I have read articles in the UK travel press by journalists who, overwhelmed by their own intrepidity, actually visited Sicily and came back alive! They described their holidays as if they had toured Palestine with an Israeli flag draped over their backpack. You are 27 times more likely to get murdered in America than in Sicily, so I think they are being rather ridiculous.
Meanwhile, all the self-serving websites that sell holidays tell you “Sicily is one of the safest holiday destinations in the world,” which may be a slight exaggeration. Its cities are among the safest in Europe, but you still don’t want to walk around being a total dummy.
What is Palermo really like for tourists? I’ve lived here 10 years and they still think I’m a tourist, so here it is from the horse’s mouth.
1. Managing money
DO always check your change. Many Sicilians will rip you off. Don’t take it personally – they do it to each other, too, even in supermarkets. Look at the digital till display instead of trusting what the cashier asks for.
DO take travellers’ cheques as a plan B. And don’t put them in the same wallet or pocket as your ATM card! When travelling abroad, I usually use ATMs to avoid carrying large sums of cash. Yet on many occasions, all Sicilian cash points have refused to give me money from my UK bank account for several days. Sometimes they imposed a tiny daily limit. When I phoned my UK bank, they said it was out of their control.
DO ask your hotel receptionist to keep spare cash in the hotel safe (put it in a sealed envelope) and only take out what you need each day.
2. Do many people in Sicily speak English?
I’ve been teaching them for ten years. I’ve tried, really I have.
But sorry, NO, you’ll be very lucky to find a Sicilian who speaks anything resembling good English. Bring a phrase book and practise sign language, because they’re great at that.
3. When is the best time of year to come?
DON’T come in August. Italy is closed in August. Hotels, restaurants, clinics and even hospital departments will be replaced by a “closed for August” sign.
Do come in May-June or September-October to enjoy sweat-free sightseeing and cancer-free sunbathing. Avoid the last week of May which is school outing season, unless you enjoy being surrounded by miniature hooligans using ice lollies as missiles.
You may get some fab winter sun, enjoying pavement cafes in December, but check the weather forecasts because some years it’s rainy and miserable.
4. Are there Public Toilets?
Nearly all Sicilian bars will let you use their toilet even if you are not a customer. All they require is that you ask politely for the key (behind the bar) and that you leave the place clean.
5. How dangerous is it to walk to walk the streets by day?
Is Sicily safe? To get a yardstick on this:
- You are 27 times more likely to get murdered in the USA and 4 times more likely to get raped (that’s official data).
- On the other hand, I would say in Sicily you are approximately 100 times more likely to get a market trader fiddling your change (I just invented that statistic myself).
- I can’t promise nobody will pick your pocket, but it is far less likely than in many European or American cities. (I am going on UN stats here.)
- There are no Mafia fights or shoot-outs in Sicily these days, the Mafia don’t engage in street crime and as a tourist you will not be able to detect them no matter how hard you look. They will not play a role in your holiday.
Sicily is one of the world’s safest places overall. This is based both on published crime statistics, and on the fact that I spent 13 years walking around semi-derelict side streets in central Palermo with a large map and my baby in a push-chair humming “God Save the Queen” to him, and the most dangerous thing that ever happened to us was when my spike heel got jammed between two cobblestones. Some poorer neighbourhoods in Palermo look like Aleppo after heavy bombing yet I have wandered about them alone many times – looking radiantly white and foreign in my flowery skirts – and always been fine.
Please relax, and enjoy a laid back family holiday.
- DO Take the same precautions you would take in other European cities. If you usually carry your valuables in a handbag on your shoulder at home, do the same in Sicily because you’re more likely to protect it instinctively when distracted. If you specially buy a money belt or sew secret cash pockets inside your underpants, you’ll get yourself in a muddle, and thieves will notice.
- DO Keep a COLOUR photocopy of your passport somewhere separate from the real thing, just in case the worst should happen.
- DON’T use the word “Mafia” in public in Sicily. As a foreigner you are in NO DANGER WHATSOEVER from organised crime and you have no need to talk about it. The M-word is something Sicilians have thrown at them by foreigners and other Italians whenever they leave Sicily – often causing them considerable upset – so the last thing they want is the same kind of stereotyping in their own home.
- There’s a neighbourhood in Palermo called Lo Zen (close to a touristy beach resort called Mondello) and you must not go there. You would suffer a fate far worse than getting your pocket picked.
6. Can you walk around at night?
Sicilian women would not walk around Palermo or other big Sicilian cities alone at night. They go out with their husband or boyfriend. For couples, or men, it’s as safe as any other town in Europe.
