Sicily by bike

Do you love biking around the world? Would you like to plan a cycling trip to Sicily? Let me tell you… You’ve picked a spectacular destination!

Sicily offers a thrilling combination of challenging climbs, breathtaking coastal views and UNESCO-listed historical sites to enjoy, making it a truly rewarding experience for cyclists. Plus, its wide variety of terrains caters to all fitness levels.

Index

• Safety while biking in Sicily
• Ideal periods and places to cycle in Sicily
• Where bikers can stay during their Sicilian trip

Sicily is definitely bike-friendly, provided you choose your routes wisely. While urban centres and main highways can be packed and extremely busy, the vast network of secondary, rural roads offers quiet, scenic and well-paved surfaces perfect for touring.

In terms of safety, biking in Sicily is generally fine, but caution is key. Always use high-visibility gear and bright lights. A crucial safety tip would be to avoid biking at night. Road lighting is often poor outside of towns, making visibility a major hazard.

The most passionate and expert cyclists can dare to circumnavigate the island, as the full loop covers about 1,000 – 1,200 km, which in terms of time, it will take roughly between two and three weeks to complete, allowing of course appropriate days for resting and sightseeing.

The ideal time to cycle will be the transitional seasons: both Spring and Autumn are great as the weather is very warm, although it is possible to incur in some sporadic showers. Summer is definitely the season to avoid for its super-intense heat.

From coastal villages to hilly and historic towns of unique charm, there will never be a dull ride in Sicily, combining natural beauties with stunning architecture and culture.

The best places for cycling in Sicily include jewels like:

• The picturesque village of Cefalù
• Castellammare del Golfo
• San Vito Lo Capo
• Il Bosco della Ficuzza
• The Agrigentino area

and on the eastern side:

• Siracusa
• Noto
• Modica
• Ragusa

The South-East in particular is probably one of the best areas, often recommended for its quieter roads and rich culture.

The beautiful Val di Noto is great for Baroque style, moderate terrain, easy rolling hills, while places like the Mount Etna cycle park, for serious climbers, have few routes to choose from for those who are looking for volcanic landscapes and a serious challenge on two wheels!

If it’s your first time touring the island, consider starting in the Catania area as it provides excellent access to the airport and is a gateway to both the Etna routes and the historical towns of the Southeast.

Small, locally owned B&Bs, and stress-free Agriturismi (Farm stays with a more rural feel) are enjoyable choices, with good value for money, just make sure you check before booking, if they have a secure storage or locked garage for your bycicles.

Staying in a villa though is your best choice. Villas are a more private solution, they are secure and welcoming and provide a safe place to store your bikes overnight without worries. You are also more independent in terms of meals, as you can arrange your own food at whatever time you’d like and be on your saddle early in the morning as well as in the afternoon.

The villas are also located, generally speaking, in more isolated areas, perfect for your biking adventure, allowing you to pedal through some amazing and unforgettable scenery.

So don’t waste anymore time: three, two, one, goooooooooooooo!