Palermo, Agrigento, Taormina, Catania & Syracuse
Embark on a delectable journey through southern Italy with our Flavors of Sicily food and wine tour. On this 9-day journey, we’ll savor a number of diverse dishes from several special cities, including panelle (chickpea fritters), crocche (fried mashed potatoes), and caponata e sfincione (thick pizza) in Palermo; traditional olive oil, cheeses, grilled meats, and cassata cakes in Agrigento; Bronte’s famous pistachios; and sipping on local wines in Syracuse and so much more! This tour doesn’t just stop at food – we’ll learn and explore the rich culture and history behind some of the most famous sites in Sicilian cities, like Palermo, Taormina, and Syracuse. We’ll even visit Mt. Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano and UNESCO site!
Extend Your Trip! Enjoy our 12-day Flavors of Sicily with Malta tour with three nights in Malta!
Itinerary at a Glance
2025 Tour Itinerary:
- 3 nights in Palermo
- 3 nights in the Taormina Area
- 2 nights in Syracuse
Tour Highlights
- Walking tour of Palermo with street food tastings
- Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
- Homemade lunch at rural farmhouse
- Learn about honey bees at Mt. Etna farmhouse with honey and olive oil tastings
- Bronte's Pistachios tasting
- Taormina Tour with Greek Theatre
- Cooking Class in Chef's private Catania home
- Ragusa and Noto guided tour with gelato tasting
- Traditional Sicilian cannoli tasting at pastry shop
- Syracuse & Ortiga guided tour
- Wine tasting at ancient castle
Your Tour Includes
- Ground transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Accommodations at first class hotels
- Porterage (1 bag per person)
- 12 Meals: 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners plus 6 additional tastings
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours and entry fees as per itinerary
- Experienced, English-speaking Tour Director
Note: Flights may not be available on all departures.
You may have to book your own flights to the tour destination. If so, you are responsible for making your own way to the tour starting point, where you will meet your Tour Director. This is normally the first hotel in your itinerary.
You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.
Welcome to Sicily! This evening, our Tour Director hosts a welcome dinner at an ancient palace overlooking Palermo's Cathedral.
Accommodations: Ucciardhome Hotel Palermo or similar
Meals: Dinner
After breakfast is a guided tour of Palermo. Palermo has been at the crossroads of civilizations for thousands of years and is famous for its history, culture and architecture. Visit UNESCO'S World Heritage Monreale Cathedral (admission included). Return to Palermo and experience the vibrancy of local foods and flavors at the historic Capo Market, which feels like and still has the influence of an Arab medina. As we make our way through the stalls, taste Sicilian staples like panelle (chickpea fritters), crocche (fried mash potatoes), and caponata e sfincione (thick pizza). The day continues with a tour of the ancient Old City and its incredible mix of architecture styles.
Meals: Breakfast
Today is at leisure. Consider joining an optional tour to Trapani & Erice with a visit to a famous pastry stop.
Meals: Breakfast
Today we travel inland towards Agrigento. First, we will have an excursion to the UNESCO site of the Valley of Temples, the largest and best preserved temple ruins outside of mainland Greece. Here we will walk and explore the well preserved archaeological remains of the Greek Temples. Continue to a rural farmhouse rich in authentic traditions and quality agricultural products. Enjoy a sampling lunch of homemade Sicilian food with local olive oil, cheese, grilled meat and cassata cake. Continue to Taormina where we will check into our hotel and have the evening at leisure.
Accommodations: Sant Alphio Garden Hotel & Spa or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we will visit the area around Mount Etna, Europe's tallest active volcano and UNESCO site. We'll visit the Silvestri craters where lava flows from previous eruptions, and then visit a farmhouse at the foot of Mount Etna with a tasting of homemade honey, olives, olive oil and wine. Learn about the fascinating world of bees from the beekeepers, with the possibility of assisting in the extraction of honey from the hive. Back in Taormina, we'll sample the pistachios that are often used in Sicilian cuisine, then enjoy a panoramic tour finished with a visit to the ancient Greek Theater, where we'll enjoy remarkable views of the city and countryside. The rest of the day is at leisure in Taormina to enjoy the delights of the city.
Meals: Breakfast
We'll start the morning with a guided visit to the historical food and fish market of Catania, Piscaria. Here we'll gather ingredients for a cooking class hosted in the private home of a Sicilian chef. Learn how to make some of the best traditional Sicilian street food specialties while sipping local wine. Discover the connections between recipes and Sicilian history and culture with storytelling by the chef.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
We'll make our way to Ragusa, a town of two faces: Ragusa Superiore, a busy working town with grid-pattern streets, and Ragusa Ibla, a protected UNESCO historic city center. The Ilba district is located above a hill and is filled with narrow alleys, bridges, and small streets with Sicilian Baroque architecture. Next, visit Noto, another example UNESCO town with beautiful Baroque architecture and an elegant walkway flanked by palazzos and churches. Throughout the day, we'll have the chance to try refreshing Sicilian gelato, which typically does not contain eggs or cream as well as enjoy a traditional Sicilian cannoli tasting. Afterward, we'll continue to our hotel in Syracuse for free time.
