Luxury Sicily Holidays

Southern belle

Sicily

Sicily holidays offer a taste of the best of Italy. It’s home to towns and cities full of ancient sights, rolling green countryside and some beautiful beaches. Located just off the toe of Italy’s boot, you can immerse yourself in the relaxed southern Italian culture of the area, with celebrated local dishes and beautiful architecture.

Couples will love spending long, lazy days on the golden sands of the beach, wandering hand in hand through winding streets or enjoying long Italian dinners by candlelight. Families can head to the beach where little ones can paddle in the clear shallow Mediterranean Sea while older children try water sports and activities. Explorers can admire the beautiful rolling interior landscapes, as well as hiking to the top of Mount Etna. When it comes to choosing a town, Taormina is full of ancient ruins and spectacular views of the coastline.

Luxury holidays in Sicily

Luxury holidays in Sicily bring you the laid back culture of Italy, combined with iconic Mount Etna, pretty, historic towns and beaches where you can simply relax. Spend your days exploring olive groves and trying delicious fresh produce or taking tours of vineyards where you can try local bottles of fine Italian wines. Head to the beach and spend the day relaxing on a lounger, or hike into the mountains from where you can enjoy fantastic views of the coast. Alternatively, simply wander through the winding stony streets, stopping off in boutiques, bars and restaurants.

Book your luxury holidays in Sicily with Sovereign and we’ll help you choose the ideal hotel for your stay. Whether you’re travelling as a couple, a family, group or solo we’ll help you find the perfect property for you. Stay at the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo for beautiful gardens and terraces overlooking the sparkling coastline.

Destinations in Sicily

Taormina

Taormina sprinkles Ancient Greek and medieval architectural treasures across a hillside in north-east Sicily. The town is topped with a volcano-view sanctuary and tailed by a scalloped coastline of beaches.

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Vulcano

The otherworldly island of Vulcano is home to the crater that gave all other volcanoes their name. Mud baths, black-sand beaches and Aeolian archipelago views are all on the cards here.

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Things to do in SicilyExplore the Alcantara Gorges

The Alcantara Gorge digs in to the landscape just north of Mount Etna, carved out of basalt rock by volcanic activity. A river runs along the bottom, and luminous turquoise rock pools and waterfalls are dotted throughout the gorges. Head to Gorge Beach to be completely surrounded by the sky-high walls of the gorge. You can swim here, but brace yourself – the water can be pretty chilly, but refreshing in the hot Sicilian summer. Fancy a hike? Trace the easy Gorge Trail as it follows the river for a mile upstream.

Things to do in SicilyPeer inside Mount Etna's craters

Fiery Mount Etna – one of the most active volcanoes in the world – is set in the middle of a national park. You can hike around its foothills or take a 4x4 right up to the summit, where you can walk around its smoking craters and take in widescreen views across the island.

Mount Etna is about an hour’s drive away from Taormina. This is where you’ll find some of the best views of the volcano, too – especially if you stand at the 2,300-year-old amphitheatre.

Things to do in SicilySpend a day in Syracuse

Historical Syracuse lies about an hour and a half south of Taormina. Tour the Greek and Roman ruins at the Archaeological Zone (highlights include a Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre), then spend the afternoon exploring the UNESCO-listed peninsula of Ortigia, which is filled with Gothic palaces and medieval houses. Meanwhile, the grand Basilica di San Giovanni sits on top of a maze of catacombs. Join a guided tour for the full lowdown on the eerily empty gallery of ancient tombs.

Typical Costs

Bottle of beer

€4-8

Bus return

€4-16

Cup of coffee

€1-6

Glass of wine

€5-12

Main course

€10-25

Small souvenir

€3

Flight Information

Flight time from the UK to Sicily is around 3 hours.

When to go

Sicily’s climate is classically Mediterranean, but since the island is surprisingly close to Africa, things really heat up here in summer. The hot, dry weather begins in earnest around June, peaking in the high 20s around July and August. It barely gets cold in Sicily; winters are warm and rainy, while spring’s pleasant mid-teen average is good for walking and cycling, but not quite beach weather.

Visa Information

British citizens do not currently require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

When you dine out in Italy, you will generally be charged a coperto (cover charge), which is for the bread, tablecloth, cutlery, etc. Tipping in Italy is not customary, but is always appreciated.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.

Sicily Specialities Sicilian cuisine mixes traditional Italian cooking with flavours from Greece and North Africa – a nod to its diverse heritage. Dishes to look out for include arancini (fried rice balls filled with anything from mozzarella cheese to rich ragu sauce), pasta alla Norma (made with aubergine, tomatoes and ricotta) and cannoli (delicious, ricotta-filled pastry tubes). Granita (crushed and flavoured ice) is the Sicilian version of gelato – perfect for cooling off on a hot day.