I think the main reason Sicilian women do not often go out alone is because of the family oriented culture, rather than because it is unsafe. The rate of sex crimes in Italy is one quarter of the rate in the USA, for example. Is that anything to do with the fact serious sex crimes carry a mandatory life sentence in Italy?
7. How can I avoid looking like a tourist?
You can’t. Some websites advise tourists to avoid flapping their street maps around. I’ve also read a “top tip” that you should buy a Sicilian newspaper, to look like a local.
Sicilians can tell you’re foreign no matter what you do, no matter how you dress, and no matter how far away you are. How they do it is a complete mystery to me.
The point is, it doesn’t matter. If you stand around gazing at a map and looking perplexed, some passer by will offer to accompany you to your destination, as an excuse to practise their English.
8. Do the men harass women?
In general, less than the men in other parts of Italy. We probably have the reputation of Sicilian fathers to thank for this! They are still Italians though – refer to my top tips on handling Italian men for specialist advice!
When Italian men pester you, it is almost always just that – irritation, not danger.
9. Any advice on clothing?
DO bring flat or clumpy wedge-heeled shoes. Sicilian towns are full of cobbled streets. I once got my heel jammed between a pair of cobbles while crossing the road, and had to unbuckle the ankle strap and run to the pavement barefoot while a line of cars shot towards me at terminal velocity.
Only bring natural fibres in summer. It’s humid as well as hot. If the label says anything other than cotton or viscose, don’t pack it. It does NOT cool down at night, so you won’t wear warmer things in the evening.
If you come in winter, you DO need jumpers and a coat. It’s not the tropics.
10. Skin protection
DO bring sun block from home. Sun screen in Italy is unbelievably expensive and often expired stock from abroad that doesn’t actually work.
DO buy insect repellent locally. They sell very effective organic repellent made from essential oils.
Do protect yourself from ticks. If you plan to go hiking in the undergrowth, you should be aware that Sicily has ticks which carry Mediterranean Spotted Fever and a few other nasty infections. Smother yourself in every toxic insecticide available.
Do bring antihistamine cream and painkillers. If you want to know how much they would cost you here, add a zero onto the price you would pay at home.
11. Car rental
Many areas in most cities in Sicily have “parking assistants” who will ask you for a euro when you park your car in a public street. This will be your only opportunity, as a tourist, to interact with the Mafia! If you refuse to pay this protection money, you may return to find your car has been broken into. If you find one area strangely free of parking attendants, beware. It will be designated a free-for-all zone where any petty criminal may steal anything he wants.
Some Mafia parking attendants ask for your car key, like valet parking, so they can shuffle cars around and let people out. Mua ha haaa! I’ve never left my car keys with a stranger in the street.
If the whole town is Mafia-free, though, with no illegal “posteggiatori” at all, you are safe to leave the car anywhere.
EDIT: In this post I originally recommended paying one euro to be safe, but a Palermo local shamed me, and said we should stand up to them. He photographs them instead. DO go and see his pictures of these scammers.
I have some German friends who pretend to be daft tourists who do not understand requests for money, and take a photo of the Mafia parking attendant so they can show the police if anything does happen to their car.
DON’T leave valuables in your car. Certainly not visible and preferably not in the boot either, unless you know you’re in a posh neighbourhood.
12. So what is dangerous in Sicily?
The drivers, of course. Look both ways each time you cross the road. Always expect the unexpected, whether you are on foot or driving a car. They sometimes go up the pavement you know.
+++++
If you are planning a trip to Sicily and have specific questions, write them in the comments box, and I promise to answer you.
The Dangerously Truthful Diary of a Sicilian Housewife 
My daughter is traveling to Sicily for an international dance festival .She is 14 years old traveling with other girls of same age and a few teachers.
I wanted to know how safe is it for young girls traveling in Sicily as it is not a compulsory trip can be avoided.
Any safety tips you can suggest .
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That sounds like a wonderful experience and I hope she has a great time! I can’t remember the official statistics, but Sicily is something like 23 times safer for teenage girls and women than the USA, for example, from the point of view of crimes specifically against women. Sicilians are extremely protective of all children and I think it is a very safe place for children to go. If she wears noticeable make-up or clothing designed to look sexy, and looks older than she is, she may get young men trying to flirt with her, but if she looks her age that would definitely not happen. In terms of having person items stolen, she just needs to be sensible, as she would be anywhere, and I assume she will be guided by the teachers.
I think she will have a great time, and that you have nothing to worry about.
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Thanks a ton for your input.
Really appreciate it.
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Hi, I’m a single mum travelling with a five year old girl to Catania for the vicinity… What are some safety tips specific to this you can advice please?
