 10 guests in its 5 bedrooms, each with double beds.
It’s nearly 3,500 square feet, so there’s plenty of space to not crowd each other.
The swimming pool is huge and gorgeous, lined up perfectly with the setting sun for gorgeous sunset swims.
And while the house feels very secluded, it’s perfectly situated as there’s a delicious restaurant within walking distance, 400 meters away.
That said, you’d never have to go out for meals if you don’t want to, as there’s a huge and well-equipped kitchen as well as a gorgeous al fresco dining area perfect for big meals with friends.
Best for Dinner Parties: Villa Podere Del Grasso – Book Here
Located in Castel del Piano, this Tuscany villa with a pool is a secluded little getaway perfect for groups up to 12 — perfect for families or trips with a large group of friends.
This villa in Tuscany in absolutely massive: we’re talking six bedrooms, plus two sofa beds in the living room, so it’s easy to accommodate a large group of people.
With an enormous private pool to swim laps in or cool off in under the hot Tuscan sun, or a fireplace to gather around inside during the cooler months, this is a wonderful all-seasons villa in Tuscany for large groups.
The villa interior is gorgeous, with high ceilings complete with exposed wooden beams, completing the rustic Tuscan vibe.
A spacious kitchen with a center island to gather around is another huge perk of this villa, as it’s easy to self-cater if you want to host dinners cooking with local, seasonal ingredients — it’d be a shame to waste Italian summer produce!
A housekeeper is available in case you need any tidying while you’re staying in the villa (note that there’s an additional charge)
With a porch featuring hammock seats overlooking the hills, this Tuscany pool villa is the perfect place to take in the sunset and relax with a glass of local Chianti.
Travel insurance coverage helps you recoup your losses in case of emergency, accident, illness, or theft.
I rely on SafetyWing to cover me in case my travel plans change due to forces out of my control, or if something bad happens to me while I’m on the road. It offers great rates starting around $12/week with clear, easy-to-read coverage.
Best Outdoor Sunset Space: Villa Colletto – Book Here
If your favorite time of the day is sunset, this is the perfect Tuscany villa with a pool for you: Villa Colletto has one of the nicest sunset-facing terraces I’ve ever seen!
Complete with several comfortable wicker sofas and chairs with plush pillows, arranged in a circle around a table to place drinks and antipasti on, this is the perfect place to watch the sun sink into the small, rugged mountains of the Tuscan countryside.
And after the sun sets, there’s still plenty of outdoor beauty to enjoy, like the massive dining table that’ll fit the entire group with views over the surroundings villages, only tiny pinpricks of light in the dark.
The house has 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms and comfortably sleeps 8 guests, though honestly, I do expect it could fit more if you asked.
The interior is absolutely gorgeous too, keeping in mind the historical feel of traditional Italian villas with some incredible design features, from ornate ceilings to chandeliers to exposed beams.
One of my favorites is a bathroom with murals painted on the wall of a Tuscan landscape, complete with an exposed wooden beam ceiling, a wrought-iron standalone bathtub, and sconce lighting.
It’s like taking a bath in another century!
The bedrooms too feel like they came out of a 19th century Lake Como villa, with exposed beam ceilings, delicate molding features, vintage furnishings, and many with en-suite bathrooms that continue the charm.
And of course, you looked up Tuscany pool villas so let’s talk about the pool: it’s simply huge, large enough to swim laps in or have a pool party in!
There’s also lots of loungers around the pool to take breaks for sunbathing or book-worming.
And the pool also is a great sunset spot to boot — you get epic views of the setting sun and its palette of brilliant sunset colors here, too.
There are both indoor and outdoor kitchens, and you can even hire a private chef who can cook Italian classics for you.
Perhaps even better for lovers of Tuscan wine, they have their own wine cellar and can arrange for private wine tastings!
The prices for the chef and wine tasting are rather reasonable too, starting at 35-45€ per person for meals and 25-35€ per person for wine tasting.
Who knew private luxury in your own Tuscan pool villa could be that inexpensive?
Once a fortress and a few scattered farmhouses, Chiarentana is now a gorgeous, modern place to stay with a variety of options, but we’ll focus on the villa here, since it has its own private pool.
Oh, and did I mention it’s also an olive oil farm? It doesn’t get any more Tuscan than that, does it?
The rooms are typical Italian understated villa beauty: simple but elegant furnishings that mix and match vintage with modern, so all your creature comforts are met while still having that traditional villa feel.
The kitchen is huge and spacious, high-ceilinged with lots of natural light and counter space, plus an in-kitchen dining table for entertaining and having family or group meals.
There’s also a huge living room with a fireplace and lots of seating, perfect for a night of chats, games, and drinks to match.
With four bedrooms (3 queen, one with two twin) and a living room with a sofa bed, as well as two bathrooms, there’s plenty of space at this Tuscan villa so you won’t feel crowded, even if you’re at max capacity.
It’s also rather close to the Florence airport, making transfers a breeze, as it’s located about halfway between Florence and Arrezzo, another charming Tuscan city.
The interior oozes Italian countryside charm, with rustic exposed stonework in the dining room, an outdoor area perfect for al fresco dinners with endless Chianti pours, and the typical rust-red and mustard-yellow hues of the Tuscan countryside in the shared areas.
On cool nights, there’s also a fireplace to enjoy and gather around in the lovely living room — but if it’s warm, don’t worry, this Tuscan villa is complete with A/C as well!
But of course, the real draw is the private pool: beautiful day or night, this infinity pool looks over the rolling hills of Tuscany.
And all lit up at night in beautiful turquoise and gold, there couldn’t be a better place to drink wine and chat with friends and family late into the early morning hours.
Plus, there’s a Jacuzzi as well to use!
And if you thought it didn’t get any better, the lovely couple who runs the villa, Gaetano and Francesca, will cook for you — even making you delicious home-cooked pizzas in their pizza oven!
This is the perfect villa to stay in if you don’t want to feel totally secluded out in the countryside far from all the restaurants and attractions of Tuscany, but you still want the privacy and spaciousness that a pool villa gives you.
With 6 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, this Tuscany pool villa comfortably fits up to 12 guests, making it great for groups of friends and families.
One of its best features is its infinity pool, which looks straight over the rolling landscape of the Tuscan countryside for some of the best views you can imagine.
Next to the pool, there are loungers with large umbrellas perfect for sunbathing with views of Tuscany spread out before you.
There’s also a large outdoor al fresco dining area, so you can eat lunch and dinner with the same sweeping views!
Inside, the kitchen is a modern marvel — you’ll find yourself wanting to cook in this one, with its gorgeous marble countertops and endless counter space, fully equipped to make mouthwatering meals.
There’s a wonderful little breakfast nook, multiple fireplaces, and tons of spacious seating areas to enjoy indoors.
The bedrooms are also very spacious and modern, with high ceilings with wooden beams and en-suite bathrooms with soaking tubs or walk-in showers — the ultimate in relaxation!
A 10-minute drive from the charming Tuscan town of Vinci, it’s conveniently located but still feels very private and secluded.
You can enjoy the large, spacious garden and its BBQ facilities as well as its above-ground pool, accessed via stairs that can be gated off.
This makes it an especially safe choice for families with young kids who may be worried about the safety of a Tuscany pool villa.
For an above ground pool, it’s rather large, and while you wouldn’t necessarily be able to swim laps in it, it’s definitely not a kiddie pool!
Kids will also love the treehouse-style play structure complete with a slide!
In terms of the interior, think old-fashioned Italian comforts: iron-wrought furniture, oil paintings and prints of famous Italian artists, and the typical Tuscan color palette of pale yellow, brick, and rust-red.
It’s not the most design-forward Tuscany pool villa, and fans of modernist design will definitely find it a little dated, but if you want old-fashioned charm, this is it!
Modern Beauty with Spa Features: Villa Le Terme – Book Here
This pool villa in Tuscany doesn’t quite feel like the others, as it has a really modern architecture compared to the others, which are more traditional in their design.
While it may not ooze with historic charm the way many of these Tuscany villas with private pools do, Villa Le Terme still is an excellent choice and may be better for those with more modernist design sensibilities.
It’s also great for large groups, with 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, and the ability to fit up to 13 people. One bedroom is on the ground floor and is wheelchair accessible.
This villa boasts not one but two pools: one outdoors with a gorgeous view, and one indoors, covered with a roof but surrounded by glass windows so you won’t feel like you’re missing a bit of the view!
Plus, there’s also an indoor dry sauna as well as a Turkish bath steam room to complete the “home spa” feel, as well as two tiled hammam-style relaxation loungers in the indoor pool area.
The outdoor pergola is very modern, with geometric, clean-lined outdoor furniture for lounging and relaxing beside the huge swimming pool.
Inside, the kitchen is compact but very functional, with plenty of counter space and all sorts of modern appliances that wouldn’t look out of place in a brand-new luxury apartment.
