Palermo, Agrigento, Taormina, Catania, Syracuse & Mellieha
Embark on a delectable journey through southern Italy with our Flavors of Sicily and Malta food and wine tour. On this 12-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 and Maltese cities, like Palermo, Syracuse, and Valletta, to name a few. We’ll even visit Mt. Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano and UNESCO site!
Shorten Your Trip! Enjoy our 9-day Flavors of Sicily tour visiting Sicily’s highlights from Palermo to Syracuse.
Itinerary at a Glance
2025 Tour Itinerary:
- 3 nights in Palermo
- 3 nights in the Taormina Area
- 2 nights in Syracuse
- 3 nights in Mellieha (Malta)
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
- Sample Maltese Platters and drink on Valletta waterfront
- Valletta Walking Tour with local tastings
Your Tour Includes
- Ground transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Accommodations at first class hotels
- Porterage (1 bag per person)
- 17 Meals: 12 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners plus 8 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! Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will be greeted at the Catania airport and escorted to our hotel in Palermo, the capital city. Along the way, stop in Cefalu to walk around the coastal town and enjoy a cannoli tasting at a bakery. 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. Enjoy refreshing Sicilian gelato, which typically does not contain eggs or cream. 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 enjoy a guided tour of the winery and historic garden followed by a tasting of their wines. We'll return to our hotel to join together for a delicious dinner as we prepare for Malta the next day.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, we'll transfer by coach to Pozzallo and board the ferry to Valletta. The crossing takes approximately 1 hour and 45 mins. Once in Malta, we will arrive at our hotel and enjoy light Maltese platters and two cocktails at the scenic Valletta Waterfront at night.
Note: If the ferry is not available, we will fly from Catania Airport to Malta Airport.
Accommodations: Pergola Hotel & Spa or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Beginning at the main gates of Valletta is where the food and culture experience will begin. Valletta was built by the Knights of St. John after the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottomans in 1565. With over 320 monuments in a 2-mile radius, the Baroque capital of Malta was named the European Capital of Culture in 2018. The town offers a great mixture of history and contemporary liveliness. Walk through the back streets of Valletta, where we'll uncover secret spots and local delicacies one can only find in Malta. With hints from North Africa to the Mediterranean, this unique experience will leave your taste buds singing.
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a day at leisure or consider joining an optional tour to the Sister Island Gozo. Tonight, rejoin other travelers for a farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our tour comes to an end today after breakfast.
Meals: Breakfast
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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
Adenau Street, MLH2014, Il-Mellieħa, Malta
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.
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.
Day 11 Full-Day Tour
Gozo is Malta's rural sister island. It boasts quaint villages and little gems. The Island of Calypso is a 25 minute crossing from North Malta. Venture to the capital of Gozo for a walk through the village streets. Visit Ggantija Temples, built between 3600 and 3200 B.C, the Gozitans used to believe the temples were built by a race of giants. This is not surprising when you see the size of the limestone blocks used to construct the two temples.
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. Travelers are responsible for handling their luggage on the ferry rides to/from Malta. If the ferry is not available, we will fly to/from Malta.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.