30 Sicily Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
So you want to go to Sicily! You’re in the right place. I have a deep love for Sicily and I got to call it my home for a couple of years. My heart flutters when people tell me they’re planning a trip there.
But have you ever heard someone say, “Sicily is not Italy”? They’re not wrong, in a sense. Compared to central and northern Italy, Sicily is a wild child. Its main cities can be loud, dirty, gritty, and obnoxious. And its countryside is rugged and natural.
This isn’t meant to deter you at all. Sicily will steal your heart with its incredible food, natural beauty, and approachable spirit. But if you’ve been to other parts of Italy, like Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, or Lake Como, don’t expect Sicily to be anything like those places. You’re in for a different adventure this time.
So do I have some tips for traveling in Sicily? Oh yes, plenty! After some thought, I’ve created a list of 30 Sicily travel tips, designed for first-time visitors to the island.
Some of these tips can be useful for travel throughout Italy, but most are specific to Sicily. Many revolve around transportation and eating, but some touch on money, language, and accommodations.
Let’s get into it!
Note: In this post, I’ll be referring to a “bar” several times. Just in case you’re new to Italian lingo, a bar is where people of all ages go for coffee beverages, savory and sweet pastries, fast and simple lunches, gelato, and alcoholic beverages. Italian bars are very different from what many might think of as a “bar” in other countries.
30 Sicily Travel Tips
Don’t rent a car if you’re a timid or nervous driver.
At the very least, don’t drive in Catania or Palermo if you’re uncomfortable with some chaos on the road.
Don’t rent a flashy car.
Renting a large, new, or expensive vehicle in Sicily isn’t a great idea. Those are the types of vehicles that are more likely to get stolen or broken into. Even if you have car insurance, who really wants to deal with that while on vacation?
If possible, stick to renting a smaller vehicle that is typical in Italy, like a Fiat, Lancia, or Toyota.
Scan your rental car for damage before you leave the rental lot.
Take some pictures or a video of the outside of your rental car before you leave the rental company parking lot. There may already be some minor damage or scratches on the car, and it’s a good idea to have that documented yourself.
Validate your train and bus tickets.
After purchasing train or bus tickets in Italy, you need to “validate” them, or have them stamped with the date/time.
For train tickets, you validate them at small machines before you get on the train. These little machines are often found next to the ticket machines or on the outer walls of the train station at Platform 1.
For bus tickets, you validate when you get on the bus. You’ll often find the validation machines in the middle or back of the bus.
Use the Trainline app to view train/bus times and purchase tickets.
When you want to check a train or bus schedule ahead of time, use the Trainline app. I used this app SO MUCH in Italy.
Use it to search for train departure times and ticket prices (because prices vary depending on the train and time of day).
You can also use the Trainline app to purchase your train tickets ahead of time. This means that you don’t have to arrive early at the train station and stand in line at the ticket machines. You also don’t have to validate your tickets when you purchase them on the app and use the electronic ticket.
The Trainline app also provides bus or “coach” schedules and prices from one town or city to another.
Try to get taxi drivers to give you a price before you get into the taxi.
Each time friends visited us in Sicily, they would take a taxi from the Catania airport to our apartment in the city. And no two friends were ever charged the same price for that taxi ride. The price ranged anywhere from €25-€55.
If you can negotiate a price before you get in the taxi, you might save yourself some money.
Don’t flash your cash in the big cities.
I only ever had one experience when I felt unsafe during my time in Sicily. My husband and I ran out of change one evening and needed to break a €100 bill. Even though we tried to be discreet, pulling out this €100 bill drew some unwanted attention.
In Palermo and Catania, don’t flash large amounts of cash. Of course, it’s smart not to do that anywhere, but be a little extra cautious in the big cities.
Ask for prices before you order.
When you’re at a Sicilian bar, gelateria, pasticceria, or a market and you’re unsure about the price of something, ask the price before they give it to you. This is especially important if you’re on a budget.
