Cast adrift from mainland Italy, the Mediterranean’s largest island has been caught in the crosshairs of civilizations for centuries. Fraught as this may have been, it has rendered the island totally unique—Sicily is a fierce melting pot of cultures and customs, a place that potently exhibits the indelible effect of architecture, community spirit, food, and phenomenal landscapes on humans. Conquered, invaded, coerced—the layers of history are manifest throughout the island, from the Norman Palace of Palermo to the North African-influenced spiced couscous and chickpea dishes of Trapani. Ancient temples and crumbling palazzos sit alongside innovative agriturismos and vineyards, stoic in the shadow of Mount Etna. On its fringes, volcanic islands gurgle and spit, their fertile slopes ablaze with wildflowers, capers, and Malvasia grapes. The Sicilian spirit is not one easily bottled—it’s complex, proud, and afflicted. But to live like a Sicilian is to live well, prioritizing food and family above all else, starting the day on a sweet note with brioche con tuppo or granita; whiling away afternoons on sun-bleached concrete before plunging into turquoise water; scurrying under the watchful gaze of Baroque cathedrals for endless joshing and jousting in markets.

So rather than simply beelining for Taormina’s tourist-choked White Lotus filming spots, why not venture into this island’s rugged, ever-contradictory soul? Take in the beauty of its beaches, the mystical presence of Etna, ever looming, and inordinate amounts of moreish, sweet ricotta-filled cannoli. If it’s shorefront bliss you’re looking for, head to the rocky, pebbled beaches that drop off into turquoise swirls of sea (Scala dei Turchi is a firm favorite), while oenophiles should head directly to the foothills of Etna, where fertile soil made the land ripe for vineyards—and there are plenty of hotels to rest your spinning head afterwards, complete with sweeping views of the Sicilian landscape. City lovers, plan a stop-off in Palermo, an exceedingly overlooked destination where artisans produce some of Italy’s most brilliant craftwork and jaw-droppingly impressive architecture looms at every turn. These are the best things to do in Sicily, in no particular order.

Greek Theatre in Taormina, Sicily

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1. Visit the Baroque towns

There are eight towns in Southeast Sicily strung together like pretty beads to form the UNESCO World Heritage Site, but four of them should feature on any itinerary to this amber-hued maze. Noto is an opulent haze of honey-hued walls, all belittled by the pillared-and-pompous cathedral that sits atop a series of steps like a Baroque jewel. Corso Vittorio Emanuele is the orderly artery street amid a chaotic labyrinth beyond it, where coffee lovers make their Sicilian pilgrimage to the legendary Caffè Sicilia (open since 1892).

Amid all its hilly, Baroque glory, Modica is all about chocolate. Antica Dolceria Bonajuto along Corso Umberto is Sicily’s oldest chocolate factory—the chocolate here is dark, richly flavored, and crumbly rather than smooth. Scicli feels like a Noto or Modica shrunk in the wash—quieter, fewer tourists, stricter siesta code—though its bejeweled palazzos still whisper tales of a thumping prosperous age, their windows’ stucco brows crumbling, their facades mottled with age. Beneath them lie little cannoli boutiques, pocket-sized antique shops, and film locations for Inspector Montalbano. Ragusa Ibla runs with the Baroque theme but feels closer to scenes from a Hans Christian Anderson tale, with pastel-pink houses, little Sicilian puppet theaters, wooden toy shops, and misty views over the Hyblaean mountains from the old town’s swirly, wrought iron balconies.

Our museum guide, Sophie van de Ven, recounted the fascinating history of Delft blue ceramics with each hand-painted piece a unique work of art. She explained that it was one of the first products to fuse East and West, uniting cultures through design. Its legacy continues today, and it remains appreciated around the world. “At Royal Delft, tradition is alive in every brushstroke. Unlike most modern producers, the manufacturer still creates each piece entirely by hand, transforming earthenware into works of art rich in detail and depth,” van de Ven explains.

We also learn about the secret of Delft blue ceramics: What starts as a black pigment, made from cobalt oxide, emerges from the kiln as a luminous blue after firing. The result is never the same and each plate, vase, and tile has its own distinct character.

When asked why this business is still going strong, van de Ven explains: “Our products are still handmade, and we play an important role in preserving this traditional craft. In our factory, knowledge is passed down from master to apprentice, which allows the tradition to live on while preparing the next generation to take over. Preserving this craft is part of our identity and our mission to assure that Delft blue pottery continues into the future, keeping it relevant and alive for generations to come.”

Today, the museum offers many activities for a range of visitors. It is possible to tour the facility and watch artisans painting ceramics, join painting workshops, and enjoy a drink served in a painted ceramic cup. Each year, the museum welcomes around 140,000 visitors, many of whom leave not only with vivid memories, but also with a piece of Delft pottery, becoming ambassadors for the brand helping to assure its survival.

Delft’s Beestenmarkt with its many stalls selling crafts and food is especially popular in the summer.

