Sicily Road Trip: Palermo to Syracuse along the West and South Coast (7 Days)

This road trip takes the long way across Sicily: from Palermo west to the coves of Scopello and the hilltop town of Erice, down past the salt pans of Marsala to the Greek temples of Selinunte and Agrigento, then east through the baroque towns of the Val di Noto to Syracuse, where the island of Ortigia ends the drive. It covers the west and south; for Etna and Taormina, see our Palermo to Taormina route along the north coast.

Italy drives on the right. On this route the A29 (Palermo–Mazara del Vallo) and the coast roads are toll-free; Sicily’s only tolled motorways are the A18 and A20 out of Messina, which this trip does not use. The historic centres of Palermo and Ortigia are limited traffic zones (ZTL) watched by cameras: in Palermo a day pass costs €5 and must be activated online before you drive in. Winter tyres or chains on board are required only on signposted stretches, usually 15 November to 15 April.

Day 1 — Palermo to Scopello via Monreale (68 km)

Before leaving Palermo, drive up to Monreale and its cathedral, whose gold mosaics cover the whole interior; with Palermo’s Arab-Norman churches it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. Then follow the A29 west and turn off for Castellammare del Golfo and Scopello, a tiny village above an old tuna fishery (tonnara) with sea stacks off the shore. Sleep in Scopello or Castellammare.

Day 2 — Scopello to Trapani via Erice (50 km)

Walk into the Riserva dello Zingaro from its south entrance near Scopello, a coastal path above coves you can only reach on foot. It reopened in 2026 after a fire in summer 2025: opening hours change with the season, and tickets are card-only. In the afternoon drive to Erice, a medieval town 750 m up on a mountain above the sea, then down to Trapani for the night. The cable car between Trapani and Erice costs €9 one way or €15 return, but it was closed for maintenance from 3 November to 4 December 2026.

Day 3 — Trapani to Selinunte via the salt pans (85 km)

Drive south along the Via del Sale, past the windmills and white salt heaps of the Marsala salt pans and the lagoon of the Stagnone. A small boat crosses to the island of Mozia (Motya), an ancient Phoenician town: the ticket for the island and its museum is €12 (the boat is paid separately). Continue through Marsala, home of the fortified wine, and on to Selinunte, a Greek city whose temples stand on a low hill above the sea. Entry to the archaeological park is €17.

Day 4 — Selinunte to Agrigento via Sciacca (97 km)

Follow the south coast to Sciacca, a spa and fishing town known for its ceramics, then on to Agrigento. Spend the late afternoon in the Valley of the Temples, where Greek temples, among them the almost complete Temple of Concordia, line a ridge below the town. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997; a full ticket is €14, and from late June to late September the park stays open into the evening.

Day 5 — Agrigento to Ragusa via the Scala dei Turchi (155 km)

West of Agrigento, the Scala dei Turchi is a cliff of white marl that drops in steps to the sea. Erosion has closed it more than once; since 2025 only part of it can be visited, in limited and paid time slots, so check the current rules with the Comune di Realmonte. Then make the longest drive of the trip, east along the south coast and inland to Ragusa, split between the upper town and the old baroque quarter of Ragusa Ibla.

Day 6 — Ragusa to Noto via Modica (54 km)

Ragusa, Modica and Noto were rebuilt in late baroque style after the earthquake of 1693, and together with other towns of the Val di Noto they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. In Modica, look out for its grainy chocolate, still made to an old recipe. Then drive on to Noto, whose main street is a run of honey-coloured churches and palaces.

Day 7 — Noto to Syracuse via Vendicari (57 km)

Stop at the Vendicari nature reserve, a protected stretch of coast with lagoons, an old tonnara and sandy beaches, then drive north to Syracuse. Once one of the greatest cities of the Greek world, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 2005, with the Necropolis of Pantalica). See the Greek theatre in the Neapolis archaeological park, then walk across the bridge to Ortigia, the old town on its own small island. Park outside the ZTL, and fly home from Catania, about an hour north.

Costs

Use the cost calculator to price fuel and nights for your dates. The biggest extras are the archaeological sites: €17 for Selinunte, €14 for the Valley of the Temples and €12 for Mozia in 2026, plus smaller fees for the Zingaro reserve, Vendicari and the Neapolis in Syracuse. Fines for entering a ZTL without a pass are sent to the rental company, which passes them on with a fee.

When to go

April–June and September–October are the best months: warm, green in spring, and without the heat and crowds of July and August. Sicily is also one of the mildest places in Europe for a winter road trip, though some sites keep shorter hours from November to March.

This trip is also in the free Roadcut trip planner: change the number of days and where you sleep each night, pick your vehicle to see the fuel cost, check the weather on the road, and open each day in Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze.