Rome is the top destination on the minds of almost all tourists going to Italy, and can you really blame them? It is, after all, the home of the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican City, and many more world-renowned landmarks.
If you’re a devoted Travel Off Course reader, nevertheless, you know by now Rome is simply the suggestion of the iceberg: Italy has so much more to offer, and if you’re looking beyond the most obvious hotspots, you can find the odd covert gem yet to be ruined by mass tourist.
That holds true with Sicily, which, believe it or not, is still mostly undiscovered, regardless of having featured heavily in the media lately. Italy’s largest island, lying just off the southwestern suggestion of the Italian boot, it’s packed full of completely maintained Baroque towns and golden-sand beaches hugged by turquoise seas– and if we may include, it’s also home to 3 of the nation’s trendiest locations today:
More Americans Flocking To These Sicilian Hotspots Than Ever Before
#According to the most recent figures published by ENIT, Italy’s National Tourist Company, Sicily was checked out by 2.9 million tourists in 2025 up until now this summer, a 2.4% growth over the previous high season.
The primary foreign markets continue to be France, with a market share of 25%, and Germany, contributing with 20 %, but the UK is coming hot on the heels of their European counterparts(15 %), and Americans are best behind them(10 %). When it pertains to Americans, the rise in visitors is credited to both Sicily’s increasing appeal throughout the pond– we have the White Lotus to thank for that– and the introduction of direct flights to the island, which have made it much easier for travelers to arrive from across the pond.
Sicily’s a huge island, though, so if you’re wondering where they’re going, these are the top 3 most-visited areas and why:
Catania
- Percentage of immigrant visitors: 30– 35%
- Average expense per day: $98– 110
- Typical period of stay: 4-5 nights
With a foreign visitor share of 30– 35%, Catania is the third best popular coastal vacation in Sicily: the island’s second-largest city, and a metropolitan zone over a million people call home, it is wedged between the thunderous Mount Etna and the Mediterranean Sea.
Via Etnea is Catania’s mother lode, and a hectic road lined with sophisticated structures and upscale trattorie atop roofs, and it leads directly to Piazza del Duomo, a pedestrianized square controlled by a Baroque cathedral.
If you’re here for the ancient culture, don’t lose out on Catania’s Roman Theater, going back to the second century advertisement, Castello Ursino, a moated citadel originally constructed on the coast, and now pressed inland, and the enforcing Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena, among the largest
in Europe. Trying to find the nearest beach instead? La Playa di Catania extends for a whopping 11 miles along warm, azure seas, and it’s simply south of the downtown zone, quickly reachable by bus (just look the nearest AMTS stop and hop on line D).
Palermo
- Portion of foreign visitors: 35– 40%
- Typical expense each day: $104– 115
- Typical duration of stay: 4-5 nights
< img width="800 "height="800"src=" https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Back-view-tourist-woman-in-Palermo-visiting-Politeama-Theatre.-Attractive-traveler-girl-visiting-Sicily-on-summer.-Vacations-in-Italy.-copy.jpg.webp "alt="Back see tourist female in Palermo visiting Politeama Theatre. Attractive traveler girl going to Sicily on summer season. Vacations in Italy. copy"/ > The Sicilian capital, and among Italy’s
the majority of dynamic cities, with a varied cultural deal and a growing population currently standing at over 1.2 million, Palermo is the second busiest tourism area on the island this summertime. Likewise to Catania, its historic center focuses on a significant cathedral: combining not just Baroque, but also Norman, Arab, and Gothic elements, a reflection of the melting pot that is Sicily, it is where several middle ages kings, and even Holy Roman Emperors, are interred.
Other must-sees in Palermo include Palazzo dei Normanni, a 12th-century Norman palace, best known for its highly embellished Cappella Palatina, said to equal the Sistine Chapel in charm.
Whether you’re here for the medieval charm, the Godfather filming spots, or the beaches, you will not be disappointed, and the dynamic Ballarò Market, where you can sample various arancini, seafood fritters, and fresh panini, and still not
invest over $5. For the film buffs out there, Teatro Massimo is not just the biggest opera home in Italy, however likewise a place included on The Godfather Part III, and must you ever require a beach break, of the fine white-sand, turquoise-water kind, Mondello Beach is a brief 20-minute drive from the center.
Syracuse
- Portion of foreign visitors: 40%
- Average expenditure each day: $110– 127
- Average period of stay: 4-5 nights
< img width="800 "height= "800"src="https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Baroque-Cathedral-Of-Syracuse-In-Ortigia-Island-Sicily-Italy.jpg.webp"alt=" Baroque Cathedral Of Syracuse In Ortigia Island, Sicily, Italy "/ > Leading the trio with an accredited 40 % of foreign tourists in short-term rentals this summer, Syracuse is Sicily’s, not to say Italy’s next hot thing at the minute: it’s rather off-the-beaten-path, however not quite if you’re an Italophile, food is terrific, and it just exudes Vintage charm.
It’s primarily referred to as the birthplace of Archimedes (yep, the Eureka! guy), though visitors are likely drawn to its picturesque Old Town, an island baptized Ortigia, linked to the mainland through a string of bridges, and ringed by a beautiful lungomare (or seaside walk).
Ortigia is a labyrinth of narrow, patched streets lined with old stone townhouses, family-owned trattorie serving pasta alla norma at decent rates, and ornate church websites– if you wish to completely wow your taste buds, make sure you add A Putia Delle Cose Buone to your list.
On top of that, Syracuse is way smaller than Catania or Palermo, with a resident population of around 117,000, and none of the hectic traffic of the latter 2.
Needless to state, it feels comparatively more peaceful despite the rising popularity.
Heading to Italy this summer season and not sure what to expect, including just how much you should tip at local dining establishments? Use our recently-launched Traveler Tools to start.
< img alt=""src ="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/670a9f78091c16bd874672b1cb939f4e22e64fe6c391eb68b0f897b10dbfd49e?s=96&d=mm&r=g"height ="96" width="96"/ > Vinicius Costa Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has more than 60+ nations under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a propensity for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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