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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation
Taste of Sicily
Independent Sicilian food tour by rail from Catania to Taormina
Railbookers operates this 7-day independent rail vacation around Sicily, built around food. The trip begins in Catania with a private car transfer from the airport and two nights that include a private market walking tour starting at the Elephant Fountain, sampling street food such as arancino and cannoli. A train journey then continues to Palermo for two nights, where a hop-on hop-off pass covers sights like the Palatine Chapel and Royal Palace, and a chef leads a market visit and cooking class ending in a Sicilian lunch with local wine. The final stop is Taormina, reached by train, for two more nights that include a hands-on pasta-making class. The trip ends with a private car transfer back to Catania airport rather than a train. Guided food experiences are included at each stop, with free time in between, suiting travelers who want a short, food-focused introduction to Sicily without a long itinerary.
What to know before you look closer
- The private market and food walking tour in Catania is not possible on Sundays, so a Sunday arrival affects when you can do it.
- Railbookers lists 15 accommodation options across price tiers in Catania and Palermo; the hotel used depends on which one you choose at booking.
- The trip ends with a private car transfer from Taormina back to Catania airport rather than a train, so the return leg is by road.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Catania
Your Journey Begins in Catania
Welcome to Sicily! On arrival you will be met at the airport and escorted to your hotel for a two-night stay. Take a stroll down the Piazza del Duomo for dinner.
- Day 2overnight: Catania
Catania
Meet your private guide at the Elephant Fountain. Wander the Pescheria food market, sample street food such as Coppo, Sfincione, cheese, cured meats, Cannoli, Cassatelle, then enjoy a traditional Arancino. Visit the Roman Rotonda, amphitheatre, or Palazzo Conte Federico.
- Day 3overnight: Palermo
Palermo
Make your own way to the station for the journey to Palermo. Check-in at your hotel for a two-night stay and explore using your hop-on hop-off sightseeing pass. Visit the Palatine Chapel, Royal Palace, or Castello dela Zisa.
- Day 4overnight: Palermo
Palermo
Meet your Chef at Teatro Massimo for a wander through one of Palermo's historic markets, sample panelle and pane con la milza, gather ingredients for your cooking class, and prepare a typical lunch with Sicilian wine.
- Day 5railovernight: Taormina
Taormina
Make your way to the station for a train journey to Taormina. On arrival in the afternoon, check into your hotel for a two-night stay.
- Day 6overnight: Taormina
Taormina
Meet your chef at the Arch of Porta Messina for a market shopping trip and hands-on cooking class, perfecting fresh Sicilian 'Maccheroni' pasta and three main courses with local wine.
- Day 7
Your Journey Ends in Catania
A driver will collect you from your hotel for the hour's drive to Catania airport.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2A private food market walking tour in Catania starting at the Elephant Fountain, sampling street food such as arancino, cannoli, and cassatelle at the Pescheria market.
- Day 3A train journey from Catania to Palermo, followed by sightseeing using a hop-on hop-off pass to visit the Palatine Chapel, Royal Palace, and Castello della Zisa.
- Day 4A cooking class in Palermo that begins with a chef-led walk through one of the city's historic markets to gather ingredients, followed by preparing a traditional Sicilian lunch with local wine.
- Day 5A train journey from Palermo to Taormina, arriving in the afternoon to check into the hotel for a two-night stay.
- Day 6A market shopping trip and hands-on cooking class in Taormina, perfecting fresh Sicilian Maccheroni pasta and three main courses with local wine.
Included
- Rail travel throughout Sicily
- 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Catania
- 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Palermo
- 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Taormina
- Private market and food walking tour in Catania (Not possible on Sundays)
- Hop on Hop off Pass in Palermo
- Food market tour and cooking class in Palermo
- Food market tour and cooking class in Taormina
- Private car transfer from airport to hotel in Catania, and from Taormina to Catania airport
Questions travellers ask
- Is train travel included in this trip?
- Yes, rail travel is included throughout Sicily on Trenitalia trains, including the journeys from Catania to Palermo and from Palermo to Taormina.
- Is this an escorted or independent tour?
- It is an independent rail vacation from Railbookers, with a number of included guided food experiences along the way.
- What food experiences are included?
- The package includes a private market and food walking tour in Catania, a food market tour and cooking class in Palermo, and a food market tour and cooking class in Taormina.
- What hotels are used?
- Railbookers offers 15 accommodation options across price tiers in Catania and Palermo; sample hotels include the Romano Palace in Catania and the Eurostars Centrale Palace in Palermo.
- How do I get to and from the airport?
- A private car transfer is included from the airport to your hotel in Catania at the start of the trip, and from Taormina back to Catania airport at the end.
