Sicily has been a hidden gem in the Mediterranean for quite some time. Many travelers to Italy used to rarely venture further south than Pompei. Although lots of people are now making the voyage down to the biggest island in the Mediterranean, it still feels a bit undiscovered.
This is good news for the intrepid traveler as it has a lot of unique travel opportunities. Before you pack your bags, you need to know what you can do there so you can get the most out of your trip. In this article, we will go over several of the incredible things you can do on a vacation to Sicily.
1 – Hit the water
Sicily has some of the most incredible coastlines in the Mediterranean and it deserves to be seen from the water. There are mountains that run right up to the sea with stunning scenery and quiet beaches.
The best way to go is for tourists to rent yachts in Sicily with 12knots. This way you get an experienced crew that knows the waters well. Instead of staying in a hotel, you stay on the yacht so you can have a peaceful time. Exploring the coast gives you access to beaches that you can only get to by boat so you have the entire beach to yourself.
You’ll be able to dock up in some of the small harbors around the island so you can explore some out-of-the-way areas that tourists rarely venture to.
2 – Pescaturismo
By now most people know what an agriturismo is but may not realize that there is a sea version of the concept. This is a way to experience the island through the eyes of a fisherman. Instead of staying in a farmhouse and eating local delicacies in an agriturismo, you will stay in a traditional fishing village and head out on a fishing boat.
You’ll catch what is available and then take it back to land to cook up with an experienced fisherman. Most of these people are having a hard time making a living with their catch so this is a great way to support struggling fishermen and enjoy a unique experience.
3 – Climb a volcano
You don’t just have one option to climb a volcano in Sicily. You have three. There is the biggest volcano in Europe called Mt Etna that dominates the island in terms of size and also how it affected the culture. There are buses that will bring you up the slopes to the lava fields where you then take an all-terrain vehicle as close to the crater as tourists are allowed to go.
There are also two smaller ones off the coast of Sicily that offer some hiking such as Vulcano and Stromboli. Vulcano is mainly dormant and doesn’t erupt any longer. It is small enough to hike all the way to the dramatic crater. Stromboli is a very active volcano and provides a dramatic view at night with the lava spewing from the crater.