Sicily is a land of dramatic landscapes – jagged volcanoes, sapphire-blue seas, and millennia-old ruins – all waiting to be discovered from the saddle of a motorcycle. We at Italy Moto Tours love this island because it truly has it all. In one ride you can sweep along a coastal highway with the Mediterranean on one side, and on the next day ascend an active volcano. Sicily’s history is on every corner too, from Greek temples to Baroque towns. As a team of riders and guides, we plan routes that hit the highlights without tiring our guests. Along the way we soak up warm Sicilian culture, sample local cuisine (arancini, cannoli, and lemon granita are hard to beat!), and share stories around the evening table about the day’s ride. In short, exploring Sicily by motorcycle with Italy Moto Tours means seeing volcanoes, coasts, and ancient cities up close, in a fun and easy way.
Majestic Volcanoes: Riding Mount Etna and the Aeolian Islands
Sicily’s crown jewel is undoubtedly Mount Etna – at about 3,329 meters (10,922 ft) high, it’s the tallest active volcano in Europe. You can’t miss it: Etna “dominates Sicily’s eastern landscape” after 500,000 years of eruptions. On clear days the volcanic cone glows above the olive groves, and even on misty days its presence looms on the horizon. We ride up winding roads like the SP92 loop, carving switchbacks through ancient lava fields until we reach over 2,000m in elevation. Experienced riders will tell you Etna’s roads are thrilling – and thanks to a storm we once had it almost entirely to ourselves! (On most days the route is shared with happy sightseers and locals enjoying “Europe’s highest volcano.”) Mount Etna is also a UNESCO World Heritage site for good reason. Its slopes change from olive groves to vineyards (we stop at an Etna winery for a Nerello Mascalese tasting) and then to alpine craters where you can see steaming vents or leftover snow, all in one ride. This diversity – from “lunar-like crater landscapes to lush forests” – is unique to Etna. National Geographic even notes that Etna “has fascinated visitors and scientists and inspired Greek myths” for centuries.
Beyond Etna’s slopes, the volcanic wonders continue north into the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Aeolian Islands. This archipelago of seven volcanic isles (including Lipari, Vulcano, Salina and the famous Stromboli) is like an open-air geology lab. We often take a ferry hop (or even a fast boat) from Sicily to Vulcano or Stromboli for a daylight ride and dinner under the stars. Stromboli is especially dramatic: it’s nicknamed the “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean” because its nightly eruptions light up the sky. Imagine sitting on a terrace with your bike parked at sunset and watching lava bursts over a black-sand beach – it’s an unforgettable experience. (In fact, Italians have studied Stromboli’s regular Vulcanian and Strombolian eruptions for over two centuries.) Whether it’s high on Etna or on an Aeolian island coast, visiting Sicily’s volcanoes is always an adventure, and our motorcycles are the perfect way to do it.
Scenic Coastal Roads and Beaches
Sicily is an island, so there are endless miles of shoreline and sea views to enjoy. We make the most of it by choosing routes that hug the coast or climb nearby cliffs, offering riders panoramic vistas at every turn. For example, on the north coast one of our favorites is the road from Palermo to Cefalù: narrow lanes wind through ancient olive groves and farm villages until you drop down to a Mediterranean beach. The seaside town of Cefalù is a gem – its Norman cathedral towers over the old town, and a wide sandy beach hugs the promenade. After a morning ride, our group often stops there to explore the cobbled streets and snap photos of the cathedral’s twin towers reflected in the water. (NatGeo recommends Cefalù as a classic Sicilian beach day trip.)
Another iconic coastal ride is around Taormina and Giardini Naxos on the Ionian coast. From Taormina’s hillside viewpoint you see Mount Etna at one end and the Ionian Sea at the other – a dramatic scene any photographer would love. We descend from Taormina on twisty switchbacks down to sea level, passing lemon orchards and villas, before following the coastline east towards Catania. In the early evening we sometimes dip our tires in the warm water just south of Catania, where black volcanic sand meets clear blue waves.
Riding the western coast is just as thrilling. One day we trace the coastline of the Trapani province, stopping at seaside villages and Venetian-era watchtowers. At the western tip near Marsala we ride across salt flats with flamingos in the distance, then climb up to the top of the old medieval city of Erice (the view of the Tyrrhenian Sea is fantastic). Of course, our routes are flexible – if a group wants more beach time, we can add a stop at a hidden cove or a protected nature reserve like Zingaro. Sicily’s beaches (called spiagge) actually lie between three different seas – the Ionian, Tyrrhenian and open Mediterranean – so there’s huge variety. We may ride along white pebble coves off Calabria bound, or golden sands at south-coast Licata. For example, one nice addition is “Scala dei Turchi”, the famous chalky cliff by Agrigento: pictures of that glowing white cliff against turquoise water always wow our riders. In general, riding by the sea is one of the highlights: our bikes don’t mind the sea breezes, and every overlook is another photo stop.
