Our 5 Night Family Guide to Sicily: Beaches, Beautiful Towns & Our Favourite Finds
Why We Chose Sicily
When people think of family holidays in Europe, Sicily isn’t always the first destination that springs to mind but after spending five nights exploring this beautiful Italian island, we honestly can’t recommend it enough.
We flew direct into Palermo from London in just over two hours, hired a car from the airport and spent the next few days discovering crystal clear beaches, colourful seaside towns, incredible food and some of the friendliest people we’ve met on our travels. We absolutely love Italy and Sicily had everything we were looking for. Italians genuinely seem to adore children and everywhere we went, the boys were made to feel so welcome.
If you’re looking for a destination that combines beach days with sightseeing, fantastic food and plenty of opportunities to explore, Sicily is the perfect choice. We visited in May, which meant warm sunshine, quieter beaches and easy parking almost everywhere we went. Five nights felt like the perfect introduction to the island although we definitely left wishing we’d booked a full week!
Our Sicily Itinerary at a Glance
For this trip, we based ourselves in the beautiful seaside village of Mondello, which turned out to be the perfect location. It’s around 25 minutes from Palermo Airport and only 25 minutes from the centre of Palermo, making it ideal for exploring both the city and the stunning coastline.
During our stay we explored some of Sicily‘s most beautiful beaches, wandered through charming coastal towns and spent an afternoon soaking up the atmosphere in Palermo.
Here’s everywhere we visited:
- Where we stayed: Mondello (keep scrolling for the link to our accommodation)
- Beaches: Mondello Beach, Isola delle Femmine, San Vito Lo Capo and Cefalù Beach
- Towns & villages: Cefalù, Castellammare del Golfo, Scopello and Sant’Elia
- Palermo highlights: Palermo Cathedral, Quattro Canti, Ballarò Market, Teatro Massimo, Piazza Pretoria and sunset drinks at Seven Rooftop.
Hopefully this guide helps you plan your own Sicily adventure. I’ll share exactly where we stayed, our favourite beaches, the places we think are unmissable and lots of practical tips to help you make the most of your trip.
Where We Stayed: Mondello - The Perfect Family Base
If you’re wondering where to stay in Sicily with young children, I genuinely don’t think we could have picked a better base than Mondello.
Mondello itself is a beautiful seaside town with a relaxed, family friendly feel. Think crystal clear turquoise water, a long sandy beach, lovely restaurants and a laid back atmosphere. We loved being able to enjoy the seafront without having to travel far.
Our Villa
We stayed in a lovely villa in Mondello and I’d happily recommend it to anyone travelling as a family.
It sleeps up to six guests and has:
- Two bedrooms
- Four beds
- A fully equipped kitchen
- Air conditioning throughout
- A lovely outdoor space for children to play
Having a kitchen made such a difference with young children. We could enjoy relaxed breakfasts before heading out for the day, make packed lunches for the beach and even cook dinner at the villa on a couple of evenings when everyone was tired after exploring.
The outdoor space was another huge bonus, giving the boys somewhere safe to run around while we relaxed after a busy day.
If you’re looking for a family friendly base close to beaches, restaurants and Palermo, we’d definitely recommend staying in Mondello. You can check it out, here.
Hiring a Car & Driving in Sicily
For us, hiring a car was absolutely essential.
Although you could base yourself in one area, Sicily has so many beautiful beaches and towns to discover that having your own car gives you so much more freedom.
We hired our car through Noleggiare, collecting it directly from Palermo Airport. The whole process was really straightforward. Our car was ready when we arrived, we’d pre booked child seats and dropping it back at the end of the holiday was just as easy. We’d definitely recommend them if you’re flying into Palermo.
Driving in Sicily
I won’t lie… driving in Sicily isn’t for the faint hearted!
The roads can be busy, particularly around Palermo and everything feels a little more chaotic than driving in the UK. It often seems like everyone just finds their own way, with lots of scooters weaving through traffic and a very different approach to right of way!
Thankfully, my husband did all of the driving because I’m not sure I’d have been brave enough!
That said, once you’re out of the city, driving becomes much more enjoyable and having a car allowed us to explore places we simply wouldn’t have been able to visit otherwise.
One of the biggest surprises was parking. Because we visited in May, we found parking to be easy and in most places, completely free.
Our only exception was Mondello Beach, where we hired two sunbeds and a parasol for around €30. As it was slightly out of season, we thought this wasn’t too bad for a full day by the sea.
If you’re planning to visit places like San Vito Lo Capo, Scopello, Castellammare del Golfo and Cefalù, I’d definitely recommend hiring a car. It gave us complete flexibility and meant we could discover some of the most beautiful parts of Sicily at our own pace.
Our Favourite Beaches in Sicily
One of the main reasons we chose Sicily was for the beaches and they certainly didn’t disappoint.
Every beach we visited had its own character but they all had one thing in common – beautifully clear water that was perfect for families. We visited in May, so everything felt wonderfully relaxed with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the scenery.
Mondello Beach
Just minutes from where we were staying, Mondello Beach quickly became one of our favourite places to spend an afternoon.
