Sicily
Practical know-how for Sicily: when to go, getting around, money, tipping and the small things that make a trip easier.
- Best time to go
- April–June and September–October; summer is hot, and Etna snows in winter.
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Tipping
- Tipping is optional. Many restaurants add a “coperto” (cover charge) per person, and rounding up is enough.
- Language
- Italian. English is common in hotels and tourist areas, less so in small towns.
- Plugs
- Type C/F/L (two or three round pins), 230V. UK visitors need an adapter.
- Emergency
- 112
Getting there and around
Airport: Catania (CTA). Catania serves the east of Sicily. Palermo (PMO) is better for the west. Direct flights from London take about 3h 03m.
Public transport: a single ticket is typically £1.3–£2.2. A day pass or a travel card is usually better value if you ride several times a day.
Sicily is Italy’s largest island. Places listed here are spread across the island, so plan for long drives or use it as a multi-base trip.
Money and tipping
Currency: Euro (€).
Tipping: Tipping is optional. Many restaurants add a “coperto” (cover charge) per person, and rounding up is enough.
Take a debit or credit card with no foreign transaction fees if you can, carry a little cash for markets and small cafés, and when a machine offers to charge you in pounds, choose the local currency.
Typical daily spend: see the Sicily cost guide.
Language, culture and daily rhythm
Language: Italian. English is common in hotels and tourist areas, less so in small towns.
Rhythm of the day: Lunch is 12:30 to 2:30pm and dinner from 7:30 to 8pm. Many shops and some restaurants close in the afternoon, and in mid-August.
- Coffee drunk standing at the bar costs much less than a seat at a table.
- Book the Colosseum, Vatican, Uffizi and similar icons ahead; walk-up queues can be very long.
- Validate paper train tickets in the machine before boarding regional trains.
Booking ahead and saving money
Free things to do: 5 of the 9 places in our Sicily guide are free. See them.
Book timed-entry sights, popular restaurants and weekend trains ahead. Flights and hotels are usually cheapest booked 6 to 12 weeks out for city breaks, and earlier for summer beach holidays.
Safety, health and watch-outs
Emergency number: 112.
- Driving into many historic centres (ZTL zones) brings automatic fines: ask your hotel before you drive.
- Cover shoulders and knees to enter churches.
A UK GHIC gives you access to state healthcare in the EU on the same terms as locals, but it is not a substitute for travel insurance. Take out insurance that covers medical care, cancellation and your activities.
Practical details
Plugs and voltage: Type C/F/L (two or three round pins), 230V. UK visitors need an adapter.
Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink; ask for “acqua del rubinetto”.
Entry and documents: Entry rules, passport validity and any pre-travel registrations change. Always check the GOV.UK foreign travel advice page for your destination before you book and again before you travel.
General guidance for Italy, written for UK travellers. Rules, prices and opening hours change: check official sources (GOV.UK foreign travel advice, venue websites) before you travel.