SICILY
We have gathered some useful information to help you plan and best prepare for your next adventure to Sicily! Browse through the information below or visit our travel bonanza for more stories and tips!
HEALTH AND SAFETY
You can describe Sicily as a “low risk” destination - there are no rare illnesses requiring vaccines, foodstuffs and tap water in all towns and Sicily's cities is safe. If you are traveling over the high summer months, limit your exposure to the sun, especially during the first few days and over lunchtime between 11am and 4pm when the sun is strongest. Be sure to bring sun lotion, a sun hat and sunglasses.
In case of emergency, the number for the police is 113, who can also call an ambulance for you. Many doctors in Sicily speak English and hotels and resorts will be able to recommend a doctor if needed. You are eligible for free emergency care under the Italian health care system, but be prepared to pay costs erasing from hospital admittance or medical consultation. The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) is widely accepted in Sicily to cover for minor and emergency treatments, though private travel insurance is always recommended.
Pharmacies are open during the week, often closing for lunch and then open late until 9 or 10pm. There is a rota for emergency opening hours, so you will always find a pharmacy open over the siesta or after hours. That information is usually displayed at the door or the window.
The mafia is the probably the first thing that comes to many people’s mind when thinking about Sicily, but the mafia does not bother tourists and it’s highly unlikely that you would run into anything connected to the group. Chances are higher that you might encounter pickpockets, thieves and purse-snatchers and caution is always advisable when in more crowded areas.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
All EU / EEA nationals will not need to present more than an identification document to enter Sicily and Italy, due to the common travel area of the Schengen Zone.
Non-EU/EEA travelers wishing to visit Sicily and Italy will need to present a valid passport or travel document issued within the last ten years and valid for at least three months beyond their planned departure date from the Schengen area. British passport holders are exempt from the criteria of passport validity and issuance date.
A visa is required for nationals arriving from a non EU/EEA country that has not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states or if you were previously rejected from entering Italy or any other Schengen country.
SARS-COV2 INFORMATION
To find up-to-date health and travel advise in relation to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic and travelling to Italy and Sicily, please visit the pages of the Italian Tourist Board.
MONEY AND PRICE LEVEL
Like the rest of Italy, Sicily uses the euro as its common currency. It is possible to change money at banks, post offices or at dedicated exchange bureaus and automatic exchange machines in larger cities and airports. ATMs can be found all over Sicily.
Credit Cards are not always accepted, so be sure to ask first or look for the credit card symbol. Plan to pay for a good portion of your trip in cash, especially petrol and transport.
Sicily is relatively cheap when compared to other regions in Italy. An espresso costs less than one Euro while it is common to grab a breakfast including a coffee and pastry for under € 3.00. A decent
pizza or take away street food starts from € 5,00, a proper meal in a restaurant including a starter, main and some wine comes for around € 20.00. In the supermarkets, you can find a decent enough mid-range bottle for under € 5,00 while a small bottle of beer would be around € 1,50.
OPENING HOURS
Shops in Sicily are generally open between 8:30 and 10am, supermarkets and food shops often earlier. All shops close for a few hours for siesta over lunchtime and then stay open until 8pm or later. In the more touristy areas, shops remain open over lunch. Most shops close for one half day during the week, usually Monday morning or Wednesday afternoon.
Sicilian bars are open from early in the morning until late at night and serve drinks and snacks, according to the time of the day. Restaurants usually open in the late morning until late. Because of the lengthy siesta, dinner time in Sicily is often not before 8pm.
ELECTRICITY
Electricity current in Sicily is 220V and plugs have two or three round prongs.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 1
New Years Day
January 6
Epiphany
Monday after Easter
Easter Monday
April 25
Liberation Day
May 1
Labour Day
June 2
Republic Day
August 15
Ferragosto / Assumption of Maria
November 1
All Saints Day
December 8
Immaculate Conception
December 25
Christmas Day
December 26
Santo Stefano
FESTIVITIES & EVENTS
Acireale
Carnival celebrations with parades
Late January / early February
Agrigento
Almond Blossom Festival
First week of February
Catania
Religious festival of St Agatha
Feb 3 - 5
All Sicily
Holy week observances
week leading up to Easter
Prizzi
Dance of the Devil street festival
Easter Sunday
Noto
Infiorata Spring Festival
May
Messina
traditional Festa del Muzzini
June
Trapani
Lugilo Musical classic music festival
July
Caltagirone
Scalinata Infiorata religious festival
July
All Sicily
Ferragosto religious celebrations
August 15
Piazza Amerinha
Palio dei Normanni medieval festival
Mid August
San Vito lo Capo
International Couscous food Festival
Last week of September
Zafferana Etnea
Ottobrata Zafferanese harvest festival
October
All Sicily
Tutti i’Santi - All Saint’s Day
November 1
Modica
Chocolate festival
Second week of December
Syracuse
Historic Christmas fair
Second Sunday in December until December 21