5 days, 4 nights · Best for First-time visitors seeking Sicily's essential highlights in comfort
Meraviglia of Sicily from Palermo to Taormina Deluxe Mini Escorted Tour | Vacation Packages for 2025, 2026
Discover Palermo, Taormina and Sicily’s treasures as ancient ruins, seaside villages and breathtaking landscapes create an unforgettable island escape.
Your Adventure Starts Here
This is a starting point. Change the nights, choose the style of hotel, add the experiences you want. Your planner takes it from there.
Stop 1Palermo, Sicily
Palermo
Capital streets, temples and salt pan coasts
We hold two nights in Palermo, the island's frenetic capital where Arab domes meet Baroque facades and street vendors sell panelle from carts. Your first afternoon is free to settle in before the group gathers for a welcome cocktail and dinner of Sicilian antipasti, pasta alla Norma and cassata. On day two we travel west to Segesta, where a fifth-century BC Doric temple stands in open countryside, then climb to Erice, a medieval fortress town of cobbled lanes and views across to the Egadi Islands. The return route follows the coast past Trapani's historic salt pans, their windmills still turning in the afternoon light.
Arranged for you: Two nights premium four-star accommodation in central Palermo, welcome cocktail and group dinner, full-day excursion to Segesta, Erice and Trapani with English-speaking tour escort, breakfast daily.
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Palermo
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Private walking tour of Palermo's markets and monuments Day Trips · Half day
A local guide leads you through Ballarò market, the Palatine Chapel's golden mosaics and the Norman Palace's royal apartments.
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Street food tasting in the Vucciria Day Trips · Half day
Sample arancini, sfincione, pani ca' meusa and cannoli with a food writer who knows the vendors by name.
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Monreale Cathedral and Benedictine cloister Day Trips · Half day
Private transfer to the hilltop cathedral for its Byzantine mosaics and the cloister's carved columns, each one different.
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City Tours with Coffee and Tasting Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayExperience Palermo with all your senses; taste, sip, and stroll through the city’s vibrant streets and flavors.
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Puppet Theatre Shore Excursions · Tour in a DaySee Palermo’s most scenic landmarks, then step into Sicily’s storytelling tradition with a spellbinding Puppet Theatre performance.
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Walking Tour of Palermo Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayMeet Palermo at street level, 3 hours of bold architecture, layered history, and lively Sicilian energy.
Day by day in Palermo
Arrive in Palermo, the bustling capital of Sicily, and make your way to your centrally located hotel at your leisure. In the afternoon, meet your tour escort and fellow travelers for a warm welcome and an overview of your Sicily tour. Enjoy a refreshing welcome cocktail followed by a delicious group dinner featuring authentic Sicilian dishes. Overnight in Palermo, ready to begin your island adventure.
After a rich breakfast buffet, depart Palermo for Segesta, one of Sicily’s most impressive archaeological sites, home to a remarkably preserved Doric Temple and evocative Greek ruins. Continue to Erice, an enchanting medieval village perched on Mount Erice, known for its Phoenician and Norman remains and sweeping views. Enjoy free time for lunch and photos of the coastline, Trapani, and the Egadi Islands. In the afternoon, follow a panoramic route to Trapani, where you’ll admire the historic salt pans and traditional windmills along the coast. Return to Palermo in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.
Stop 2Taormina, Sicily
Taormina
Medieval terraces between Etna and the sea
We base two nights in Taormina, the medieval town that clings to a clifftop terrace above the Ionian Sea. The drive from Palermo crosses the island through Cefalù, where you walk the lanes to the Norman cathedral and the Arab wash-house cut into the rock, then continues into Nebrodi Park for lunch at a forest trattoria. The route east passes Randazzo and offers close views of Etna's black slopes and lava fields before you arrive in Taormina that evening.
Day four is yours to explore Corso Umberto's boutiques selling lace, coral jewelry and marzipan fruit, or ride the cable car down to the beach at Mazzarò. An optional excursion to Mount Etna (not included in the package price) takes you by four-wheel drive to 1,800 meters, where craters steam and the view stretches across the island to the sea. In the afternoon, walk up to the Greek theater, its stone seats framing Etna's cone and the bay far below.