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Nothing in particular, it’s honestly very safe. Just apply the type of logic you would apply to any place, i.e. Stick to well trafficked areas after dark rather than empty alleys, hold her hand firmly when crossing the road, write “Mamma” and your mobile number on her arm just in case.
You’ll find Sicilians will probably want to spoil her by giving her sweets etc, or kissing her. This is culturally normal in Sicily so be tactful if you don’t want them to.
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Are we able to manage as we don’t speak Italian and we hate being done over!?
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I am sure you’ll manage, though even Sicilians sometimes get done over by other Sicilians so I don’t know a protection against that! Luckily it’s usually in trivial amounts, so use your common sense and try not to worry too much!
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My wife and I are planning a two week road trip around Sicily in early October 2018. We did a similar road trip around Portugal a couple of years ago and I was wondering if we should expect any surprises in Sicily? From what I read on your site, Sicily sounds like a great place to visit.
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It’s a lovely place to visit.
But what type of surprises do you have in mind?
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By surprises, I meant is a driving trip around the island safe? Are the roads in fair condition, well signed and are the small towns welcoming to visitors?
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Small towns are usually delightful, the signposting is mostly terrible and the condition of the roads is highly variable!
When Sicily gets rain it can be like a monsoon, and then the sun routinely melts the tarmac each summer which goes gooey then resets repeatedly, which means a road can develop a hole the size of a Fiat 500 virtually overnight.
Most of the time you will be fine, but discuss your planned route with locals whenever you get the chance so you can be forewarned and choose an alternative if necessary.
We drove all over Sicily all the time and it was almost always absolutely fine.
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Thank you for your comments. We’re looking forward to this road trip and it sounds like it will be one to remember.
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Hey Richard, how was your trip around the island? we are also planning to drive around but we are a bit nervous. Was everything ok with the car rentals and the roads? I would appreciate a short feedback!
VH thank you also for this lovely and informative post, it is very helpful:)
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Please let’s us know your favorite places in Sicily
Towns with views…. etc
Nice clean safe places
Girls trip
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Hi Andreea, our road trip around Sicily in October 2018 was fantastic. We started at the Palermo airport and picked up our rental car with no issue. I did go ahead and get an automatic transmission and full, no fault insurance, for peace of mind. A bit expensive, but oh well. We took about 10 days to go round the island, not going into the interior much. Trapani, Erice, Cabo San Vincent, Marsala, Agrigento, Ragusa, Syracuse, Taormina, Cefalu and then Palermo. We used local roads as well as toll highways. The local roads were mostly fine and with Google maps pretty easy to navigate. Just remember that Stop signs are more or less just yield/warning signs…if there’s no other cars a full stop isn’t necessary, and you’ll get honked at by locals behind you. The toll highways were very nice and not very crowded……as compared to the highways here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Overall, we fell in love with Sicily and would do another road trip visit. Have a great trip!
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Hi we are visiting Sicily end of July and I was wondering a few things:
– Any areas of Palermo that we shouldnt visit?
– Nice Restaurants you could recommend near Alcamo where we are staying
– Recommendations on vineyards to visit?
Thanks very much.
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Hello!
The only area Palermo to avoid is called Lo Zen. It’s fairly near a lovely and very posh beach resort, called Mondello, so just don’t plan on driving through the Zen to get there!
I can’t think of any specific restaurants in Alcamo, but it is near the sea so try asking the locals which restaurants specialise in fish. Make sure you choose one full of locals.
Vineyards! You know Sicilians don’t really do that visiting a vineyard thing, but in that region of Sicily you are in luck as you can go to Marsala and tour the marsala wine factory. Make sure you visit the traditional salt farms though, that’s beautiful and the number one thing to do in that area.
Have a lovely holiday!
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hello, so no issue with MAFIA unless you dill with theme right? so, it is better to park with them instead leave the car without paying, 2nd, we are religious, this is okay for sicilia residents?
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I always paid because I was scared of what might happen if I didn’t. It’s not a thing I am proud of, but I would say, to avoid stress, just pay them. But ONLY pay 1 euro and laugh if they ask for more. And take a photo of them.
I don’t understand your question about being religious? Of you mean that Sicilians are religious but they still pay this money, then yes, I would say there is religion, but there is also fear.
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Hi travelling to Cefalu today for 2weeks question on what to wear,have packed skirts and t shirts/ summer dresses for day wear but really sure for evening.Do people wear dresses in the evening or is it too cool or over dresses have put a few pairs of skinny pants in what do you think. Thanks
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Take layers. It’s likely to be very watm even in the evening, but you may want a light Cardigan with sleeves to fend off mosquitoes. And you never know if there will be a cooler day.
