How To Spend 1 Day In Ortigia
Ortigia has become a super popular destination in Sicily, and for good reason. It has beautiful architecture, an incredible main piazza, picturesque swimming spots, and a quintessential market where you can see and eat Sicilian specialties.
I would agree that Ortigia shouldn’t be missed! Even if you can only go for one day, do it.
It’s beautiful and lively, but not overwhelming in the way Catania or Palermo can be. It’s steeped in fascinating history and the look and feel of the tiny island is unique among Sicily’s top destinations.
What can I say about Ortigia that countless travel bloggers haven’t already said? While living in Catania, my husband and I did more day trips to Siracusa/Ortigia than anywhere else in Sicily. Every time we had visitors, we had to take them there.
Over time, we perfected how to spend one day in Ortigia. Now I want to share what to include in your day trip to Ortigia to make it a memorable experience.
Note: In case you’re not familiar with this area, it’s important to know that Siracusa and Ortigia are next to each other. The two places are often referred to interchangably. Siracusa is the city you arrive in to go to the little island of Ortigia. They are attached by short, walkable bridges.
Getting There
Before we dive into what to do, see, and eat in Ortigia, let’s talk a bit about how to get there.
By Car
Ortigia is about a 50-minute drive from Catania and a 3-hour drive from Palermo.
If you arrive by car, I don’t recommend driving and parking on the island of Ortigia. Instead, park your car in the main city of Siracusa and walk onto Ortigia.
A few paid parking lots in Siracusa are close to the bridges crossing over to Ortigia, a short 10-minute walk away.
You may also find free parking on residential streets.
By Train
We often arrived in Ortigia by direct train from the Catania train station. It costs €9 one-way and the ride is between 60 and 100 minutes, depending on the train you catch.
From the central station in Palermo, taking the train to Ortigia is a little more complicated because there are no direct trains between the two cities. The simplest route would be to take the train from Palermo to Messina, then Messina to Siracusa. The trip is long, about 6 hours, plus a layover in Messina. It would cost about €30.
The train station in Siracusa is a 15-minute walk from Ortigia.
To book train tickets in advance, I love and always use Trainline.
By Bus
Taking the bus in Sicily is typically the cheapest transportation option. It costs about €6 to take the bus from Catania to Siracusa, and the trip takes a little over an hour.
Traveling from Palermo to Siracusa by bus takes a little over 3 hours, and it costs about €15. The journey is shorter and cheaper by bus, so I recommend it over taking the train. It’s also a beautiful ride through the interior of Sicily!
I also love using Trainline to purchase bus tickets in advance.
What to See and Do
Have a Sicilian breakfast at Voglia Matta
The first order of business upon arriving in Ortigia should be granita! If you’re not familiar with granita, be sure to become well acquainted while in Sicily.
Granita is a frozen Sicilian treat, similar to gelato, but without dairy. On hot days, you’ll see people eating it for breakfast, lunch, or a midday snack. The typical flavors are lemon, strawberry, chocolate, coffee, pistachio, and almond. Sicilians order it along with a brioche bun.
There are plenty of places to eat granita in Siracusa, but why not try some of the best? Go to Voglia Matta, which is conveniently located on the main street of Siracusa that leads to Ortigia.
A local once told me that Voglia Matta is an institution in Siracusa. The shop has all kinds of tempting sweet treats, but it is THE place for granita and brioche.
Take your time savoring a granita breakfast, then head onto the island of Ortigia.
Visit the Ortigia Market
Once you cross the bridge to Ortigia, you’ll find the daily market. It’s hard to miss. First, you’ll see stalls packed with hats, bags, and souvenir items. Move through that section and you’ll hit the best part: the food market.
This market is open daily, except Sundays, until 2 p.m. Be sure to arrive well before that time.
It’s not as big of a market as the ones in Palermo and Catania, but it’s less overwhelming and has everything you’d hope to find at a Sicilian market. You can enjoy strolling through and sampling some bites of cheese or olives that may be offered to you.
If you like oysters, visit the stall that sells them, along with a glass of wine, for the modest price of €2.50. That was a fun stop we always made when visiting Ortigia. Other Sicilian snacks, like fried seafood and arancini, are also sold along the market street.
Just be sure to save room for the next must-stop!
Grab a sandwich at Borderi
On the same street as the daily market, there is a shop that has become an extremely popular destination in Ortigia. And for good reason.
Caseificio Borderi has become famous for its amazing sandwiches. It’s one of those places where you wait a long time to order, but I do believe it’s worth the wait.
There is some outdoor seating where you can order and have your sandwich brought to a table, but I highly recommend joining the line and going into the shop to order your sandwich.
Not only will you see the edible works of art being made, but I think they make the sandwiches bigger and better when you order inside. And the guys making the sandwiches usually feed you samples while you wait. A little bonus.
Typically, sandwiches in Italy have very little on them, but the sandwiches at Borderi are packed with Sicilian ingredients, including wonderful, fresh cheeses.
