Sicily (6280)

8 Day Tour from Palermo to Palermo

2027 Tour Details View 2026 Tour Details »

Join us on a budget-friendly vacation in Sicily—the Mediterranean’s largest island, just off the toe of Italy’s “boot.” Your discovery of this fascinating island, rich in culture, warm welcomes, and beauty starts in Palermo, a vibrant city of churches, squares, marketplaces, and palaces of every style. Take in stunning views with a cable-car ride to the medieval hilltop town of Erice—with cobblestone streets, fortifications, ancient churches, and breathtaking views over the Mediterranean Sea and the Egadi Islands. Enjoy a guided tour of Trapani, set on a harbor that was once a powerful trading network, and visit Marsala, known for its aromatic wine. See the Acropolis and temples in Selinunte and take a guided tour of the spectacular ancient Greek temples near Agrigento. Visit the Roman Villa at Casale, famous for its mosaics, like the “Bikini Girls.” Visit elegant Taormina and the coastal town of Cefalù. Enjoy an excursion on Mount Etna, the majestic volcano overlooking the city of Catania, the verdant valleys, and the shimmering blue Mediterranean waters. Celebrate your Sicilian adventure ending your affordable adventure in Palermo.

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.

Your Tour Includes:
• Guided sightseeing in Palermo, Sicily’s vibrant capital known for its rich Arab-Norman heritage
• Guided sightseeing in Trapani, the historic port city on Sicily’s scenic western coast
• Scenic cable car ride to Erice, the medieval hilltop town overlooking the surrounding coastline
• Visit to the Acropolis in Selinunte, one of Sicily’s most impressive ancient Greek archaeological sites
• Guided sightseeing in Agrigento archaeological site, featuring the celebrated Valley of the Temples
• Visit to the Roman villa in Piazza Armerina, renowned for its remarkably preserved ancient mosaics
• Excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano and one of Sicily’s defining natural landmarks
• Visit to Taormina, the elegant hilltop town overlooking the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna
• Orientation tour of seaside Cefalù, known for its charming old town and Norman cathedral

Dates & Prices Book Online

800.646.5374

Photo Highlights

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

Buffet breakfasts daily; 4 dinners

Notes:

High altitudes may be challenging for some guests. The ascent to Mount Etna reaches an elevation of 6,500 ft. (1,981 m).

Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN PALERMO, ITALY

Check into your hotel. Spend the rest of your day exploring this great city. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.

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Dinner

Day 2 PALERMO

Enjoy a full day in this busy and brilliant city with many interesting squares and marketplaces, churches, and palaces in every style—from Moorish to Baroque. Join the included sightseeing tour to learn more about the history and culture and visit the magnificent Baroque St. Catherine Church.

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Breakfast

Day 3 PALERMO–TRAPANI–ERICE–MARSALA

Two Sicilian treats are on the agenda today. First, visit enchanting Trapani with a Local Guide. Set on a harbor that was once at the heart of a powerful trading network stretching from Carthage to Venice, the city center skirts the port and was built primarily in Baroque style. Next, take a cable car to visit the medieval hilltop town of Erice. Situated about 2,500 feet above sea level, it immediately impresses with its defensive walls and castle, affording breathtaking views over the Gulf of Trapani and Egadi Islands. On clear days, you can see all the way to the African coast. Overnight in nearby Marsala.

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Breakfast

Dinner

Day 4 MARSALA–SELINUNTE–AGRIGENTO

This morning, spend some time on your own in Marsala, or awaken your palate with an optional excursion to learn about Sicilian wine and to experience the ancient salt pans and mills, created by the Phoenicians, and still active today. The salt pans, according to temperature, weather, and water evaporation, display different colors reflecting the Sicilian sky. Then head towards Selinunte, one of the most striking and interesting archaeological sites in Sicily. Here, you will see the remains of the Acropolis, with its temples and fortifications. Continue to Agrigento.