That same modern aesthetic continues throughout — from the loft-style feel of the living room-meets-dining area to spacious, minimalist bedrooms, this definitely feels like a 21st-century villa.
If you’re looking for the romantic, historic villa in Tuscany — this isn’t it. But if you want a large space and a private pool with a modern feel, this is a great choice!
Located outside the popular Tuscan destination of Cortona, this Tuscany pool villa is huge — over 3,000 square feet — with 6 bedrooms that can welcome up to 11 guests.
The two-story Villa Mezzavia has a massive private pool on site, with lots of sun loungers aside it for sunbathing in between swims.
The huge pool is well-shaded by trees for much of the day, so it’s perfect for swimming on hot days without worrying about the scorching sun!
The interior is spacious and traditional, with your typical Tuscan tile floor and brick-lined archways that given an open floor plan feel while still having separate ‘rooms’ in the main living area.
The kitchen is well-appointed though a little small, but you can definitely make do for cooking some nice meals in here to be enjoyed either in the dining room in the main house or al fresco.
The bedrooms continue the traditional Tuscan aesthetic, incorporating the same tile and brickwork in the rooms, whose edges are softened with vintage furnishings that make you feel like you’re staying in another century.
And some bedrooms even have a soaking tub in the room, whereas others have an en-suite bathroom with a step-in shower.
Small Town Bliss: Villa La Casa del Re – Book Here
Just outside the small town of Le Piazze, you can easily run into town for the things you need — a coffee, a bottle of wine, some food, all 10 minutes away on foot.
Yet still, Villa La Casa de Re is set away back far enough that you can feel the seclusion of having your very own Tuscany villa with a private pool.
Taking up 3 floors, this 6-bedroom villa can sleep up to 11 guests comfortably, though smaller groups can enjoy it as well.
Though given how many people it can fit, it can be a rather cheap price per person if you have a full house!
The interior is lovely, warm, and welcoming, with bright white walls that invite in the natural light and wooden exposed beams that give the whole room a lovely rustic feel.
The kitchen is spacious, perfect for making a meal with a group of friends, as well as having an outdoor BBQ area for delicious summertime meals.
The pool is not huge, but it’s large enough to enjoy with a smaller group, and there are plenty of sun beds and umbrellas for you to enjoy some sunbathing.
The bedrooms have the same high-ceilinged, minimalistic yet warm stylings as the rest of the house, simply furnished with beautiful wooden furnishings and uncluttered so they have a peaceful feel.
That said, the bathrooms feel a little dated, as the tile is bit old-school and the showers aren’t particularly nice or modern.
Best Villas in Tuscany with Private Pools for Smaller Groups
Best for Budget Travel: Le Rime di Campagna – Book Now
Just on the outskirts of the charming Tuscan city of Arrezzo, less than 3 miles from the city center, you’ll find this lovely Tuscan villa for quite an affordable price!
This budget-friendly villa in Tuscany with a private pool has everything you’d want — air conditioning, a well-stocked kitchen and BBQ facilities, a patio with views of the rolling hills, and an outdoor fireplace — all at a reasonable price that’s perfect for a smaller group.
With two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and the ability to fit up to four guests, this is a great choice for two couples traveling together or a family of 4 who wants a bit of privacy during their stay.
The design is subtle and homey, not over-the-top fancy, but that’s part of its charm — it makes your Tuscany pool villa feel a little more like a home away from home, at least for a time.
The pool is not incredibly large, but since it’s a private pool for just your group of four or fewer to use, that’s not such a bad thing…
Especially when there’s an outdoor dining area and a hammock area to enjoy just next to the pool!
If you want the Tuscany villa with a private pool experience without the huge price tag, this is the spot for you, so long as your group size is small enough to make it work!
Stone House Budget Beauty: Villa La Pergola – Book Here
In a typical stone home you’ll find all over the Tuscan countryside, surrounded by flowering trees and vines, the beautiful Villa La Pergola is a good option for smaller groups of 6 or less.
With 3 bedrooms — two double beds and one sofa bed — and 2 bathrooms, this is a spacious villa in Tuscany with a private pool despite the lower number of bedrooms compared to most, with a nearly 3,000 square foot floor plan.
The interior is quintessentially Tuscan: exposed stone walls that show off the masonry, juxtaposed against plenty of wood details and mustard yellow and rust red accents.
The bedrooms are that perfect blend of minimalistic yet not Spartan, with plenty of room to spread out in yet with enough personality and detail to feel individualized and homey, like you’re staying in the house of a family friend.
Admittedly, the circular swimming pool isn’t the largest, but it’s perfectly suitable for a dip to cool off on a hot Italian afternoon.
There’s also a great pergola — who would have guessed it from the name of the villa? — with a large dining table for meals under the Tuscan sun (or stars).
But best of all is the price, which can be downright affordable; sometimes the villa is available for under $250 per night, which is just over $40 per person per night if you have a full house!
Typical of villas in the region, Villa Ada Belriguardo is made of stone with a terra cotta roof, emblematic of the Tuscany region.
The pool is located a terrace or two below the villa and it is simply massive, overlooking a valley of Tuscany’s hilly region.
There is plenty of room for the whole group to enjoy the pool, or to swim some laps if you’re looking for exercise.
The pool is also beautifully lit up at night, perfect for night swims under the uncountable stars of the Tuscan sky.
This villa is on the smaller side in terms of how many guests it can fit: with only 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, it’s better suited for smaller groups of 6 or fewer.
That also makes it a fairly affordable place to stay on a budget, especially if you have a full house, though it isn’t the cheapest villa on the list.
The interior of the villa is beautiful in an old-fashioned way: think Tuscan tile floors, iron-wrought bed frames, and vintage wooden furnishings.
The bathrooms are a little small and dated, but the rest of the house feels spacious, recently renovated, and inviting, especially the kitchen and living areas.
Plus, there’s also a game room complete with a pool table!
In short, as long as you don’t need the most modern of design choices, this is the perfect choice for a smaller group looking for a Tuscany villa with a private pool.
Close to Florence: CountryHouse con Piscina – Book Here
Just on the outskirts of Florence near the outer suburb of Rifredi, you can have your own Tuscan villa with private pool while just being a short ride into town — less than 4 kilometers to its main sights, in fact.
In fact, it’s so close to the center of Florence that you can just walk to the tram, which is 5 minutes walk away, and that’ll sweep you right into town!
With a private indoor pool surrounded by beautiful brick and stone, complete with hydromassage jets, this is a lovely place to relax after a busy day sightseeing in Florence — and it’s lit up beautifully at night, giving it an almost hammam-style feel.
The indoor pool is a bit small, but it’s definitely suitable for relaxing in after a full day of sightseeing around the city.
Plus, the villa also has an outdoor fireplace, a BBQ area, and some garden areas to walk around, so you really will feel like you’re outside of the urban center, despite being so close to it!
Of course, being so close to Florence, you do make a sacrifice: namely, space, as the country house is a little on the small side.
The rooms can be a little narrow, as everything fits in a 600 square foot floor plan, but nevertheless this charming tiny house fits up to five guests comfortably in its 2 bedrooms (and a living room sofa bed).
But for the price and location, it’s a great offer — just don’t expect a massive villa or an outdoor pool, because that’s not what this villa is about!
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
While traveling light and relying on a combination of public transit and walking can be incredible, nothing can truly compare to the joy of getting out on the open road.
There’s something that’s just so freeing about having your own set of wheels, and renting a car in Sicily is the best way to explore all the nooks and crannies of this beautiful island.
Just picture it: windows down for a nice sea breeze, your favorite tunes playing, and gorgeous Mediterranean coastal views as far as the eye can see. Sounds like a dream? Maybe, but it’s easily achieved!
With the freedom that comes with renting a car in Sicily, the entire island will be yours to explore!
You’ll get to stop at picturesque little towns for an espresso or a gelato, pull off the road to admire breathtaking views, even stretch your legs with a walk along gorgeous Mediterranean beaches.
You can reach way more of Sicily’s beaches by car!
So, you’re probably convinced by now that a road trip is the perfect way to explore Sicily, but there’s a few caveats we should go over first.
Perusing your options for renting a car in Sicily only takes a few minutes, but the tips and tricks in this guide will help you make the right choice and avoid any logistical headaches or last-minute complications!
First of all, who to rent with? I always pick Discover Cars to search for the best deal for multiple reasons.
This search engine not only looks at the typical rental car agencies (which can be $$$), it also looks at local, small Sicilian agencies that may offer better deals. Their pricing is straightforward (no bait-and-switches) and they offer free cancellation if you need it.
Over the 16 years or so that I lived in Italy, I took two incredible trips to the island of Sicily, mostly by car, which left me with some of my absolute favorite memories of my extended time in Italy.
Without a doubt, the island is one of the most picturesque regions in all of Italy (and that’s saying something!) and one that is worth exploring by car, which sets it apart from other places like Rome or Venice, which are better enjoyed on foot.
