Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, renowned for its rich history, stunning coastlines, ancient Greek temples, and vibrant culinary traditions. A crossroads of civilizations for millennia, it bears the cultural imprints of Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spanish conquerors. Today Sicily enchants visitors with its baroque cities, volcanic landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and some of Italy's finest cuisine.
Local currency: Euro (€).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Sicily.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- €20–30/night (dorm bed)
- Budget
- €35–65/night (budget B&B or guesthouse)
- Midrange
- €70–130/night (3–4 star hotel or boutique B&B)
- Luxury
- €250–800+/night (5-star hotel or luxury resort)
Food
- Street
- €2–5 (arancino, panelle, sfincione, cannolo)
- Local
- €8–12 (pasta at a simple trattoria)
- Midrange
- €25–40 (two courses + wine at a mid-range restaurant)
- Fine
- €70–150+ (tasting menu at a top Sicilian restaurant)
Transport
- Bus
- €2–3 (local bus); €5–15 (intercity bus)
- Taxi
- €8–15 (city taxi ride)
- Airport
- €25–45 (taxi to Palermo centre); €20–30 (taxi to Catania centre)
- Daytrip
- €30–80 (organised day trip)
Activities
- Museum
- €5–10 (regional museums)
- Sites
- €10–15 (Valley of the Temples, Etna cable car)
- Tour
- €20–40 (guided tour of archaeological site)
- Excursion
- €40–80 (Etna guided hike or Aeolian Islands ferry day trip)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Sicily costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
€315–385 for 7 days
Midrange traveller
€770–980 for 7 days
Luxury traveller
€2,450–4,200+ for 7 days
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Visit Sicily in shoulder season (April–June or September–October) for 30–50% lower accommodation prices
Buy a combined ticket at Agrigento — Valley of the Temples + Archaeological Museum saves €5–8
Eat lunch at the fixed-price menù del giorno for €12–18 (two courses, wine, water) at most trattatorie
Travel intercity by bus rather than train — Interbus, SAIS, and FlixBus are often 40% cheaper than Trenitalia
Stay in agriturismo outside peak towns — often better value and more authentic than city hotels
Buy produce, cheese, and wine at local markets (Ballarò, Pescheria di Catania) for self-catering savings
Use the Trenitalia RegioPlus pass if doing multiple train journeys within Sicily
Book car rental well in advance online — on-the-day prices at Sicilian airports are significantly higher
Campsite stays near popular beaches (San Vito Lo Capo, Cefalù) offer significant savings in summer
Look for 'aperitivo' promotions in Catania and Palermo — €5–8 drink with free buffet food (5–8 PM)
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Palermo Historic Centre Walk
Wander the medieval streets of Ballarò, Capo, and the Arab-Norman churches — all free to enter (exterior)
Ragusa Ibla Stroll
Exploring the baroque lower town of Ragusa Ibla is completely free — simply walk and absorb the architecture
Noto Corso Vittorio Emanuele
Sicily's most beautiful baroque street is free to walk and photograph at any time
Scala dei Turchi
Sicily's famous white rock staircase and beach — no admission charge
Catania Fish Market (Pescheria)
The dramatic morning fish market beneath the baroque city walls is one of Sicily's greatest free spectacles
San Vito Lo Capo Beach
One of Italy's best beaches is completely free to access (public beach)
Palermo Markets (Ballarò, Capo, Vucciria)
Browse the extraordinary food markets of Palermo — free to enter, just avoid buying too much
Cefalù Waterfront
Walk the port, medieval streets, and seafront of Cefalù — all free except cathedral interior
Ortigia Island, Syracuse
Exploring the baroque streets of Ortigia island is free — the outdoor architecture is spectacular
Trapani Salt Flats Walk
Walk the path beside the ancient salt pans at sunset — the windmill and flamingo views are free from the road
First Sunday of Month — Free Museums
State-run museums and archaeological sites offer free admission on the first Sunday of each month