Rick Steves Sicily

by Rick Steves

Swim in the sparkling Mediterranean, marvel at the peak of Mount Etna, and get to know this region's timeless with Rick Steves on your side, Sicily can be yours!Inside Rick Steves Sicily you'll Comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring SicilyRick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favoritesTop sights and hidden gems, from Mount Etna and the Byzantine mosaics of Monreale to the Ballarò street market and Siracusa's puppet museumHow to connect with Savor seafood-centric cuisine made from ancient recipes, catch an opera performance at the Teatro Massimo, or sample authentic Marsala wineBeat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insightThe best places to eat, sleep, and relax with a glass of local Nero d'AvolaSelf-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and incredible museums Detailed maps for exploring on the goUseful resources including a packing list, a historical overview, and useful Italian phrasesOver 350 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you downComplete, up-to-date information on Palermo, Cefalù, Trapani and the West Coast, Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples, Ragusa and the Southeast, Catania, Taormina, and moreMake the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Sicily.

Genres: Travel

947 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2019

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the travel books we read before visiting Sicily this is the one we decided to take with us. It was full of useful information and good tips and notes from the author. It earned its space in our luggage for sure.

[Amy Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a curl up and get lost in a new world kind of book. But nobody gets you ready for another country better than Rick Steves. So. Let’s go!

[Joe Noto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of all the information you could need to maximize your experiences and do it efficiently. Includes how to get around in every town and between towns, restaurants, hotels, sights, and activities. Includes simple maps of the sights and maps of the restaurants and hotels. He even gives you a 3 day plan and a 5 day plan. He also gives multiple self-guided tours for the major sights; literally he walks you through a museum room by room and floor by floor telling you what is in there and some background history on it. It's crazy!

All organized consistently and divided into region/town sections. Airport info, train station info, and a whole section in the back called "Practicalities" that is full of useful information to get you acquainted with the culture.

Lastly he gives a one or two page blurb on the history of each region/town and the prologue to each section.

The only negative I'd say is that it is all black and white pages. Color would be nice, but that is a very picky critique.
4.9/5

[Carol]

Great itinerary and good description of places to see. Because of the pandemic and travel ability a few things had changed, a store or two no open but overall the recommendations were spot on! I came to similar conclusions regarding the cities to see and the route to take and think if you follow this book you can't go wrong! I appreciated the history included for the ancient sites so for some of the areas we visited I felt like I knew enough to appreciate what I was seeing and I appreciate the recommendations for guides for the places where you might want more info.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Year by year, I spend a fair amount of time in Sicily, with my base in the Siracusa area, where my family is from. Usually during the summer.

This book is exceptionally good. I like the accuracy and the candid travel advice. Yes, there are other good travel books, like DK. What works for you is a question of taste.

Rick Steves and his staff did a fine job on this one.

[Michael Boerm · Rating 5 out of 5]

The usual excellent guide book from Rick Steves with his engaging writing style. Perfect for planning your trip to Sicily. No better guidebooks on the market, he is the best. I’d give 10 stars if I could.

[Bookwormsn67 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great guide book! Our second trip to Sicily and our first was with a Rick Steves tour. This actually had more info in it. I bought a hard copy as it is easier to go back and forth but liked the kindle because the photos were in color and could be enlarged. Hot tip!

[Liliana Battle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read to plan the next trip

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rick Steves guidebooks are simply the best available. None others come close! These books get you ready for the journey and help you get the most out of it.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Logging to support Rick, my personal friend