Sicily holidays - travel guide - activities & sights

Sicily is a walker's paradise thanks to its hugely contrasting landscapes, splendid classical ruins and rugged coastline. Whether you fancy hiking up Mount Etna for the amazing views, rambling across wild cliff tops or meandering through deep gorges, pistachio orchards and charming hilltop villages, there's a rich tapestry of scenery to take in. Highlights include the Pantalica Gorge near Syracuse, where Neolithic tombs are carved into the canyon walls.

Located on the east coast of Sicily is Etna Land - a theme park, water park, zoo and dinosaur park all rolled into one. While it does get very crowded in August, it's a good day out with lots to see and do.

One of Sicily's strongest cultural traditions is the puppet theatre. There are at least five in Palermo alone, but they can also be found in all major towns on the islands. A fascinating experience for the kids.

For those who like to get their feet wet there's scuba-diving and snorkelling along the coastline, while golfers can enjoy a round on the course at the base of Mount Etna.

The east coast of the island is home to several beaches. Giardini-Naxos has a good stretch of sand and the beach at Taormina sits below the Old Town and can be reached by cable car.

A visit to the peak of two million-year-old Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, is hugely exciting and not to be missed. It stands in the east of Sicily above the city of Catania, which was rebuilt in the 18th-century having been damaged several times by Etna's power. It's worth taking a hike - or journey by cable car or truck - up the volcano's slopes until you reach the vast craters hollowed out at its summit or the Valle De Bove, a spectacular hole carved out in Etna's side.

Sicily's capital guarantees a memorable day out with its impressive sightseeing and exuberant, non-stop pace of life. Once one of Europe's greatest cities, it displays a mix of Roman, Arab and Baroque influences with stately royal palaces, grand piazzas, ornate chapels and exotic gardens, as well as more unusual attractions such as spooky catacombs filled with mummified corpses. You can sit back and people-watch from one of the sociable bars and cafes, or enjoy the local speciality of spaghetti with sea urchins at one of the hundreds of busy restaurants.

Once ranked with Athens as the most important city in the Greek world, Syracuse overflows with archeological ruins and will really satisfy culture and history lovers. On Sicily's south eastern tip, its hub is the isle of Ortigia where you'll find numerous ancient ruins and classical monuments. These range from Greek temples to fountains and palaces, including a spectacular, well-preserved amphitheatre dating from the 5th-century. Make sure you round off your time here with a plate of the delicious local delicacies like tuna stew or boiled octopus.