Tour

Real Sicily | Classic | 2026
from USD 1575

Contiki Holidays

Tour Code: BBCPMA26
Vacation Type: Small Group
Brochure:
Duration: 8 Days
Country: Italy

Sicily - where have you been all our lives? We're taking you across this idyllic island, from the ancient streets of Catania to the mountainside charms of Taormina, where we'll enjoy some cooking classes and take a ride down Mt Etna. What's next? How about some more UNESCO heritage sites, some spectacular beaches, and a valley of ancient archaeological wonders? This one finishes on a high in Palermo, a colourful tumble of a city with some of the best food in Italy.



Real Sicily Trip Map

Dining Summary

  • 2 Dinner (D)
  • 7 Breakfast (B)

Faqs

  • London: What does a modular trip mean? A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
  • Rome: Can arrangements be made for travellers with accessibility needs? If you require arrangements to be made for your accessibility needs, please inform your Trip Manager as soon as possible. We try our best to contact all accommodations and secure ground floor rooms for easy wheelchair access.Please remember that Italy can be physically challenging to get around. Coaches can’t access historical centers, and there will be lots of walking (on roads that are often uneven and cobbled). Travellers with accessibility needs will find this trip challenging.
  • Madrid: Do the included meals have a set menu? Yep. Usually, we arrange a buffet for all your included meals. If you’d like a vegetarian option, please inform your Trip Manager beforehand, and they’ll sort it out for you.
  • Rome: When would be the best time to book tickets for museums and other attractions? This would depend on the museums & attractions you’re planning to visit. If you’d like to know the exact timings, please contact our 24x7 Helpline to access your day-to-day itineraries to check when you’ll have free time in each city.
  • Madrid: I need to refrigerate my medication. Can I do that on the coach? Of course! Just inform your Trip Manager if you need refrigeration on the coach. Please remember that the fridge is turned off overnight, so you’ll have to take your medication with you into your accommodation. We recommend that you bring a cooler bag with you as a backup. It’s your responsibility to store your medication with care.

Included Experience

  • Catania: Stroll around the ancient Sicilian port at the foot of Mount Etna. See the Piazza Stesicoro and the Baroque and Renaissance buildings of Via dei Crociferi.
  • Taormina: Greek and Roman ruins. Sun-drenched beaches. Epic Italian food. There’s so much to do in this seaside town, you’ll never want to leave. 
  • Noto: Float around this opulent Sicilian city, taking in the Baroque architecture and panoramic views as you go.
  • Agrigento: Explore the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO-listed site featuring some of the world's most treasured Greek art and architecture.

  • Mercure Catania Excelsior (or similar)
  • Villa Esperia (or similar)
  • Main Palace Hotel (or similar)
  • Panorama Palace Hotel (or similar)
  • Hotel La Giara (or similar)
  • Ibis Styles President (or similar)
Day 1 Start Catania

Welcome to Catania! This colourful cacophony of baroque piazzas and ancient ruins is the perfect place to get acquainted with Sicily. We'll have a chance to check out Catania's UNESCO listed historic core before an included dinner in a local restaurant. Is Sicilian cuisine the best in the world? It has to be up there...

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Mercure Catania Excelsior (or similar)

Day 2 Catania To Taormina

We've got more spectacular Sicilian towns to explore today, as we head from Catania to Taormina. Perched on a mountainside and serving peak Italian elegance, Taormina is all about la dolce vita. We’ll ride the cable car from the historic centre to its stunning beaches, soak up the sun, and live our best holiday lives. Feeling foodie? Opt for a cooking class with local pros and master Sicilian icons like arancini and cannoli.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Villa Esperia (or similar)

Day 3 Taormina

Today we've got an unmissable optional for you. Sicily’s stupendous stratovolcano Mt Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. And what better way to experience this majestic monster than on an adrenaline filled ride, as you pass vineyards and orchards spread across the fertile slopes? You won’t find views quite like this anywhere in Europe. Whether or not you opt for the tour, you'll have a free afternoon to explore Taormina - lazing on the beach, checking out the Roman theatre or sitting and drinking a spritz as life lazily moves by. It's a hard life.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Main Palace Hotel (or similar)

Day 4 Taormina To Syracuse Via Noto

See ya later, Taormina – it's time to visit some historical hotspots. We’ll have some free time to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Syracuse. Famed for its rich ancient Roman and Greek history, with ancient amphitheatres and architecture everywhere you look. Next stop: Noto, Sicily’s baroque beauty packed with stunning architecture and legendary landmarks like Corso Vittoria Emanuele. After soaking up the sights, we’re heading to an organic farm for a Tastes of Sicily experience - think farm-fresh flavours served straight to your plate.  And after a long but lovely day, it’s finally time to hit the hay.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Panorama Palace Hotel (or similar)

Day 5 Syracuse To Cefalù Via Valley Of The Temples

Heading from Syracuse we'll arrive in the Valley of the Temples, the perfect base to explore another ancient wonder... Leaving Italy without visiting the Valley of the Temples? Impossible. This mystical valley is a treasure trove of historical and archaeological heritage. We'll discover ancient temples, sanctuaries and a necropolis. Arriving in Cefalù we'll enjoy another included dinner of Sicilian delicacies.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hotel La Giara (or similar)

Day 6 Cefalù

Cefalù is a real gem, home to Sicily's best beaches and most impressive Arabic architecture. Today's all about coastal vibes, soaking up that sun, sea and sand — with plenty of water sports to get involved with. If you're feeling a little more zen, why not opt for the coastal cruise and soak up some scenery instead? Later on, we'll stroll the winding cobbled streets and watch fishermen taking stock of the day's bounties, before exploring the town's foodie and nightlife scene.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hotel La Giara (or similar)

Day 7 Cefalù To Palermo

It's time to end on a high, as we make our way towards Sicily's sizzling capital. Palermo’s a vibrant, colourful city with a food scene that’ll blow your mind. But it’s also got a complex history with the Mafia. Today, you’ll join a walking tour through the historic centre to hear the real story behind Palermo’s fight against organised crime and the rise of the anti-Mafia movement. Then, we’ll finish strong with a farewell dinner Al Fresco, at the ‘bistro of second chances’.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Ibis Styles President (or similar)

Day 8 End Palermo

Time to head home after one final breakfast together (sob). Hug it out, swap social details — and don't be sad. We'll see each other on the road again soon...

Duration: 1 Day

Departs On Returns On Single OccupancyTwin RoomTriple Room Definite Departure  
Sun, 10 May 2026 Sun, 17 May 2026 USD 2,095USD 1,650USD 1,575
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Sun, 07 Jun 2026 Sun, 14 Jun 2026 USD 2,195USD 1,725USD 1,650
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Wed, 24 Jun 2026 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 USD 2,190USD 1,725USD 1,639
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Sun, 12 Jul 2026 Sun, 19 Jul 2026 USD 2,350USD 1,875USD 1,795
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Wed, 22 Jul 2026 Wed, 29 Jul 2026 USD 2,350USD 1,875USD 1,795
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Sun, 06 Sep 2026 Sun, 13 Sep 2026 USD 2,295USD 1,825USD 1,750
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Sun, 13 Sep 2026 Sun, 20 Sep 2026 USD 2,295USD 1,850USD 1,750
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Wed, 23 Sep 2026 Wed, 30 Sep 2026 USD 2,280USD 1,825USD 1,734
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