If you are comparing the best things to do in Sicily, start with the experiences that make the island feel unlike anywhere else in Italy: active volcanoes, ancient Greek temples older than the Parthenon, fishing villages painted in fading pastels and some of the most celebrated street food on earth. For Canadian travellers considering a group tour, Sicily offers a depth of experience that rewards every single day on the ground.
Explore the all-inclusive Sicily, Calabria and Apulia tour with Approach Tours and experience southern Italy with every detail handled for you.
This guide covers the top sights and experiences you can enjoy on a Sicily small group tour, from volcanic landscapes and ancient ruins to local markets and coastal villages. Whether you are drawn to history, food, nature or simply the pleasure of wandering through a beautiful place, Sicily delivers.
For quick planning, the best Sicily attractions for group travellers include:
- Mount Etna for volcanic landscapes, wine country and sweeping views toward Calabria.
- Taormina for the Greek theatre, elegant streets and sea-facing gardens.
- Palermo for street food, markets and Norman-Arab architecture.
- Valley of the Temples for one of the Mediterranean’s finest ancient Greek sites.
- Syracuse, Ortigia, Noto and Catania for baroque towns, waterfront walks and layered Sicilian history.
Which Things to Do in Sicily Belong on a Group Tour Itinerary?
The best things to do in Sicily on a group tour balance big-name landmarks with relaxed cultural experiences: Mount Etna, Taormina, Palermo street food, the Valley of the Temples, Syracuse, Ortigia, Noto and Catania. Together, they show Sicily’s volcanic landscapes, Greek heritage, baroque towns, markets and coastal beauty.
Mount Etna: Europe’s Tallest Active Volcano
Mount Etna is one of the essential things to do in Sicily because it turns the island’s geology into a living, smoking landscape. Travellers see lava fields, craters, vineyards and wide views over the Ionian coast, all with guides who explain how the volcano shapes local wine, farming and daily life.
Mount Etna dominates the eastern Sicilian skyline, rising 3,357 metres above sea level. It is Europe’s tallest and most active volcano, and visiting it is one of those travel experiences that stays with you. The landscape surrounding the summit looks almost lunar: black lava fields, steam vents and hardy wildflowers pushing through the volcanic soil.
On a group tour, you typically visit the lower slopes and craters accessible by cable car or off-road vehicle, depending on current volcanic activity. Local volcanologist guides explain the geology and point out lava flows from recent eruptions. The views from the upper stations stretch across the entire eastern coast of Sicily and, on clear days, all the way to mainland Calabria.
Even from lower elevations, Etna is impressive. The surrounding wine region produces some of Sicily’s finest wines from grapes grown in mineral-rich volcanic soil. A tasting at a local vineyard is a wonderful way to connect the landscape to the culture.
What Makes Taormina One of Sicily’s Best Attractions?
Taormina is one of Sicily’s best attractions because it combines an ancient Greek theatre, cliffside sea views, elegant pedestrian streets and direct sightlines to Mount Etna. It is easy to enjoy at a gentle pace, which makes it especially rewarding for group travellers who want beauty without complicated logistics.
Perched on a cliff 200 metres above the Ionian Sea, Taormina is one of Sicily’s most photographed towns. The ancient Greek theatre, built in the third century BC and later expanded by the Romans, frames Mount Etna in its backdrop. It is still used for performances today, and the acoustics are remarkable.
Beyond the theatre, Taormina rewards leisurely exploration. Corso Umberto, the main pedestrian street, winds through the medieval centre past boutiques, gelaterias and churches. The Giardini della Villa Comunale (public gardens) offer shaded paths with panoramic views over the coast. From the Piazza IX Aprile, you can see both the volcano and the sea in a single glance.
Taormina has drawn travellers for centuries. Goethe wrote about it. D.H. Lawrence lived here. The town manages to be both elegant and welcoming, with none of the pretension you might expect from such a famous destination.
Why Is Palermo Street Food a Sicily Tour Highlight?
Palermo street food is a Sicily tour highlight because it brings the island’s Arab, Norman, Spanish and Italian influences together in one lively market experience. With a local guide, travellers can taste classic snacks, understand the stories behind them and enjoy the city’s energy without worrying about where to go next.
Palermo is gloriously chaotic and absolutely captivating. The Sicilian capital wears its history on every corner: Norman churches sit beside Arab-influenced domes, baroque palaces lean over narrow medieval alleyways and the sound of scooters mixes with market vendors calling out the day’s catch.
The street food scene in Palermo is legendary. The markets at Ballaro, Vucciria and Capo have operated for centuries, selling everything from fresh seafood and sun-ripened tomatoes to arancini (fried rice balls), panelle (chickpea fritters) and sfincione (Sicilian pizza). A guided market walk is one of the highlights of any group tour, giving you the chance to taste your way through Sicilian culinary traditions with a local expert by your side.
- Arancini: crisp fried rice balls, often filled with ragù, peas or cheese.
