Italy, Europe

Sicily in March

Green countryside and wildflowers, uncrowded ruins. Easter week brings dramatic processions.

GoodSpring arriving, highs near 63F (17C)

Taormina, Sicily — SicilyPhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0

The straight answer

March is a good month to visit Sicily. Green countryside and wildflowers, uncrowded ruins. Easter week brings dramatic processions.

Weather: Spring arriving, highs near 63F (17C)
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What March is like in Sicily

March is spring arriving. Highs reach about 63F (17C), the countryside turns green and full of wildflowers, and the ruins are uncrowded. Rain still passes through some days. Prices are low, and if Easter falls in late March, Holy Week processions in Trapani and other towns are dramatic and moving. Beach towns are still mostly closed.

This month suits walkers, history lovers, and anyone who wants a quiet, green Sicily. It is too cool for swimming. If Carnival or the almond festival falls in early March this year, you may catch them too. For warmer days with a little more activity, April is next.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Sicily this month.

Wildflowers and green hills

March is when Sicily's countryside is at its greenest. Drives between towns are a treat.

Holy Week, some years

When Easter falls in March, Trapani's Misteri procession on Good Friday lasts around a full day and night.

Uncrowded archaeological sites

The Villa Romana del Casale mosaics and the Valley of the Temples are calm and cool to explore.

What to pack for March

A light waterproof jacket
Layers for cool mornings
Walking shoes for uneven ruins
Sunglasses

Our timing tip

Look up the Easter date for your year, and book Trapani early if you want to see the Good Friday Misteri procession.

Book Sicily for March.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Sicily
Opens a hotel search for Sicily in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for March
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Sicily
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Sicily
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Sicily for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in March

Almond Blossom Festival (Mandorlo in Fiore), Agrigento

February or early March, varies by year

Folk music and dance groups from around the world celebrate the blossom below the temples.

Carnival of Acireale

The weeks before Lent, February or March

One of Italy's best-known carnivals, famous for its huge papier-mache floats.

Holy Week processions

The week before Easter, March or April

Trapani's Misteri procession on Good Friday lasts around a full day and night. Many towns hold their own.

Things to do in Sicily

Full guide

Valley of the Temples, Agrigento

Go at opening or late afternoon; the site is exposed and brutal at midday in summer. Some evening openings run in season.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Mount Etna

Cable car and 4x4 access on the south side; summit crater hikes need a licensed guide. Activity sometimes closes the upper zones.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Ortigia and the Neapolis park, Siracusa

The island old town for evenings, and the ancient Greek theater that still hosts classical plays in spring and early summer.

Tickets and tours →

Teatro Antico, Taormina

A Greco-Roman theater with Etna and the sea behind it. Mornings beat the midday cruise crowds.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Palermo and Monreale

Street markets, Arab-Norman chapels, and the golden mosaics of Monreale Cathedral a short drive above the city.

Tickets and tours →

Teatro Massimo, Palermo

One of Europe's largest opera houses. Guided tours run most days and the season runs roughly autumn to spring.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Time the Valley of the Temples for opening or the last two hours; you avoid both the tour buses and the worst of the sun.
Visit Taormina in the evening or early morning. Cruise and bus day-trippers fill it from late morning through mid afternoon.
Base yourself in two or three towns rather than driving a loop every day; Sicily is bigger than it looks and the roads are slower than maps suggest.
Swap August for September. The sea is warmer, the Italian holiday crowds have gone home, and prices ease.

Know before you go

Major archaeological parks and city museums stay open all year, with shorter winter hours. Some offer longer evening hours in summer.
Beach resorts, beach clubs, and many small seaside hotels close from about late October to April.
Ferries and hydrofoils to the Aeolian and Egadi islands run far fewer routes in winter, and rough seas can cancel sailings any time of year.
Etna summit access depends on volcanic activity and weather. Upper zones can close with short notice, and flights at Catania are occasionally disrupted by ash.

Sicily in March, quick answers

Is March a good time to visit Sicily?

March is a good month to visit Sicily. Green countryside and wildflowers, uncrowded ruins. Easter week brings dramatic processions.

What is the weather like in Sicily in March?

Spring arriving, highs near 63F (17C).

Is Sicily crowded in March?

March is one of the quieter months in Sicily; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in Sicily in March?

Almond Blossom Festival (Mandorlo in Fiore), Agrigento (february or early march, varies by year); Carnival of Acireale (the weeks before lent, february or march); Holy Week processions (the week before easter, march or april).