So, without any further ado, here’s everything you need to know about rental cars in Sicily, plus tips for enjoying a Sicilian road trip beyond your wildest dreams.
Quick Facts About Sicily
The views flying into Palermo airport are stunning!
Okay, so maybe there’s a little more ado before we get into the specifics of renting a car in Sicily, but trust me, this is interesting stuff worth knowing!
Sicily is Italy’s largest island, covering an area of more than 25,000 square kilometers (nearly 10,000 square miles). The island counts over 5 million inhabitants and is one of Italy’s autonomous regions.
Sicily is located just off the tip of Italy’s boot, separated from the peninsula by the narrow Strait of Messina.
The capital of Sicily is Palermo, while other major cities include Messina, Catania, Siracusa, and Marsala.
The downtown area of Palermo is known for its stunning architecture
Historically, Sicily was the site of several invasions, all of which have left marks you can see to this day.
To name a few, Germanic, Byzantine, Arab, and Norman conquests took place between the 5th and the 12th centuries.
All of these different influences on Sicily led to the great variety of architectural styles you can still admire in many Sicilian towns.
The Mediterranean island is home to several famous attractions, including (but certainly not limited to!) the Etna volcano near Taormina and Catania, several archaeological sites, multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites, spectacular beaches, and beautiful towns.
Last, but most certainly not least, Sicily is known for its delicious cuisine, from tasty local pasta dishes to decadent desserts!
Should You Rent a Car to Visit Sicily?
Renting a car in Sicily is practically a must to best enjoy the island!
If you’ve read this far, you can probably tell that my answer is going to be a resounding “yes”.
If you want to truly experience the wide variety of landscapes, charming seaside towns, and spectacular beaches along the Sicilian coasts, renting a car in Sicilyis the way to go.
Nothing else will give you the same flexibility in getting around and reaching even the most remote places.
With that said, even I have to admit, if you only plan on visiting one or two big cities, like Palermo and Messina, then booking a car rental in Sicily is not necessary.
In fact, if you’re only visiting one or maybe two cities, you should avoid renting a car to get around the cities.
Between searching for parking spots, dealing with restricted traffic areas, and lots of traffic, you’ll just end up stressed out – not the Sicilian vacation vibe we’re hoping for!
Roads in Sicily
Be aware of the various road conditions in Sicily!
The roads in Sicily are generally good, especially on the motorway (autostrada).
The first thing you’ll want to note when preparing to drive in Sicily is the types of roads you’ll be driving on!
Unlike the peninsula, Sicily is only partially connected via motorway. You will likely not drive along motorways a lot unless you want to get straight from Palermo to Catania, for instance.
Instead, you’ll mostly drive on small, toll-free roads.
Driving along scenic routes in Sicily usually means the roads are smaller and can get crowded at certain times.
On these roads, the speed limit is also lower, so you may take a long time to get from one place to another.
The biggest headache about driving in Sicily is its traffic.
Don’t get stuck in heavy traffic in Sicily’s cities if you can help it!
That being said, roads are mostly in good condition unless you get really off the beaten track.
In most cases, the only thing you may need to worry about when it comes to driving in Sicily is traffic, especially during the summer months.
But hey, you’re on vacation, so where’s the rush? Just bring a good road trip playlist and settle in for a gorgeous drive.
With confidence and patience, you’ll make your way around the beautiful island without problems.
Where to Rent a Car in Sicily
Use a car rental search engine to find the best price.
Rent a car through an affordable, reputable company and breathe easy.
I don’t recommend going based on blind brand loyalty when it comes to booking your Sicilian car rental.
I’ve had awful experiences with seemingly reputable car agencies abroad (I’m looking at you, Hertz, and the one time I racked up $150 in BS fees while renting a car in Northern Italy).
I now always use Discover Cars to both 1) find the best price for my rental and 2) compare that to the recent reviews to ensure no travelers have had recent issues with that company.
And as we’ll go into below, your rental price in Sicily does not include full coverage, just a collision damage waiver — which isn’t sufficient coverage in case anything goes awry.
Discover Cars has rentals available all over Sicily, so it’s easy to compare prices and find the best deal around.
Airports almost always offer the best deals on your Sicily car rental.
Renting a car at Catania Airport (above) or Palermo Airport offer the best value
The most common places to rent a car in Sicily are the main airports of Palermo and Catania.
Airport rentals are the most convenient option, not just because you get to pick up your car as soon as you arrive, but also because they have the lowest prices.
Many people choose to start by renting a car in Palermo, because it’s one of the largest airports in Sicily.
However, you can also rent a car in many towns and cities of Sicily.
Generally, renting a car in smaller destinations like Taormina is more expensive.
You can also find car rentals in many cities across the island, but you’ll pay more for it.
The trade-off in price may be work out to be in your favor if you only want to rent a car in Sicily for a portion of your vacation.
In places like Trapani, Cefalù, Messina, Taormina, or Ragusa, you should have no problem finding car rentals within the cities, but be warned!
Prices here are a fair bit higher than renting a car from one of the airports, so expect to pay more.
That said, if you’re planning a city-heavy itinerary, like spending 3 days in Palermo or 2 days in Catania, renting a car won’t really make sense in those destinations.
In that case, it may be better to rent your car at the end of your city break before you go explore a more remote corner of the island.
The cost of a car rental in Sicily depends on seasonality and location.
Car rental prices are highest in July and August, when everyone rushes Sicily’s beaches!
Renting a car in Sicily can be relatively inexpensive in the low season, but prices jump up a bit during the peak season rush of summer.
Even so, if you book far enough in advance, you can find deals as low as $35 per day when renting a car at the airport.
That price includes basic collision liability, doesn’t include full coverage rental insurance though, which you should definitely consider.
When booking through Discover Cars, full coverage can cost under $7 per day — not bad for peace of mind, and a way better price than you’d get at an airport rental counter.
Also be sure to book at the airport vs. the city center whenever possible to help you save money on your Sicily car rental.
There’s a serious premium on rental fees from the city center – just as an example, renting from Palermo city center instead of Punta Raisi airport can cost you up to an extra $100 daily, and other cities are similar!
Booking your rental car early can help lock in better rates.
Renting your car early will save you money! Just make sure you have free cancellation.
Bargain hunters, take note! Booking well ahead of your trip can be a great way to lock in lower fares, and many rental services even offer free cancellations, so go ahead and book early.
Of course, no matter what you do, renting a car in July or August will always cost more than booking a car hire in March or November.
One more note on cost: as you might expect, your rental rates won’t include gas money, so be aware that recent fuel price increases have made it a bit more expensive to fill your tank.
If you ask me, even though it’s a little more money, getting full coverage is so worth it for the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve got full protection in the unfortunate event of an accident.
I’ve dealt with situations in the past where I got a flat tire, had my rental car keyed, etc. — having full coverage has always been useful because these are the little things that are a lot more likely to happen to you than a full-on collision.
Have all the necessary documents – especially your international driving permit!
In addition to your license, you need an IDP to drive in Sicily!
Before you even board your flight to Sicily, check that you have all the necessary documents.
To rent a car in Sicily, you will need your driving license, an international driving permit, a credit card (not just a debit card!), and your passport.
Make sure all your documents are current and won’t expire soon, and don’t forget to get an international driving permit (IDP) in your home country before traveling if that’s needed.
You will want to check on whether or not you need an IDP based on what country your license originates from. If you’re from the EU, you’re in the clear, but most other countries require it.
If you’re from the USA, you can do this at an AAA location or online, and it costs about $20 USD plus any passport photo fees.
This is something that Italy requires that many European countries do not, so be aware of this!
While it is not 100% consistent that you will be asked for your IDP at the car rental counter, you can incur a large fine if you are pulled over or stopped at a checkpoint and you do not have one.
Choose the right transmission type.
Only drive automatic? You’ll be fine, but make sure you book in advance (and check you don’t book a manual!)
If you know how to drive a stick, you’re in luck!
In Italy, manual transmission is still the most common type, which means it’ll even be a little cheaper when renting, so pay attention to this when you are picking out your car.
This can sometimes sneak up on you – when Allison was renting a car in Tahiti, she forgot to check that her car would be automatic – luckily, she snagged the last automatic car available, though at a premium!
Don’t worry though, if you’re like me and a little (or a lot) unused to driving stick, automatic transmissions will still be available for rentals!
Just be sure to book in advance, especially if you want to drive in Sicily during high season.
Luckily, the car rental search engine we recommend, Discover Cars, has a generous cancellation policy (typically allowed within 2 days of arrival), so you can book early, lock in a good rate, and make any necessary changes along the way.
Sicily’s roads are narrow, so small cars reign supreme here!
When it comes to driving in Sicily, size matters.
If you’re coming from the US, this might come as a bit of a shock, but overall, cars in Europe are smaller (and so are the roads, and parking spaces, and basically everything).
