Custom Trip Plan
Destinations

Trip Ideas
Itineraries
Themes

About Us

1 800 344 5785

Discover Sicily, White Lotus Style

9 Days / 8 Nights

Taormina, Ragusa, Palermo

Travel and LeisureFodorsUSA TodayNew York TimesNational GeographicWashington PostVogue

Nothing has done quite as much in recent years for Sicilian tourism as the HBO series The White Lotus. A few liberties might have been taken with some locations, but we'll make sure you visit all the most significant spots on this tour that features overnight stays in Taormina, Ragusa, one of the 8 baroque towns that make up a UNESCO listing along with Noto, and finally Palermo.

Much of the action takes place in Taormina, and you'll see plenty of the town, with three nights there. On the transfer from Taormina to Ragusa, you'll stop in Catania, where the Teatro Massimo Bellini was used for the interior scenes of the opera Quentin and Tanya attend in Palermo. From Ragusa a day trip to Noto will put you in the shoes of Daphne and Harper. Getting to Palermo takes a while but a stop in one of Sicily's archeological highlights, the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, makes the day special. Palermo is another star of the show, and arriving in the evening will show you Palermo street life through the eyes of Jack and Portia. You'll stay with those characters when you take a self-guided day trip by train to Cefalu, used for most of the beach scenes set in Taormina but also the backdrop to Jack and Portia's night away from Tanya and Quentin.

You don't need a budget worthy of The White Lotus to enjoy this tour, and while you could stay in the San Domenico Palace, that plays the part of the eponymous resort hotel, we can make far more wallet-friendly recommendations, even at the five star level.

This itinerary includes transportation between destinations by private car, for maximum comfort. Self-drive is possible too. Upon arrival, we will provide you with a local SIM that you can use to reach your local JayWay contact throughout your trip. In all of our destinations, we offer a variety of memorable 3-5 star accommodation options, including boutique hotels, charming B&Bs, and spacious apartments. With our firsthand experience, we can ensure they are all clean, comfortable, and centrally located, with local ambience.

Route for Taormina, Ragusa, Palermo tour

3 Nights in Taormina

3 Nights in Taormina

4 days in Taormina
4 days in Taormina

3 Nights in Taormina

Taormina is the most famous destination in Sicily, hosting actors and actresses in an atmosphere of glamor, luxury, and seaside relaxation. We recommend visiting the fascinating Greek theater, nestled in a splendid location with spectacular views of scenic beaches and the snow-capped volcanic Mt. Etna. Then take time for a walk among the picturesque medieval streets and go shopping for local handicrafts, which include coral, lace, ceramics, and sweets.

Taormina is the most famous destination in Sicily, hosting actors and actresses in an atmosphere of glamor, luxury, and seaside relaxation. We recommend visiting the fascinating Greek theater, nestled in a splendid location with spectacular views of scenic beaches and the snow-capped volcanic Mt. Etna. Then take time for a walk among the picturesque medieval streets and go shopping for local handicrafts, which include coral, lace, ceramics, and sweets.

Day 1

Day 1 - Arrival in Taormina

Upon arrival at Catania Fontanarossa Airport, your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall to take you directly to Taormina, a 40 minute drive.

An Evening by The Beach

Suggestion to explore on your own

What's better than a nighttime stroll along the beach in a city renowned for its vibrant nightlife? Take a deep breath and inhale the lovely breeze coming from the sea, sit on the beach, and enjoy the Mediterranean Sea at night. If you are in for the nightlife, the promenade in Taormina is full of pubs, bars, and discos, especially in the summer. They all promise a lively atmosphere, with live music or DJ sets.

An Evening by The Beach

Day 2

Day 2 - Your First Full Day in Taormina

Taormina Private Walking Tour

Taormina Private Walking Tour

Included in your vacation package price.

Taormina is considered the pearl of the Mediterranean Sea: spectacularly perched on the side of a mountain, rich in history, art, culture and tradition, it is an unmissable sight in every Italian journey. Inhabited by the Siculi even before the Greeks arrived in 734 BC, it enjoyed great prosperity under the Romans and became a popular stop on the "Grand Tour" taken by European elites. On this three-hour private guided tour, you will enjoy Taormina's most important historic and artistic treasures and views.