In short, Sicilian coastal roads offer twists and climbs (“tornanti” in Italian) that are perfect on a motorcycle. We avoid long boring highway straights; instead we follow secondary roads through seaside farmland and hills. At lunch we often savor fresh seafood by the shore – swordfish and sunripe tomatoes are Sicilian specialties. Finally, no coastal ride is complete without an evening gelato on the boardwalk. These seaside experiences are what make a Sicily tour special, and Italy Moto Tours carefully picks routes that balance fun riding with cultural stops.
Ancient Cities and Historic Treasures
Riding in Sicily is like traversing living history. The island’s crossroads location means Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and others all left their mark. We include stops at several UNESCO World Heritage sites so riders can stretch their legs and soak up the past. For instance, the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento (on Sicily’s southern coast) is a must-see. There you’ll find eight colossal Greek temples from 5th and 6th centuries BC, all set on a hilltop plain near the sea. The Temple of Concordia – built around 440–430 BC – is amazingly well preserved (some say only Athens’s Parthenon is as intact). We usually visit at sunset, when the warm light on the columns is magical. As you walk among the ancient ruins, you really feel the power of old Akragas, the once-wealthy Greek city that built these temples.
Another highlight is Syracuse in the southeast. Syracuse was one of the most important cities of antiquity, and its archaeological park is amazing. We ride into Syracuse and park near Neapolis Park, where you can walk among its ruins. The Greek Theatre is literally carved into a hillside and still hosts performances today. Nearby is a Roman amphitheater and the mysterious “Ear of Dionysius” cave. After the ruins we motor over to Ortigia – the old island town that is the heart of Syracuse – with its baroque cathedral built on an ancient temple site. Wandering Ortigia’s alleyways, you might see bits of ancient columns built into church walls, and lively piazzas overflowing with espresso bars and gelato shops.
We also ride through the west and stop in Palermo, Sicily’s capital, where the mix of Arab-Norman palaces and street-food markets is vibrant. In the southeast we often detour to the Baroque town of Noto (a walking city museum). En route, we’d mention places like Piazza Armerina, which has the largest and most famous Roman mosaic floor (the “Villa del Casale”). Wherever our wheels go, the history is never far away – many days our group is asked by villagers if we’re Italian, and we proudly reply we’re riding with Italy Moto Tours, soaking in a little Italian heritage each mile.
Italy Moto Tours: Your Guide to the Best of Sicily
At Italy Moto Tours, our goal is to make Sicily easy and fun to explore on two wheels. That means we take care of all the planning and support, so you can focus on the ride. For example:
- Expertly Planned Routes: We scout every road ahead of time. Expect to avoid highway traffic and instead enjoy scenic byways, mountain passes, and quiet coastal roads. Our routes hit the must-see sights (like Etna and the temples) but also secret viewpoints and local hideaways.
- Guided Experience: Every ride is led by an experienced guide (often Italian or Sicilian) who knows the island like a native. They will handle navigation, brief the group, and share insider tips on local culture and cuisine.
- Support Van & Lodging: We travel light on the bikes. A support van carries luggage and provides a safe haven if bad weather arrives or a rider needs a break. At night we stay in comfortable hotels or agriturismi hand-picked for charm and quality. Some meals (like a welcome dinner or breakfast) are included, and we can suggest the best local trattorias for lunch stops.
- All Skill Levels Welcome: Whether you ride a Harley or a Ducati or even a BMW, our tours are suitable for all riders. We make sure no one feels left behind. If you’ve never been to Sicily (or on a motorcycle tour at all), we explain everything in plain English and get you acclimated. Safety always comes first.
In short, choosing Italy Moto Tours means choosing worry-free adventure. We book your ferries (for Aeolian day trips), handle Italian road permits if needed, and even provide riding gear recommendations. Past guests tell us they appreciate our small-group approach – it keeps the tour personal and fun. At the end of each day’s ride, you’ll find us swapping photos and talking about the day’s highlight over a glass of Nero d’Avola.
If you dream of riding Sicily – standing at ancient hilltop temples, snaking along cliffside roads, and feeling the rumble of an active volcano – we’re here to make it happen. Our upcoming Sicily tours have some seats left, and we would love to have you join us. Contact Italy Moto Tours, and let’s plan your Sicilian motorcycle adventure. Come experience Sicily as you’ve never seen it before – from the seat of a bike!