Have a lovely trip!
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Hi! I love your posts, they make fascinating reading. I’m looking at visiting Palermo by myself over the summer (I’m a 35 year old bloke), and was just after some advice on which is the best area to stay in the city so I can search for hotels in that area please. I’d like to be central, and reasonably close to the train station as I’ll be doing some exploring of the island by train. Any help would be appreciated!
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Anywhere near the centre is fine, really.
If your budget can stretch to it, the Grand Hotel et Des Palmes in Via Roma is absolutely gorgeous. Book early because it gets filled quite far in advance!
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Thank you!
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Hello,
Αwesome post for information.
Quickquestion, Am I having any safety issue (besides the other drivers) if I travel fro Brindisi to Catania at once to catch the ferry to Malta with a Motorbike?
I am asking for the Cisilian part of the root.
Thanks in advance 🙂
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I can’t think of any problems you might have. Sicilians use motorbikes so much that I think you are safer on a bike in Sicily than you would be in a lot of other places.
Just check ticket prices online because they are sometimes cheaper if you buy them in advance, and I think sometimes in summer they get fully booked.
Have a lovely trip!
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Hi Veronica
Just come across your post and thank you….. very informative and a very interesting read!!
I was hoping you could kindly give me some advice……
I very recently decided to pack up work etc and come to Sicilia on my own. I have decided to initially stay in Marsala, so I have booked an apartment for three months. It is my intention to travel to other areas of Sicilia, and maybe stay longer if I find somewhere I feel ‘at home’. I have never been to Sicily before, Io parlo un po d’italiano – and I really do mean ‘un po’ (but I am frantically studying every day, to try to learn more) and I do not know anyone here.
Unsurprisingly, I have found not many Sicilians speak any Inglese in Marsala, not even in the local shops.
So firstly, do you know the area of Marsala? if so, are there any cafes / restaurants you could recommend, where perhaps they speak a little English.
Secondly, do you know of any Italian language classes I could attend, and roughly what the cost is likely to be?
Finally, I am from London, so am used to living in and around a busy city. One of the attractions of coming Marsala was the peace and tranquility, and the fact it doesn’t seem like a ‘touristy’ area (I wanted to submerge myself into a Sicilian culture, spend time studying the language, but also concentrate on the childrens books I am writing). However, I am sure after a while I will miss some of the hustle and bustle of London, so although I want the beautiful Sicilian weather, culture etc, I would ideally like to be in a slightly busier area. I know my ‘wish list’ is rather extensive, but could you please recommend somewhere… slightly busier, easy access to a lovely sandy beach, cafes / restaurants / supermarkets within walking distance, where it would be safe to walk home alone in the early evening, and where I would meet at least some English speaking Sicilians.
Thank you again for your great posts, all the advice and information you give!
Grazie mille 🙂
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Hi – is public transportation (trains and buses) reliable in Sicily? We would like to tour the island during the first two weeks of July and would not want to rent a car.
Thank you!
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Yes it’s reliable and a great service, but there are a few areas that aren’t accessible by public transport, so plan your routes in advance!
Check this out
https://www.trip-tipp.com/sicily/trip/trenitalia.htm
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Have been in Sicily twice back in the 90’s all over the island by bus, train…and hitchhiking. People were very helpful driving us around and carrying our luggage even invited to stay over at the country house as long as me and my girlfriend wanted. But be careful, do not trust too easily. We got feed while staying alone at a country house and slept all day drugged by our host, lost complete memory for a few days and made our way out in the heat for miles until we found a train station. Kidnapping tourist for ransom from parents can happen, beware…Overwise Sicily is worth to see, the Ancient Architecture, many style period and the beaches are spectacular.
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Wow, that’s a scary story!
Glad you got away OK and enjoyed the rest of the trip.
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Hilariously usefull article!
I’m travelling to Catania this Friday (6am 😣) & staying for a night before moving on to Messina, then catching the hydrofoil to stromboli for a week.
I was wondering if you could advise on the best way to travel between Catania & Messina please?
Google maps isn’t very forthcoming with public transport details…
Thank you,
Kat.
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Oh dear, you’ve chosen the side of Sicily that I don’t know so well.
But first look at the Trenitalia website for times and prices.
