If it is your first time to Sicily, get ready for an incredible experience!

The prospect of visiting Sicily for the first time will provoke a wide range of emotions. For some, traveling to a foreign land-especially one that doesn’t speak English – is so intimidating that any real enjoyment can only be realized with the help of a native to navigate through all the unfamiliar turf. For others, even those who don’t speak Italian, the opportunity to be immersed in an entirely new culture is part of the fun, and they look forward to feeling their way through each of the novelties that Italy throws at them.

Tipping

• Taxis: Government-regulated taxis are either white or yellow. Avoid taxis that are not metered and have no official signs. They are private cars that will charge you an expensive fee. Unlike in the U.S. where taxis are hailed on the street, in Sicily they are found at taxi stands or are called by telephone. All charges are listed on a price chart displayed inside the cab. Extra charges are in effect at night, for luggage service and phone booking. A 10% tip is expected but not mandatory.
• Restaurant tipping: Both il servizio (service charge/tip) and il coperto (cover charge for bread and water) are usually included in il conto (the bill). By Sicilian law the gratuity is included in the bill so extra tipping isn’t required. However, it is customary, especially if the service is good, to leave an additional gratuity between 5% and 10%.
• Hotel Tipping: Tipping in hotels is a customary practice. The service charge of 15% – 19% is already included in your bill. Other suggested tips include 50 euro cents per day to the chambermaid, 50 euro cents to the doorman for calling you a cab, and between 1 and 2 euros for the bellhop if he carries your bags to your room. The concierge expects about a 15% tip on his or her bill, as well as tips for any extra services. If you are staying at a 4- or 5-Star hotel these suggested amounts should be doubled.

Useful Knowledge:

• Shopping: Italian stores generally are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The siesta/pausa lunch break lasts until 4 p.m. Stores close for the day by 8 p.m.  Most stores are closed on Sunday.

• Café Culture: While enjoying an espresso at a table is always possible, the locals enjoy standing at the banco, or bar area.

• Hand Gestures and Loud Voices: Unlike in the U.S. of A., hand gestures and loud voices can be a way of expressing profound happiness.

Hotel Information:

• Hotels: When looking for a place to stay, remember that rates include taxes and service; the IVA (value-added tax, currently 10%) should be added to the total amount.

• Electrical: Not all hotel rooms provide hairdryers; if you bring your own, an adapter/transformer is a necessity. This will also be important for all other electrical devices, including laptop computers, because in Italy the voltage is different (220). Also, outlets have two round-pronged plugs, which is another reason an adapter plug is necessary.

Just the Basics:

• Sicily’s Time Zone: one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1). Sicily is generally six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States, aside from the rare instances affected by the Spring Forward/Fall Back clock-changing discrepancy when the difference is five hours.
• Country Code (for international calls to Italy): +39.
• Currency: Euro. Available in bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros; coins of 1 and 2 euros and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 euro cents.

• Official Language: Italian and Sicilian

• Flag: The Italian tricolor is green, white, and red, in three vertical bands, equal in dimension. The Sicilian flag shows a triskeles symbol (a figure of three legs arranged in rotational symmetry), and at its centre a Gorgoneion (depiction of the head of Medusa) and a pair of wings and three wheat ears.

• Religion: Roman Catholic is the main faith – 85% of native-born citizens are nominally Catholic. There are substantial Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim communities.
• Education: Sicily has statewide education system, with a five-year primary stage and an eight-year secondary stage.

Like other member countries of the European Union, Sicily uses the euro, symbolized by “€”. For the current conversion rate between your currency and the euro you can check a currency exchange Web site such as www.xe.com

ATM Cash Machines (bancomats) are everywhere in Sicily as they are in the United States. The Cirrus and Plus systems are the most widely available. Be aware that many Sicilian cash machines will not accept card with PIN codes, five numbers or longer so be sure to reset your PIN to a four numbers before you go. You may also have a problem accessing a savings account so be sure the ATM card(s) you are bringing are linked to checking accounts. You may also be able to use your credit card for a cash advance if it has a PIN code (fees will apply).

Many travelers wonder about bringing travelers checks with them and it simply isn’t a good idea anymore. You’ll pay a fee for the checks at home, will need to find a bank (banks are usually open for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the afternoon on week days) when it is open, wait in line and pay another service fee when receiving euros.

Credit cards are widely accepted throughout Sicily. Visa and MasterCard are more commonly accepted so if you’re bringing an American Express card, be sure to bring a Visa/MasterCard as well. Many credit card companies (Capitol One is an exception) are now charging a transaction fees for international purchases. Be sure to check with your credit card company before leaving home. Finally, cash is king in Sicily. Sicilian merchants hate paying service fees on credit card transactions and will often give you a discount (sconto) for paying cash. Of course, they also like to hide their earning from the tax authorities too, but that’s a whole other story.