Like, way smaller. This is the continent that birthed the SmartCar, after all!
If you travel with a lot of luggage, be sure to check out the specifications before choosing your rental to make sure you’ll have enough room to fit everything and everyone.
Fair warning, though; renting a large car is definitely not ideal for driving in Sicily. Let me explain a bit more.
If you want to see picturesque little villages and charming beaches near Catania, Taormina, etc., you have to take scenic routes. Some of these roads are narrow and parking can be harder to find.
So if you can avoid it (i.e. you don’t have too much luggage and are not traveling with a large family or a family with really young kids), renting an SUV is a bad idea in Sicily.
Lastly, pay attention to the number of passengers allowed in your rental car.
Some small cars can only take a maximum of four people, whereas most car rentals in the US can take five, so don’t let this catch you off-guard!
Be careful when you choose your pick-up and drop-off locations!
Whenever possible, try to rent and return your car at the same place!
It’s always cheaper to pick up and drop off your rental car at the same location, but that’s not always the most convenient.
If you don’t want to do a circular itinerary like this 4 day Sicily itinerary based in Palermo, you can drop the car off in a different location, as long as you’re willing and able topay an extra fee.
If you want to rent your car in mainland Italy, you’ll have to check in advance whether you can drive it to Sicily.
Most car rentals will not let you take the car on the ferry crossing to Sicily, which can be a headache.
If that’s the case, your best option is to rent a car in Messina when you arrive in Sicily.
Likewise, if you rent your car in Sicily and want to cross over to the Italian mainland, you need to make sure the rental company allows this.
You may have to return your car and then book a separate rental for driving in other Italian regions. Bureaucracy, am I right?
Have cash for fuel, tolls, etc.
Always have some euros on you in case your cards don’t work!
Most gas stations will allow you to pay by card, but you should always carry some cash just in case.
If your credit card is not accepted or the card payment system is simply out of service (as has happened to me!), you don’t want to be stuck with an empty tank, so make sure you withdraw some euros for emergencies.
You’ll never be sad about having an extra 20 or 40 euro on hand in case things go awry.
Important Driving Rules in Sicily
Driving in Sicily isn’t particularly complicated, as long as you are aware of a few specific rules.
Generally speaking, you should not have any trouble, especially if you come from any other country where you drive on the right side of the road.
To help you avoid the most common mistakes travelers make when renting a car in Sicily, here are a few important driving rules and laws you must be aware of.
Beware of Limited Traffic Areas (ZTLs)
Example of a ZTL sign and ‘attiva’ status from another city in Italy
Ah, the ZTL, the foreign traveler’s number one nemesis.
One thing that often gets tourists in trouble when driving anywhere in Italy, including Sicily, is passing through the so-called ZTL.
The acronym stands for Zona Traffico Limitato and means limited traffic area.
These areas are usually within the historical centers and limit through-traffic to local residents only.
ZTL are not always active, which can make things trickier.
However, you will always see a sign where a ZTL starts stating whether or not it is active.
If you see “ZTL Attiva,” you’ll have to find another way around.
If the sign says “ZTL Non Attiva,” you’re good to go.
Always double check the signs, and be warned: your GPS or Google Maps might be helpful tools, but even they may try to lead you through areas with a ZTL, so don’t follow them blindly… or you may end up with hefty fees!
Many of these ZTLs are patrolled by camera, so you may end up with a surprise ticket in your inbox, even months after returning your rental car!
Parking can be quite difficult in the cities.
While generally renting a car is helpful, it can be a headache in cities
Another thing you need to watch out for when driving in Sicily is parking.
Let me start off by saying that finding parking in the biggest cities, especially in the city center, can be tricky (which might even be a bit of an understatement – Herculean feat may be a bit hyperbolic, but it feels more accurate).
Whenever possible, try to park a bit outside of the center and walk.
Lucky for you, Sicily’s got enough beautiful scenery to make the walk a pleasant one!
Look down: the colors of the parking lot lines show whether they’re paid or free.
As a rule, blue parking spots have a fee, white ones are free, and yellow ones are reserved for disabled people or unloading only.
You’ll find machines where you can pay for parking within a few meters, but you’ll need to carry coins for these (to reiterate our driving tip about always carrying cash above).
As an easier option, you can download the EasyPark app before you arrive in Italy so that you can pay with your phone.
If you see no line, check for signs around, but make sure you never park in front of a “passo carrabile,” or you’ll get a fine.
These are clearly marked on the gates or doors and are common for garages.
Be aware of road tolls.
A toll booth for the autostrada near Catania — you’d want to avoid the yellow lanes!
While many Sicilian roads are free to drive on, you’ll have to pay tolls when driving on the large motorway. But how to spot one?
You can easily recognize motorways as they are signaled with the letter A (abbreviated for Autostrada), and the signs are on a green background.
You’ll always pass through toll booths to access the motorway, and this is where you need to pay attention.
You’ll notice a few different booths with different payment methods, so be sure to follow the signs.
The yellow sign reading Telepass is for people who have the Telepass system in their cars.
If you have a Telepass, the system allows you to drive right through the booth while paying the toll directly from a bank or credit card.
If you don’t have the Telepass system, you won’t be able to drive through these booths… at least not without getting fined!
As a general rule, if you’re a tourist, avoid the Telepass lanes like the plague!
The other booths allow you to grab a ticket and pay by card or cash.
The way this works is that you pay by the distance you drive.
You always take a ticket when entering the highway, which you will need to present at the exit booth to pay the corresponding amount.
You can usually pay by card at most toll booths, but some may only take cash, so always bring some change.
Exact change is best, so keep a varied selection of some euro coins on hand, too!
Most toll booths are automatic, but you may occasionally find manned booths.
Always adhere to speed limits
Example of a speed limit sign in Italy
This one’s probably obvious, but it’s worth mentioning anyway.
Respecting speed limits will spare you a lot of headache and some hefty fines, so always check to make sure you’re driving under the posted limit.
As a general rule, the maximum speed is 130 km/hr on the toll motorway, 110 km/hr on the slightly smaller highway, 90 km/hr on regular roads outside inhabited areas, and 50 km/hr inside inhabited areas.
However, always check posted signs, as they may differ slightly in certain areas, or there may be a speed trap where things slow down momentarily (such as when driving through a town) before speeding back up.
Aside from sticking to the speed limits, you must be aware of speed cameras which can fine you automatically.
In Italian, these are called autovelox and are always signaled several meters in advance.
Never drink and drive.
Visiting Sicily’s vineyards? Great. Driving impaired? Not cool.
Lastly, this should also go without saying, but don’t (seriously, don’t) drink and drive.
Keep in mind that the legal alcohol limit for driving in Italy is 0.05%, which corresponds to one or two glasses of wine — but exactly how much depends on a variety of factors.
Note that for Americans, this alcohol limit is even stricter than it is back home, where the legal limit for your BAC (blood alcohol content) is 0.08%!
Your blood alcohol level depends on many factors, from the type of drink, size of the drink, time you wait between or after a drink, and whether you drink on an empty stomach — just to name a few.
To stay within the limit and be safe, avoid alcohol entirely or stick to just one glass of wine with your meal.
After all, if you are an oenophile — amateur or advanced — you can’t travel to Italy without trying the local wine.
Just make sure you factor in a nice, leisurely break after having a drink, perhaps taking a long stroll to sober you up a bit before getting back in your rental car, for everyone’s safety!
Navigating the roads can be somewhat tricky.
Unless you’re one of those lucky travelers blessed with a supernatural ability to find your way around (seriously, I’m jealous), you’ll probably need a little help, especially when visiting smaller towns on the island.
The two most common options to get around are with a GPS in your car (which you should confirm when booking your rental car), or by using Google Maps or some other online map service on your phone.
If using Google Maps or something else like Maps.me, be sure to download the offline map for the region so that you won’t get turned around if you don’t have data and you make a wrong turn.
However, don’t rely too heavily on these systems. While they are great to get you around, they can also get things wrong.
Always look at the signs and check whether it makes sense to follow the map or GPS.
This is especially important when driving in the city, where you may come across limited traffic areas (ZTLs) and your GPS insists on forging ahead anyway.
Don’t blindly listen to it; always pay attention and follow what your eyes are telling you, not your GPS.
Best Time for a Road Trip in Sicily
There’s no bad time for a Sicily road trip.
Winter trips to Sicily are great for culture: churches, ruins, museums, etc.
Great news! Sicily has pretty good weather year-round, so you really can’t go wrong here.
What you do need to take into account is how crowded the island will be as well as what kind of weather you are hoping for.
The peak season runs from mid-June through the beginning of September, so as you might expect, this is when renting a car (along with everything else) in Sicily is more expensive.
A road trip in Sicily in winter may not be the best for swimming and sunbathing, but it can be nice for a cultural trip based on sightseeing the cities, enjoying the local gastronomy, and visiting cute towns.