It’s not uncommon for shops to try to charge tourists more money than they would a local. And many bars aren’t transparent with their prices. So ask for the prices before you order and if they seem too high, you can walk away.
Here’s an idea of how much bar items in Sicily should cost:
Coffee (espresso) - €0.80-€1.30
Cappuccino - €1.30-€2.00
Small gelato - €1.75-€3.00
Cornetto (croissant) - €0.90-€1.50
Italian beer (bottle) - €1.50-3.00
Granita - €2.50-€3.00
Cannoli - €1.80-€3.00
Arancino - €1.80-€3.00
You can sit in bars and not worry about an extra charge.
Something that many hear before they travel to Italy is that it costs less to stand at a bar to drink your coffee and eat than it does to sit down.
This is not common in Sicily. Most bars will not charge you a fee to sit. You’d have to be at a fancy bar in a fancy place to be charged a coperto (cover charge).
Don’t tip at bars or restaurants.
This tip might be slightly controversial. I’m sure that a Sicilian bar or restaurant worker wouldn’t object to a tip. But as someone who lived in Sicily and ate out with Sicilians, I can tell you that tipping is not a thing.
Actually, when tourists tip at food establishments, it can become something that’s expected of any foreigners living there.
If you’re feeling generous, buy more food or keep returning to spots that treat you well.
Eat at places that don’t have English menus.
If you don’t speak Italian, you could be drawn to restaurants with English menus, but generally, that’s not where the great food is.
In Sicily, English menus can indicate a tourist trap.
Instead, eat where the locals do, invite a little struggle with the language, and ask the server what you should try.
Look over your bill to make sure you only get charged for what you order.
Remember how I mentioned that some shops may try to charge tourists more money than they would a local? Even if they don’t overcharge you for certain items, they could try to sneak a few extra items onto your bill.
This can be a problem particularly when you eat out with a large group. Many times, friends and I experienced being charged for items that we did not order when the bill was long.
It’s perfectly normal to eat granita for breakfast.
Granita is one of the most beloved Sicilian treats. To me, granita is Sicily, and Sicily is granita. One and the same.
While it may initially seem wrong, you need to eat it for breakfast. Do it once, and you’ll end up having it every morning of your Sicilian vacation.
Of course, you can continue to eat granita throughout the day.
Don’t worry about the “no cappuccino after 11 am” rule.
Most tourists visiting Italy will have heard about how Italians don’t drink cappuccinos after 11:00 in the morning. Otherwise, they’re banished from the country. (Jokes.)
If it’s about blending in with the locals… Believe me, the locals know you’re a tourist. You won’t shock them by ordering a cappuccino in the afternoon. In Sicily, nobody cares what you order, as long as you’re bringing them business.
Know that service is not always fast or friendly.
Try to have an easygoing attitude when you go into a bar or restaurant in Sicily. Focus on how amazing the food is, rather than the service.
You’ll interact with super-friendly Sicilians on your trip, but don’t be surprised when you also encounter blunt or unpleasant service.
Ask locals where to eat.
This is the best way to eat really well in Sicily. Instead of relying on your internet research skills, ask a Sicilian where they eat. Even better, ask an elderly Sicilian where to eat. They know the best, most authentic, affordable places.
Always assume you cannot drink the tap water unless your hotel or rental host tells you it’s good.
As a general rule, don’t drink the tap water in Sicily.
Buy water at grocery stores.
When you’re out and about and you get thirsty, save yourself a few euros and buy water at the nearest grocery store. It will definitely be cheaper than buying it at a bar or restaurant.
Eat seafood by the sea and eat meat inland.
Even though Sicily is an island, the food changes a bit from the sea to the interior. So for the best food experiences, I suggest eating hyper-local.
When you’re in a seaside village or city, choose to eat seafood dishes over meat. And when you’re not on the sea, order meat dishes over seafood.
(Of course, there are some exceptions… Catania is on the sea and has wonderful seafood, but the city is also famous for offering horse meat. If that’s up your alley, you have to try it!)
Eat cannolis that are filled to order.
For a truly amazing cannoli experience, look for places that don’t fill the shells with ricotta until you order. The shells will be crispier and the filling will be colder.
Eat Sicilian food in Sicily!
I’m quite passionate about this tip.
If you’ve traveled to Italy before, you might be aware that the food there is very regional. Each region has its own cuisine and specialties.
With that in mind, when you’re in Sicily don’t look for places that have dishes like carbonara or bolognese on the menu. Those pasta dishes are not Sicilian, they won’t be great, you’ll be disappointed, and you’ll probably return home saying that the food wasn’t amazing.
I know it might not be possible to learn all about Sicilian food before you arrive in Sicily, but try to familiarize yourself with some of the regional cuisine beforehand.
Impress the locals by knowing the difference between “arancino” and “arancina”.
Another absolutely beloved Sicilian food that you must try in Sicily is the arancino (or arancina). It is a fried rice ball that can have a variety of fillings, but the most traditional filling is a meat ragu.
There is a bit of a battle in Sicily over the name of this treat. In the eastern half of Sicily it is called an arancino, but arancina in the western half of the island. It’s the difference of one letter, but it’s serious business to Sicilians. (Kind of.)
If you can keep this in mind as you travel through Sicily and use the correct word when ordering, you may endear yourself to a Sicilian.
Keep some tissues and hand sanitizer on you.
Even if you find a fairly clean public washroom in Sicily, there’s a good chance it won’t have toilet paper or soap.
Keep a photo of your passport on your phone.
If you don’t plan to carry your passport on you during the day, at least have a photo of it on your phone. It doesn’t happen often, but the authorities could ask to see your passport at any time.
A police officer once asked me for my passport while waiting for a train in Catania.
Be prepared if you plan to hike on Mount Etna.
Whether you plan to hike Mount Etna on your own or with a guided tour, know that it can be intense. You should be physically fit.
If you’re afraid of heights, think about whether you can walk along the edge of a volcanic crater.
You also need good, solid footwear and warm clothes.
I once did a hike on Etna in the middle of June. It was freezing and super windy up there. I was wearing a multi-layered ski jacket.
Don’t panic if your first impressions of the island aren’t great.
If you fly into Catania airport and head in the direction of the city, don’t be alarmed by the garbage, graffiti, and rundown buildings.
I can assure you that all the beautiful Sicilian scenery and architecture you’ve seen online does exist. And even the grittier parts of the island will grow on you.
Bring earplugs if you’ll be sleeping in Catania or Palermo.
Depending on where you stay in Catania or Palermo, it can be LOUD. If you’re a light sleeper, plan ahead.
Be considerate when running the air conditioning or heat.
For several months of the year, Sicily is hot. It’s understandable to want to run the air conditioner in your accommodations.
But try to keep in mind that utility costs are high in Italy. When you leave your rental house or room during the day, turn off the air conditioner. Your hotel or rental host will love you for it.
The same goes for the winter months. Heating systems are uncommon in Sicily, and the electrical units often added to apartments are not very energy efficient. Be a friend and turn them off when you leave.
Always have some cash on you.
Cash is still widely used and asked for in Sicily. If you want to buy food or items at a market, you’ll need cash.
Also, it’s not uncommon for debit and credit card machines to suddenly “not work” or for ATMs to be out of cash.
It’s a good idea to have some cash on you before you arrive in Sicily.
Have the Google Translate app ready to help you when you need it.
English is definitely not spoken as much in Sicily as it is in central and northern Italy. Be ready to use a translation app to help you communicate or to help you read a sign or menu.
Applying these tips will certainly help your Sicilian vacation go smoothly and eliminate some unwanted surprises.
Even though it might be wilder than the rest of Italy, Sicily is incredibly charming and full of wonderful people. You’ll absolutely love it.
Do you still have a question about traveling in Sicily? Or do you have a travel tip to share with others? Leave a comment below!