- Panelle: chickpea fritters served hot and simple, a Palermo staple.
- Sfincione: thick Sicilian-style pizza with tomato, onion, anchovy and breadcrumbs.
- Cannoli: crisp pastry shells filled with sweet ricotta, often finished with pistachio or citrus.
Do not miss the Cappella Palatina, a 12th-century chapel inside the Norman Palace with golden Byzantine mosaics that cover every surface. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful interiors in all of Europe. The Palermo Cathedral, with its mix of architectural styles spanning 800 years, tells the story of every civilization that has called Sicily home.
On an Approach Tours itinerary, your Group Guru and local guides handle all the navigation through these vibrant but sometimes overwhelming streets, so you can focus entirely on the experience.
Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
The Valley of the Temples is one of the most important things to do in Sicily for ancient history lovers. Its Greek temples, open-air setting and UNESCO World Heritage status make it a powerful counterpoint to Sicily’s coastal towns, especially when a local guide connects the ruins to the island’s wider Mediterranean story.
The Valley of the Temples is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains the remains of seven Greek temples dating from the 5th century BC, set on a ridge overlooking the southern coast of Sicily. The Temple of Concordia is one of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples anywhere in the world, rivalling even the Parthenon in Athens.
Walking through the valley in the soft Sicilian light, with almond trees blooming between the columns and the sea shimmering in the distance, is a genuinely moving experience. The scale of these structures, built without modern machinery more than 2,400 years ago, is humbling.
The on-site museum houses an excellent collection of artifacts from the ancient city of Akragas, including pottery, coins and sculpture. For travellers interested in ancient history, this is one of the most rewarding stops in all of Italy.
Syracuse and the Island of Ortigia
Syracuse and Ortigia belong on a Sicily itinerary because they show the island’s ancient Greek power and relaxed seaside charm in one stop. Travellers can move from archaeological theatres to limestone lanes, baroque piazzas and harbour views without losing the thread of Sicily’s layered history.
Syracuse was once the most powerful city in the Greek world, home to Archimedes and a rival to Athens itself. Today, the archaeological park contains a vast Greek theatre carved into the hillside, a Roman amphitheatre and the Ear of Dionysius, a limestone cave with extraordinary acoustics that Caravaggio reportedly named.
Connected by bridge, the island of Ortigia forms the historic heart of Syracuse. Its narrow streets wind between golden limestone buildings, opening onto sudden piazzas and waterfront views. The Cathedral of Syracuse is built directly into the columns of an ancient Greek temple to Athena, and you can still see the original Doric columns embedded in the baroque facade. It is a perfect metaphor for Sicily itself: layers upon layers of civilization, each adding something beautiful.
The Ortigia market is smaller and calmer than Palermo’s but equally rewarding. Fresh sea urchin, local cheeses, pistachios from nearby Bronte and blood oranges from the Catania plain are among the seasonal highlights. Lunch at a seafood restaurant overlooking the harbour is a wonderful way to experience the island’s pace.
Noto: The Baroque Masterpiece
Noto is a standout Sicily attraction for travellers who love architecture, photography and graceful town walks. Its honey-coloured baroque churches and palaces were rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, creating a remarkably unified UNESCO-listed streetscape that feels calm, elegant and easy to explore.
Noto is a small town with an outsized reputation. After a devastating earthquake in 1693, the entire city was rebuilt in a unified late-baroque style using local golden limestone. The result is one of the most architecturally harmonious towns in Europe, earning UNESCO World Heritage status as part of the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the main street, is lined with churches, palaces and balconies decorated with carved figures, cherubs and mythological creatures. The Cathedral of San Nicolo sits at the top of a grand staircase, and in the late afternoon light, the entire facade glows a warm honey colour that photographers adore.
Noto is also famous for its granita and gelato. A stop at Caffe Sicilia, one of the most celebrated pastry shops in Italy, is practically required. The pistachio granita alone is worth the visit.
Catania: At the Foot of Etna
Catania is one of the best things to do in Sicily for travellers who want a working city shaped by Mount Etna. Its lava-stone baroque buildings, fish market and long Via Etnea offer a vivid sense of how volcanic power and urban life meet on the island’s eastern coast.
Catania is Sicily’s second-largest city and one of its most energetic. Built and rebuilt from black volcanic stone after multiple eruptions and earthquakes, the city has a dramatic look unlike anywhere else in Italy. The baroque centre, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features dark lava-stone buildings accented with white limestone details.
The fish market at Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto is one of the most vivid in the Mediterranean. Swordfish, tuna, octopus and shellfish are laid out on ice while vendors negotiate with restaurant owners and home cooks. Even if you do not buy anything, the atmosphere is pure theatre.
Via Etnea, the main shopping street, runs in a straight line from the Piazza del Duomo toward Mount Etna, framing the volcano at the end of the boulevard. It is a reminder that Catania lives in constant, comfortable coexistence with one of the most powerful natural forces on earth.