Then rummage about the results of this Google search of coach companies and ticket agencies:
https://www.google.it/search?source=hp&ei=zUwxW67MMZLykgWs37L4DA&q=catania+messina+pullman&oq=catania+messina+pullman&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-hp.3..0i19l2j0i22i30i19l3.1919.7775..8092…0….127.1778.21j2……0….1…….3..0j41j46j46i131j0i131j0i22i30j0i22i10i30i19.u%2F5isJDeurM%3D
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Finally, the day came when I get to visit beautiful Sicily! I’m travelling with 2 friends of mine (3 women, we are 29) first week of August and I wonder if you had anything to recommend, in particular we are after fun and nightlife scene. We will of course do all the historical attractions, which are easy to find, especially with help of such great blogs like yours! Whereas the good atmosphere and ‘places to be’ are not that obvious to spot and not found in any guidebook. I mean not just touristy loud places but somewhere with good atmosphere where young locals go. We have a choice of staying: between Pachino and Syracuse; Taormina; Near Cefalu or near Palermo. I wonder which is best. Many thanks, Eliza
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If you want night life you need to stay in Cefalù or Taormina.
In Sicily, the “in” places change every summer so you need to find out where everyone is going ince you’re there.
In both of these places it will be easy to meet people and find things to do in the evening.
Have a fun trip!
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I appreciate that, thank you!
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Hi! My husband and I are planning to travel in Sicily in the next few weeks, around Milazzo area and some islands. I am pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy, hence allowed by my doctor to travel. But just to stay safe – could you suggest any good hospital centres closest to the coast I should be aware of? Any tips on requesting help? Anything specific I should know about medical care? I will of course have an insurance plan.
Thank you in advance
– D
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The main thing to know is that Sicilian hospitals look scarily awful, but the doctors are almost all amazingly good.
I would find out the main nearest hospital with an obstetrics department in each place you stay, just in case.
Sicilians are lovely to pregnant women. You will be very pampered.
Sicilians believe birth marks are caused by the mother having a food craving that she couldn’t satisfy. So if anyone is eating when they see a pregnant woman, they offer her some of their food, just in case.
It’s such a sweet custom and means you will be able to chat to everyone 😀
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Hi, my wife and I are from the United States and planning to visit my grandfathers birth place around Trapani in October and were curious of any recommendations you may have for hotels and restaurants and your overall opinion of the province and towns around Trapani. Thank you
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Trapani is lovely. You will find beautiful beaches and there’s a good chance the weather will still be warm enough to enjoy a swim.
I don’t know the hotels there, but your best bet is to look on booking.com which is what everyone in Europe uses these days and then check the reviews on TripAdvisor for up to date comments.
Trapani is pretty much a public transport free zone and hiring a car is essential.
Make sure you have a day at the salt works, and a day visiting Marsala and its famous winery. The salt works in Marsala are older than in Trapani and actually more beautiful. Also take a boat trip to the island of Mozia where there’s a huge city built by the Phoenicians, who founded the saltworks, vineyards using their own vines from Lebanon, and shipyard.
You will also manage some day trips to Palermo easily from there.
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I forgot to mention restaurants. They change hands or character in Sicily too fast to trust reviews, but you should be looking for places that specialise in fish! And look for ones with plenty of Sicilians un them. If the food isn’t tasty or good quality, word goes around fast.
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Thank you
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Hi, I am planning a trip to Terrasini next July with my then 5 year old. I am thinking about renting a villa in the hillside overlooking the sea, but I am becoming a bit fearful of snakes that might be lurking there on the hillsides. Can you tell me if you have seen many in the area? Also, how are the locals about having a 5 year old with us at restaurants?
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Sicilians adore children and will probably want to spoil your child rotten.
As for snakes, I’ve never seen a snake in Sicily or heard anyone mention seeing one. Are you sure there any snakes here? If you go out early enough in the morning you might manage to see a few tiny bright green lizards dashing about.
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Danielle, did you end up taking this trip? I want to travel to Terrasini with my 5 year old too but am a bit nervous. Any particulars you can provide about your trip would be helpful. Thank you!
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Hi ‘ Great article really enjoyed reading through your blog and all the comments ‘ next year will be my 5th time at Cefalu ‘ and never had any issues mentioned above ‘ Sicilians are really nice and very friendly and now its home from home making new friends along the way ‘ Scotland loves Sicily ‘ i would move there in a heartbeat ‘one day maybe
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Hi, really useful article, thanks! I’ll be in Sicily with my husband in October. We are staying in Palermo for five nights then hiring a car and driving to Scicli for four nights. Any special tips for Scicli and the drive there and back?
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That sounds like a lovely plan for a holiday. I am afraid my knowledge of road conditions in Sicily is a bit out of date, so ask your hotel people to advise you on what are currently the best roads to use. For a long time, the main road had a sectin that had collapsed and so you had to take a detour but that may be reopened now.
Have a lovely holiday!
