Sicily: Where to Stay, What to Eat & What to Do

Sicily, a small island off the coast of Italy with a big attitude and bigger reputation. Known for its ties to film and TV, from The Godfather to the more modern White Lotus, Sicily is a must-visit destination. Whether you're a culture vulture, crazy for Italian cuisine, or just want to bask in the sun and sea, pop Sicily top of your list. Here's a snapshot of where to stay, what to eat and what to do on a short Sicilian break. 

Sleep Somewhere Lovely

First up, you'll need somewhere lush to get your beauty rest. Like most destinations, Sicily has a great mix of budget-friendly to break-the-bank accommodation made for splurging. We stayed just outside Taormina in Giardini Naxos at the beautiful boutique Hotel Villa Daphne. We stayed in May just before high season kicked off and had the best of both worlds: cooler mornings perfect for breakfasting on the patio and balmy afternoons where we lounged beside the pool, ordering caipirinhas and toasted sarnies.

Eat with a View

When it comes to restaurants with a view, you'll be spoiled for choice in Sicily, but our favourite restaurant has to be La Cambusa on the beach in Giardini Naxos. We visited on two separate occasions, choosing to stroll to the restaurant in the mild evenings. Though it was always busy with customers, booking in the off-season wasn't necessary. I imagine you'd not get away with just turning up without a reservation at the height of summer, so bear this in mind when you visit. 

From delicious and filling pasta dishes to fresh seafood offerings, the menu offered an incredible range of options. The staff were attentive and friendly and nothing was ever any trouble. On our second visit, they even recognised us and made us feel right at home. 

Make Your Own Cannoli

We wanted a fun and unusual activity to break up the sightseeing (which was fabulous). Our hotel concierge helped us book onto a cannoli making class in Porta Messina, Taormina and we had a fantastic time. Our small group was given a demonstration by chef Stefano and then it was our turn to make cannoli and the filling. It was a great way to spend half the day: cultural and we left with yummy treats to take back to the hotel. 

Get Out on the Water

The best way to view Sicily is from a boat, hands down. We took an evening dolphin spotting tour and spent a couple of hours chasing dolphins in the Ionian Sea. It was also my birthday, so the captain, crew and everyone on board sang happy birthday to me and shared pizza and a couple bottles of Prosecco! Dolphin-spotting on your birthday? 10/10 recommend. Want to hear a lovely group of strangers singing happy birthday to me? Check out this Instagram carousel.

Pay Your Respects to The Godfather

Okay, confession time. Since I was a little girl, The Godfather has been one of my favourite film franchises. When my partner suggested Sicily for my birthday, the first thing I did was a Google deep dive to find out everything I could about The Godfather. We went on a day tour, visiting movie locations, learning secrets from the film, all guided by someone related to one of the original cast members. The tour takes you on some white knuckle switchback lanes where you feel you're precariously dangling on the edge of Sicily itself! All fans of the movie must go. Highlights of the tour included: Vitelli's Bar (where we met an actual Vitelli family member) and the church where Michael Corleone and Apollonia got married.

Wander Without an Itinerary

As much as I love doing a bit of research before a trip, I always leave time to wander and discover my destination without an itinerary. Our wandering took us through Taormina where we spotted some lovely street art, had the most incredible sandwich worth the 20-minute queue at La Focaccia and visited the Ancient Theatre of Taormina. 

Would I Go Back?

Yes, 100%. Before this trip, I'd only ever visited Milan on mainland Italy. Sicily's vibes felt different from mainland Italy. I'm a sucker for island life and breathtaking scenery and Sicily delivered on all fronts. Also, I want to say I wasn't gifted any element of this trip. No one asked me to review their establishment or include them on this blog. This trip is 100% authentic and is a snapshot of what we organically experienced, where we actually ate and stayed and what we did. 

Sicily Nibbles

When: May 2025
Where: Giardini Naxos, Sicily
Stayed: Hotel Villa Daphne
Best meal: La Cambusa
Don't miss: A dolphin boat tour
Perfect for: A birthday escape or a long weekend for two