Best time to go to Sicily for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to Sicily?
The best time to visit Sicily extends from March to November. However, thanks to its mild weather, it is possible to consider a stay all year round on the largest of the Italian islands.
Between March and June, in spring, the atmosphere gradually warms up and the blue sky allows for extraordinary hikes. The landscapes are then covered with lush green grass and colorful flowers, especially those of orange trees, which give off a magical scent. By the end of April, the first heat appears and it is entirely possible to stroll around in a t-shirt. However, you will have to wait until May to enjoy the pleasures of swimming, when the temperature of the translucent waters of the Mediterranean exceeds 20°C (68°F) .
As for enthusiasts of warm vacations, their favorite period is from July to September, when the sun is guaranteed to be shining and the superb beaches invite you to swim. On the other hand, it is better to avoid hikes during this period due to the heat, unless you set off very early in the morning. This time of year is, however, reserved for those who enjoy mingling with the crowd and who are prepared for a fairly high budget. Indeed, with the influx of visitors, prices are at their highest and you will need to make your reservations well in advance to hope for reasonable prices.
Autumn, between September and November, is also a very pleasant season, although rainier than spring. You can enjoy beach pleasures until early November and the forests with their vibrant colors offer splendid opportunities for bucolic walks.
Winter is mild in Sicily, but rain may occur during your trip. In the highlands, you can ski, while elsewhere, cultural visits and quiet relaxation will be on the agenda. During the month of December, you will have the opportunity to admire the sumptuous Christmas cribs, the most famous of which are those of Caltagirone and Erice.
When is the best time to visit Sicily to have only advantages? Opt for the months of May, June, September, and October. The weather is great, swimming is easy, there are far fewer people than in summer, and prices are very reasonable.
Annual weather in Sicily
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Sicily for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41°F to 63°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| February | 41°F to 63°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| March | 45°F to 65°F | good weather* | |||
| April | 54°F to 70°F | good weather | |||
| May | 63°F to 77°F | perfect weather* | |||
| June | 70°F to 88°F | perfect weather | |||
| July | 76°F to 95°F | perfect weather | |||
| August | 76°F to 95°F | perfect weather | |||
| September | 68°F to 85°F | good weather* | |||
| October | 59°F to 77°F | good weather | |||
| November | 52°F to 72°F | good weather | |||
| December | 45°F to 67°F | tolerable weather* |
Best time to travel to Sicily by cities
Climate and Weather in Sicily
Unsurprisingly, the climate in Sicily is Mediterranean: summers are hot and the other seasons, temperate.
The island is subject to several winds, including the famous sirocco, known to be formidable. It is a hot and dry wind that comes straight from neighboring North Africa, and the Sahara Desert in particular. Bringing with it sand and stifling air, it is said to drive people crazy! In autumn and winter, cool winds blow over Sicily: the mistral, the tramontane, and the Greek.
The weather in Sicily will also vary depending on where you are on the island. Indeed, it is made up of diverse territories, with small islands, volcanoes, urban areas, forests, and vast agricultural plains. With winds mainly coming from the northwest, cities like Palermo, Trapani, or Cefalú experience much more unpredictable weather than in the south, around Catania or Syracuse. As for Taormina, on the east coast, winters there are less rainy than around the capital.
Summer in Sicily
In Sicily, as in Puglia in southern Italy, summer is long, dry, but also particularly hot. Temperatures are scorching in July and August, with the thermometer often exceeding 40°C (104°F) in the shade. The landscapes are dry, reminiscent of those in the Maghreb.
To cope with this heat, it is best to do as the locals do: prioritize excursions to the heights of the island in the morning and avoid going out between 1pm and 5pm. Another option is to spend time in the water, with temperatures around 25°C (77°F) , which will feel refreshing!
Occasionally, heavy storms, short but intense, can occur. This happens most often towards the end of summer. Moreover, rainfall increases as we approach autumn.
Autumn in Sicily
While Sicilian autumn enjoys temperatures as pleasant as in spring, it is much more humid. As the sea remains warm for a long time, swimming is still possible late in the season depending on the year.
In October, it's Indian summer. The weather is still very nice and temperatures become pleasant again, even in the middle of the day, with averages remaining above 20°C (68°F) .
From mid-November, autumn settles in for good. Temperatures drop, the weather becomes unstable, and rain is abundant. On Mount Etna, it is often at this time that the first snowfalls appear, marking the start of the skiing season.
Winter in Sicily
In winter, Sicily enjoys mild but also rainy weather. In reality, one can never predict the weather, as it changes quickly. One day you may feel like it's spring, the next day it's cold during a day of uninterrupted rain. This period, along with autumn, sees the most precipitation. However, rainfall is more significant along the northern coast than in the rest of the island.
