Sicily deserves at least a week to appreciate properly. This itinerary uses Palermo as a luxury base for the first half, then takes you along the coast and into the interior. Every day balances culture, food, and the Sicilian pace of life.
Days 1–3: Palermo
For a detailed day-by-day breakdown of your first three days, see our 3-Day Palermo Luxury Itinerary. In short: the Cathedral and its rooftop terrace, the transcendent Byzantine mosaics of the Cappella Palatina, the visceral theatre of Ballaro market, a street food tour through the old city's alleys, the contemplative Kalsa district with its hidden courtyards and bomb-damaged churches, rooftop aperitivi as the sun drops behind Monte Pellegrino, and — if you want to turn a Tuesday evening into something extraordinary — a private chef dinner arranged by Le Sicilien's concierge, with market-fresh ingredients and wine pairings served in the intimacy of your own apartment.
These first three days establish the rhythm of your week. Palermo is a city that rewards slowness: the kind of place where a wrong turn leads to a 12th-century cloister, where lunch extends into the late afternoon, where the light at six o'clock is worth crossing the city for.
Day 4: Cefalu
One hour east of Palermo along the A29 motorway, and the landscape shifts from urban sprawl to some of the most striking coastal scenery in the Mediterranean. The drive itself is worth the trip — the road hugs the Tyrrhenian coast, with limestone cliffs falling sharply to transparent water.
Cefalu announces itself from a distance: a compact medieval town pressed against the base of La Rocca, a 270-metre limestone promontory that rises vertically behind the rooftops. The Norman cathedral (1131 AD, UNESCO World Heritage) dominates the town's skyline and its spiritual life in equal measure. Step inside for the Christ Pantocrator mosaic in the apse — it is among the finest Byzantine artworks in Sicily, and the figure's gaze follows you with an intensity that photographs cannot convey.
Walk the cobbled streets down to the crescent beach, one of the most photographed in Sicily and genuinely beautiful despite its fame. Lunch at La Brace for grilled seafood with harbour views, or Al Porticciolo for a quieter table set back from the waterfront. Both serve fish landed that morning.
Afternoon: climb La Rocca. The path is steep but manageable — roughly 45 minutes to the summit — and the panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the terracotta rooftops below, and the Madonie mountains to the south are among the most rewarding on the island. Return to Palermo by evening, pleasantly tired and deeply satisfied.
Day 5: Erice & Trapani
Drive west from Palermo, 1.5 hours on the A29. Today is a study in contrasts: a medieval hilltop town suspended in cloud, and a coastal city built on salt and wind.
Erice sits at 750 metres above sea level, frequently wreathed in mist that gives the stone streets a quality of suspended time. The town is tiny — walkable in an hour — but astonishingly well-preserved: Norman castle walls, a 14th-century church, cobbled alleys so narrow that your shoulders nearly brush both walls. The real pilgrimage, however, is to Maria Grammatico. This is one of the most celebrated pastry shops in Italy, and for good reason. The almond paste creations — frutta di Martorana, cassatelle, bocconcini — are extraordinary, made from recipes that trace back to the cloistered nuns who once dominated Erice's economy. Allow time. You will want to try several things.
Descend to Trapani and the Saline di Trapani e Paceco — the ancient salt flats that stretch along the coast between Trapani and Marsala. The landscape is otherworldly: geometric pools of water reflecting the sky in shades of pink and violet, punctuated by the silhouettes of 16th-century windmills still used to pump brine. Late afternoon, when the light turns golden, is the best time to visit. Lunch at Ai Lumi in Trapani — refined Sicilian cooking in a converted palazzo, with an emphasis on the local bluefin tuna and couscous that reflect Trapani's proximity to North Africa. Return via the A29.
Day 6: Agrigento & the Valle dei Templi
Drive south, two hours through the Sicilian interior — a landscape of rolling wheat fields, hilltop towns, and an emptiness that feels almost biblical in its scale. The destination justifies every kilometre.
The Valley of the Temples is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. Seven monumental Greek temples from the 5th century BC, built when Akragas was among the wealthiest cities in the ancient world, stand in extraordinary condition on a ridge overlooking the African Sea. The Temple of Concordia is the best preserved Greek temple outside Athens — its columns still carry the warm honey colour of the local sandstone, and at certain times of day the light makes the stone appear almost molten. The Temple of Juno, at the ridge's highest point, offers views that stretch to the coast.
Between the temples, visit the Garden of the Kolymbetra — a restored ancient garden in a natural ravine, planted with citrus, olive and almond trees, where the air is cool and fragrant even in high summer. It is a welcome contrast to the exposed archaeological ridge.
Lunch at Terracotta, a short drive from the site, for modern Sicilian cuisine with views of the temples, or at Kalos in Agrigento's old town for something more traditional. Optional detour on the return: Scala dei Turchi, a natural formation of blindingly white marl cliffs that step down to the sea like a giant staircase. It is best visited late in the afternoon, when the crowds thin and the cliffs glow against the deepening blue of the water. Return to Palermo.
Day 7: Relaxation & Departure
After six days of cathedrals, temples, markets and mountain roads, the final morning belongs to the sea. Two options, depending on your temperament.
The first: Mondello beach. Palermo's coastal suburb, 11 km north of the centre, occupies a crescent bay framed by the limestone cliffs of Monte Pellegrino and Capo Gallo. The water is clear, the sand is pale, the Art Nouveau bathhouse on its pier looks like something from a Visconti film. Arrive early, swim, read, let the week settle.
The second: a private yacht charter along the Gulf of Palermo, bookable through Le Sicilien's concierge. Depart from the marina, cruise the coastline beneath Monte Pellegrino, anchor in a quiet cove for a final swim in Sicilian water. It is the kind of morning that makes returning home feel like an act of considerable will.
Final lunch at Bye Bye Blues in Mondello — one Michelin star, chef Patrizia Di Benedetto, refined coastal Sicilian cuisine that serves as a fitting conclusion to a week of extraordinary eating. The tasting menu is the definitive choice. Airport transfer arranged by Le Sicilien's concierge.
Where to Stay
FAQ — One Week in Sicily
At least five to seven for a meaningful visit. A week gives time for Palermo plus three or four day trips without rushing. If you have ten days, you can comfortably add the Aeolian Islands or the eastern coast around Taormina and Syracuse.
Excellent. Palermo is well-connected by motorway to Cefalu (1 hour), Erice (1.5 hours), and Agrigento (2 hours). Le Sicilien arranges private transfers for those who prefer not to drive — the concierge handles drivers, vehicles, and timing so you can focus on the experience.
Yes. Private drivers, guided excursions, restaurant reservations, yacht charters, cooking classes — everything through your dedicated concierge. Requests can be made before or during your stay.
May through June and September through October offer the best balance of weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices. The light is extraordinary in these months — warm and golden without the intensity of midsummer. July and August bring peak temperatures, higher prices, and larger crowds, though the long evenings and vibrant atmosphere have their own appeal.