Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and is just a few kilometers from the famous Italian boot. This is why traveling to Sicily is considered a separate adventure and not part of a trip to Italy. Today we will tell you everything you need to know when setting out to conquer Sicily by car.
Best way to get to Sicily
The first question that arises before a traveler who wants to organize a car tour of Sicily is how to quickly and inexpensively get to the island.
There are several options. The first is the plane. This is the most common way to arrive in Sicily. First, you buy a ticket to Rome or Milan, and from there, on a local low-cost airline, you get by air to Palermo or Catania, where there are major airports. Already there, on the spot, it will be possible to rent a car from Sicilian car rental companies.
The second option is to use a special ferry while traveling in Italy by car, which will take you across the strait between the Apennine Boot and Sicily. The cost of the ferry is low and directly depends on the season during which you are going to visit the island with your car.
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Car rental in Sicily
Despite the fact that Sicily does not look impressive enough on the map, exploring this island by car is not an easy task. You will hardly have time to see all the most interesting places and sights, relax on the most popular beaches and visit big cities even in a couple of weeks. But, no doubt, having a car will greatly simplify your task.
The easiest way to rent a car in Sicily is through the websites of special companies. It is best to place an order in advance, as it often happens that upon arrival at the place it turns out that the car you need has already been booked or that someone has just taken it away.
It is very easy to order a car online. You need to fill out the form on the website, pay for the order in advance and provide all the necessary information about yourself. It is important to correctly indicate the start and end dates of the lease. After filling out everything you need, a special ticket will be sent to you, which will need to be printed out, so that you can then present it at the office of the rental company. Be sure to first check the data on the ticket with your documents - everything must match exactly, otherwise problems will arise and you may simply not get the car you want.
Many companies refuse to work with cash - they only accept bank cards on the spot or payment through the website.
You can choose a car for rent, compare prices and book online in the most popular Rentalcars.com service. The entire booking procedure takes place online, and your chosen car will be waiting for you right at the airport!
Car rental conditions in Sicily
There is a mandatory list of documents for renting a car in Italy and Sicily, which rental companies sometimes have the right to supplement (information about this is on each separate website). Prepare the following documents immediately:
• International passport;
• Bank card;
• Driver's license (most often the license of your country is enough, but there are companies that require an international driver's license).
At the same time, you, as a driver, also have a number of requirements. Economy class cars are issued to everyone who has reached the age of 21, however, more expensive cars can be rented only from the age of 25. Driving experience must be at least one year. Business class cars are issued to drivers with at least five years of experience.
The rental price is daily. On average, we are talking about 30-50 euros per day, but it all depends on the season and car brand. The longer the rental period, the cheaper the daily payment will be.
Refueling and fuel costs
When planning a long trip to Sicily by car, it is worth considering that almost all gas stations on the island work until seven in the evening and do not open at all on public holidays. However, this does not apply to all gas stations located on highways.
As in all of Italy, there are Self-service petrol stations in Sicily. They work any day around the clock. All of them are indicated on the maps of the navigator.
The cost of gasoline reaches 2 euros per liter. Diesel fuel is 20-30 cents cheaper than gasoline.
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Major traffic fines and violations
Traffic rules in Sicily are generally fairly standard. Even the road signs are the same as in all of Europe, including the eastern part of it. The only major difference is the representatives of the road patrol service. Agreeing with them will fail in 100% of cases. So, if you have already violated something, just listen to the officer's instructions and take a check to pay the fine. All attempts to "solve on the spot" will result in an increase in the fine several times.
The main rule concerns the speed of movement. In the city, you cannot go faster than fifty kilometers per hour. On a normal road, the limit is one hundred and ten kilometers per hour. You can move along the highway at a speed of up to one hundred and thirty kilometers per hour. Violation of speed limits can be fined in the amount of 500 to 3000 euros.
Remember to turn on your low beam headlights on any road outside the city. This is a generally accepted rule, violation of which leads to a fine, albeit not so large. You cannot talk on the phone while driving while driving without using a mobile headset.
For driving through a red light, you can receive a check for 160 euros, which must be paid within three days. Among other things, local police are very fond of fines for improper transportation of preschool children and lack of seat belts while driving.
Book a room in advance in the hotel you like in Sicily, because in the high season there are very few offers.
Sicily parking
When setting out on a road trip in Sicily, be prepared for the fact that parking spaces are a serious item of expenses. Finding free parking during the day in any locality is almost impossible, which distinguishes Sicily from the southern part of Italy, where in the high season even paid parking spaces are often made free.
It is strictly not recommended to stop all parking zones, since almost certainly in 15 minutes a tow truck will appear next to your car, which will take the car to the parking lot.
In general, the parking lot designation system is the same as in the rest of Italy. White parking is free. The yellow ones are shareware, as only local residents are allowed to use them. Blue parking lots are only used at night. Red parking spaces are paid at any time of the day.
And in order not to puzzle over how to get from the airport to the hotel you need, use the Kiwi online booking service for transfers around the world. Everything is very simple - choose the desired date, points of departure and destination, class of comfort of the car, make an advance payment and that's it. The driver will meet you with a sign right at the exit from the airport, and the price of the trip will be known to you in advance.
Sicily toll roads
The island has a fairly large number of free trails that can easily lead you to any city and any famous landmark. The most popular free-of-charge motorway runs from Catania to Rosolini.There are also several major trails crossing the island from east to west and north to south.
For maximum comfort, you can travel along the main Sicilian motorway from Taormina to Palermo. Payment for travel is carried out in a special window. First, at the entrance to the highway, you will have to get a ticket from a special machine.
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Sicily landmarks
In the end, I would like to tell you about the most interesting places and sights of Sicily, which are definitely worth a visit.
Despite the fact that the Sicilians are most often associated with the mafia, today there is no real mafia on the island. However, local police officers managed to overcome it only a couple of decades ago. Now Sicily is a quiet and calm island, striking in its originality and beauty. An island with the most unusual history, in which dozens of different, so dissimilar cultures have intertwined.
A must-see is the city of Palermo - the capital of Sicily. Nearby is Corleone - the birthplace of the local mafia, where literally on every corner you will find references to certain famous criminals, as well as find the place where "The Godfather" was filmed. Also, you can not help but look into Taormina and Catania, which are famous for their resort places and architectural monuments.
Sicily itself is a paradise for those who love history and do not mind relaxing on a beautiful beach at the same time. On the one hand, here you will find traces left by the ancient Romans, enlightened Greeks, Byzantines, warlike Normans and Arabs who moved at the beginning of the second millennium and founded several of their states here. On the other hand, Sicily is beautiful nature, the imposing Mount Etna, a lot of beautiful beaches and the most well-developed tourist infrastructure.
It is worth looking into one of the thermal springs near the volcano. If you are traveling with children, then an interesting place to visit will be the large Sicilian Zoo, which is located in Etnaland, one of the largest recreation areas in all of Europe.
Going on a trip to Sicily, get ready for the adventure and new discoveries that await you at every turn. Get ready to experience the freedom of the island, be imbued with the special mentality of the locals and gain impressions for the rest of your life.