In terms of temperatures, averages are around 10°C (50°F) in the morning and 15°C (59°F) during the day on the coast. In the highlands, it is much colder with maximum temperatures rarely exceeding 10°C (50°F) , and snow is present on Mount Etna, as well as in the Madonie and Nebrodi massifs.
Spring in Sicily
Spring is one of the most pleasant seasons to explore Sicily. While March is still cool and rainy, between early April and late May temperatures are perfect and sunshine is particularly abundant. It is the ideal time to discover cities like Palermo or Catania, unless you prefer to embark on the ascent of Mount Etna!
In June, summer sets in. However, temperatures are quite bearable: nothing like the heatwave of July and August! Precipitation is almost non-existent at this time of year, and the thermometer shows averages around 25°C (77°F) .
Temperatures and rainfall in Sicily
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Sicily and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Palermo, Catane, Marsala, Cefalù and Etna, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Sicily
Find out when Sicily has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Sicily
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, November and December. The number of visitors to Sicily is high in: May, June, July, August, September and October.
- Very low season in Sicily: January and February.
- Low season in Sicily: March, April, November and December.
- High season in Sicily: May, June, July, September and October.
- Peak season in Sicily: August.
Figure: Visitor index for Sicily month by month
Average price for flights to Sicily
A return flight between Manchester and Palermo is generally cheaper if you go in november ($ 116 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 162 more for your airline ticket to Palermo if you go in august.
Where to go in Sicily?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Palermo | 58°F | 58°F | 61°F | 67°F | 72°F | 81°F | 88°F | 88°F | 81°F | 74°F | 67°F | 59°F |
| Catane | 59°F | 61°F | 65°F | 70°F | 77°F | 86°F | 94°F | 94°F | 85°F | 77°F | 68°F | 63°F |
| Marsala | 59°F | 58°F | 59°F | 63°F | 68°F | 76°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 74°F | 68°F | 61°F |
| Cefalù | 58°F | 58°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 79°F | 85°F | 86°F | 81°F | 74°F | 67°F | 59°F |
| Etna | 52°F | 54°F | 58°F | 65°F | 72°F | 81°F | 88°F | 88°F | 79°F | 70°F | 63°F | 56°F |
| Ragusa | 59°F | 59°F | 61°F | 67°F | 74°F | 81°F | 88°F | 88°F | 83°F | 76°F | 68°F | 61°F |
| Stromboli | 58°F | 58°F | 59°F | 63°F | 68°F | 74°F | 79°F | 81°F | 77°F | 72°F | 67°F | 59°F |
| Syracuse | 59°F | 61°F | 65°F | 70°F | 77°F | 86°F | 94°F | 94°F | 85°F | 77°F | 68°F | 63°F |
| Taormina | 56°F | 58°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 79°F | 86°F | 86°F | 79°F | 72°F | 67°F | 59°F |
| Trapani | 59°F | 58°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 77°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 74°F | 68°F | 61°F |
| Caltagirone | 56°F | 58°F | 61°F | 68°F | 77°F | 88°F | 95°F | 95°F | 85°F | 74°F | 65°F | 58°F |
| Cerami | 54°F | 56°F | 59°F | 67°F | 74°F | 85°F | 92°F | 92°F | 81°F | 72°F | 65°F | 58°F |
| Egadi Islands | 59°F | 58°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 77°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 74°F | 68°F | 61°F |
| Enna | 56°F | 56°F | 61°F | 67°F | 76°F | 86°F | 94°F | 94°F | 83°F | 74°F | 65°F | 58°F |
| Erice | 59°F | 58°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 77°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 74°F | 68°F | 61°F |
| Isola di Ustica | 63°F | 63°F | 63°F | 65°F | 68°F | 74°F | 81°F | 83°F | 81°F | 77°F | 72°F | 67°F |
| Menfi | 58°F | 58°F | 61°F | 67°F | 74°F | 83°F | 88°F | 90°F | 83°F | 74°F | 67°F | 61°F |
| Modica | 59°F | 59°F | 61°F | 67°F | 74°F | 81°F | 88°F | 88°F | 83°F | 76°F | 68°F | 61°F |
| Mozia | 59°F | 58°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 77°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 74°F | 68°F | 61°F |
| Riserva Naturale Cavagrande del Cassibile | 59°F | 59°F | 61°F | 65°F | 70°F | 77°F | 83°F | 85°F | 81°F | 74°F | 68°F | 61°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Sicily
What can I do in Sicily?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Sicily reliable?
Climate data for Sicily has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Sicily allows us to determine the average for each month in Palermo, Catane, Marsala, Cefalù, Etna, Ragusa, Stromboli, Syracuse, and 36 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.