7-Day Sicily Itinerary: A Palermo-to-Catania Road Trip with Favignana
Most “7 day Sicily itinerary” posts run the same loop: Palermo, Cefalù, Syracuse, Taormina. This one is different because it’s based on an actual trip — ours took about nine days, not seven, so this is a tightened-up version of that route rather than a claim that we did it in exactly a week. If you have more time, the “If You Have More Time” section below shows how to stretch it further.
Who this is for: first-time visitors comfortable driving on narrow coastal roads, who want a real road trip rather than a hotel-hopping tour — including one genuinely offbeat stop (an island you get to by boat) that most Sicily itineraries skip entirely.
The Route at a Glance
| Day | Base | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palermo | Arrive, pick up rental car, old town |
| 2 | Trapani | Drive from Palermo, salt pans, old town |
| 3 | Favignana | Ferry from Trapani, bike the island, overnight |
| 4 | Agrigento | Ferry back, drive via the coast (Scala dei Turchi) |
| 5 | Agrigento → Catania | Valley of the Temples, drive on |
| 6 | Taormina (day trip) | From Catania, old town and viewpoints |
| 7 | Depart | Fly out of Catania |
Before You Go
The car: pick up your rental in Palermo — this route needs one, since Trapani, Favignana’s ferry terminal, and Agrigento aren’t practically connected by public transport on a one-week timeline. Expect roughly €25–60/day plus fuel (around €1.70/liter as of this writing). If your flights allow it, fly into Palermo and out of Catania (or the reverse) instead of looping back — most companies charge a one-way drop fee, but it usually beats losing a half-day driving back across the island.
The ferry: Trapani to Favignana runs year-round with more than 20 sailings a day between roughly 6:30am and 9pm. Hydrofoils (the faster option, run by Liberty Lines) take about 30–40 minutes; slower conventional ferries take closer to an hour or more. One-way foot-passenger fares start around €10–12, though prices vary by operator and season — check current schedules before you go, since they shift seasonally.
Don’t take the car to Favignana: during peak season (roughly June–September) the island restricts vehicle access for non-residents anyway, and even outside that window it’s not worth it. Park the rental near the port in Trapani and go over on foot — bike and e-bike rental is the normal way to get around Favignana, which is small (about 19 sq km) with narrow roads and limited parking near the best beaches.
Driving notes: historic centers in Palermo, Trapani, and Taormina have restricted traffic zones (ZTL) — park outside and walk in rather than risking a fine. Coastal and interior roads can be narrow and winding; local driving is assertive (tailgating and frequent passing are normal here).
Best time to go: June and September give you warm weather with noticeably thinner crowds and lower prices than the July–August peak.
Day 1: Arrive in Palermo
Pick up your rental car and spend the rest of the day in Palermo’s old town: the Ballarò and Vucciria markets, Palermo Cathedral, and the Norman Palace if you have the energy after a travel day.
Day 2: Palermo to Trapani
The drive is about 110 km and takes roughly 1–2 hours depending on route. Before settling in, stop at the Saline di Trapani (Trapani salt pans) just outside town — working salt flats with old windmills, one of the more distinctive landscapes in western Sicily. Spend the evening in Trapani’s compact old town.
Day 3: Ferry to Favignana
Catch a morning hydrofoil from Trapani (about 30–40 minutes) and rent a bike as soon as you arrive — it’s genuinely the best way to see the island. Spend the day working your way around the coastline; Cala Rossa is the beach every guide points to first, with striking turquoise water against pale rock. Stay overnight on the island rather than rushing back — one full day barely covers it, and the pace slows down noticeably once the day-trip crowds leave on the afternoon ferries.
Day 4: Back to Trapani, on to Agrigento
Take a morning ferry back to Trapani, collect your car, and drive south along the SS115 toward Agrigento — about 177 km, roughly 2.5–3 hours with stops. It’s a genuinely scenic drive; if you have time, Scala dei Turchi (a striking white limestone cliff formation) is a worthwhile detour for photos or a quick swim before you arrive.
Day 5: Valley of the Temples, Then Toward Catania
Spend the morning at the Valley of the Temples, one of the best-preserved clusters of Greek temples outside Greece itself. As of this writing, the full ticket is €14 (reduced €7), with hours generally 8:30am–8pm (extended later in summer) — check current pricing before you go, since these do change. In the afternoon, drive on toward Catania — about 210 km via the SS640 and A19, roughly 2.5 hours, passing through Sicily’s interior and the volcanic foothills near Etna along the way.
Day 6: Taormina, for the Day
Taormina is about 69 km and roughly 1 hour 15 minutes from Catania. It’s an easy day trip: Corso Umberto for the main strolling street, the Greek Theatre for panoramic views over the coast and Etna, and Piazza IX Aprile for the classic lookout. One honest heads-up: Taormina draws heavy day-tripper crowds, especially on weekends — our own visit landed on a Saturday and it was busy enough that arriving early (or picking a weekday, if your schedule allows it) makes a real difference. If you want to add a beach afternoon here, here’s our full guide to Taormina’s beaches.
Day 7: Depart From Catania
Return your rental car and fly out.
If You Have More Time
Our own trip ran closer to nine days and included more time traveling around Sicily than this streamlined route allows. Mount Etna and Syracuse aren’t places Kelly and Kevin have confirmed visiting themselves — they’re simply the two most natural nearby additions on this specific route if you have the extra days: consider a full day for a guided Mount Etna hike or jeep tour (based from Catania or Taormina), or a stop in Syracuse (Ortigia’s old town and the Neapolis Archaeological Park) between Agrigento and Catania rather than driving straight through.
Quick Packing/Practical Recap
Water shoes (useful on both Favignana’s rockier coves and Taormina’s pebble beaches if you add a beach stop there), a day pack for Favignana’s bike ride, a portable charger for long driving/sightseeing days, and travel insurance that covers activities like ferry crossings and volcano hikes if you add the Etna day.