Accommodations: Grande Albergo Alfeo or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Step back in time to the glorious days of Grecian Sicily. Syracuse encapsulates Sicily's timeless beauty with ancient Greek ruins, citrus orchards, cafe tables on baroque piazzas and medieval streets leading down to the blue sea. Across the water is Ortygia, a beautiful island with beautiful streetscapes and attractive dining and shopping. In the afternoon, we will visit an ancient castle, which is a farm owned by the same family for over a century. Here we'll have a guided tour of the winery and historic garden followed by a tasting of their wines. Return to our hotel to join together for a farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our tour comes to an end today after breakfast.
Meals: Breakfast
Explore our Really Good Sale with up to 25% off! See the savings!
| | From $3,199 $2,880 or from $/mo | Book Now |
| | From $3,299 $2,970 or from $/mo | Book Now |
| | From $3,299 $2,805 or from $/mo | Book Now |
| | From $3,299 $2,970 or from $/mo | Book Now |
| | From $3,299 $2,970 or from $/mo | Book Now |
| | From $3,299 $2,805 or from $/mo | Book Now |
| | From $3,299 $2,805 or from $/mo | Book Now |
| | From $3,299 $2,970 or from $/mo | Book Now |
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern) at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone (1.800.337.7773) and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the time of reservation. Deposits are $300 per person. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.
Featured Accommodations
Via Enrico Albanese, 34, 90139 Palermo PA, Italy
Website
Viale Apollo Archegeta, 98035 Giardini Naxos ME
Website
Via Nino Bixio, 5 - 96100 Siracusa, Italy
Website
Pre- & Post- Night Stays
Slow the pace of your tour with a pre- and/or post-night stay so you can arrive refreshed, acclimate to the time zone if needed, and depart leisurely, ensuring a seamless transition into and out of your journey.
- From $119 per person based on double occupancy
Start our tour off on the right foot! Arrive a day early and enjoy more time to recover from travel, adjust to any time differences, and feel well-rested and relaxed on our first day of touring.
- From $129 per person based on double occupancy
Extend your stay by one night at the end of our tour to make the most of additional free time for exploring our final city, shopping for last-minute souvenirs, or dining at that restaurant you’ve been wanting to try. Or, use this extra day to relax before beginning the journey home or to your next destination.
Optional Tours
Enhance your trip with these optional tours. Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book when you reserve your trip and can be added to your reservation up to final payment. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour! Optional tours require a minimum number of participants. Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and may cost extra. The payment methods and currency information to purchase tours in-destination will be provided on final documentation.
Day 3 Full-Day Tour
Visit the old town of Trapani, an old-world coastal town. From Trapani, take a cable car linking to the medieval village of Erice, surrounded by a mighty wall. The town's panoramic location allows fantastic views of the surrounding landscape. Here you will stroll through the narrow streets of the picturesque historic district with its numerous historic buildings, small squares and landscaped inner courtyards. Don't miss out on a traditional almond pastry from the old bakery.
MUST BE PRE-BOOKED!
This tour must be pre-booked prior to final payment as it is not available to book in-destination.
What to Expect
Max Group Size: 30 travelers
Activity Level: Level 2
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature light hiking, and/or stairs on some hilly and/or uneven terrain. Learn More
Pacing Level: Moderate
Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect several early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 2+ nights (with limited 1-night stays). Learn More
New in 2025: ETIAS Visa Waiver Required for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Effective for travel in 2025, U.S. passport holders are required to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. Please visit our Passports & Visas page to learn more about any required actions, next steps, and additional costs.
Please note that the Mount Etna excursion is approximately 6,500 feet above sea level. Many of the cities and villages visited are on cobblestone and you will encounter hills, climbs and stairs.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit our Before You Depart section.
Reviews
Brenda C
2 months ago
I loved this tour so much! Sicily is a beautifully diverse island, and the tour was well curated. A perfect combination of food, historical city sites, food, charming small towns, food, UNESCO sites, and more food. Do yourself a favor and don't skip the optional tour to Trapani and Erice. The hotels were comfortable and well appointed. Each with their own distinct characteristics. Saving the best for last...what a treat to have Alessandro as our guide. The man is clearly passionate about Sicily and made every aspect of the tour an evocative experience. He's wicked smart, fun, and a pure joy to be around. He made us feel welcome and taken care of. A+ all the way around. Also, shout out to Antonio. Best bus driver ever!
I also did the Malta extension with an equally passionate guide. So much history, more food, and an amazing resort style hotel.
Kendall R
3 months ago
This was our second Smartours vacation and we loved our Flavors of Sicily trip - so many beautiful sights, such delicious food, great variety of interesting stops and generous samplings of local products and the key to any good tour, a top class tour guide. Alessandro was the BEST - knowledgeable, considerate and so good at creating the perfect atmosphere to build a "family" out of our group. Just fantastic to have someone with his depth of knowledge of the island's amazing history and culture. Just the right amount of guided visits and free time to explore and we were very grateful for Alessandro's advice on things to do and explore on our own. Felt like we got to see so much of Sicily and were able to relax and enjoy the spectacular views as our driver, Antonio, deftly negotiated the sometimes very challenging driving conditions. Great memories and looking forward to choosing another Smartours trip for next year.
Kevin D
7 months ago
Thank you again for another wonderful experience.
Charles L
7 months ago
I loved this tour. The pacing was manageable and all the cities and sights we visited were great.
A special mention about our tour director- Sara and our bus driver- Marco, they both made the tour very enjoyable. Very very special people. They truly are valuable members of the SmarTours team.
The only negative comment I have is the hotel in Palermo which was not up to standard as compared to other hotels I stayed at on this tour and other SmarTours.