Arranged for you: Two nights premium four-star accommodation in Taormina, full-day transfer via Cefalù and Nebrodi Park with lunch at Miraglia Forest, English-speaking tour escort, breakfast daily.
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Taormina
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Private wine tasting on Etna's north slope Day Trips · Half day
Visit a volcanic vineyard producing Nerello Mascalese and Carricante, taste four wines paired with local cheeses and cured meats.
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Cooking class in a Taormina kitchen Day Trips · Half day
Learn to roll busiate pasta and prepare involtini di pesce spada with a home cook, then sit down to the meal with local wine.
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Boat excursion to Isola Bella and the Grotta Azzurra Day Trips · Half day
A private skipper takes you along the coast to the nature reserve island, stopping for swimming and snorkeling in the clear water.
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Summit craters on Mount Etna Day Trips · Half day
Four-wheel drive to 2,900 meters with a volcanology guide, walk the rim of active craters and see fumaroles venting sulfur steam.
Day by day in Taormina
After breakfast, depart for Cefalù, a picturesque fishing village on Sicily’s northern coast. Stroll through the historic center, visit the impressive Norman Cathedral with its beautiful mosaics, and see the medieval wash-house carved into the rock. Continue into the lush landscapes of Nebrodi Park and stop for a characteristic lunch at Miraglia Forest, surrounded by nature. In the afternoon, travel via Cesarò and Randazzo, enjoying an unusual and striking perspective of Mount Etna. Arrive in Taormina in the evening, a medieval town dramatically set between Mount Etna and the sea, where you’ll enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
Enjoy breakfast, then take a leisurely morning in Taormina, sip a refreshing Sicilian granita, write postcards, or ride the cable car down to the beach. If you wish, join an optional excursion to Mount Etna (not included). Weather permitting, you’ll ascend to about 1,800 meters on Europe’s highest active volcano, where breathtaking views of the craters and the Ionian Sea await. In the afternoon, return to Taormina to wander Corso Umberto, lined with boutiques selling lace, ceramics, coral jewelry, and local delicacies, or visit the iconic Greek Theater on your own. In the evening, enjoy a festive farewell dinner with your travel companions and spend your final night in Taormina.
Day 5
Taormina
After breakfast, your Sicily travel itinerary comes to an end. Take a final look at Taormina’s stunning surroundings before departing on your onward journey. Leave Sicily with unforgettable memories of Palermo’s vibrant streets, Segesta’s ancient temple, Erice’s medieval charm, Cefalù’s seaside beauty, and the dramatic landscapes around Mount Etna.
Why plan with Trips 2 Italy?
Designed around you by Italian-born planners
Guides, drivers and boats for your party alone
Hand-selected hotels in every destination
Local English-speaking guides who know their city
Met at the airport, private transfers throughout
Testimonials
Hear from travelers who have planned Italy with us
They took the time to understand our preferences and designed an itinerary that was comfortable, personalized, and enjoyable. They offered thoughtful recommendations while never being pushy.
We missed our connecting flight in Munich. I had just got through customs and was looking up the number to call when Trips 2 Italy called me. They told me exactly what to do and they already knew what flight we had been rebooked on.
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Questions travelers ask
Which places are included in this vacation package?
Over 5 days this journey brings you to Cefalu', Erice, Mount Etna, Nebrodi Park, Palermo, Segesta, and Taormina. Each stop is woven into the itinerary with time for the landmarks, the views, and the local flavor that make it special.
Is transportation arranged for us?
Transportation is arranged as part of the itinerary, with comfortable train segments between the cities and vehicle transfers where they serve you best. Every connection is planned for you, so you can focus on the scenery instead of the logistics.
Who is this trip designed for?
It suits travelers who enjoy the ease of an escorted experience, with sightseeing arranged and a group to share it with.
Can the itinerary or hotels be adjusted?
Yes. Nothing here is fixed. Your travel consultant can add nights, change hotel categories, or swap experiences so the trip matches your wishes and your budget of time. A minimum of 2 travelers applies.
What time of year should we plan this vacation?
The package is available all year around on request. Late spring through early fall is prime time on the coast, with warm seas and long evenings, while April, May, September, and October pair gentle weather with quieter towns.