The weather’s still pleasant enough to enjoy walking around, and you’ll have more places to yourself without all the summer tourists!
However, the shoulder season (spring and fall) are arguably the best of all worlds.
Places like Mondello near Palermo can be jam-packed in summer but lovely off-season.
For my money, though, the best combination of pleasant weather and fewer tourists is in early spring or late fall.
Late March to mid-April and all of October are ideal months for a road trip to Sicily.
Once November rolls around, the weather starts to turn for the worse and many seasonal establishments close up shop or seriously reduce their hours until the spring season starts.
(Editor’s note: Take it from someone who planned a honeymoon to Puglia in November…)
Places To Discover on a Road Trip to Sicily
Renting a car in Sicily lets you get off the beaten path!
You can visit Mt. Etna at your own pace if you rent your own car!
The best part of driving around Sicily is exploring places you’d never get to with public transportation.
You can discover charming small towns like Sambuca di Sicilia, Niscemi, Scicli, Marzamemi, and Scopello.
Even better, renting a car in Sicily allows you to easily explore national parks and preserves, including the Etna National Park, Nebrodi National Park, and Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro.
These are often hard to get to with public transit or require a pricy tour in the case of Etna.
Plus, it brings you to Sicily’s most remote beaches and towns
You can have beautiful places like Ognina Beach all to yourself!
Lastly, if you’re really looking to get away from it all, you can even discover hidden beaches and coves you’d never get to by bus.
(We’ve written about them in these posts about beaches near Taormina, beaches near Palermo, and beaches near Catania!).
It’ll also allow you to visit dozens of darling Sicilian beach towns that are otherwise a pain to get to by public transit.
***
If you were on the fence about renting a car in Sicily, I hope this guide gave you the information you needed to make your decision!
If you do decide to rent a car, do your research!
Be sure to read the most recent reviews of the rental car agencies you’re looking at (luckily, Discover Cars makes this easy) and opt for full coverage for extra peace of mind.
Roxana is a Romanian-born freelance travel writer who has lived in Italy for over 15 years. She has a Master’s in Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Film Studies, and she studied at Università degli Studi di Roma Tre. Besides her native Romania, Roxana has lived in Rome, Lisbon, and Berlin, and she has traveled through much of Europe in search of hidden gems, history, and culture.
Captivating Catania is a Sicilian city right at the foot of Mount Etna that deserves more attention than it gets.
It’s best known for its gorgeous Baroque architecture, charming historical town, and of course, stunningly gorgeous views of the spectacular (and spectacularly active) volcano.
When living in Italy, I made several trips to Sicily, and on one of those, I absolutely fell in love with Catania for its stunning architecture and vibrant atmosphere.
While other major Sicily destinations like Palermo and Taormina might get all the attention from tourists and travel guides, it’s worth stepping off the typical tourist path to explore Catania’s beauty!
Yes, Catania is a major airline hub, but people often zip out of Catania in a hurry on their way to other destinations like Taormina and Syracuse.
Don’t know where to start? Don’t worry! This guide will help you check off all the key monuments and spots for a quick two day trip to Catania.
Your first day of this Catania itinerary will be spent exploring the charming historical center and taking in the local culture, while the second day is dedicated to the Etna hike, which is a can’t-miss attraction when visiting Catania.
Things to Know Before Visiting Catania
Catania is Sicily’s largest city, so if you only have two days in Catania to explore, you’ll want to have a plan to make the most of that time.
Luckily, this guide will help you make the most of a short visit!
Here are a few helpful things to keep in mind while planning your itinerary for Catania.
Getting To and Around Catania
Catania’s airport is the largest in Sicily and it’s just outside the city center.
By bus, it only takes around half an hour to travel from the airport to the Catania center – talk about convenience!
If you’ll be coming to Sicily from the mainland (via the ferry departing from either Villa San Giovanni or Reggio di Calabria), you’ll disembark in Messina.
From there, you can drive for just over an hour or catch a 2-hour train straight from Messina to Catania.
The historical center of Catania is relatively small, which is great because it means you can get around on foot without spending your whole day cursing your footwear (though definitely wear comfy walking shoes!).
If you follow this itinerary for 2 days in Catania, you won’t need to use public transportation, but you’ll still find plenty of buses serving the key areas in case you want to give your feet a break.
That said, if you want to explore outside Catania, renting a car becomes a good idea!
Like the rest of the island of Sicily, Catania’s incredible Mediterranean climate makes it a great place to visit year-round.
If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, why not take advantage of the gentle winter weather and visit then?
Well, not so fast. It’s not that simple!
The one downside of this approach is that it may be more complicated to hike up Mount Etna in the colder season, so if that’s something you want to do, avoid visiting from November to early March.
On the other hand, summer is the peak of tourist season, so brace yourself and expect Catania to be very crowded.
On top of that, it can get quite hot, making it less than ideal for a busy day spent walking around Catania’s landmarks.
All in all, if you can, you should also avoid visiting from late June to mid-September.
That leaves you with, in my humble opinion, two brilliant options left for planning your trip.
Spring and fall are the seasons when the weather is nice and the crowds are not overwhelming, as long as you avoid Easter!
In short: the entire month of May and the second half of September are the two sweet spots when it comes to planning a Sicily trip.
How Many Days Do You Need in Catania?
Like I said earlier, the thing that really made me fall in love with Catania was the sheer variety of spectacular attractions it offers.
If you had all the time in the world, you could easily spend four to five days in Catania to explore the major landmarks, visit museums, and go on short day trips to the surrounding areas.
If you’re really looking to save time and just want to visit the main landmarks, you could even do that in just a single day, given how compact Catania’s center is.
However, with Catania being so close to Mount Etna, it’d be a shame to miss out on the unforgettable volcano hike.
The views of the Mediterranean Sea’s gorgeous waters that you’ll see from its slopes are picture-perfect, especially when contrasted against the rugged volcanic landscape — trust me, you won’t regret taking the time to see them.
So go ahead, add an extra day to your Catania itinerary – it’s worth it.
Trust me, two days is the perfect amount of time to see the major sights and hike the volcano if you have limited time to spare on your Sicily trip.
Day 1 of Your Catania Itinerary
Have a delicious Sicilian breakfast.
If you’re anything like me, local foods are one of the best things about traveling, and Catania’s got plenty to offer.
So once you wake up on your first day in Catania, stretch your legs and get ready to start walking, because it’s time for coffee and a tasty breakfast!
Head to Ciao Café, only a couple streets over from Piazza del Duomo, and try their stuffed croissants, available in both sweet and savory options.
You can even get a croissant filled with scrambled eggs – that’ll certainly keep you sated for the busy day ahead of you!
Now that you’re all fueled up and ready to see the sights, head to Piazza del Duomo, Catania’s main square, to check out some of the city’s most important landmarks.
I’ll go through it in a self-guided fashion, but you can also book a guided walking tour of the city center which will cover these sights and give you even more historical context behind them.
🌟RECOMMENDED: City Highlights Walking Tour – Start Time: 10:30 AM – Length: 2 hours – Rating: 4.7/5 stars with 200+ reviews
Admire the Fountain of the Elephant and its quirky history.
As you arrive in the square, you’ll notice the iconic Fountain of the Elephant, Catania’s symbol.
The fountain is called u Liotru in Sicilian, which comes from Eliodoro, a legendary personality from Catania.
Legend has it that Eliodoro failed to become a bishop, so as revenge, he used magic to disturb religious services in the town, including making a stone elephant walk.
Believe it or not, it’s a fun piece of local lore!
Architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini designed and created the fountain between 1735 and 1737, as part of the city’s renovation after the devastating earthquake of 1693.
The elephant carries an Egyptian obelisk on his back and points his trunk at the Cathedral of Saint Agata.
But Catania and elephants go hand-in-hand with a history that goes back way before this fountain was even conceptualized.
In fact, the elephant has been the symbol of Catania since 1239.
If we zoom back even before that, during the Muslim conquest of Sicily in the 9th and 10th century CE, Catania’s name was Balad-el-fil or Medinat-el-fil, meaning “the city of the elephant.”
Visit the Cathedral of Saint Agata.
From the fountain, follow the elephant’s pointing trunk to Cattedrale di Sant’Agata, conveniently directing you to our next stop on this Catania itinerary!
Also known as Duomo di Sant’Agata, this is Catania’s most important church. The cathedral is dedicated to the martyr Saint Agata, the patron saint of Catania.
The church has a long history and was renovated multiple times following damages caused by earthquakes and fires – Sicily certainly hasn’t had an easy time of it.
The original cathedral was built at the end of the 11th century on the ruins of the Roman Achillean Baths, which lie under Piazza del Duomo and are open for tours.
The church was destroyed first in 1169 and then in 1693 by the most destructive earthquake ever recorded in Sicily.
