Sicily Luxury Travel Guide: The Undiscovered South

Sicily gets a fraction of the tourism traffic of Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast, despite having comparable coastline, better-preserved ancient ruins, and a food culture with its own distinct identity — Arab, Greek, and Norman influences layered into every dish. For travelers who've done the classic Italy trip already, Sicily is the natural next chapter. This guide is part of our Luxury Italian Vacation Planner.

Where to Base Yourself

Taormina, perched on a cliff with Mount Etna as a backdrop, is Sicily's most polished luxury base — boutique hotels, upscale dining, and easy access to the coast. Ortigia, the old-town island of Syracuse, offers a quieter, more historic base with baroque architecture and excellent seafood. For a countryside contrast, a private estate near Modica puts you in the heart of Sicily's chocolate and wine country.

What Makes Sicily Different

The island's Greek temples at Agrigento and Selinunte rival anything in Greece itself, but without the crowds. Mount Etna offers a day of hiking and wine tasting on volcanic soil unlike anywhere else in Italy. And Sicilian cuisine — swordfish, pistachios, ricotta, saffron — is distinct enough from mainland Italian food that it deserves its own culinary itinerary.

What to Actually Do

• →A private tour of the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento, early morning before the heat
• →A wine tasting on the slopes of Mount Etna, where volcanic soil produces some of Italy's most distinctive wines
• →A boat day around the Aeolian Islands from Taormina
• →An evening walking Ortigia's old town, ending with dinner overlooking the harbor

Pairing With the Rest of Italy

Sicily is best treated as its own dedicated week rather than a rushed add-on — the driving distances between sites are longer than mainland Italy, and the island rewards a slower pace, similar in spirit to Tuscany.

Interested in a Sicily itinerary built around the island's quieter corners? Get in touch, or return to the full Italy planning guide.