Sicily is an island that can be enjoyed all year round, thanks to 2.500 hours of sunshine, hot summers and short, mild winters. It’s a wonderful land, rich in monuments, enchanting beaches, amazing nature, archaeological sites and typical products. We chose it in winter to escape the cold of northern Italy, and to be able to visit its treasures without the summer crowds.

We cycled 640km with 6.800d + in ten stages. In Sicily it’s impossible to go fast, grind kilometers without stopping, because there are too many places that deserve to be visited, the food is amazing and the hospitality very warm!

We arrived in Palermo by ferry from Genoa (22 hours of navigation), and from there we started riding counterclockwise. Initially the intent was to follow the coastline, but soon we began to make detours: above all it’s the hinterland that hit our hearts with the sunny landscapes and the beautiful colors, even if we have often been afraid of stray dogs.

Of the seven UNESCO diamonds of Sicily, we have visited several: Palermo and its Arab-Norman heritage; the Archaeological Area of ​​Agrigento (Valley of Temples); Siracusa, the largest and most beautiful Greek city according to Cicero; the Baroque cities of Val di Noto, the last legacy of the Sicilian nobility. But we fall in love with many other places too: Cretto of Burri, Dancing Satyr of Mazara del Vallo, Selinunte, Scala dei Turchi, the orange groves of Ribera, the sea of ​​Avola, Catania …

The regret was seeing how man carelessness can spoil all this beauty,the garbage thrown on the side of the road filled us with sadness and anger. We sincerely hope not to see it again on the next trip to Sicily, a destination that really has enormous potential for bike touring.

Find GPX on our Kommot profile and read our travel tips below.

DAY 1: PALERMO/ALCAMO

We reccomend you for the night Palazzo Brunaccini, a beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Palermo, with garage (6€ per bike).

DAY 2: ALCAMO/SANTA NIINFA

We had to change our plans because of the dog we met/saved, so we ended in Santa Ninfa that has nothing really special to offer. Anyway, our original plan was to visit the land art Cretto of Burri (free entrance) and spend the night in pretty Salemi.

DAY 3: SANTA NINFA/MAZARA DEL VALLO

Visit the dancing Satyr in Mazara. For the night lovely B&B Case Vazzana.

DAY 4: MAZARA DEL VALLO/SCIACCA

Must stop in Selinunte, it takes a couple of hours to visit the whole archaeological park. In Sciacca go for dinner at Ristorante Colapesce.

DAY 5: SCIACCA/AGRIGENTO

Before Agrigento stop to watch Scala dei Turchi, then take a morning off to visit amazing Valley of Temples. If you need a good and very nice guide call Alice Bifarella, the visit will be great with her. 5 star luxury Hotel Villa Athena is in an unbelievable spot and out of season has reasonable prices.

DAY 6: AGRIGENTO/GELA

Gela is not a really nice city, but it’s half way to Ragusa, and there is a really pretty B&B, the one we liked most during the journey: Palazzo Gioffrè.

DAY 7: AGRIGENTO/RAGUSA

You have to take a look at the old carter’s shop Cinabro.  For dinner I Banchi or Trattoria cucina e vino.

DAY 8: RAGUSA/NOTO

B&B A Calata is central and pretty, gourmet dinner at Ristorante Crocifisso just amazing.

DAY 9: NOTO/SIRACUSA

After visiting Ortigia, don’t miss Neapolis Archeo Park. Lunch, dinner or aperitif at Scuola Alimentare.

DAY 10: SIRACUSA/CATANIA

Go for breakfast in Piazza Duomo at Prestipino, and for lunch/dinner at Osteria Antica Marina, in the heart of the fish market. Before laving take a look at Graziella bike shop Ciclostazione, she also rents bikes. our tour ended here: we used Ship to Cycle to send our bikes home, it’s really fast and cheap.