To restore the cathedral after this second round of damage, architect Gian Battista Vaccarino designed the current Baroque façade in 1711.
You can visit the cathedral for free at any time except during mass. For a €3 fee, you can get a guided tour of the cathedral.
If you’re looking for the full historical experience, you can combine the guided tour with a visit to the Achillean Baths for €5.
Head underground to explore the Achillean Baths.
Photo Credit: Erik Törner via Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
As you may have already guessed, Catania has a fascinating underground filled with ancient ruins.
One of the most famous sites is the Achillean Baths, of which a small portion remains for tourists to explore and visualize how life was nearly two millennia ago.
Though the exact construction date of the baths is unknown, they likely date all the way back to the 4th or 5th century CE.
If you’re curious about Catania’s ancient history, pop underground to explore the system of ancient paths and pools once covered in marble.
Though the spectacular marble facades have been lost to time, you can still see wall decorations, while the inscriptions uncovered in the baths are now on display inside Castello Ursino.
Check the panoramic view from Badia di Sant’Agata.
Right by the cathedral, you’ll see another beautiful Baroque church, Chiesa della Badia di Sant’Agata.
The church, like many other buildings of its era in Catania, was built by Vaccarini in the gorgeous Baroque style.
A nunnery of the Benedictine order was once attached to the church, hence the name Badia, which means abbey.
In 2015, after a long restoration process, the church finally opened its terraces and dome to the public.
For a €5 fee, you can climb to the terrace and take in an astonishing panoramic view of the whole city.
From up there, you can admire beautiful landmarks like the cathedral, the castle, the Massimo Bellini theater, and the other churches of the historical center.
Visit the Greek-Roman Theater.
From the abbey, walk five minutes to reach the ancient Greek-Roman Theater.
Stepping into this site is like stepping back in time, since the theater as you see it today dates to the 2nd century CE, probably to the restoration period initiated by Emperor Hadrian.
Next to the Greek-Roman theater, you’ll see the smaller Odeon Theater, not quite as impressive but worth a peek.
The Roman theater is a restoration of an older Greek theater, believed to date to the 4th century BCE.
The theater fell into disuse around the 6th century CE, and parts of it were stripped away for parts to build modest dwellings for everyday citizens.
The area became known as Quartiere Grotte, or the Cave Quarter in English.
It wasn’t until the late 19th century that the local administration decided to remove the dwellings and excavate and showcase the theater… although the process wasn’t completed for almost a century (likely delayed in no small part due to Italy’s legendary bureaucracy!).
The entry ticket to the theater is €6, and it includes the visit to the Odeon Theater as well.
Discover the Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l’Arena.
If you want to join an English-language guided tour of the Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l’Arena, you’ll want to plan your itinerary around it, since the only available time slot is 1 PM.
Alternatively, Italian tours take place every hour between 11 AM and 5 PM, and you get a translated text to follow the tour, so it’s doable at other hours, just perhaps not as enjoyable.
You can’t explore the monastery on your own, but the guided tour is totally worth it. The monastery is one of the most beautiful landmarks in Catania.
Just be sure to book a few days in advance, as English tours tend to sell out faster.
The guided tour lasts just over an hour and takes you through the key areas of the monastery, including the beautiful cloisters, the underground library, the ancient Roman domus, the gorgeous garden Giardino dei Novizi, and the monumental stairway, one of the monastery’s most iconic features.
Stop for lunch somewhere delicious.
After your monastery visit, it’s time to stop for lunch, and you’re in for a real treat, with several mouth-watering restaurant options within walking distance.
For delicious fish and seafood, check out Cu a Voli Cotta Cu a Voli Crura(try saying that ten times fast!), just 10 minutes from the monastery.
Don’t worry if you don’t eat fish, since their vegetarian options are excellent, like an otherworldly pistachio pasta I still dream about.
If you’d rather just stop off for a quick bite, try the traditional arancini (fried risotto balls stuffed with various bits of goodness) at Canusciuti Sicilian Café, just a 5-minute walk from the monastery.
They serve a variety of arancini, tasty sandwiches, fried seafood, and more, so you’re sure to find something to delight your taste buds!
Another option is to take a tasty street food tour of Catania! These food tours start on the early side, so have a light breakfast and switch up this itinerary a bit.
I would swap around a few things on the itinerary so that you do most of your sightseeing after your street food tour (which runs from around 10 AM to 1 PM)
🌟 RECOMMENDED:Street Food Tour – Start Time: 10:00 AM – Length: 3 hours – Rating: 4.7/5 stars with 70+ reviews
After lunch, head over to see another important landmark in Catania, the 13th-century Castello Ursino.
This one’s also nearby: you can easily reach the castle on foot in just 10 minutes from Piazza del Duomo.
At the time of its construction, the castle was on a cliff overlooking the sea, but later Etna eruptions were so severe they changed the landscape completely, and the castle is now one kilometer inland!
The castle was built during the reign of Frederik II as a royal residence, and it later served as the seat of the Sicilian Parliament.
This once-seaside castle has special historical significance, given that it was one of the few that survived the massive 1693 earthquake.
In 1932, the city of Catania acquired the castle and opened the Civic Museum inside to house a rich collection of artworks and artifacts documenting the city’s history.
You can visit the museum and stroll through Catania’s past for just a €6 fee.
Take a tour or catch a show at Teatro Massimo Bellini.
One thing you can’t miss while exploring Catania is Teatro Massimo Bellini, the city’s main opera house.
You can get a guided tour of the theater, but to truly appreciate the beauty of this gorgeous space, you’ll want to settle in and enjoy a show.
Check the theater website to see what’s on and grab a ticket to watch a play in this lavish 19th-century theater!
Tickets start from as little as €15 for concerts and €20 for opera shows – talk about a steal.
The afternoon shows usually start at 5:30 PM, and if you really want to make a night of it, you can check out the evening shows at 8:30 PM.
Stroll on Via Etnea and check out some piazzas and churches.
Ready to do a little shopping and support some local vendors? Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling along the main shopping street in Catania, Via Etnea.
The street starts from Piazza del Duomo and continues for almost 3 kilometers until Viale Marco Polo.
The portion of the street running from Piazza del Duomo to Basilica della Collegiata is reserved for pedestrians, so you can enjoy a pleasant walk while stopping in to admire the boutiques and beautiful Baroque buildings.
Just one block from Piazza del Duomo, you’ll reach Piazza Università, a wide square surrounded by beautiful 18th-century buildings.
Don’t forget to stop and admire the gorgeous ornate façade of Basilica della Collegiata, and maybe step inside to see the vaulted ceiling covered in beautiful frescoes.
Admire the semi-underground Roman Amphitheater.
Keep walking north along Via Etnea until Piazza Stesicoro.
There, right in the middle of the modern city, you can see the ruins of the Roman Amphitheater of Catania.
The amphitheater dates back to 300 BCE and is now below ground level, as the modern buildings were built on top of it.
Only a small portion of the ancient structure is still visible, but it’s still an impressive sight to see Catania’s past poking through to the present day.
Especially when you look at it from angles where you can see both the Roman ruins and the modern city in the same glance, it really reminds you how the city was quite literally built atop its past!
Have a delicious Sicilian dinner.
Last, but definitely not least, end your day with dinner (and maybe even a glass of local Italian wine!) at one of the many restaurants around the historical center.
For great local food, try Trattoria U Fucularu. Being Sicily, it’s no surprise that their specialty is seafood, but you can find other options too, including vegetarian dishes.
If that’s busy or just doesn’t suit your tastes, Ristorante da Antonio is another lovely place serving delicious Sicilian seafood specialties and other local dishes.
A few Sicilian specialties to look out for include pasta alla norma (an eggplant pasta originally from Catania, great for vegetarians) and pasta con le sarde (a flavor bomb of a pasta, made with sardines, fennel, raisins, and pine nuts).
Day 2 of Your Catania Itinerary
Pick one of three ways to experience Mount Etna.
After your first day exploring the city, it’s time to get out and take in the natural beauty of the local landscape.
Catania is a popular departure point for guided tours on Mount Etna, and with good reason: it’s practically Catania’s backyard!
Less than an hour away from the city, the volcano is among the most active in the world. While you’re so close, you shouldn’t pass up the chance to hike it. You’d regret it later!
If you decided to rent a car in Sicily, it’s possible to drive to Mount Etna yourself.
Alternatively, if you didn’t rent a car, you’ll have to join one of the many guided tours — public transportation won’t get you far when it comes to experiencing Etna.
You can choose between purely hiking tours or experiences including tasting local products.
Here are a few popular tours departing from Catania that I’d recommend.
From mid-May to mid-October, this tour offers two daily sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon that ends with a beautiful sunset view.
If you’re visiting during the rest of the year, however, you’ll only be able to take the morning tour.
This tour includes almost everything: a transfer with pick-up from your accommodation in Catania, a local guide, a short trek on Etna, a visit to a lava flow cave with safety equipment, and some delicious tastings of local products.
