I’ve been lucky enough to experience Sicily in many seasons, and my favourites are late spring and autumn. Arrive in August expecting quiet beaches? You’ll be disappointed. Arrive in November wanting to swim in the sea? Possibly the same. But if you know what you’re after and pick the right window – Sicily won’t surprise you in a bad way. Quite the opposite. This guide to when to go to Sicily tells you everything.
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- The best compromise is June and September – warm sea, reasonable prices, fewer people
- The cheapest months are October-February, when accommodation prices drop by 20-50 %
- The quietest are April and October – half-empty beaches, no queues at the sights
- Avoid August – heat over 35 °C, the highest prices and crowds of Italians
- The sea is warmest at the end of August and throughout September (up to 26-27 °C)
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Sicily’s weather month by month
If you don’t know when to go to Sicily, here’s a table for quick decisions:
| Month | Air | Sea | Tourists | Prices |
| January | up to 10 °C | 14 °C | Minimal | Lowest |
| February | 13-16 °C | 14 °C | Minimal | Lowest |
| March | 15-18 °C | 15 °C | Few | Low |
| April | 18-22 °C | 17 °C | Moderate | Moderate |
| May | 22-26 °C | 20 °C | Moderate | Moderate |
| June | 26-30 °C | 23 °C | Higher | Higher |
| July | 30-35 °C | 26 °C | High | Highest |
| August | 32-38 °C | 27 °C | Highest | Highest |
| September | 27-31 °C | 26 °C | Falling | Falling |
| October | 22-26 °C | 23 °C | Low | Low |
| November | 17-20 °C | 20 °C | Minimal | Low |
| December | 13-16 °C | 17 °C | Minimal | Lowest |
Spring (March – May) – our favourite
Spring is the best time for anyone who wants to genuinely explore Sicily – and not just lie on a beach.
March is still a little unpredictable. The weather changes, the sea is cold, but the landscape is fresh and green and there are hardly any tourists. Accommodation prices are very low (an average night cost us around 1,100 CZK, roughly 45 €). Great for exploring historic towns, the Zingaro reserve and the Egadi Islands out of season. We were there in March and experienced it – empty coves, authentic atmosphere, no queues.
April and May are the absolute ideal. Temperatures around 20-25 °C, the sea warming up to 17-20 °C. The beaches aren’t packed, but swimming in the coves of Zingaro or on the Egadi Islands is comfortably possible from May.
Who spring suits best: couples, walkers, lovers of food and wine, photographers, and travellers who hate crowds.
Downsides: the sea is still cooler in March and April. On the Aeolian Islands, for instance, a cold, nasty wind can blow in March.
Summer (June – August)
Summer in Sicily is intense. Sun, heat, crowds – and at the same time the most beautiful sea colours.
June – the golden compromise
June is a popular summer choice. Temperatures around 28-30 °C, the sea warmed to 23 °C, not as many tourists as July, and prices still 20-30 % lower than in July/August. Everything is open and the atmosphere is lively. If you have to travel in summer, choose June.
July – full season
Everything is open and the atmosphere is at its peak. But the beaches are packed, prices are at their maximum and inland it can top 35 °C. If you’re going mainly for the sea and don’t mind crowds – fine. For daytime sightseeing it’s physically demanding to the point of devastating. But if you enjoy self-flagellation, help yourself.
August – careful
August is the most intense month. The Italian summer holidays (Ferragosto) mean it’s mainly Italians heading to Sicily – and there are a lot of them. Favignana, Taormina, Cefalù – all full. Accommodation prices at their absolute peak. The heat can exceed 38 °C. But the sea is at its warmest of the year (27 °C) and the atmosphere has its own magic. You just have to know what you’re signing up for.
Autumn (September – October) – our favourite
The sea is at its warmest of the whole year – heated through the summer to 25-26 °C. Tourist numbers drop rapidly, especially after 15 September. Prices haven’t fallen that far yet. Temperatures are pleasant – 27-31 °C during the day, pleasant in the evening.
October is ideal for walking and still ideal for swimming, though perhaps not for everyone (the sea drops to 22-23 °C, but it’s still pleasant). The landscape turns golden, the light is absolute for photographers and there are hardly any tourists.
Who autumn works for: anyone with flexible dates. Genuinely everyone.
Winter (November – February)
Sicily in winter is for a specific type of traveller. I originally thought I’d go and work remotely in these months, but personally I like escaping Czechia for warmth. That doesn’t happen in winter. The low temperature alone wouldn’t bother me that much, but you get rain and wind on top.
What’s limited in winter: the Aeolian and Egadi Islands have minimal services, some accommodation is closed and ferries run less often. The beach resorts are empty.
What is unique, though: skiing on Etna – see our article on climbing Etna.
When to go to Sicily by region
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and the climatic differences between regions are significant. It isn’t enough to know it’s “warm” – it depends exactly where you are. Don’t make the mistake we did in early March, when we thought we had it made.
The south (Agrigento, Noto, Ragusa) is the warmest part of the island. The swimming season can start in April. In summer it’s extremely hot, but in spring and autumn it’s absolutely ideal.
The east coast (Catania, Taormina) is influenced by the Ionian Sea – somewhat milder than the south. Etna also creates a microclimate – it’s colder and damper on the slopes than on the coast.
The north coast (Palermo, Cefalù) is colder in winter thanks to continental wind. Pleasant in summer thanks to the sea breeze.
The west (Trapani, Marsala) is influenced by winds from Africa – sea temperatures here are on average higher than in the north.
The Aeolian Islands are exposed to sea winds.
The Egadi Islands have a similar climate to western Sicily – spring and autumn are absolutely ideal, and in summer both crowds and prices climb. In March this year, for example, it was beautifully sunny at 18 °C with almost no wind at all.
How the season affects prices
Few people factor this in beforehand, but the difference is enormous. Indeed, plenty of people decide when to go to Sicily precisely because of the season.
Accommodation in Sicily in August can cost a lot more than the same hotel in November. If your dates are flexible and you aren’t tied down, avoid July and August (I know, but repetition works, which is why I keep saying it). You’ll save a lot of money.
Flights work the same way. Ryanair and Wizz Air offer direct flights from Prague and Vienna to Catania or Palermo – out of season easily from 1,500 CZK return, in summer easily over 4,000 CZK.
