Palermo or Catania? Sicily's two biggest cities offer completely different trips: one layered with Arab-Norman history and street food, the other shadowed by Mount Etna with a baroque skyline built from volcanic stone. Here's how we help our clients decide where to stay in Sicily, and whether your itinerary needs both.

Palermo does not ease you in. From the mosaics of the Palatine Chapel to the chaos of the Ballarò market, this guide covers the best things to do in Palermo, Sicily, the way we plan it for our own clients: cathedrals and chapels first, then the neighborhoods and markets that give the city its pulse, then Monreale as the finale it deserves.

Sicily is too rich and varied to experience in a single stop. From Mount Etna and Taormina in the east to Palermo’s markets, Noto’s Baroque beauty, and Agrigento’s ancient temples, this region-by-region guide helps you understand where to go, what to do, and how to slow down enough to experience the island well.