However, lunch is not included, so be sure to plan accordingly and pack something to eat… the tastings will be delicious, but not quite enough to make a lunch out of.
On your way from Catania to Mount Etna, your knowledgeable local guide will tell you all sorts of fun facts about the volcano’s explosive history.
Then, you go on a guided walk to admire the spectacular lava fields and ancient craters.
After the hike, relax with a small tasting of Sicilian biscuits (known as cantucci) and local wine.
Once this tasty treat has boosted your spirits, it’s time to dive in and explore a lava flow cave with your guide. Don’t worry, you’ll get helmets and flashlights for this.
On your way back, your group will stop at the Monte Pomiciaro viewpoint to take in the panoramic view of the Valle del Bove, one of the best views in Sicily you could ask for!
On this incredible 7-hour tour of Mount Etna, you’ll walk through the lava fields with a naturalist guide who will tell you about the volcano’s history.
You’ll see the lava flows left over from the 1792 eruption, learn about the resilient fauna and flora on the volcano who are able to call this unpredictable place home, admire the spectacular Bove Valley, and even explore a lava cave.
Along the way, you’ll have the option to stop and try local products, but bring some extra cash, since these aren’t included in the tour price.
However, the price does include all the necessary equipment to hike on Etna, from hiking shoes and walking sticks to jackets and rain ponchos if necessary.
This is a big perk if Etna is the only hike you’ll be doing in Sicily and you don’t want to pack a bunch of hiking gear that’ll only get pulled out once!
This tour is usually available year-round, but you’ll need to secure your spot a few days in advance, as it’s likely to sell out, especially in the summer.
The tour starts at the Rifugio Sapienza, roughly an hour from the center of Catania.
Public transport to the refuge is limited to nonexistent, so this tour is a better option for those who decided to rent a car or don’t mind paying the extra fee for the transfer.
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This search engine not only looks at the typical rental car agencies (which can be $$$), it also looks at local, small Sicilian agencies that may offer better deals. Their pricing is straightforward (no bait-and-switches) and they offer free cancellation if you need it.
On this tour, you’ll hike with an alpine and volcano guide and experience the most spectacular views imaginable of the volcano.
Catch the cable car at Rifugio Sapienza, then ride in a 4×4 Jeep to get to the trailhead at 2,900 meters (9,500 feet).
From the trailhead, it’s time to hike for about 1.5 hours uphill, but rest assured, all that hard work is going to pay off when you get to experience the otherworldly view of the volcano summit.
After you catch your breath, the descent takes around 2 hours, since you need to be extra careful on the volcanic landscape when descending.
If you have any time and energy left after the Etna hike, you can spend it by going on a relaxed stroll around the lovely Villa Bellini or visiting one of Catania’s many museums.
A few options include the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sicily, the Cinema Museum, or the history museum Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia 1943.
For one last vacation indulgence, end your trip with another Sicilian dinner.
Try one of the places mentioned above, or check out Vuciata, another traditional Sicilian restaurant with local specialties that’ll have you planning your next trip back to Catania before you know it.
Where to Stay in Catania
Definitely stay central when you book your hotel in Catania. With this short two-day itinerary for Catania, it’s all about location, location, location when it comes to accommodations!
For the purposes of this post, in high season, budget hotels are under $100 USD per night, mid-range hotels are $100-200 USD per night, and luxury hotels are $200 USD or more per night.
Roxana is a Romanian-born freelance travel writer who has lived in Italy for over 15 years. She has a Master’s in Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Film Studies, and she studied at Università degli Studi di Roma Tre. Besides her native Romania, Roxana has lived in Rome, Lisbon, and Berlin, and she has traveled through much of Europe in search of hidden gems, history, and culture.
At the top of a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Taormina is a small but picturesque town on Sicily’s eastern coast.
Home to the spectacular Ancient Greek Theater, gorgeous coastal views, lovely beaches, and the imposing sight of Mount Etna in the background, Taormina is certainly a town worth discovering.
I visited Taormina twice on my two trips to Sicily while living in Italy.
The first time wasn’t enough: I had to go back for a second visit!
Trust me: it’s impossible not to fall in love with the breathtaking coastal views, the history, and the flavors of Taormina.
In this short guide, I’ll give you an idea of how to structure a 2-day Taormina itinerary.
Don’t worry, even with just 2 days in Taormina, you can accomplish a lot: we’re talking historical sites, beautiful beaches, delicious food, and a memorable hike on Europe’s highest active volcano!
What to Know Before Visiting Taormina
Before diving into this 2 day Taormina itinerary, there are a few things to know to help you plan your trip.
Here are a few practical tips — plucked from my on-the-ground experience! — to help you plan the perfect trip to this lovely Sicilian town.
The Best Time to Visit Taormina
Sicily has the fortune of pretty good weather year-round, which makes it an enticing destination all year.
In winter, temperatures rarely go below 15°C (59°F), so you can take advantage of the smaller crowds (and lower prices) to enjoy a low-season vacation in Sicily.
However, with that, there are some downfalls: for one, you won’t be able to enjoy the beaches, which are a big part of the island’s charm.
Plus, hiking Mount Etna in winter isn’t always possible, so you must also keep that in mind!
If you don’t enjoy crowded beaches and attractions, I would advise against visiting Taormina (and Sicily in general, to be honest), between late June and early September.
The island is a popular beach destination among Italians and foreigners, so it can get overwhelming in summer!
Late spring and early autumn would be ideal if you can time your vacation for one of the shoulder seasons.
The weather is pleasant, you can still swim in the crystalline waters, and yet you’ll escape the unbearable crowds and the summer heat!
How to Get to Taormina
The closest international airport to Taormina is the one in Catania, roughly one hour by car.
You might be relying on public transport during your time in Sicily. In that case, you can catch the bus from the airport to Catania center and then the train to Taormina, which only takes about 35 minutes.
If you’ve chosen to rent a car during your time in Sicily — which I strongly recommend — you can pick it up at the airport in Catania and drive to Taormina.
As for flying into Palermo, I don’t recommend it. It’s quite far and not well connected to Taormina.
It can take three to four hours to drive there and over five hours with public transport!
Another way to get to Sicily is from mainland Italy. In that case, you’ll cross the Strait of Messina by ferry, arriving at the port of Messina.
From Messina, it takes less than one hour to drive to Taormina and just over one hour by train.
How to Get Around Taormina
Taormina is pretty small, so you can easily walk almost everywhere!
However, you can also catch public buses to the train station, which is a bit far away on foot, or to the beach in Mazzeo, just north of Taormina.
Within the historical center, however, there is no need for public transport! Everywhere is within walking distance.
You can also catch the cable car from the center of Taormina to Mazzarò, the beach right below Taormina.
The cable car is more than just a convenient means of transportation; it’s also a great way to admire the spectacular coastal view!
If you’re traveling around other parts of Sicily as part of a larger itinerary, it makes sense to rent a car in Sicily (but before you do, read my guide here).
Driving in Italy isn’t as scary as it may seem, and it gives you a ton of freedom.
I always use Discover Cars when renting a car and recommend them highly.
This search engine not only looks at the typical rental car agencies (which can be $$$), it also looks at local, small Sicilian agencies that may offer better deals. Their pricing is straightforward (no bait-and-switches) and they offer free cancellation if you need it.
However, if you’re just staying in Taormina, there’s no need — you’ll barely use your car, trust me.
Unless you plan to visit a lot of Taormina area beaches, or move onwards to explore some of Catania’s beaches too, a rental car will be more trouble than it’s worth.
How Many Days to Spend in Taormina
The time you should spend in Taormina depends on the season you visit and whether you plan to visit other places in Sicily.
If you visit the Sicilian town in summer, you can easily spend one week discovering the many beaches around Taormina.
In the low season, a couple of days are enough, since beach time is less appealing.
If Taormina is just one stop in a longer itinerary around Sicily, you could even spend one day in Taormina seeing the highlights, and skipping Mt. Etna on the second day.
We’ve chosen two days in Taormina for this itinerary because it’s the ideal length of time to both explore the city and its beaches and hike on nearby Mount Etna.
This two-day itinerary will focus on exploring Taormina’s most important landmarks on the first day and hiking Mount Etna on the second.
Day 1 of Your Taormina Itinerary
Explore the stunning and historic Greek Theater.
Start your first day in Taormina with breakfast followed by a visit to the most significant landmark in Taormina, the Greek Theater or Teatro Antico di Taormina!
The stunning archaeological site combines history, art, and natural landscapes in a unique location that allows you to admire the coast and Mt. Etna in the distance!
Ancient Greek inscriptions allowed archaeologists to determine that the theater’s origins date back to when Sicily was a Greek colony.
However, Taormina’s theater also presents typical Ancient Roman features dating back to its enlargement in the 2nd century CE. At the time, the theater could host more than 10,000 spectators!
