5-7 days — Highlights only
Palermo (2) + Catania/Etna (2) + Taormina or Siracusa (1-2). You'll see the main cities but miss the beaches, temples, and interior. Feels rushed.
10 days — The sweet spot
Palermo (3) + Cefalù (1) + Catania/Etna (2) + Siracusa (2) + Agrigento temples (1). A loop covering west and east with the major highlights. Rent a car.
14 days — Complete circuit
Add: Modica/Ragusa Baroque triangle, Trapani + Erice + salt flats, Aeolian Islands (2 days), inland towns like Caltagirone and Piazza Armerina.
3 weeks+ — Deep Sicily
Add: Egadi Islands, Madonie mountains, Enna, the wild south coast. Three weeks reveals Sicily's incredible depth — and you still won't see everything.
Our recommendation: 10 days minimum for a satisfying trip
Rent a car from Catania or Palermo airport. Sicily's trains are slow and buses are unreliable. A car is essential for the interior and south coast.