From Mount Etna to the Greek temples, departing from Palermo, Catania, Milazzo, Pozzallo and Caltanissetta
Campervan hire in Sicily lets you tour the largest island in the Mediterranean at your own pace: Mount Etna and its lava flows, the Greek temples of Agrigento and Segesta, the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto, Taormina high above the Ionian Sea. Our rental partners hand over their vehicles in Palermo, Catania, Milazzo, Pozzallo and Caltanissetta, from two-seat vans to family models sleeping six.
Palermo opens up the west and its salt pans, Catania the volcano and the south-east, Milazzo the ferries to the Aeolian Islands. Anywhere Campers and Motorhomes Italy are present in both Palermo and Catania, two convenient gateways for a full tour of the island. Spring and early autumn suit it best, while winter stays mild along the coast.
Choose your departure city: the map shows where rental companies hand over their vehicles.
South of Catania lies the island of honey-coloured stone: Ortigia, the ancient heart of Syracuse, then the towns of the Val di Noto rebuilt in Baroque style after the 1693 earthquake, Noto, Modica and Ragusa. Between visits, the beaches of Marzamemi and the southern tip invite a swim before you return the vehicle in Pozzallo.
The old centres of Ragusa Ibla and Modica climb steep slopes: park on the outskirts and finish on foot.
From Catania, the road climbs through Nicolosi to the southern slope of Etna, where the cable car and excursions to the craters set off. You then descend through the vineyards of Zafferana to Taormina and its ancient theatre, before circling the volcano via the Alcantara Gorges and Randazzo and reaching Milazzo, facing the Aeolian Islands.
Etna's roads are steep and twisting: a van copes far better there than a large motorhome.
A loop from Palermo into Sicily's far west: Monreale cathedral and its mosaics, the temple of Segesta standing alone in the hills, the coves of the Zingaro reserve between Scopello and San Vito Lo Capo, then Erice perched above Trapani. The return leg follows the salt pans and their windmills to Marsala.
The Zingaro reserve can only be explored on foot: allow a full day and carry water.
The full circuit links every side of the island: Cefalù and the Tyrrhenian coast, Taormina and Etna, Syracuse and the Val di Noto, the Roman mosaics of Piazza Armerina, Agrigento's Valley of the Temples, then Selinunte and Trapani before returning to Palermo. From Caltanissetta, in the centre of the island, you can also join the loop halfway round.
The ideal time to combine ancient sites and swimming. In April and May, the interior is green and in bloom around Agrigento and Piazza Armerina, and the heat stays moderate for sightseeing. In September and October the sea holds at 24 to 27 °C, but the first heavy rains arrive in October, close to 90 mm in both Palermo and Catania.
High summer: the heat is intense, especially around Catania where highs reach 35 °C in July, and the sea warms to 28 or 29 °C. August is also when Italians take their holidays, around Ferragosto on 15 August: seaside campsites fill up and ferries to the Aeolian Islands are busy. Visit the temples and Etna early in the morning.
The coast stays mild, with highs rarely dropping below 14 °C, but this is the rainy season, more marked in the north-east: Milazzo gets 161 mm in December, Catania almost four times less. Almond trees blossom from February around Agrigento, snow whitens the upper slopes of Etna and some campsites close: check opening dates.
Palermo for the west and the north coast, Catania for Etna and the Baroque south-east, Milazzo for the Aeolian Islands, Pozzallo for the southern tip, Caltanissetta to set off from the centre of the island.
Unlimited mileage is not included in every offer: check it, along with insurance, excess and equipment. Several models, such as the Adria Matrix or Sunlight A70, come with either a manual or an automatic gearbox.
For a departure around Ferragosto, book the vehicle several months ahead, then seaside campsites and crossings if you are heading for the islands. Out of season, a few weeks' notice is usually enough.
Some depots are outside the cities, such as McRent's in Randazzo or Motorhomes Italy's in Agnone Bagni: check the pick-up location and time, and plan your transfer from Palermo or Catania airport.
Taormina, Erice, Ragusa Ibla and Modica cling to hillsides, with narrow streets, sometimes stepped, where a motorhome has no business. Leave the vehicle in a car park at the bottom of town and go up on foot or by shuttle; in both Taormina and Erice, a cable car links the lower and upper towns.