The water was unbelievably clear and shallow, making it perfect for young children to splash and paddle safely. There are plenty of cafés, restaurants and beach clubs nearby, so it’s easy to spend a whole day here.
Isola delle Femmine
This beach had some of the clearest water of our entire trip.
It felt a little quieter than Mondello, making it ideal if you’re looking for a more peaceful beach day. The boys loved paddling in the calm water while we soaked up the incredible views.
Parking was easy when we visited and we’d happily return.
San Vito Lo Capo
If you’ve ever seen photos of Sicily‘s famous turquoise beaches, chances are you’ve seen San Vito Lo Capo.
The soft white sand and crystal clear sea genuinely make it feel like somewhere much further afield. Although it’s around an hour and a half from Mondello, it’s absolutely worth the drive.
It’s a fantastic beach for families thanks to the shallow water and long stretch of sand.
Cefalù Beach
Cefalù was probably our favourite place in Sicily.
The beach is beautiful, but what really makes it special is the backdrop of the colourful old town.
After spending time on the beach, we wandered through the charming streets, stopped for ice cream and simply soaked up the atmosphere. If we came back to Sicily, we’d seriously consider staying here.
The Best Places We Visited
One of the things we loved most about Sicily was how every place we visited felt completely different. From bustling city streets and historic piazzas to colourful fishing villages and postcard perfect beaches, every day felt like a new adventure. These were our favourite places and the ones we’d recommend adding to your itinerary…
Palermo
We absolutely loved Palermo. It’s busy, vibrant and full of character, with so much history around every corner. We spent a day wandering through the city, taking in the incredible architecture, soaking up the atmosphere and stopping for plenty of food along the way.
Some of our highlights included Palermo Cathedral, Quattro Canti, Ballarò Market, Teatro Massimo and Piazza Pretoria. We also finished the day with sunset drinks at Seven Rooftop which I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for amazing views over the city.
If you’re visiting Sicily, don’t skip Palermo. It has such a buzz about it and is the perfect mix of culture, history and fantastic food.
Cefalù
If I had to choose one place to recommend in Sicily, it would probably be Cefalù.
We very nearly booked our accommodation here before deciding to stay in Mondello and after visiting, I can honestly say we’ll probably stay here next time. It’s one of those places that completely steals your heart.
The beach is stunning, with crystal clear water and golden sand, but what really makes Cefalù special is the beautiful old town. Colourful buildings, cobbled streets, little boutiques and amazing restaurants create such an authentic Sicilian feel.
It’s the perfect combination of beach and town, making it ideal for families.
Castellammare del Golfo
Castellammare del Golfo is a beautiful harbour town that’s well worth adding to your itinerary.
We loved strolling along the waterfront, watching the fishing boats come and go and stopping for a drink while taking in the views. It has a lovely relaxed atmosphere and feels much less touristy than some of the bigger towns.
If you’re driving between Palermo and San Vito Lo Capo, it’s the perfect place to stop for lunch or a wander.
Scopello
Scopello may be small but it’s absolutely full of charm.
The tiny square is lined with cafés and restaurants, making it the perfect place to sit with a coffee or enjoy lunch before exploring the surrounding coastline.
Nearby you’ll also find the famous Tonnara di Scopello, one of Sicily‘s most photographed coastal spots.
Sant’Elia
Sant’Elia was one of the quieter places we visited and felt like a real hidden gem.
It’s a small fishing village with beautiful views over the sea and a much more local feel than some of the larger towns. We loved wandering around the harbour, watching the fishing boats and enjoying a slower pace of life.
If you’re looking to escape the crowds and experience a more authentic side of Sicily, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Would We Recommend Sicily with Children?
Without hesitation… yes.
Sicily completely exceeded our expectations as a family destination. The beaches are beautiful, the food is fantastic, the people were incredibly welcoming and there was such a relaxed atmosphere wherever we went. That being said, the roads did feel a little chaotic so unless you feel confident to drive there, perhaps give another destination some consideration…
The Italians absolutely adore children and the boys were made to feel welcome everywhere we visited. Travelling with young children felt easy and we loved the balance of beach days, sightseeing and amazing food.
Five nights gave us a brilliant introduction to Sicily but we’d happily return for a week or longer to explore even more of the island.
If you’re looking for somewhere that combines culture, beaches, great food and unforgettable family memories, Sicily should definitely be on your list.
Top Tips Before You Go
Hire a car – it makes exploring so much easier.
Stay in Mondello if you want easy access to Palermo and the coast.
Visit in May or early June for warm weather, quieter beaches and easier parking.
Pack beach shoes.
Take your time. Some of our favourite memories came from wandering through little towns with no real plan.
Final Thoughts
Sicily completely stole our hearts.
It gave us everything we look for in a family holiday: incredible beaches, beautiful towns, amazing food and the chance to slow down and spend quality time together. It’s somewhere we’d return to in a heartbeat and next time we’ll definitely be staying a little longer.
I hope this guide helps you plan your own trip! If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message over on Instagram.
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