It can be hard to know what to order, so I suggest looking at the sandwiches being made and pointing to the one that appeals to you the most.
Walk the perimeter of the island
After exploring the market and filling up on food, we often walked the island’s perimeter, admiring the sea views and the old men fishing from the city walls.
It doesn’t take very long to walk around the island and there are great photo opportunities along the way. You may also spot some places that interest you, like the castle. (A bit more on that later.)
Go for a swim
A day in Ortigia doesn’t feel complete without a swim! If you walk the perimeter of Ortigia, you will notice all the spots to go swimming. There are a few options and all are a little different from one another.
Spiaggia Diana nel Forte is basically a rock beach that has a platform or deck over the water in the summer months. Most of the day, there isn’t any shade or privacy, but it’s perfect if you just want a quick dip in the sea to cool off.
I would say the most popular and appealing beach in Ortigia is Spiaggia di Cala Rossa. It’s quite picturesque for a city beach and molto italiana (very Italian). The sand is very coarse and pebbly, but the water is often warm and there’s some shade in the afternoons.
A third option for swimming in Ortigia is Spiaggia di Fonte Aretusa, a tiny beach with comfortable sand and quick access to the water. Tourists stick to the other beaches, so this one is often quiet.
All of the swimming areas in Ortigia are free, so there aren’t amenities like bars or bathrooms available. If you want to swim, you’ll have to plan ahead when it comes to changing clothes or having towels.
Spiaggia di Cala Rossa
Linger in Piazza Duomo
I really feel that Ortigia has the most stunning piazza in all of Sicily. The Piazza Duomo, or main square, takes your breath away when you enter it.
The beautiful, sun-drenched stone used throughout the piazza and the detailed architecture transport you to another time.
The Cathedral has an incredible Baroque facade and an interesting history, once a Greek temple until an earthquake forced it to be reconstructed.
You can admire the square’s beauty from one of the bars or sit on the steps of the Cathedral. Either way, enjoy a Sicilian treat and take in the atmosphere.
You can certainly enjoy the piazza any time of day, but it is particularly captivating and romantic in the early morning or the evening. If you can arrange to be there at one of those times, you won’t regret it.
Wander the interior streets
The interior of Ortigia is a wonderful maze of streets. You’ll find all kinds of shops and restaurants on the main streets, but don’t forget to wander off the beaten path.
The narrow alleys are much quieter and terribly charming. That’s where you’ll see the hanging laundry and gated courtyards that us non-Italians can’t get enough of.
Those quiet alleys also have some restaurants that are much more enjoyable to eat at than the ones on the main roads, where other tourists unintentionally hover over your food as they try to make their way through the crowd.
Other Points of Interest
Neapolis Archeological Park
Siracusa has a great archeological site within walking distance of the island of Ortigia. Anyone who loves history (or the latest Indiana Jones movie) will find the park fascinating. The site is also beautiful, with lemon and olive trees and bougainvillea scattered throughout.
It takes about 2 hours at a lingering pace to see everything in the park.
Archimedes’ History
Archimedes, the ancient Greek mathematician and the first person to calculate pi, was from Siracusa. So there are a few tributes to him throughout the city.
A bronze statue of Archimedes can be seen from the bridges between Siracusa and the island of Ortigia. There is also a museum dedicated to Archimedes (and Leonardo Da Vinci), where you can learn more about his inventions and theories.
Fonte Aretusa
Fonte Aretusa (or Arethusa Spring) is a freshwater spring steeped in Greek mythology. It’s a pretty spot, home to ducks, fish, and lush papyrus. Many admire its beauty while enjoying a gelato from a nearby bar.
Palazzo Borgia del Casale
Palazzo Borgia del Casale is a beautiful 1700s building that is open to the public. For a small fee, you can enter and explore its beautiful, period-decorated rooms.
It’s in the gorgeous Piazza Duomo, so you feel a bit like royalty as you stand on the balcony with your complimentary glass of prosecco.
Modican Chocolate
If you don’t make it to Modica on your trip to Sicily, you can still try its most famous product in Ortigia! Modican chocolate is a beloved Sicilian product.
It is made uniquely, at much lower temperatures than other chocolate, making it grainy or coarse. The method came from the Spanish when they occupied Sicily.
There is a Modican chocolate shop, Sabadi, in the Piazza Duomo. There you can sample and buy the chocolate in many different flavors.
Castello Maniace
A popular tourist attraction, Castello Maniace, is a 1200s castle located on the farthest point of the island of Ortigia.
It’s best seen from the inside, so if you’re into castles, you’ll want to buy a ticket to get full access.
Ready to go to beautiful Ortigia? I hope so! Even if you can only go for the day or part of a day, add it to your itinerary. The Piazza Duomo alone is worth the trip!
Do you have a question about something you read in this post? Or have you spent some time in Ortigia and have suggestions on what to do there? Leave a comment below!