Turismo de Delft

Beyond ceramics

The Beestenmarkt and Market Square have many options when it comes to finding a good place to eat in the city of Delft. On the busy Beestenmarkt, you can enjoy a beer paired with a hamburger or ribs at Moeke (Beestenmarkt, 16). In the Market Square, behind the Town Hall, De Waag (Markt, 11) is a must for its meat croquettes and chicken satay. And, if you’re in the mood for some Spanish fare, cross the Kruyersbrug and you’ll find La Tasca (Voldersgracht, 13) where they serve ajoblanco soup, crema catalana, and other Spanish favorites.

Ever tune in to the Winter Olympics to see athletes furiously sweeping a path on ice for granite stones to slide down? Curling, no doubt, makes for an intriguing spectator experience. Yet it somehow appears approachable enough to make you think, “I could do that.” You can find out for yourself at Boston’s Liberty Hotel, which offers a “curling experience” for groups of two to six people on the weekends.

The Liberty’s curling setup deviates slightly from the ones you see on TV. The rink is synthetic, for one, and there are no brooms involved. Instead, it’s closer to oversize shuffleboard; you kneel at the center of the lane and hurl the disks (technically called “stones,” though these are smaller than regulation ones) toward the target. As you play, you’ll enjoy a box of treats, complete with cinnamon-dusted churros, homemade strawberry Pop-Tarts, Korean chili chicken sliders, crispy pork and ginger dumplings, and a carafe of hot chocolate. Afterward, enjoy “après-curl” in the hotel’s cozy lounge.

Spend an afternoon antique shopping on Charles Street

Window shopping is acceptable, too.

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Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood is graced by cobblestone streets, gas lamps, and stately brick rowhouses. When it snows, the place seems to resemble a real-life snow globe, so it’s worth taking a trip to wander its meandering sidewalks. One of the best ways to spend an afternoon here is by ducking in and out of the neighborhood’s many antique shops. You’ll want to start your treasure hunt on Charles Street, Beacon Hill’s main thoroughfare, where there’s an antique shop in seemingly every other storefront. Among the standouts are Upstairs Downstairs Home, Elegant Findings Antiques, Fabled Antiques, Boston Antiques and Lamp Shades, and Bridge Antiques and Fine Art. After you’ve secured a vintage print or two, browse the stacks at Beacon Hill Books & Cafe, which feels like stepping inside someone’s beautifully appointed home. Then, with shopping bags in tow, sit for afternoon tea in the shop’s stunning lower-level café.

Go ice skating at the Frog Pond

Where else can you go ice skating at a nearly 400-year-old park?

Courtesy of Frog Pond

Beyond the festival glamour, locals swear by Blue Drop, the island’s neighborhood bar perfect for post-beach spritzes, while the historic Palazzo del Cinema continues its role as Italy’s Hollywood. It’s a treat to walk along the island’s long sandy beaches or bike around the island and observe the Belle Époque architecture. Bookmark Osteria Al Merca for exceptional fish dishes, and splurge at Adriatico Terrace for a fine dining experience (the beef tartare and tagliolini all’astice are musts).

Hotel Melià Venezia Lido opened for the summer 2025 season, super close to the water taxi station 60 rooms. With breathtaking vistas of the golden Adriatic sea and an intimate restaurant-bar concept in Gran Viale serving osteria classics done right, this up-and-coming entry into Venice’s hotel scene keeps up with the best of them.

Sant’Erasmo

Via line 13

Sant’Erasmo is known as the “Garden of Venice,” seeing as the island is home to Osti in Orto, dreamed up by Cesare Benelli, owner of Al Covo in Venice. The historic restaurant represents an agricultural project by 13 Venetian restaurateurs growing seasonal produce by following natural rhythms. This working farm island supplies many of the city’s top restaurants with herbs, vegetables, and the famous purple artichokes that are celebrated throughout the lagoon.

The flat landscape is the perfect landscape for those looking to get a little adventure in. Rent bikes from Camping Ca’ Savio and bike through the vineyards (stop by Orto di Venezia for white wine produced in the Venice Lagoon—they age some bottles underwater in traditional Venetian boats at secret lagoon locations) and vegetable plots to get a layout of the land. The island also features the 19th-century Torre Massimiliana fortress and the beloved Bacan Beach, popular with Venetians.

San Clemente

Via hotel shuttle

The entire private island houses San Clemente Palace (a Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards property for 2025), a luxury resort centered on a beautifully restored 12th-century Romanesque church (built in 1131) surrounded by six hectares of centuries-old gardens. Acquerello restaurant is all about modern Venetian cuisine, while the iconic Clemente Bar, adorned with Venetian mirrors, serves cocktails indoors and out. The resort’s outdoor pool, tennis courts, pitch-and-putt course, and Longevity Spa complete the offering. A complimentary shuttle boat runs regularly to St. Mark’s Square where guests can wander the Rialto in the morning before it’s crowded, then return to tranquility by the afternoon.

Isola delle Rose

Via hotel shuttle