Activity Level : Light
Duration : 3 hours

Swim and Dive Around Isola Bella

Suggestion to explore on your own

The local beach in front of Isola Bella is a great spot for a relaxing afternoon and a sunset cocktail in one of the upmarket hotels with privileged access to the tiny beach. You can also try some easy diving around the local bay near the blue cave and the sunken Roman columns, which is ideal for beginners. We recommend the local company, Nike Diving Taormina.

Swim and Dive Around Isola Bella

Day 3

Day 3 - Your Second Full Day in Taormina

Private Tour of Mount Etna and Lunch at Etna Winery

Mighty Mount Etna

Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

After a short ride you can explore Sicily's iconic symbols: mighty Mt. Etna, Europe's highest volcano, and one of the world's most active. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is also a park hosting unique flora and fauna, villages and farms, and traditional methods of forestry, beekeeping, wineries, stonework, and carpentry. You'll want to see the “Crateri Silvestri,” small inactive volcanic cones surrounded by ancient lava flows. The view beyond the mountain’s hundreds of subsidiary cones and craters extends across the whole of Sicily, the Aeolian islands and Calabria on the mainland, the toe of the Italian boot. We recommend that you join a tour with an expert local guide and do not venture beyond the clearly marked paths.


Activity Level : Light
Duration : 7 hours

Day 4

Day 4 - Traveling to Ragusa by Private Transfer

Today you will be traveling to the pinnacle of Sicilian Baroque architecture, Ragusa. Our driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Taormina and take you to Ragusa. On the way, you will stop in Catania where you will enjoy a 4-hour small group street food tour that will showcase the flavor of Sicily. The whole journey should take about 7 hours. Please note that this is a non-guided transfer.

Ragusa By Private Transfer with a stop in Catania including Street Food Tour
We also offer the following excursions in Taormina

Etna Countryside Food and Wine Group Tour
Light6 hours
Etna and Alcantara Group Tour
Moderate8 hours
Taormina Cooking Class & Market Visit
Easy4 Hours
Taormina Food & Wine Tasting tour
Light3 Hours

2 Nights in Ragusa

2 Nights in Ragusa

3 days in Ragusa
3 days in Ragusa

2 Nights in Ragusa

There are two Ragusas (three if you count Dubrovnik, once also known by that name). Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore. Ragusa Ibla is the one you've seen in pictures and maybe the Inspector Montalbano books and TV series. Before the 1693 Sicily earthquake, the town of Ragusa was located on the site of the current Ragusa Superiore. After that was destroyed, a new town was built on the slightly lower neighboring hill, in the late Baroque style fashionable at the time. This is the town known as Ragusa Ibla. It's one of eight towns that make up the "Late Baroque Towns of the Noto Valley" UNESCO World Heritage listing. Fast forward to modern day, when a new town was built on the ruins of the original, and this is Ragusa Superiore, where most locals live. The rabbit warren of narrow streets and alleyways of Ibla is in stark contrast to those of Superiore. Superiore is a great place to avail yourself of all the conveniences of a modern town, as well as some excellent restaurants where you'll be the only foreigner, it doesn't have the same magic that Ragusa Ibla enjoys.

There are two Ragusas (three if you count Dubrovnik, once also known by that name). Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore. Ragusa Ibla is the one you've seen in pictures and maybe the Inspector Montalbano books and TV series. Before the 1693 Sicily earthquake, the town of Ragusa was located on the site of the current Ragusa Superiore. After that was destroyed, a new town was built on the slightly lower neighboring hill, in the late Baroque style fashionable at the time. This is the town known as Ragusa Ibla. It's one of eight towns that make up the "Late Baroque Towns of the Noto Valley" UNESCO World Heritage listing. Fast forward to modern day, when a new town was built on the ruins of the original, and this is Ragusa Superiore, where most locals live. The rabbit warren of narrow streets and alleyways of Ibla is in stark contrast to those of Superiore. Superiore is a great place to avail yourself of all the conveniences of a modern town, as well as some excellent restaurants where you'll be the only foreigner, it doesn't have the same magic that Ragusa Ibla enjoys.

Day 4

Day 4 - Arrival in Ragusa

Your driver will bring you as close as possible to your accommodation located in the historic center of Ragusa Ibla.

Granita and Walk

Suggestion to explore on your own

You have just arrived in Ragusa, settled in your hotel and now you have a couple of hours to explore the city on your own. Where to go, where to start? Our suggestion is to walk around the city center a little bit and stop at Caffè Italia, in Piazza San Giovanni, and refresh with a lovely granita (a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and offered in various flavors). This is the best place to try it in Ragusa and their go-to flavors are coffee and pistachio. If you add some fresh whipped cream on top, then it's just a dream!

