Also take a look at my previous blog post showing my favourite photos from Sicily, as well as my video linked below of our holiday to give you more of a taste of what we got up to!
https://youtu.be/8byceyqVQHw
THINGS TO DO IN SICILY:
Mount Etna:
Naturally one of the best things to do in Sicily is visit the iconic Mount Etna volcano! We stayed in the popular town of Taormina where we could see the volcano in the distance from various points around the town. Due to being so close to the volcano, there were several tour options available in the town to visit the attraction. Something I'd like to add however is that many of these options were pretty pricey! If you are able to, I would recommend hiring a car to drive up the volcano yourself to make it cheaper. However we were unable to do this so therefore had to go on a tour. We chose the cheapest option which took us up to 2000 metres and included a trip to Alcantara Gorge too (see below).
For us, this was a great option as we wanted to go to both attractions! Going up to this point of the volcano entailed stopping at the main stop off point which included being able to wander round craters and along trails if you wanted to head up a bit further. There were also various restaurants and shops at this point, as well as train and quad bike tour options. If you are interested in going up to the top of the volcano, you would be looking at paying about £100 each which was included as a different tour option.
Mount Etna is a definite must see when in Sicily!
Alcantara Gorge:
Alcantara Gorge is a beautiful hidden gem in Sicily. We visited as part of our trip to Mount Etna so sadly didn't have a lot of time there! However we were able to see the gorge itself made of volcanic rock, as well as paddle in the freeeezing cold river, which was actually quite nice because it was about 35 degrees when we were there in August/September! There are gardens to wander round too, as well as water activities to get involved with. Or you can head a bit further away from the gorge downstream to find a quieter more relaxing spot to chill!
Taormina town centre:
Whether you decide to stay in Taormina or not, the town centre is beautiful to wander round! With various attractions such as the gardens and theatre as mentioned below, there is lots to see and do. The main street consists of shops and restaurants and is considered to be rather 'up market', but is filled with pretty buildings and balconies to admire. The main 'square' by the church was my favourite part of the town with views of Mount Etna and the sea, as well as an amazing atmosphere day and night!
If you are looking for somewhere to eat and drink in Taormina, the main square is the most expensive place to eat, however I highly recommend saving room for a crepe or waffle from the stall in the square (which I may have done most nights..) The main street is also pricey for food, so generally if you can find somewhere to eat down a side street or onwards from the square it can be cheaper!
Gardens:
The gardens are a tranquil place to head to for some shade and a peaceful walk! Filled with pretty plants and even some parrots.. the gardens are a lovely hidden corner of Taormina to visit.
Theatre:
The theatre is an old Greek theatre filled with history and striking views of both the theatre itself, Taormina and Mount Etna in the distance.
Isola Bella:
Isola Bella is a definite must see! It is a beautiful little island set in the sea that you are able to walk to through the water. The sea is a piercing blue and also very warm! The shore however is very crowded so bare this in mind if you are wanting to fight for a sunbathing spot!
Bus tour - Gardini Naxos:
We went on a hop on hop off bus tour for only ten euros! The tour provided headphones and you could listen in various different languages. It took us around the area of Gardini Naxos as well as Taormina, offering history and information about the area and the stop off points. A great cheap option if you're wanting to travel further afield than Taormina for a day!
WHERE TO STAY:
We stayed in Taormina which is the most popular destination to stay in Sicily. This is due to its close proximity to Mount Etna as well as the variety of things to see and do in the area, not forgetting the unmissable views all around! I would definitely recommend staying here if you are wanting things to do and Mount Etna is a priority for you. However, the only down side is that it is rather pricey. This may have just been the town rather than Sicily on the whole, so if you are not wanting to spend too much then perhaps staying elsewhere would be better for you. But as two students on a budget, we still coped and ate out every night!
We wanted to stay in a hotel with breakfast and a pool at a reasonable price and luckily that was what we found. There appeared to be few hotels in Taormina with pools or half board/all inclusive options, so this is something to bare in mind. However I would recommend our hotel if you are looking for a pool and to keep the costs down! But also, just look at the view we had for breakfast and by the pool!
Here is a link to the hotel:
https://www.presidenthotelsplendid.com/en/
TOP FOOD TIPS:
- You HAVE to try arancini! These are stuffed rice balls, coated in bread crumbs and fried. They are filled with various different fillings such as tomato, cheese and ham, as well as the classic Sicilian speciality: ragu, mozzarella and peas. We often had these as a snack for lunch!
- A sweet treat you need to try is cannoli! A little tube of Italian pastry filled with cream and other toppings, they are delicious!
- I have mentioned this before, but in Taormina at the square there is a waffle and crepe and you can not go home without having one, or two, or three..
- I'm not a huge ice cream lover, however the ice cream in Sicily was a dream! There are several ice cream shops around with numerous different flavours, so be sure to give some a try.
Overall Sicily is a stunning island and is honestly one of the best holidays I have been on! Whether you are a couple, a family, or group of friends, Taormina is a great place to stay with plenty of things to see, do and of course eat! So if you're unsure of where to book to go for your Summer holiday this year, take a look at what is on offer in Sicily!
Thank you for reading, and remember to take a look at my video on YouTube to see what I got up to in Sicily:
https://youtu.be/8byceyqVQHw
