Sicily on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Sicily is one of the easiest parts of Italy to do on a budget: allow about €100 per person per day, with about €40 for a shared B&B room, €25 for food, €15 for one site and €20 for a share of a hire car. Street food and B&Bs make the biggest difference.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €40 | €80 | €220 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €45 | €90 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €35 | €90 |
| Local transport | €20 | €30 | €60 |
| Per person, per day | €100 | €190 | €460 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Sicily day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Eat and browse your way through Palermo's Ballarò market (free to wander).
- See the Quattro Canti crossroads and the cathedral exterior in Palermo.
- Walk Ortigia's waterfront and the Fountain of Arethusa.
- Watch sunset at the Scala dei Turchi viewpoint (walking on the rock is forbidden).
- Walk the Silvestri craters on Etna near Rifugio Sapienza.
- Walk the baroque main street of Noto at sunset.
Cheap eats
- Arancine (fried rice balls): about €2-3.
- Panelle (chickpea fritters) in a roll: about €2-4.
- Sfincione (Palermo pizza): about €2-4 a slice.
- Granita and brioche for breakfast: about €3-5.
- Sandwich at Caseificio Borderi in Ortigia's market: roughly €8-12.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in B&Bs in the historic centres of Palermo and Syracuse, at about €70-110 a double, often with breakfast. Agriturismi near Agrigento and Noto offer good value farm stays from about €100.
Getting around cheaply
A shared hire car is the best value for touring; buses (Interbus, SAIS, AST) link the main cities more cheaply than trains on many routes. Palermo and Catania airports have bus links to the city centres.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Palatine Chapel (about €19).
- Lunch: arancine, panelle and sfincione at Ballarò (about €8).
- Afternoon: Martorana church (small fee) and the Quattro Canti and cathedral (free).
- Evening: trattoria dinner in the Kalsa (about €15), with a B&B room.
- Total: about €100 including a share of the hire car on touring days
More ways to save
- Travel in May, June, September or October for good weather and lower prices.
- Have your big meal at lunch in trattorias with set menus.
- Buy picnic food at markets for beach days.
- Check combined tickets for several sites in Agrigento or Syracuse.
- Book Etna excursions locally and compare guided summit options carefully.
- Avoid motorway tolls where a free state road is only slightly slower.
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Common questions
What is the cheapest food in Sicily?
Street food: arancine, panelle, sfincione and granita, mostly €2-5 each.
Can I travel Sicily by public transport?
Yes between cities by bus; trains are slow on many routes, and rural sights need a car or tour.
Where should budget travellers stay?
In B&Bs in Palermo and Syracuse, about €70-110 a double.