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Dan you travel around Sicily by public transport? We don’t want the hassle of a car? Which cities are the most pedestrian friendly? We love to walk. Thanks
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All the cities are pedestrian friendly. It’s by far the best way to explore.
Getting from one city to the next is best done by coach, which is faster than train. Look online for “pullman” and the names of the cities you want to travel between to research your routes!
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Thank you for the wonderful site. I have a few questions mostly regarding safety, please:
1. are ATM machines still unreliable, as you wrote above in 2015?
2. I read elsewhere that some thieves would try to open the back door of your car, does that still happen? do they mean to just grab something in the back seat and leave? or else?
3. are taxi drivers unreliable with prices and change? do they run on the meter or do they propose a fixed price for a ride, as they do in Napoli?
4. is there more violent crime around, such as having a gun or knife pointed at you?
5. on a lighter note, do mosquitoes vanish in January, or do you still recommend a repellent?
Sorry for the negative questions, we are going in 3 weeks and I just want to understand what’s the situation really – I live in a city with a high crime rate in Latin America.
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Hello!
OK, in order….
I haven’t had any problems recently with ATMs. The Italian banking system is still a bit mad so personally I would take some travellers cheques for peace of mind.
I’ve never heard of the car thing. Violent physical crimes are remarkably rare in Sicily. My husband has heard of people sticking their hand in the open passenger window to grab a handbag off the front seat, but it is also rare – I’ve never heard of it happening.
Taxis are very expensive in Sicily, you agree a price before getting in and don’t even think about getting in if the driver seems hesitant to say his price. I would also make a point of making him repeat the price and telling him you have only just the right amount of money and no more. It’s always best to pre book via your hotel if possible, the ones who accost you at airports I would never trust.
Violent crime as I said is very rare. Just don’t be naive and duck down dark alleys!
January will be blissfully mosquito free!
Have a great holiday
😀
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Hello
This site is a wealth of knowledge. Thank you to all for your comments.
Would you happen to know where We can take photos with the beautiful Sicilian Decorated Carts.
Can we buy miniature carts in Palermo, Cefalu, San Vito Lo Capo or Teromina?
When visiting the Churches shall the women wear shoulder wraps?
Can we just go into the Churches or do we need tickets?
Thank you kindlyncod any help…… Ciao Patricia
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To see the carts…. It’s not easy to plan to see them as they tend to pop up unpredictably, but the ground floor of the Museo Guttuso art gallery in Bagheria near Palermo has a collection of antique ones.
You can find miniature models in all those places. There’s a big range of sizes and quality.
You don’t need tickets for churches but you should cover your arms to the elbow and lega to the knee out of respect. This isn’t strictly enforced the way it is in the Vatican – I used to keep a long scarf in my bag, it’s enough to put that around your shoulders to avoid getting critical remarks.
I hope you have a lovely holiday 😀
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Dear VH
Thank you so much for your reply regarding the carts and the Churches and the proper dressing for the Churches.
I’m sure I will have a few more questions before we leave.
Many thanks⚘⚘
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Hello
We will be driving to Teremni Imerse.
I will have my Grandfather’s birth certificate dated 1901 with me as he was Baptized there.
Is there any establishment there or office or tourist information that I can show them
So they can figure out what Church he was Baptized in, so I can visit that Church.
Thanks kindly.
Patficia
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Hello – my friend and I will be in Sicily next week. We arrive early afternoon in Palermo & are hoping to get in some beach time before meeting our tour group for dinner. Can you tell me about the beaches in Palermo? Any you would recommend, are they sandy or rocky, any tips?? I don’t think we’ll have time to get to Mondello. Also, we would love any restaurant recommendations in Palermo or Taormina. Thanks
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If you can’t reach Mondello or the other outlying areas, beaches aren’t really an option in the city. It’s one of the Mediterranean,s biggest ports, plied by cruise ships, ocean liners and the merchant navy from half the world – the water is not exactly peaceful.
I would recommend going to Via Maqueda instead, which is a lovely way to spend the time you have available
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Good to know. Thank you – how about beaches in Giardini-Naxos or Taormina? Our itinerary is packed but we’d like to make sure we experience the Mediterranean/Tyrehhean too. Also looking for a great restaurant experience in this area, if you have any suggestions. Thanks!
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Giardini Naxos is basically a massive and gorgeous beach with housing and restaurants added for your convenience.
Eat at fish or seafood restaurants there and you won’t be disappointed!
It’s honestly quite difficult to find a bad restaurant in Sicily. Look for ones with plenty of locals in them, ask what is their speciality, or the speciality of the region, and remember in Italy you need to order the vegetables separately because they don’t come automatically with the main meat or fish choice!
