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Visiting Sicily in winter appears to be like like a win at a straightforward look. Why not head to one of many warmest locations in Europe, the place snow solely falls on the best of volcanoes, escape your chilly hometown, and revel in all of the scrumptious meals and wine?
I’ve traveled to Sicily a number of occasions and just lately took an prolonged journey to Palermo and western Sicily. And whereas I had a good time, the climate was far worse than I had anticipated.
Each information I’ve examine visiting Sicily in winter solely tells you all in regards to the good issues, whereas conveniently telling you not one of the unhealthy issues.
I see that as malpractice — an abdication of duty.
In my 13+ years {of professional} journey writing, I’ve made it a mission to inform my readers the reality in regards to the locations they go to — each the nice and the unhealthy.
So buckle up — right here is the reality, the complete fact, and the whole fact about visiting Sicily in winter.
Is Sicily in Winter Price It?
I’ve visited Sicily a number of occasions, at completely different occasions of yr. Sicily, the most important island in Italy, is house to an interesting cultural combine, a lot gorgeous pure magnificence, and at occasions it looks like a totally completely different nation to Italy.
Summer season is excessive season in Sicily, with busy crowds and excessive costs. However winter could be a breath of recent air in a lot of methods.
Sicily is among the warmest locations in Europe within the winter, and other people come to Sicily in winter to take pleasure in a little bit of sunshine when the remainder of the continent is frozen. Winter additionally occurs to be off-season, with the bottom costs of the yr and the fewest crowds.
However simply because it’s hotter than your hometown presently of yr, that doesn’t imply that you simply’ll really feel hotter presently of yr.
Issues to Know About Visiting Sicily in Winter
The climate is perhaps pretty — or horrible.
Sicily has gentle winters, proper? How gentle are we speaking, although? Whilst you can take a look at the typical temperatures and rainfall in Sicily, that are listed additional down on this piece, know that they don’t inform you the complete story.
More often than not, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a lot of sunshine within the winter and fairly heat temperatures in the course of the day.
However that’s for those who’re fortunate.
On my newest journey to Sicily in February, I had a day and a half of sunshine in Palermo earlier than temperatures dropped considerably and it become rainstorms. 5 days of rainstorms! Winter climate temperatures hovered round 43 F (6 C) and colder at night time.
Now, for those who’re in Sicily for a month, 5 days of chilly and rain gained’t do a lot to you. However for those who’re solely right here for every week, it could possibly make a big impact in your go to.
I ended up shopping for a winter coat in Palermo as a result of my midweight coats had been neither water resistant nor heat sufficient. Even when the daytime temperature hadn’t dropped, night time temperatures are tremendous chilly in Sicily.
And actually, as soon as I received again house to Prague, it was a lot colder, however I didn’t really feel practically as chilly as I had felt in Sicily!
The way to cope with this: Be optimistic in regards to the sunshine — however carry an umbrella and an excellent winter jacket, scarf, and gloves, simply in case.
Sicilian buildings are poorly insulated.
This isn’t distinctive to Sicily, however one thing you see all through Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Buildings in Sicily are constructed to remain cool all through the recent summers, not preserve the warmth in.
Because of this, you is perhaps shocked simply how chilly it will get inside.
Throughout our most up-to-date go to to Sicily within the winter, Charlie and I had deliberate on working from house for a couple of days. We labored from the eating room desk carrying layers of shirts and sweaters and coated in blankets.
Whereas our condo did have a radiator, we had it up all the best way it could go — which was nonetheless a temperature that left us shivering. Even at night time, my face was chilly, my physique buried beneath a number of blankets.
And that’s the case for eating places, too. Usually we’d be seated subsequent to a window, which had chilly air flowing within the joint between the window and the wall. Once more — poor insulation.
Past that, loads of bars, eating places, and pasticcerie saved the doorways open all day, conserving the within as chilly as the skin.
By the point we rented a automotive for our previous couple of days, I practically wept in aid — as soon as we turned on the warmth, this was the warmest I had been in days.
The way to cope with this: Carry heavier garments than you assume you want, particularly layering choices like base layers and sweaters. Plan on carrying your winter coat in eating places. See in case your lodging can present further blankets and/or an area heater.
Winter brings distinctive occasions in Sicily.
However there are a variety of nice issues about winter in Sicily, too. Probably the most uncommon issues to do in Sicily within the winter? Ski Mount Etna! Sure, Sicily’s most well-known energetic volcano has ski resorts within the winter!
Is it the best snowboarding you’ll ever do in Italy? No. This isn’t the Dolomites; this isn’t even the Apennines. Folks are likely to ski Etna simply to say they’ve accomplished it.
