8 days Northern Sicily | Tours Italy

Route

You start in Palermo, then follow the coast past salt flats, ancient temple cities and fishing villages. The journey takes you to Monreale, Erice and Cefalù, among other places, with nature and archaeology along the way.

Pace

Four days of culture and villages, then more time by the sea. You will drive short distances and have plenty of time to stop in villages or along the coast.

Highlights

You will see the golden mosaics of Monreale Cathedral, the salt pans between Trapani and Marsala and the medieval town of Erice. In Cefalù, you will stroll through narrow streets to the Norman cathedral. In between, you will discover nature in Parco delle Madonie and ancient temples in the Archaeological Park of Selinunte.

Accommodation

Small-scale hotels in good locations: a city hotel in Palermo and then a stay by the sea near Cefalù.

Profile

For travellers who want to discover Sicily through its coast, nature and history. Ideal for those who want to combine culture with time by the sea.

Day 1: Departure for Palermo

You arrive at Palermo airport and pick up your hire car. You drive on to your first Caractère hotel in Palermo. You can choose between a real city stay or a luxury hotel just outside the city. You visit the Palazzo dei Normanni, the San Domenico church, which is the showpiece of Baroque architecture in Palermo, and dive into the Catacombe dei Cappuccuni.

Day 2: Monreale and San Vito Lo Capo

Wake up in Palermo and drive to Monreale to visit the cathedral with its impressive mosaics and the Benedictine monastery. Then drive along the breathtaking Golfo di Castellammare to San Vito Lo Capo.

Day 3: The Via del Sale and Erice

The road between Trapani and Marsala is lined with salt pans that offer a magnificent view, dotted here and there with the silhouette of a windmill. Be sure to stop in Nubia for the small but fascinating salt museum. Visit Erice, named after the mountain on which this town was built, and go back to ancient times, when the temple was dedicated to Astarte and later to Aphrodite and Venus.

Day 4: Selinunte and Sciacca

These stops are an absolute must on this trip. Selinunte, ancient Selinus, was founded in 650 BC and is the largest archaeological site in Europe in terms of its enormous size. The temple of Hera is an imposing settlement with its 21 Doric columns that are still standing today. Afterwards, drive on to Sciacca, where people used to live in caves and you can still see this today.

Day 5: Cefalù

Today you will enjoy a day in this picturesque town with its magnificent golden Romanesque Duomo and the ruins on “la Rocca”, a steep mountain with a breathtaking view from the top.

Day 6: Panoramic tour of Parco delle Madonie, the Sicilian Apennines

Today you will explore this magnificent nature park and pass through numerous authentic medieval villages (Castelbuono, Geraci Siculo, etc.), which seem to crown the mountains of Le Madonie like eagles' nests.

Day 7: Savouring the beauty of nature

Spend a day relaxing by the pool surrounded by nature and reflect on this wonderful trip.

Day 8: Return home

You will drive back to Palermo airport where you will return your hire car and fly home with fond memories.

Frequently asked questions about the North Sicilian coast

Do I need a hire car for this trip?

Yes. With a hire car, you can easily reach places such as Erice, Cefalù and the Parco delle Madonie nature reserve. Many villages are located outside the major cities and are best reached via coastal or mountain roads.

When is the best time to visit Northern Sicily?

April to June and September to October are ideal. Temperatures are usually between 22 and 28 degrees and it is quieter than in July and August. The sea around Cefalù remains warm enough for swimming.

What is the difference between Palermo and Cefalù during this trip?

Palermo is a lively city with markets, churches and historic palaces. Cefalù feels quieter with its beach, small streets and impressive cathedral by the sea. Together they give a beautiful picture of the north coast of Sicily.