For fresh water and emptying grey water and toilets, look for the ‘camper service’ points at aree di sosta and campsites, which are scarcer inland than on the coast. Top up with water whenever you can, especially in summer, and note service points in advance in a dedicated app.
In Italy, any load overhanging at the rear, such as a loaded bike rack, must be marked with a reflective red-and-white striped panel. Ask the rental company whether it supplies one with the vehicle, or get one before setting off.
The sirocco, a hot wind from Africa, can push temperatures well above the averages and fuels brush fires. Plan shaded stops, drive in the cooler hours and follow civil protection alerts, which may ban all fires or close roads.
Anywhere Campers hands over vehicles in Palermo, Catania, Milazzo and Pozzallo, Motorhomes Italy in Palermo and south of Catania, McRent in Randazzo on the northern slope of Etna, and Blurent in Caltanissetta and Milazzo. The exact pick-up point appears in your booking confirmation, as several depots are on the outskirts.
Ferries to the Aeolian Islands leave from Milazzo and those to Calabria from Messina, but boarding requires the rental company's consent. Access for non-residents' vehicles to some islands may also be restricted in summer. Many travellers leave the motorhome in Milazzo and take a fast boat: check before booking.
The two-seat Van for 2 slips along Etna's roads and into hilltop villages. For a family, the Carado T-447 sleeps four and the Sunlight A70 up to six, with shower and full kitchen. Their size, however, means parking outside the old town centres.
A week is enough for one area, the west from Palermo or the south-east from Catania. Allow two weeks to tour the island without rushing, and three if you add hiking on Etna, a trip to the Aeolian Islands and beach days, as distances are short but roads are slow.
Yes, as far as the tourist stations on the southern slope above Nicolosi and the northern slope above Linguaglossa, both reached by paved road. Beyond that, the summit craters are reached by cable car, off-road vehicle or on foot with a guide, depending on the volcano's activity and the regulations in force.
Good and quick communication, easy to book and easy to follow all the instructions.
Very good responsiveness
Cooldrive was very attentive and very responsive in all situations. We received valuable assistance in the steps to be taken. I highly recommend it.
Rental motorhomes under 3.5 tonnes can be driven with a standard car licence (category B). If your licence was issued outside the European Union, check which documents Italy requires, often an international driving permit or a translation, and the rental company's conditions: minimum age and years of driving vary by offer.
Aree di sosta, parking areas reserved for motorhomes, and coastal campsites are the safest options, particularly near Syracuse, Agrigento or San Vito Lo Capo. Overnight parking elsewhere depends on each municipality and local by-laws: check the signs and avoid beaches and protected sites.
As elsewhere in Italy, part of the network is tolled, notably the Messina–Catania and Messina–Palermo motorways. Other routes, such as Palermo–Catania through the interior, are generally free. Check which payment methods the toll booths accept and keep a bank card handy, as motorhome tolls are charged according to vehicle class.
The historic centres of Palermo, Catania, Syracuse and Taormina are ZTLs, limited traffic zones monitored by cameras: entering without authorisation triggers a fine sent to the rental company, then passed on to you. Park in a motorhome area or car park on the outskirts and reach the centre by bus or on foot.
Traffic drives on the right, with heavy congestion and plenty of scooters in Palermo and Catania. Away from the main routes, inland roads are narrow, winding and sometimes potholed or under repair: expect low average speeds, avoid the satnav's shortcuts through villages and build slack into each stage.
The rate depends mainly on the season, the length of hire and the type of vehicle: August costs considerably more than winter. Run a search with your dates to see up-to-date prices, then add tolls, campsite nights and any ferry crossings to your budget.
In Sicily, three thousand years of history fit into a two-week road trip: the Greek temples of Segesta, Agrigento and Selinunte, the Roman mosaics of Piazza Armerina, the Arab-Norman churches of Palermo and Monreale, the Baroque façades of Noto and Ragusa. Between these stops come Europe's most active volcano, coastal reserves without roads and market cooking that alone justifies the journey.
A campervan makes the trip easy: you sleep at the foot of Etna, facing the sea at San Vito Lo Capo or a few minutes from Ortigia, and change scenery every day without repacking. With departures in Palermo, Catania, Milazzo, Pozzallo and Caltanissetta, everyone can start with the west, the volcano or the south-east, and enjoy a long season on the island, from spring to autumn.