One other in style winter occasion in Sicily is Christmas markets. Sicily’s Christmas markets typically run within the month of December. Yow will discover Christmas markets within the cities of Palermo, Catania,
Residing Nativity scenes are discovered all through Sicily as properly, some crammed with as many as 200 folks. Essentially the most well-known Residing Nativity performances are in Giarratana in Ragusa province, Custonaci in Trapani province, and Gangi in Palermo province, although there are a lot extra. (There’s even one in my household’s ancestral hometown, Castanea delle Furie in Messina province!)
And, in fact, there are many spiritual festivals in Sicily within the winter. The Festa di Sant’Agata takes place February 3-5 and is Catania’s largest pageant (although you’ll see celebratory pastries as far west as Palermo!).
One other in style pageant is the Almond Blossom Pageant in Agrigento, going down over the course of every week in early March.
And don’t overlook Martedi Grosso — Fats Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, or Carnival — celebrating one final spherical of hedonism earlier than Lent begins. Martedi Grosso normally takes place in February.
The way to cope with this: Take a fast look to see in case your keep will coincide with a pageant, as a result of that might make a giant distinction by way of locations being open, lodging being dearer, or events on the street till late.
Sicilian villages are empty in winter.
One of many pleasures of visiting Sicily is exploring a lot of little villages all through the island. Public transportation isn’t intensive in Sicily, so renting a automotive is one of the best ways to discover a lot of completely different cities.
Nonetheless, we quickly discovered that small cities are particularly quiet in the course of the winter months. It wasn’t uncommon to go to one of many bigger cities within the area — like Marsala, inhabitants 83,000 — and discover every part closed within the metropolis heart besides the bar in entrance of the Duomo.
In contrast to many different international locations, Sicilians don’t mark their companies as seasonally closed on Google Maps. So that you will be driving round, in search of a restaurant, looking for eating places which can be “open now” — and they’ll really be closed.
Let me offer you an instance: San Vito Lo Capo, a seaside village with spectacular cliffs about an hour’s drive from Palermo. We visited on a Saturday in February, the primary sunny day after 5 days of rain.
Based on Google, there have been greater than 40 eating places at present open within the metropolis heart that day. In actuality, there have been precisely zero eating places open, with solely two bars serving meals: a giant bar on a piazza, which drew a crowd, and a tiny bar across the nook.
The way to repair this: Keep in a metropolis throughout your go to to maximise your eating and sightseeing choices. I like to recommend Palermo, Catania, or the Ortigia space of Siracusa, which every have sufficient happening in winter to make it a worthwhile keep. We had an incredible week in Palermo and ate at so many cool eating places!
Many excursions and actions in Sicily are unavailable in winter.
I get it — you perceive that you simply gained’t be capable to go on a snorkeling tour in winter. That is smart.
However you is perhaps shocked that you simply wrestle to discover a at present working meals tour, historic strolling tour, or day journey to close by ruins in the course of the winter months. Many corporations don’t run their excursions within the winter months as a result of it doesn’t make monetary sense.
Wish to take the cable automotive from Trapani to Erice? Sorry, it’s closed from early January by means of late March. You may nonetheless go to; you’ll simply need to do the switchbacky drive up the mountain your self. And when you’re in Erice, don’t plan on discovering anyplace to eat.
Generally you’ll be able to attain out to the tour firm for a personal tour for those who’d like, however this may find yourself being greater than you wish to spend.
The way to repair this: Analysis your actions upfront, see what’s accessible in the course of the time of your winter go to, and determine what’s a dealbreaker for you.
Archaeological websites are nice to go to in winter.
Are you a fan of classical historical past who can’t get sufficient of historical ruins? You’ll love visiting Sicily. This island is wealthy in ruins, most of them Greek ruins, with a couple of Roman-era treasures thrown in.
And it’s significantly better visiting ruins in Sicily within the winter. Ruins seldom have a lot shade and are sometimes crowded, however within the winter you’ll crave that sunshine and there shall be no crowds.
Anybody who’s visited Agrigento in August has felt like they had been getting into the gates of hell! Agrigento in January? A wonderful place to go to, even with low temperatures.
So which websites are value visiting? Undoubtedly don’t miss the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento; Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica; and Villa Romana del Casale; every of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.
Past UNESCO, The Segesta ruins near Palermo had been a spotlight for me, particularly the spectacular view from the amphitheater. Selinunte Archaeological Park in Trapani Province is one other web site value visiting.
Sicilian islands and seashores will not be a sensible selection in winter.
Sicily is house to a few of the most lovely seashores in Italy (which is why it looks like half of mainland Italy decamps to Sicily in August!). From the Aeolian Islands (my private favourite spot) to the Egadi Islands to cities like Cefalù, Avola, and San Vito Lo Capo, this islands are at their greatest in summer time, which is excessive season in Sicily.