During the Greek period, the theater was used for classic spectacles. During the Roman Empire, like many other theaters such as the Colosseum in Rome, this was also used as an arena for the venationes (fights between gladiators and ferocious beasts).
The theater attracted many visitors from the 17th to the 19th centuries, especially as part of the so-called “Grand Tour” that European aristocrats were undertaking at the time.
Even personalities of the likes of Goethe visited the Taormina Theater!
In recent years, the theater served as a stage for awards ceremonies and political summits.
Today, Taormina’s Greek Theater is still an important cultural site. Every summer, from late June to early July, it hosts the Taormina Film Fest!
You can visit the theater daily from 9 AM until late afternoon or evening, depending on the season.
In the winter, the theater closes as early as 4 PM, while it stays open until 7.45 PM in summer.
You can get your tickets on-site or online. The latter is a better option if you visit during peak tourist season because it includes the option to skip-the-line.
If you are in Taormina on the first Sunday of the month, you can visit the theater for free!
If this is the case, you need to collect your free-entry ticket on-site; you can’t book ahead. You can also get an audio guide when you get there.
Plan to spend at least one hour wandering around and enjoying the spectacular views!
Stroll around Villa Comunale di Taormina.
After visiting the Greek Theater, spend some time wandering around the gorgeous Villa Comunale.
The public garden is only a five-minute walk from the theater and is free to visit!
Check out the beautiful villa, enjoy the shade of the many trees, and stop for a while to admire the panoramic coastal view.
Explore Taormina’s historic center and have a lunch break.
Spend the time before lunch exploring the historical center of Taormina.
One place you can’t miss is the charming Piazza IX Aprile with its clock tower and panoramic viewpoint!
You should also visit the beautiful churches of San Giuseppe and San Pancrazio.
Don’t miss the opportunity to stroll along Corso Umberto until Porta Catania, as it’s one of the most stunning stretches of Taormina.
Finally, be sure to save time to check out the beautiful cathedral, the Duomo di Taormina.
For lunch, have a delicious pizza at the charming Pizzeria Villa Zuccaro, or try a delightful seafood pasta or fish dish at Malvasia.
Both places are smack-dab in the center of Taormina, less than five minutes walking from the cathedral!
Explore the beaches of Mazzarò and Isola Bella.
After lunch, catch the cable car from Taormina to Mazzarò to enjoy the beach as well as the lovely Isola Bella.
The cable car departs from the center of Taormina, just a short walk from the restaurants.
A one-way ride is only €3, a small price for the stunning coastal view from above!
If you’d rather walk down and take your time admiring the view, take the stairway that starts right next to Belvedere di Via Pirandello.
This is a gorgeous viewpoint worth checking out for its spectacular panoramic views!
Once you reach Mazzarò, you have a few options.
You can stop at the beach just across the street from the cable car station, or start your walk to Isola Bella Beach, which faces the tiny islet of Isola Bella.
Spend a few hours sunbathing or swimming at either of these destinations.
If the tide is low, you can walk on the narrow path to Isola Bella and explore the stunning nature preserve!
Hike to the Taormina Castle and Chiesa Madonna della Rocca.
Catch the cable car back to Taormina’s historic center in the late afternoon.
Have an afternoon pick-me-up at Bam Bar to enjoy a delicious granita and a traditional brioche before your next activity, which will require extra energy!
From the center of Taormina, just two minutes from Piazza IX Aprile, start climbing the stairs that lead to the hilltop castle.
I suggest you start climbing roughly one hour before sunset, so you can enjoy the beautiful splash of sunset colors from above the town!
Before reaching the castle, you’ll come across a historic chapel built into the side of the mountain, called the Chiesa Madonna della Rocca.
Don’t skip visiting this charming little church before continuing your climb to the castle!
Unfortunately, the castle has been closed for many years, despite various attempts to open it to the public.
Regardless of whether you’ll find the castle open, the view from above is spectacular.
If you can’t visit the castle, stop at the viewpoint next to the church to admire the view and watch the sunset.
Have dinner and enjoy Taormina by night.
After sunset, you can stay in the area for dinner and enjoy delicious Sicilian dishes with a spectacular view from the terrace of Ristorante Pizzeria Al Saraceno.
The restaurant is right next to Chiesa Madonna della Rocca, so you won’t even have to walk!
Alternatively, you can descend back to the center of Taormina for a satisfying dinner at Trattoria Da Nino.
The fish dishes and pasta are delicious here, and the atmosphere is laid-back yet lively.
After dinner, enjoy a stroll around Taormina and admire the beautiful views by night.
For great night-time views, I suggest you walk to Belvedere di Via Pirandello or enjoy the view from Piazza IX Aprile.
Day 2 of Your Taormina Itinerary
Explore Mount Etna — one of three ways!
On your second day in Taormina, take a day trip to Mount Etna.
The volcano is only an hour’s drive from the coastal town, so many tours depart from here as it’s the most convenient starting point!
At over 3,300 meters above sea level (roughly 10,900 feet), Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe!
Etna has erupted frequently, even in recent years, the latest eruption lasting from late 2022 to the beginning of 2023.
However, there is no reason to worry as long as you do the hike with expert guides, who will only do the hike if it’s safe.
This is one of the main tourist attractions on the island, so you shouldn’t miss it!
Since Etna is best experienced with a guide, there are several ways to explore it on a tour, each with a unique focus.
Whether you just want to hike or prefer combining this activity with food or wine tasting, you’ll find the perfect tour for you.
Here are three great guided tour options I’d recommend.
This tour mainly focuses on the hiking experience, but it also includes a light lunch.
You’ll depart at 8:30 AM from Taormina to the foothills of the Etna, where you can hike for around one hour and a half with your expert guide.
You’ll reach an altitude of roughly 2,000 meters above sea level (6,500 feet), where you get to see extinct craters and lava fields and learn about the geology and history of the volcano.
At the end of the hike, you’ll even explore an ancient lava cave!
Mount Etna volcanic landscape with hidden cave on side crater with ash, stones and green patches of scrub, guided hiking tour on Etna, Sicily, Italy
Afterwards, you’ll have a light lunch at a local café, where you can sample almond wine, a traditional Sicilian wine.
Finally, they’ll transfer you back to Taormina, getting back in the afternoon.
This tour includes the transfer, necessary equipment, insurance, light lunch, and an expert guide.
You can also rent hiking boots, walking sticks, and snow shoes if you visit in winter.
This tour combines both hiking on Etna and traditional Sicilian flavors.
Your first stop will be in the small town of Zafferana, better known for its honey production.
Here, you’ll sample local honey, olive oil, and wine while visiting an organic farm.
Next, you’ll explore a lava cave and learn about the formation of lava flows.
From the cave, you’ll head to the Sapienza Refuge, where you can see old craters and traces from recent eruptions.
A short trek along a path will allow you to take in the spectacular views before returning to Taormina.
You can also choose the alternative option of taking the cable car and the jeep bus to reach 3,000 meters of altitude and enjoy the stunning landscape. However, this option has an additional cost.
Note that while this tour includes the guide, transfer, a light food tasting, and necessary gear for the lava cave, it does not include a full lunch.
You can either bring lunch or buy something at the refuge.
Try this half-day tour for a memorable food and wine tasting on Mount Etna, with no hiking involved!
After driving through picturesque landscapes and learning about the wine production in the volcanic area of Mount Etna, you’ll reach your first stop for the day, a family-run winery welcoming you with a glass of sparkling rosé.
You’ll visit the wine cellars and enjoy a wine tasting accompanied by cold appetizers such as cheese, cold cuts, and local vegetables.
Since you’re on a volcano, the tasting will take place in an impressive lava stone amphitheater!
For your next stop, you’ll visit a farmhouse and sample more food and wine on a terrace while admiring the vineyards.
The tasting includes ricotta cheese with marmalade and pasta made with local ingredients.
End your tour with a taste of homemade limoncello before driving back to Taormina.
The tour includes everything from the transfer and guide to the food and wine tasting. You are welcome to leave a tip at the end of the tour!
Explore more of Taormina and have dinner.
If you’re not too tired after the hike, you can spend the rest of the afternoon exploring more of Taormina, either returning to your favorite spots or discovering new viewing points and landmarks.
Some options include checking out whatever exhibition is on at the Palazzo Corvaja, or maybe you’ll want to catch a show at theOpera House.
Finally, have one last delicious dinner in Taormina!
Discover more Sicilian dishes on the lovely terrace of CutìLuDissi, or treat yourself to a fancy dinner in the sophisticated Ristorante Baronessa.
Roxana is a Romanian-born freelance travel writer who has lived in Italy for over 15 years. She has a Master’s in Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Film Studies, and she studied at Università degli Studi di Roma Tre. Besides her native Romania, Roxana has lived in Rome, Lisbon, and Berlin, and she has traveled through much of Europe in search of hidden gems, history, and culture.