Granita and Walk

Day 5

Day 5 - Your First Full Day in Ragusa

Ragusa Ibla, Modica, and Noto Private Day Trip

Noto, the Gem of Sicilian Baroque

Included in your vacation package price.

This full-day tour gives you the chance to explore some UNESCO-listed Baroque architecture with an expert local guide. You'll set off from your accommodation and drive to your destinations: Ragusa Ibla, Modica, and Noto. Each is impressive in its own right, and as a whole they represent some of the world's finest Baroque architecture. Your guide will tell you all about them, and you'll also have the chance to stop for a delicious local lunch. At the end of the day you'll be driven back to your accommodations.


Activity Level : Light
Duration : 8-9 Hours

Day 6

Day 6 - Traveling to Palermo by Private Transfer

After breakfast, it's time to head towards Palermo. Our driver will pick you up from your accommodations and take you there. To take advantage of the journey, we have included a stop in Agrigento. There you can visit the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples (actually a ridge), home to one of the world's great concentrations of ancient Greek architecture (especially temples), spread out over several thousand acres.

Palermo By Private Transfer with a Stop in Agrigento
We also offer the following excursions in Ragusa

Ancient, Baroque, and Fascist Architecture Private Tour
Light4 hours
Half Day Private Sailing Tour Along Marina di Ragusa Coast
Easy4 hours
Ragusa Ibla, Modica, and Noto Private Day Trip (for Clients With Rented Car)
Light8 hours

3 Nights in Palermo

3 Nights in Palermo

4 days in Palermo
4 days in Palermo

3 Nights in Palermo

Palermo doesn’t care if you like it. It’s the capital city of Sicily, and its biggest. Reminiscent in parts of Naples. It's not a place you'll find thronged with tourists, but the locals sure like to be outside. A hub of activity and a gridlock in rush hour and at weekends. Despite the order of the main avenues, the twisting lanes of the Centro Storico provide plenty of opportunities to get lost. Cheek by jowl here you will find grand palazzos (much of European royalty had their vacation palaces in Palermo) and scruffy tenements. Turn a corner in a grungy alley and you’re faced with an ornate fountain or pomp and circumstance statue. All of this provides a rich backdrop to your time in Palermo. Many have come before. The city was founded nearly 3,000 years ago and Palermo has truly been a crossroads of the great civilizations. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Germans, Spanish, Bourbon, and finally Italian rulers have held dominion over the city and left their mark. Its international airport and busy seaport make it a great starting or finishing point for an exploration of Sicily.

Palermo doesn’t care if you like it. It’s the capital city of Sicily, and its biggest. Reminiscent in parts of Naples. It's not a place you'll find thronged with tourists, but the locals sure like to be outside. A hub of activity and a gridlock in rush hour and at weekends. Despite the order of the main avenues, the twisting lanes of the Centro Storico provide plenty of opportunities to get lost. Cheek by jowl here you will find grand palazzos (much of European royalty had their vacation palaces in Palermo) and scruffy tenements. Turn a corner in a grungy alley and you’re faced with an ornate fountain or pomp and circumstance statue. All of this provides a rich backdrop to your time in Palermo. Many have come before. The city was founded nearly 3,000 years ago and Palermo has truly been a crossroads of the great civilizations. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Germans, Spanish, Bourbon, and finally Italian rulers have held dominion over the city and left their mark. Its international airport and busy seaport make it a great starting or finishing point for an exploration of Sicily.

Day 6

Day 6 - Arrival in Palermo

Once you arrive in Palermo, your driver will take you to your centrally located accommodations.

Palermo by Night

Suggestion to explore on your own

Experience the Palermo as shown in Jack and Portia's nighttime stroll. First glimpses of Palermo can be quite overwhelming; this loud and colorful city engages all of your senses at once. We suggest starting easy, with a nice drink and a meal in some of our favorite spots. Piazza Olivella (two steps from Teatro Massimo, where Tanya and Quentin's opera outing supposedly happens) is one of the main areas for shopping, food, and drinks. A small part of the square, known as the Champagneria, is one of the places where young people hang out. Piazza San Francesco and Via Paternostro are two vibrant areas full of bars and restaurants where you can get a feel for the Palermitan way of (night)life. Piazza Sant’Anna is the best square to enjoy a drink in summer and enjoy a favorite local past-time, people-watching, because the bars there put all of their tables outside.

