The Ultimate White Lotus-Inspired Itinerary to Sicily
HBO’s The White Lotus, set at the fictional White Lotus resort chain, follows hotel employees, their super-wealthy guests, and everyone’s overlapping desires—resulting in existential dread or extramarital affairs at the very least, murder at the very most.
While we’re currently watching the third season, set in Thailand, the Sicily-set second season remains iconic. So sit back, take a sip of volcanic wine, and prepare for an intriguing adventure with the ultimate White Lotus-inspired itinerary to nine days in Sicily.
Day 1-2: Palermo
After landing in Palermo, the island’s buzzing, vibrant capital, get the lay of the land at Quattro Canti, or the “Four Corners,” a beautiful Baroque landmark at the main crossroads of Palermo’s old town. (Tanya, played by Jennifer Coolidge, sees Madame Butterfly at Teatro Massimo nearby.)
You’ll stroll through Piazza Pretoria and the red-domed Church of San Cataldo, before walking south to Mercato di Ballarò for a deep dive into Palermo’s famous street food. Spend the afternoon in the fascinating Palazzo dei Normanni before finding a nearby wine bar for an aperitivo and enjoying dinner at a tucked-away trattoria.
Begin your second day with breakfast at the oldest coffee roaster in Palermo, Casa Stagnitta, then stop in Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio church to see its Byzantine mosaics. In the afternoon, choose a museum, like the Galleria d’Arte Moderna Palermo, to explore, or peruse the treasures of Mercato delle Pulci to find a unique souvenir.
In the early evening, join in the typically Sicilian passeggiata along the waterfront Foro Italico, heading to Mercato Vucciria just as its alleyways start to bustle with young people drinking, dancing, and snacking on Palermitan street food delicacies.
Day 3: West from Palermo
Rent a car and make the 20-minute drive from Palermo’s city center to the stunning Cattedrale di Monreale, a can’t-miss UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 12th century, when Sicily was under Norman rule. Continue driving west into the Monreale DOC winemaking region, where you can schedule tastings at wineries like Alessandro di Camporeale or Tenuta Sallier de La Tour. Spend the evening in seaside Castellammare del Golfo.
Day 4: Southwestern Coast
In the morning, drive inland from Castellammare del Golfo to the Temple of Segesta, and spend a few hours at the picturesque ruins. Afterward, keep heading south along the coast for about two hours to the dramatic, terraced limestone beach of Scala dei Turchi, a great place to dig your toes in the sand and meditate on all the history this part of Sicily represents. Make your way to Agrigento, a 20-minute drive from the beach, for dinner and a much-needed night’s sleep.
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Day 5: Valle dei Templi
The next day, make a beeline for the dramatic ruins of the ancient Greek city of Akragas, known as Valle dei Templi. Among the remains of seven impressive temples spread out over 3,000 acres (1,200 ha), the Temple of Concordia is the best preserved. Be sure to stop by the Giardino della Kolymbetra, built to supply the city of Akragas with water, still a fertile garden to this day. In the afternoon, drive two hours across the island to reach Catania, on Sicily’s eastern coast.
Day 6: Catania
For your day in Catania, wake up your senses at the Pescheria di Catania seafood market, not far from the town’s Piazza del Duomo and impressive Cattedrale di Sant’Agata. Admire the basalt architecture of this city built in Mount Etna’s shadow, strolling past ancient Roman sites including a theater and thermal baths, to Villa Bellini, surrounded by many excellent cafés and bars, to get a pastry or aperitivo.
Day 7: Taormina
Much of White Lotus season 2 is filmed in the cliffside city of Taormina at the San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons hotel. Wander along and off Corso Umberto in the historic center, popping into its shops, boutiques, and cafés; take a cable car to Isola Bella; and don’t miss Teatro Antico di Taormina, the ancient Greek theater carved into Monte Tauro. Head back to Catania for the evening.
Day 8: Mount Etna
Take an excursion to Mount Etna today, an hour’s drive north of Catania. Depending on your tastes, you can hike to the volcanic crater from the Etna Sud visitor center, or sample some volcanic vino at one of the many wineries on the volcano’s slopes—exactly as Harper, Ethan, Cameron, and Daphne do on their day trip to the vineyard. Return to Catania for your final night.
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Day 9: Journey Home
For most, heading home will mean a flight through Naples or Rome, but the adventurous may want to travel to mainland Italy by a train that gets loaded onto the ferry.
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