When to go to Sicily
Sicily is on average the warmest region of Italy, but don’t worry! It depends on which area and in which season you travel. Even in summertime (which is the hottest), the heat is rarely overbearing and most of the cities are airy and modern buildings air-conditioned. Avoid staying under the sun in the middle of the day and take advantage of the shade at any possibility. Taking precautions and being sensible (follow the advice of the locals too), you are left to enjoy your Sicilian holiday without hassle or discomfort!
| GEN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAG | GIU | LUG | AGO | SET | OTT | NOV | DIC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 10 |
| Max | 14 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 23 | 19 | 16 |
Spring is a brilliant time to visit Sicily.
If you come to Sicily especially for the culture, the best period to visit cities and archaeological sites is from the mid-April through mid-June (as well as the autumn) as it’s cooler and nature and her colours are intense so imagine what vibrant and picturesque photos you will take back with you!
During this period, we find countless different varies of flowers and deep green fields, in contrast to the summer when parts of the landscape become dusty and dry.
Spring is also the best period to taste diary products and the very first best fruits of the season due to the warm Sicilian sun.
Temperatures vary depending if you are on the coast, in the countryside or in the mountains.
Normally Sicilians start going to the beaches around the middle of May because before then the water can be pretty cold. Short spells of rain can be expected but certainly not enough to affect your vacation and we recommend bringing warmer clothing for the evenings.
Summer is the perfect period to live a typical Sicilian beach holiday but due to high temperatures, long and tiring or physical days excursions are not recommended, especially during the hottest part of the day. Locals have the best and most pleasant solution: going to the beach until around midday and after 16:00, often resting and lunching al fresco in their gardens, in the coolness of their homes or local restaurants.
Evenings are very pleasant as we enjoy lower temperatures and locals take advantage to take a stroll and gelato. In some localities, especially those close to the sea, temperatures can drop dramatically so we strongly suggest bringing a light jacket or similar.
Summer offers exceptional seasonal fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, zucchinis, watermelons, peaches – the list goes on! All these, and more, will be frequent and welcomed ingredients to your table!
Autumn allows us to really explore and enjoy the cultural sites, as well as the seaside, until the end of October. Temperatures are warm enough to spend time on the beach during the day. If you are solitary and you love to explore without crowds, we suggest visiting Sicily during September and October. A further incentive is that during these months prices are generally lower. Autumn, as well as spring, is a fantastic period for real hardcore foodies particularly around the beginning of October when the fields have regained their grass, when we begin to produce dairy products once again and dishes produce a greater and more intense taste.
If we exclude the mountain areas, winter in Sicily is hardly ever harsh and even in the middle of the season on some of the warmer days; one can find oneself outside – al fresco! – basking in the winter sun.
There are many beautiful days that allow sports and other outdoor activities, such as trekking, horseback riding and rock climbing. This is also an amazing period for those who love photography and to sample the famous Sicilian citrus fruits, with their very unique and individual tastes!
If you love mountain and snow, we might advise a trip to the Etna mountain for a skiing adventure. Between January and March, the slopes are usually covered with snow and it is an unforgettable experience to ski along and down this seductive and enchanting volcano, skiing yet in high temperatures, all with the sapphire sea below you – quite something!