Palermo by Night

Day 7

Day 7 - Your First Full Day in Palermo

Palermo Street Food Private Walking Tour

Discover Palermo on a Street Food Tour

Included in your vacation package price.

Today you'll have your local expert guide all to yourselves as you discover the places, dishes and drinks that embody the city's rich past. Visiting some of the city's legendary street markets you'll get a flavour of everyday life for Palermitans as you dodge the scooters. Between tastings, your guide's explanations will make the city come alive and leave you with a deeper appreciation than you'd have from a standard walking tour. Especially if you're brave enough to try the "Pani ca' Meusa" sandwich.


Activity Level : Light
Duration : 3 hours

Day 8

Day 8 - Your Second Full Day in Palermo

Self-Guided Day Trip to Cefalu

Although Cefalu might not feature too prominently as a destination itself in the series (it's where Jack and Portia spend the night while Tanya and Quentin take the yacht back to Taormina), Cefalu's beach certainly plays its part. Many beach scenes supposedly in Taormina were shot here, with Cefalu's distinctive Norman cathedral in the background. You can reach Cefalu easily by train from Palermo Centrale – the journey takes under an hour and costs just a few Euros.

Day 9

Day 9 - Departure Day

Today your driver will meet you at your accommodations and take you to Palermo's airport. The drive takes approximately 45 minutes.

We also offer the following excursions in Palermo

Palermo Afternoon Cooking Class
Light4 hours
Palermo Highlights Group Bike Tour
Moderate3 hours
Palermo Market Tour & Cooking Class
Easy4.5 Hours
Palermo Private Walking Tour
Easy3-4 hours

What's Included

Here are all the services provided as part of your complete vacation package. See what every JayWay trip includes.
Please let us know if you'd like to upgrade any transfers or add any additional tours or excursions to your itinerary.

Taormina

3 Nights Accommodation
Breakfast (hotels only)
Taormina - Catania Airport Transfer
Taormina Private Walking Tour
Taormina - Ragusa Private Transfer with Catania Stop and Food Tour
Catania Street Food Group Tour

Ragusa

2 Nights Accommodation
Breakfast (hotels only)
Ragusa Ibla, Modica, and Noto Private Day Trip
Ragusa - Palermo Private Transfer with a stop in Agrigento

Palermo

3 Nights Accommodation
Breakfast (hotels only)
Palermo Street Food Private Walking Tour
Palermo Airport Transfer

package excludes:


  • Flights to and from Europe.
  • Tips for Tour Guides, Drivers and Local Reps.
  • Meals (other than breakfast if included in room rate and meals listed as included in food tours and excursions, unless explicitly stated otherwise).
  • Parking fees for your Rental Car (if you are booking one with us) unless otherwise indicated. Some hotels provide free parking facilities.
  • Travel Insurance. See the insurance link on our website
Benefits of Traveling with JayWay

A JayWay vacation is more than the sum of its parts. Our team work tirelessly to ensure your experience is memorable for all the right reasons. Your trip is personalized to maximize your enjoyment. You're taken care of every step of the way.

A Travel Advisor who speaks your language

We will make sure that all your requirements and interests are taken into account in preparing your itinerary.

A totally tailored itinerary for your vacation

Your trip is customized for you by  an experienced trip planner and an expert on the region.

A choice of hand-picked hotels and excursions

We've personally inspected and tested all the hotels and local tour providers we work with to ensure quality.

Detailed pre-trip preparation to make the most of every day

Your Europe-based Tour Manager will be in touch by email and phone a month before you arrive to finalize timings.

On-trip Concierge Service to smooth out any bumps in the road

Your tour manager is at your service throughout your journey. We'll provide a local SIM so you can stay connected.

Personalized Guest Page to make sure you're not missing out

Packed with detailed information and recommendations curated by locals on the best things to do, see and eat.
Get an Instant Price Estimate

Choose the month of travel, how many travelers and what star level accommodation you'd like to stay in, then get an instant price estimate.

Once you’ve done that you can request a tailor-made itinerary based on this by entering just a few more details.






Per Person Package Price from*
Get your personalized itinerary based on this trip.


Sending ...
Thank you!

Thank you for your interest in taking a trip based on this itinerary. One of our expert travel advisors will be in touch soon to start tailoring it precisely to your preferences.

Ooops!?

Something went wrong at our end, please try again in a moment.

Go To Top