See the full Southern Italy itinerary and discover how Approach Tours brings you to these incredible places with everything included.
How Do Sicily Tour Highlights Compare?
| Highlight | Best for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Etna | Nature, wine and dramatic views | Shows the volcanic force that shapes eastern Sicily. |
| Taormina | Scenery and ancient theatre | Pairs Greek history with one of Italy’s most beautiful coastal settings. |
| Palermo | Food and culture | Turns Sicily’s mixed heritage into markets, mosaics and unforgettable flavours. |
| Valley of the Temples | Ancient history | Offers one of the clearest views of Greek civilization outside Greece. |
| Syracuse and Ortigia | Archaeology and waterfront walks | Combines classical sites with a compact, atmospheric old town. |
| Noto and Catania | Baroque towns and daily life | Reveals Sicily’s architectural beauty and volcanic character. |
What Makes a Group Tour the Best Way to See Sicily?
A group tour is often the easiest way to see Sicily because it solves the island’s biggest travel challenges: driving distances, hill towns, busy markets, site tickets, restaurant planning and hotel changes. Approach Tours adds a Canadian Group Guru, local guides, comfortable coach transfers and all-inclusive pricing.
Sicily is wonderful but not always easy to navigate independently. Roads can be narrow and winding, signage is sometimes inconsistent and distances between sites can be deceiving on a map. A group tour removes all of that friction and lets you focus on the experience.
On Approach Tours’ southern Italy itinerary, the support is practical from the first day:
- Flights from major Canadian gateways are included in the transparent tour price.
- Door-to-door airport service is included within 100 kilometres of eligible gateways.
- Hotels, meals, excursions, tips and entrance fees are planned in advance.
- A Canadian Group Guru supports group cohesion and on-tour communication.
- Local guides provide the destination expertise in Sicily’s museums, markets and historic sites.
With Approach Tours, every transfer between cities is handled by comfortable coach, every hotel is 4-star quality and every meal is included. Your Group Guru travels with you throughout the tour, while expert local guides bring each destination to life with stories, history and insider knowledge that no guidebook can match.
Groups of no more than 30 travellers mean you get a social experience without feeling like part of a crowd. The pace is designed for comfort, with well-chosen seasons that avoid extreme heat and peak tourist congestion.
For Canadian travellers, the door-to-door airport service means the trip begins at your front door, and the all-inclusive pricing means every flight, hotel, meal, excursion and tip is covered in one transparent price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need to see the best of Sicily?
A well-planned group tour covers Sicily’s highlights in 7 to 10 days as part of a broader southern Italy itinerary. The Approach Tours Sicily, Calabria and Apulia tour spans the full experience over a comfortable pace, giving you enough time at each site without rushing.
Is Sicily safe for senior travellers?
Sicily is very safe for tourists. Petty theft can occur in busy markets, as in any major European destination, but violent crime directed at travellers is extremely rare. On a group tour, your Group Guru and local guides handle navigation and logistics, and you travel in a comfortable, supported group environment. Approach Tours also includes $5 million emergency medical insurance through Manulife with every tour.
What is the best time of year to visit Sicily?
Spring (April to early June) and autumn (September to October) offer the most pleasant weather, with warm temperatures, minimal rain and fewer crowds. Summer can be hot, particularly inland. Read the full best time to visit Sicily guide for a detailed seasonal breakdown.
How much does a Sicily tour cost from Canada?
The Approach Tours Sicily, Calabria and Apulia tour is $10,595 CAD per person in double occupancy. This includes flights from major Canadian gateways, all hotels, every meal, excursions, tips and door-to-door airport service. Read the full Sicily trip cost breakdown for a detailed comparison with independent travel.
What food should I try in Sicily?
Arancini (fried rice balls), pasta alla norma (with eggplant and ricotta salata), cannoli, granita with brioche, panelle (chickpea fritters), fresh seafood and pistachio everything from the town of Bronte. Sicilian cuisine reflects Arab, Greek, Norman and Spanish influences, and the island’s fertile volcanic soil produces extraordinary ingredients. On a group tour, all meals are included, so you get to taste the full range of Sicilian cooking.
Start Planning Your Sicily Adventure
For travellers searching for the best things to do in Sicily, the real reward is how varied the island feels from day to day. One morning can begin among temple columns, the next in a fish market or vineyard, and the next on a road curling beneath Mount Etna.
Sicily is one of those rare destinations that combines ancient history, dramatic natural landscapes, world-class food and a warm, welcoming culture in a single trip. From the summit of Mount Etna to the golden streets of Noto, from Palermo’s market stalls to the ancient temples of Agrigento, every day on the island reveals something extraordinary.
With Approach Tours, you experience all of it in comfort, with expert guides, handpicked hotels and the company of fellow Canadian travellers who share your curiosity. Every logistical detail is handled so you can simply be present and enjoy the moment.
Explore the full Sicily, Calabria and Apulia itinerary and request your spot today.
