Why You Should Take a Flight to Sicily

Lose yourself in ancient ruins and the scent of citrus on the Mediterranean island of Sicily. Replete with sparkling waters, sandy beaches and backdropped by the infamous Mount Etna, an active volcano, Sicily’s splendour is like no other. Dining on delectable delicacies and sipping crisp Sicilian wine, you’ll soon get a sense for the local way of life.

When to Book Cheap Flights to Sicily

Unsurprisingly, spring and summer are the most popular times of year here. If you’re hoping to find the cheapest flights to Sicily you’ll want to book in the winter or the autumn. While this won’t offer quite the same levels of sunshine, the Med is still mild at this time of year, making it an excellent time to avoid costly flights and heavy tourism. Winter also offers a number of festivals, such as Festa di Sant'Agata, which takes place in Catania in February.

How to Find the Best Deals to Sicily

The best way to find Cheap Flights to Sicily is to avoid major holidays, particularly religious festivals such as Easter.

Since flexibility on dates is not always possible though, we also recommend searching for flights to different Sicilian airports. Expedia offers flights to three major airports, each with different deals. You can apply the same tactic to your departure location by selecting ‘Nearby Airports’ on the search bar. This will allow you to check flights from other airports in the vicinity, perhaps resulting in a better deal.

To make it as easy as possible to find the cheapest flights, we automatically sort search results by price from lowest to highest.

UK Departures to Sicily

Flying to destinations in Sicily from the UK is easy and fast, especially if departing from London. With Expedia, you can find direct flights to Palermo and Catania, two of Sicily’s largest cities, with average flight times of about three hours. We also offer flights to the smaller town of Comiso, although flights here do require a stopover.

Average travel times are as follows:

• London to Catania – 3 hours 10 minutes
• London to Palermo – 3 hours
• London to Comiso – 6 hours 20 minutes (no direct flights)

Main Airports in Sicily

Sicily’s largest airport is in Catania, on the east coast. With 6 million travellers every year, it is by far the busiest airport on the island.

However, you’ll also find many direct flights from the UK to the capital’s Palermo-Punta Raisi Airport on the northwest coast.

Far smaller, but nevertheless popular due to its location in the sunny south, is Comiso Airport. There are no direct flights here from the UK, but it’s just a short stopover from Palermo or Catania.

Which UK Airlines Fly to Sicily?

Premium and budget airlines both depart from the UK, including:

• Alitalia
• KLM
• Lufthansa
• Air France
• Brussels Airlines
• Iberia
• Ryanair
• easyJet

How to Get Around Sicily

To really make the most of your visit to Sicily, you may choose to hire a car. Having your own set of wheels can be a great way to explore the vineyards and orange groves rolling across the Sicilian countryside.

If you can’t drive (or prefer to be driven!) the island also has an efficient bus service, as well as InterCity trains. Do be aware though, many smaller train routes have closed in recent years due to dwindling usage, so be sure to plan your journey in advance.

Must-Sees in Sicily

Sicily’s laidback capital Palermo perfectly encapsulates the charm of this striking island. At its heart lies the imposing Palermo Cathedral, dating back to the 12^th century. The extensive network of royal tombs and stonework inside is definitely worth a peek.

The port city of Catania on Sicily’s east coast offers something a little different. Submerged 17 times by eruptions from Mount Etna, the city’s cobbled piazzas and stoic resilience is testament to its will to survive. While you’re here, don’t turn up a chance to hike up Mount Etna either. The views from the top can’t be beaten.

Tips for Travelling in Sicily

You’ll find the Sicilians a warm people who are proud of their home. However, they do consider themselves independent from the rest of Italy. As a result, be prepared for the locals not to speak any English. Learning a phrase or two before you arrive will ensure you can make yourself understood.

Siestas are also taken very seriously here, with shops and cafes shutting down during the heat of the day. Rather than wandering about in the blazing ghost town, our advice is to follow the example of the locals – join them for a nap!