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Breakfast

Dinner

Day 5 AGRIGENTO–PIAZZA ARMERINA–TAORMINA AREA

Enjoy a guided visit of the spectacular Doric temple of Concord and the temple of Juno Lacinia, archaeological jewels of the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento. On to Piazza Armerina, a maze of steep streets positively overflowing with the vibrant atmosphere of Sicilian life. At nearby Casale, visit the well-preserved Roman villa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its mosaics, including the whimsical “Bikini Girls.” Tonight, we’ll save you a seat at the table for an optional Sicilian dinner. The tastes and aromas of colorful Sicilian food never fail to please, especially when paired with traditional music and entertainment.

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Breakfast

Day 6 TAORMINA AREA. EXCURSION TO MOUNT ETNA

Drive up the heights of Mount Etna with the option of a jeep or cable-car ride for a better view of Europe’s largest active volcano (subject to weather conditions). Descend to sun-kissed Taormina, magnificently situated on a 700-foot plateau overlooking the Ionian Sea. The heart of Taormina is Piazza Nove Aprile, a paved square with unmatched views of the sea and Mount Etna. Take a stroll along the Corso Umberto and maybe taste a refreshing granita or a sumptuous cannolo.

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Breakfast

Dinner

Day 7 TAORMINA AREA–CEFALÙ–PALERMO

Arrive in the coastal town of Cefalù, featuring medieval squares, narrow streets, and ancient churches. During your visit, marvel at the sight of the Norman cathedral, a 12th-century fortress-like structure with elaborate Byzantine mosaics and soaring twin towers. Later, return to Palermo. During your final day in this glorious city, catch up on some last-minute shopping or explore more of the city on your own.

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Breakfast

Day 8 PALERMO

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

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Breakfast

Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

ANDREA BOLDRINI

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“Traveling has always been a passion of mine. The thrill of exploring new destinations, immersing myself in different cultures, and meeting people from all over the world is truly exhilarating. As a Tour Director, I have the unique opportunity to share this passion with others, steering a group through the magnificent landscapes of the world. I love crafting engaging commentaries that foster the best of each destination, from hidden gems to iconic landmarks. Guiding groups through these experiences and witnessing their excitement and wonder is incredibly rewarding. Every tour is a new adventure, filled with unforgettable moments and the chance to create lasting memories for my guests. Being a Tour Director allows me to combine my love for travel and enthusiasm with my desire to educate and inspire others, making it the perfect career for me.”

Accommodations

Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

Palermo

Marsala

Taormina Area

Palermo

Taste & Tradition: Live Sicilian Cooking Show

Step into a hidden Sicilian retreat for an unforgettable experience. Set within a historic venue, once the stables of a 15th-century palace framed by Punic stone walls, this charming restaurant becomes the perfect stage for a culinary journey. Feel the magic as a live cooking show brings Palermo's iconic Arancina and traditional Cannoli to life. Discover their stories, savor their flavors, and take home the recipes to recreate Sicily's essence in your own kitchen.

Price Range: $$

Palermo Coastal Farewell Dinner

Enjoy a farewell evening experience just outside Palermo. Departing from the city center, travel northward and leave the city behind, enjoying changing views along the route as urban scenery gives way to greener areas and glimpses of the coast. The journey leads to the seaside village of Sferracavallo, where a farewell dinner awaits in a local setting. The meal features fresh, locally-caught fish, along with free-flowing wine. After dinner, return to Palermo, with the chance to see some of the city's monuments beautifully illuminated along the way. An ideal way to end your time in Sicily

Price Range: $$

Marsala

Sicily Salt Pans & Marsala Wines

Wine and salt are two of the products Sicily is famous for! Visit the islands vast and captivating salt pans, then stop by a famous winery for a tour and tasting session! Magnifico!

Price Range: $$

Taormina Area

Sicilian Dinner and Folklore

Taste a delicious Sicilian style dinner enjoying some folk music and entertainment

Price Range: $$

Private Touring

Private Touring: Cosmos European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Cosmos tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience. For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party. Here's a sample of the additional cost:

6 guests in a party: $1,820*
18 guests in a party: $479*

Contact Cosmos or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Cosmos Private Touring.

*Supplement pricing is per person (USD) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability. Supplement price is valid for 2021 travel year. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests. Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring. Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.

The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).