Late spring and early fall shall be a lot quieter and most Italians will take into account it very a lot not seaside climate, however it could possibly nonetheless be an excellent time to swim within the Mediterranean Sea (and the ocean temperature is hotter in October than Might).
However within the winter, these cities are completely lifeless. The overwhelming majority of companies in seaside cities shutter totally in the course of the chilly winter months. Even in style spots like Cefalù are ghost cities.
Moreover, public transport is restricted to those locations in winter, particularly ferries to the smaller islands. For those who actually wish to go to the Aeolian Islands in winter, not less than keep in Lipari, which has the largest metropolis heart of the islands and some locations keep open within the winter.
Learn Extra: Full Information to the Aeolian Islands, Sicily
Palermo is a variety of enjoyable in winter.
As I stated earlier than, cities are the perfect locations to go to in Sicily in winter as a result of folks stay there year-round. Yow will discover loads of eating places to select from, and tons of enjoyable issues to do.
Palermo was an particularly enjoyable place to have as a base in the course of the winter months. Whereas we didn’t luck out with the climate and it was chilly each inside and out of doors, Palermo shortly muscled its method into my record of favourite Italian cities because of the folks, meals, and total vibe.
Palermo is vibrant, pleasant, and really inexpensive. The meals is unimaginable and the road meals scene is great, even within the winter months. It’s the perfect place to really feel such as you’re splurging for a low value. And Palermo occurs to be somewhat bit sunnier and hotter than Catania and Jap Sicily.
I might completely return to Palermo for one more lengthy winter go to.
Learn Extra: 23 Enjoyable Issues to Do in Palermo, Sicily
Sicily Climate in Winter
Sicily enjoys a Mediterranean local weather with sunny summers and chilly winters. Right here is data on temperature and rainfall, month by month, in Catania within the east and Palermo within the west:
Sicily in December
In December, the climate in Palermo, Sicily, is often gentle with a mean excessive temperature of 61°F (16°C) and a mean low temperature of fifty°F (10°C). The common rainfall for this month is round 3.7 inches (94 mm).
In Catania, Sicily, the climate in December can also be gentle, with a mean excessive temperature of 62°F (17°C) and a mean low temperature of 44°F (7°C). The common rainfall for this month is round 3.1 inches (79 mm).
Sicily in January
In January, the climate in Palermo is barely cooler with a mean excessive temperature of 58°F (14°C) and a mean low temperature of 46°F (8°C). The common rainfall for this month is round 3.2 inches (82 mm).
In Catania, the climate in January is comparable with a mean excessive temperature of 60°F (16°C) and a mean low temperature of 41°F (5°C). The common rainfall for this month is round 3.3 inches (85 mm).
Sicily in February
In February, the climate in Palermo begins to heat up once more with a mean excessive temperature of 60°F (16°C) and a mean low temperature of 46°F (8°C). The common rainfall for this month is round 2.6 inches (66 mm).
In Catania, the climate in February can also be milder with a mean excessive temperature of 60°F (16°C) and a mean low temperature of 41°F (5°C). The common rainfall for this month is round 2.8 inches (72 mm).
Sicily in March
In March, the climate in Palermo continues to heat up with a mean excessive temperature of 63°F (17°C) and a mean low temperature of 48°F (9°C). The common rainfall for this month is round 2.5 inches (63 mm).
In Catania, the climate in March is comparable with a mean excessive temperature of 62°F (17°C) and a mean low temperature of 44°F (7°C). The common rainfall for this month is round 2.5 inches (64 mm).
Greatest Time to Go to Sicily
So when is the perfect time to go to Sicily, for actual? For those who’re in search of a trade-off of good climate, sunshine, heat temperatures, and manageable ranges of crowds, intention for Might, September, or October.
These months are completely pretty (and September continues to be very a lot summer time), but it surely’s not “summer time” to Italians, who’re in autumn mode as quickly as September hits. Plus, children are again in class, which implies the crowds are fewer crowds.
For those who’re not a fan of heat climate and would fairly go to within the shoulder season, take into account late March, April, or November. Early spring and late fall carry cooler climate that makes the right circumstances for many outside sightseeing.
And at last, visiting Sicily in winter will be completely great for those who’re fortunate with the climate. And for those who keep for longer, likelihood is you’ll be capable to expertise a variety of sunny days.
By now, if you wish to plan a winter vacation to Sicily, that’s nice! I’ve accomplished my job, which is telling you what to anticipate — for actual.
Extra on Sicily:
Cool Locations in Southern Italy:
Planning a Journey to Italy:
Have you ever been to Sicily in winter? What are your suggestions?