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Hi,
This site is a wealth of knowledge. Thank you to all for your comments and questions! I plan to go to Sicily at end of October, Will you please recommend airbnb? Is it safe to stay at airbnb? I am single lady travel by myself.
Thanks!
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It’s entirely unpredictable, I personally don’t use Air B&B because you seomtimes end up with dirty rooms. The people who run in centrally can only respond to complaints after the event, they don’t keep inspecting everywhere or the people who own the houses.
I always use Booking.com personally and stay in hotels for some extra privacy!
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Reading your very funny observations as I sit here in my Sicilian hotel room swatting mosquitos.
Wish I’d found it before leaving Sydney as I would have know to bring both insect repellent and sunscreen.
Still yet to visit Palermo, hopefully will have divested ourselves if the hire car by then.
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Just returned from a two week road around Sicily, Oct 1-13, and gotta say everything went well. The driving is good, with google maps we were never lost. And the roads a generally superior to ones I deal with in the San Francisco Bay Area daily. Just watch out for their parking rules, but those are easy to understand after a few days. A lovely place to drive around. We almost 800 miles. Not much by California standards, but for Sicily, it’s a trip around the island. I will do it again.
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In many tourism blogs and articles, the Sicily is considered to be more safer than many developed nation such as America, China etc. Native people are very polite and friendly to the outsiders and the place is much safer for woman. There are lots of facilities and spots to fulfil your requirement which will probably comes under the budget.
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Thank you. It is well written and was interesting to read.
My Goodness, this, along with a few other first-hand advisories, completely knocked out of me any desire to visit Sicily. And….as far as comparables offered by the UN, it is not the statistics which I would view as apples to apples. The number of tourists asaulted, robbed, or worst while visiting USA is negligeable from what I am able to gather (as compared to Southern Italy and parts of Spain). Sure there are dark alleys and skidish parts of down towns which one would be smart to avoid at night (whether you are a man or a woman). However, when I hear that Sicilian women do not go out at night alone, whether it is due to the established cultural/family traditions or unspoken rules, this tells me that the sight of a single woman alone at night isn’t a norm and this makes me uncomfortable. Combined with the published rates of petty crimes toward tourists and other unsettling situations reported by tourists (too often, in my opinion), as much as I would like to visit Sicily and Palermo in particular, I should pass.
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We are coming in Aug- is this mosquito season? any other tips for travel at this time?
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Yes that’s peak mosquito season. Make sure you have plenty of repellent!
It’s extremely hot so a fan is worthwhile to cool down. And always carry water with you to stay hydrated.
Consider bringing a sun hat so you don’t need to put sunscreen on your face all the time.
Have a lovely holiday!
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I will be traveling to Palermo and staying around Kalsa (seems I picked a not so good area, read it in another site). It’s my first solo trip and after reading this post I’m becoming very nervous. Not being able to go out at night, did it for me. I was expecting pickpocketers and beach thieves and so I was googling how to prepare for that, but I didn’t think I’d have to stay in my hotel at night (I love walking at night). do you know any apps or social gatherings for solo travelers to meet at night in Palermo? Also, is it common for supermarkets or restaurants to accept credit/debit cards? I suffer from dyscalculia, therefore, counting fast is very difficult for me 😦 cards will save me face, stress, and money 🙂
Thank you for writing up this post. I can be better prepared for things that never even crossed my mind!
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Kalsa is a good long walk from the interesting tourist centre of Palermo and some of the streets are likely to be devoid of pedestrians in the evenings.
If you can get as close to Via Maqueda as possible, you will be in Palermo’s very newly blossomed tourist and family nightlife area: but this I mean restaurants and late opening shops rather than pubs and nightclubs. I think it is the part of Palermo I would be comfortable to walk about alone in the evenings.
If it’s too late to change, then ask your hotel for advice on the best route for you to walk so you will be in busy, well lit streets.
More and more supermarkets do take debit cards nowadays, but in the centre you are likely to use the very small mini markets which probably still don’t. Dyscalculia is a real bummer of a problem when handling money, but my suggestion would be to change your cash early, use extra time to get familiar with the banknotes and 1 and 2 euro coins, and pay with these and not stress too much about the smaller change and coinage.
From time to time you will end up with loads of small coins, just pay for anything under two euros by offering a handful of these and make sure there are no euro coins in there. The people from whom you buy tickets into tourist attractions are usually honest so I would use these people to help you offloads accumulations of small change.
Lots of people have problems with foreign currency coinage, so don’t worry. You are probably more experienced at handling this than most other tourists!
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Thank you very much for your reply! I will be staying a few mins away from Museo Palazzo Mirto House. I spoke with the owner of the Airbnb home I will be renting and he said to stay away from the central station at night and be careful on the bus heading towards Monreale.
Dyscalculia really is horrible. I’ll get myself accustomed to the coins and keep your words!
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Great. Information for my first. Trip to Sicily. Grazius, thank you.
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I appreciate your site and advice. We will be visiting Sicily for 2 weeks in late early Oct. 2019. We’ll be picking up a car as we leave Palermo, then dropping it off when we get to Catania. 3 questions: 1) a car rental agency is suggesting an alfa romeo giuletta. Good rate. Nice car. The concern is since it’s a bit nicer than some of the fiats/Vws, does it stand out more to be robbed? 2) Getting mixed messages about theft insurance. Would you happen to know even if we pay in advance for theft, etc insurance, will the agencies insist on paying for their insurance when we pick the car up? 3) Do residents/natives get their cars broken into too?
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I don’t honestly know if car theft in Sicily is a common crime. I have never had a friend of acquaintance experience either their car being stolen or broken into during 15 years, so I suspect it’s not very common. People are careful not to leave nice cars in dodgy areas though.
The big issue is getting the car dented or scratched while driving, and this happens constantly! This means that if a car is a really nice one, and also free from dents, it does tend to attract the eye. You always assume they belong to a politician because they’re the only people who have nice cars.
In terms of the car being broken into to steal things out of it, I think that happens more based on whether people can see anything through the windows than on the type of car, so it’s important to always hide everything in the boot.
As far as insurance goes, I have never been able to fathom it. No matter what options you choose when booking, they always make you pay more for fully comprehensive cover when you collect the car. The price of getting a zero excess policy can run into the low hundreds.
I think the bottom line is, personally I would try to rent a very anonymous car, just because insurance claims on a holiday rental are the kind of hassle I really want to avoid.
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Thanks for your blog. I haven’t read such entertaining and informative travel advise in some time. well done! Also my wife and I were considering spending a month or two in Sicily could you recommend a region?
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Thank you! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying it!
If you go to ine region in Sicily, make it the south East. If you stay in Siracusa you will be by the sea, if you would prefer to be inland (which I recommend in winter) stay in Noto.
These are both stunning places and also ideal bases with loads to explore on day trips.
Have a lovely trip!
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hello, I am travelling to Palermo next week and will be travelling alone. As a female traveller I have been to many places in Italy in recent years often travelling on my own, this will be my first time to Sicily and have been reading various reviews on the areas. there are many conflicting reviews! can I ask, my hotel is central Palermo, is this a safe option or should I seek to stay in the outskirts and commute in? also I love to walk around exploring is this an ok thing to do around Sicily? are there any other areas other than Lo Zen to stay out of? also can I ask please what is the reasons Lo Zen is so bad?? I love travelling and exploring I naturally however want to make sure I am safe in doing so.. thank you so much!
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Palermo is very safe.
I would personally much prefer to stay in the centre than travel in and out. Which district are you staying in? Obviously some neighbourhoods are nicer than others.
Walking around sightseeing is pretty much what I spent years doing in Sicily in and I was always fine. There are small mountain villages where the locals stare at outsiders – there’s no menace, they’re just being typical country bumpkins!!
Lo Zen is the poorest area of Palermo with state funded housing and a terribly high cime rate.
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im staying here the theatre Massimo, I hope this is a good area! I do love Italy and hope my experience in Palermo will be as good as im expecting it to be. I will not have any reason to go near the Lo Zen area was curious about it however. I have a number of things on my agenda to go visit while im there and really looking forward to it!
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You’re in the perfect area!
Have a lovely time.
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what a wonderful blog you have !
i am a female solo traveler (will be in palermo for a week staying near the massimo theatre in june) and i am curious to explore the markets (vucciria, capo, ballaro) at night as i’ve read these become lively and fun places to meet people – if i were to check out these places alone at night, does it seem dangerous to you ?
thank you so much for your advice, insight and humor !
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If they are full of people then I don’t think these markets would be dangerous at all.
As far as I know they still clise at dusk, so I would double check if they really do keep open at night.
The main place to go shopping in Palermo in the evening is Via Maqueda, which is full of great restaurants and bars as well as fun shops that stay open in the evenings.
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This is hilarious and insightful, thankyou!!! Me and two teenagers will be staying in Campofelice do Rocella and hoping this is a nice place. I don’t dare drive in Palermo so will take the train but it sounds so scary crossing the road by the station. Should one get a taxi instead?
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That road is quite mad, but be brave! The trains are great and personally I would always choose a train over a taxi, which xan sometimes cost a fortune.
Have a great holiday!
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