Shopkeepers are also open to giving discounts if you are buying multiple items. Don’t be afraid to ask for a sconto!

When staying overnight in Sicily, certain cities have a tourist tax.

This Sicily City tax must be paid by the PASSENGER directly to the hotel before the end of the stay.

Wireless access is prevalent in restaurants and hotels and most hotels no longer charge for you to use WiFi.

You can access it with your phone or laptop computer.

If you choose not to bring a device with you, most hotels make a desktop computer available for guests to use or have a business center available.

There are four airports in Sicily, two serving the east coast (Catania and Comiso airports) and the other two (Palermo and Trapani airports) – the west coast.

Palermo Falcone & Borsellino (PMO) and Catania Fontanarossa (CTA) are the biggest airports operating actively all the year round. Both become very busy in summer months.

Trapani Birgi (TPS) and especially Comiso Pio La Torre airport mostly serve low-cost airlines and seasonal flights.

There are ways to get to Sicily from mainland Italy or from Malta without flying.

These include long-distance buses from other regions in central (mainly Rome) and southern Italy, trains or ferries.

However, flying to one of the Sicily airports is probably the fastest, and arguably the most convenient way to arrive at your final destination.

If you are planning to explore the island and change your location at least two or three times it does not make much difference which airport to arrive.

You can even consider to arrive at one airport and depart from the other.

This is usually convenient and optimizes timing in case you want to move around and see more. Typically Palermo and Catania would be the preferred options.

Having a clear idea of what kind of a vacation you are planning to have, and what is your itinerary will make the choice of the airports easier. It is also possible to build an itinerary around your arrival and departure points, especially if your plans are not overwhelming.

Roughly speaking, Palermo airport is an optimal arrival point to reach destinations along the west coast between San Vito lo Capo and Cefalu. Corleone and the Madonie mountains would be on the same list, just a bit away from the coastline. Trapani airport is closer than any other one to Castellammare del Golfo, the Egadi islands including Favignana, Marsala, Erice, Segesta, Mazzara del Valo and Selinunte. The southern coast from Agrigento to Trapani itself is also within easy reach.

Catania airport serves best final destinations like Taormina, the Aeolian islands, Messina, Giardini Naxos, Acireale its coast, Etna, Siracuse and Noto, Caltanissetta. Comiso is optimal for Ragusa, Scicli, Modica and Licata, while Piazza Armerina and Caltagirone are similar travel distance from both Catania and Comiso airports. Agrigento, Tindari and Enna are equally convenient from Catania and Palermo airports with Agrigento and Tindari taking some 2 -2,5h drive. These are probably the farthest among popular locations on mainland Sicily. Agrigento is similar 2 – 2.5 h drive distance from Trapani and Comiso as well.

Sicily is an island and has 9 provinces (Palermo, Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Ragusa, Siracusa, Trapani), each with its own identity.

Landscapes, cuisine, and dialect differ greatly from one to the next, and each merits its own visit.

If your time is limited, you’ll be able to see Sicily’s highlights in a matter of days—but spending one week or more means you’ll get to explore multiple provinces and fall in love with the authentic Sicily.

If you have a few days in Sicily, it’s best to focus on one city, otherwise you’ll likely feel like you’re spreading yourself too thin!
In three or four days lodge in one city only and from here explore and enjoy the area.

The most important cities are Palermo — located on the west side — Taormina and Syracusa — both located on the east –.

In one week, you’ll be able to explore Sicily’s wonderful cultural cities, undoubtedly a highlight of any trip to the country. Palermo, Agrigento, Taormina and Syracusa attract the bulk of tourists and justifiably so—they harbor some of the world’s most impressive architecture and works of art.

Nine days will give you more time to explore what Sicily offers beyond the usual tourist destinations. You’ll be able to travel along the stunning Marsala, Erice, Ragusa, Modica and Noto, which offer some of Europe’s most enchanting scenery.

However, to experience Sicily at its best, you’ll need to factor in two weeks. That way, you’ll have enough time to discover a large part of the island and one (or perhaps both!) of its major islands, Lipari and Vulcano.

Treat yourself with the amazing Original Cannoli, a Sicilian speciality made of crispy dough and a creamy ricotta cheese filling.

A dessert now known and appreciated all over the world, a pillar of “Sicilian Culture“. We can safely say that visiting Sicily without eating cannoli is like not having visited it at all.

For those who do not know it (We doubt there is someone who does not know what we are talking about) the Sicilian cannoli is a dessert consisting of a crunchy fried wafer in lard, called “scorza (rind)“, filled with sheep’s ricotta cream with a sprinkling of chocolate or pistachio and candied fruit at both ends.