Wander the streets of Baroque towns. Sun yourself on a beachfront terrace. Explore ancient Greek ruins. Sip an Aperol spritz in a lively piazza. Sicily offers an enticing mix of adventure and relaxation, along with some of the best food and wine you’ll find in Italy.

Sicily sees its biggest crowds in summer, so you can avoid tourist hordes and scorching heat by visiting in the fall. The weather and water usually remain warm into October. Let’s take a quick tour of this stunning island to help you plan your next trip!

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for Italy

1. Travel insurance can cover emergency medical care. Don’t expect Italian hospitals to accept your U.S. health insurance. Private hospitals require you to pay for services up front; and public hospitals won’t give you the itemized bill that many U.S. insurance companies require.¹ To save yourself from paying big medical bills out of pocket, you need to have travel insurance with emergency medical benefits.
2. Travel insurance can pay for medical emergency transportation, too. Imagine you’re hiking the rugged Aeolian Islands when you stumble and fall down a steep cliffside. What if you need to be evacuated by helicopter to the nearest hospital? Your emergency transportation benefits can cover the major costs of a medically necessary evacuation and your transportation home.
3. Travel insurance is invaluable protection in case of a natural disaster. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and wildfires all are recurring threats in Italy, including Sicily. If a natural disaster should disrupt your travel plans, trip interruption benefits can reimburse the cost to return early as well as your unused, non-refundable trip expenses.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for Italy

1. OneTrip Basic is a trusted pick for budget travelers. It includes up to $10,000 in emergency medical benefits and up to $50,000 in medical transportation benefits, plus trip cancellation/interruption benefits and more.
2. OneTrip Prime is our most popular plan for international travel. Plus, kids 17 and under are covered for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).
3. AllTrips Premier is a great buy for frequent travelers. Get protection for every trip you take in 365 days, so you can enjoy peace of mind.

Discover why more than 70 million American travelers each year trust Allianz Travel Insurance: Get a quote for your next trip.

3 of the best things to do in Sicily

1. Visit the Valley of the Temples. This UNESCO World Heritage site in Agrigento is home to breathtaking, ancient Greek temples and monuments. One, the Temple of Concordia, is the best preserved Doric temple in the world, next to the Parthenon.
2. Hike Mount Etna…or just admire it from afar. Europe’s tallest volcano is also one of the world’s most active. You may be able to visit the summit with a guided tour, but only if Etna is behaving.
3. Hop aboard the wine train. The volcanic soils of Sicily produce excellent wines, and the best way to experience a few is to get a ticket for the Etna Wine Train. This small train takes you around the mountain, and your ticket includes tours of two wineries and the historic village of Castiglione di Sicilia or Randazzo.

3 of the best hotels and resorts in Sicily

With stunning views of the Aeolian Islands and cerulean seas, Therasia Resort Sea & Spa is a magical place on the island of Vulcano. Therasia offers kayaking, hikes over volcanic terrain, spa services, two Michelin-starred restaurants, and more. Is it cheap? No. Is it so beautiful you’ll dream about it for years? Yes.

For a beachfront stay at a more reasonable price, try Hotel Rivage Taormina. This modest but charming hotel invites you to have coffee overlooking the sea or cocktails by the pool. Check out the neighboring beach club or take the bus to downtown Taormina.

Perhaps the hills are calling? Monaci delle Terre Nere is a stunning resort at the foot of Mount Etna. Wander the organic vineyards, olive groves, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. Stay in the historic villa built from lava stones, a cottage with a private pool, or a suite in the 18^th-century farmhouse.

3 of the best restaurants in Sicily

Sicily has its own distinctive cuisine that—thanks to Greek, Jewish, Arab, and northern African influences—tastes quite different from that found in other Italian regions. Seafood, vegetables, ricotta cheese and thin pasta are all key ingredients. Signature dishes include:

• Caponata, an appetizer of fried eggplant, olives, vinegar, tomatoes, and capers
• Panelle, fried chickpea fritters served on a roll
• Couscous alla Trapanese, couscous seasoned with saffron, cloves and cinnamon and served with a seafood broth
• Granita, a frozen dessert that’s like a coarse gelato

There’s no shortage of excellent restaurants in Sicily, but we’ll suggest three standouts. Ristorante Locanda Don Serafino occupies a vaulted cave in the old town of Ragusa Ibla. This Michelin-starred spot is known for its wine cellar and its Sicilian specialties, like black spaghetti with sea urchins, ricotta cheese and cuttlefish, or spaghetti with sea anemones and fennel.

At the small, family-run Trattoria La Pigna in Syracuse, the owner comes out and presents a tray of freshly caught fish. Ask any questions, decide what you’d like, and it’s yours.  This trattoria also serves delicious caponata and other antipasti.

Some people drive hours to the not-very-touristy town of Licata just to experience fine-dining spot Ristorante la Madia. “Chef Pino Cuttaia, who is demonstrably in love with his native island, highlights his ingredients in a simple and unfussy way,” says the Michelin Guide.² Expect exquisitely made tasting menus inspired by nostalgic memory, with dishes like cod smoked with pinecone and squid ravioli.

What do I need to travel to Sicily?

Related Articles

• Do I Need Travel Insurance for Italy?
• The Best Food & Wine Tours in Italy
• Tips for Renting a Car in Europe and Other Overseas Destinations