What budget to travel Sicily? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Sicily?

Entrance fees generally range from €2 to €10. Discounts are available for those under 18 years old from all over the European Union, for those over 65 years old and for students. In addition, since October 2015, most museums are taking part, gradually, in the ministerial initiative #DomenicalMuseo, which offers free access to museums (but also to archaeological parks, monuments, galleries and gardens) every first Sunday of the month. An initiative that is intended to extend to the entire territory (and, hopefully, to private foundations and museums).

The walks are free and self-guided when you just follow the marked paths. You can also decide to go from village to village by small country roads. The sea is accessible for free, and so is the beach, everywhere in front of and around the lidos, the famous paying beaches where you can book a deckchair. Many wild creeks exist around the island and the satellite islands.

Budget. Budgeters can always bring back a good bottle of wine, a racy parmesan, a well-packaged burrata, pistachios, sun-dried tomatoes and homemade pasta in their suitcase. It doesn't cost that much and it's always good! The average budgeters will buy clothes or accessories in the small independent boutiques that flourish in the pedestrian centres. The best way to bring back nice items. Finally, the big budgets will be able to heat up their CB in the temples of the big Italian brands

Good deals. You will find slightly lower prices than in France in the stores of international brands (Zara, H&M, etc.) for ready-to-wear. But the most famous Italian brands (Gucci, Prada, Armani, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana) are also cheaper in Italy, mainly in Palermo and Catania in Sicily, especially during the sales. You can find great bargains in leather clothes and accessories shops, where "Italian pomp", leather jackets and handbags are very well made and at much more affordable prices than in France. We love the charm of the small independent shops that use local craftsmen. A real national know-how

Prices are a little lower than in France to go to the theatre, the cinema, the opera or a concert.

What budget to eat Sicily?

Small budget. From 10 to 20 € per person. You can always buy small Sicilian snacks on the go, quite hearty and cheap: arancini in particular, but also panini ... In case of hunger, a dish of lasagna, pasta or a good pizza is never very expensive. You can finish with an ice cream, you don't need to be rich to eat well in Sicily!

Average budget. From 25 to 40 € per person. The trattorias and traditional Sicilian restaurants are marvels of affordable gastronomy, similar to France. You can enjoy very hearty dishes washed down with good local wines. You can also share an antipasto or a dessert if you take a primi piatto and a segundo piatto.

Big budget. From 50 € per person. Gastronomic restaurants spread their beautiful white tablecloths in all the towns of Sicily. It's a real pleasure to enjoy the 6-course discovery menus to take advantage of the local flavours served in a refined kitchen. The wines can also be upmarket if you are looking for rare vintages or great Italian wines.

Bars are cheaper than in France, you will have a good cocktail between 5 and 8 €, but some bars practice similar prices to Paris, in the 12 € the cocktail! Coffee is also cheap everywhere in Sicily, and it is inevitably good, even in small cafés, whether you take it ristretto, corto or largo (tight, short or long). We also recommend the Liège or iced coffees.

What is the budget for accommodation Sicily?

Small budget. 20 € for camping or per person in a dormitory bed in a youth hostel, 50-60 € for a room in a modest hotel or a slightly rustic agriturismo

Medium budget. 70-120 €/day: nice comfortable room in a charming hotel or a luxury agriturismo .

Big budget. From 120 €/day and up. Large hotels are legion in the old palaces of the big cities, in coastal villas...

Good deals. Always check the price when booking directly with the hotel, which is often cheaper. As everywhere in Europe, you can find rooms and apartments for rent on Airbnb at interesting prices, but also last minute promotions on booking.com and other hotel reservation sites

Travel budget Sicily and cost of living

The most important budget will be devoted to accommodation; the cost of transportation is much lower than in France (a few euros are enough by train or by bus to connect most cities. For example: a little more than 10 € for the train between Palermo and Catania); the price of fuel is approximately the same as in France; finally, restaurants and visits are cheaper.

Small budget. about 50-60 €/day: 20 € for camping or a youth hostel, 25-30 € for two meals on the run and 5-10 € for a visit or a bus ride.

Medium budget. 90-100 €/day: 50 € for a room in a B&B, 30-35 € for a meal in a trattoria and another on the go, and 6-10 € for a visit.

Big budget. 200 €/day and more. No need for an example for a big budget: big hotels are legion and big restaurants too...

Museums. Generally, the entrance fee varies between 2 and 10 €. There are discounts for under 18s from all over the European Union, over 65s and students. In addition, since October 2015, most museums are taking part, gradually, in the ministerial initiative #DomenicalMuseo, which offers free access to museums (but also to archaeological parks, monuments, galleries and gardens) every first Sunday of the month. An initiative that is intended to be extended to the whole territory (and, hopefully, to private foundations and museums).

Public transportation is cheap, while renting a car, although more convenient, can be relatively expensive... and more dangerous, if you don't feel comfortable on the roads right away.

The cost of living is significantly higher in the eastern part of Sicily: in this part of the island there are major points of interest such as Etna, Taormina, Syracuse, but also the baroque cities of Ragusa, Noto and Modica. However, even in these areas, prices decrease as soon as you move away from the main tourist centers and the high tourist season. Apart from gasoline and nice hotel rooms, which are more numerous than in France and seem a little more expensive, the cost of living is, for the same quality, significantly cheaper than in France. The notion of "equal quality" is of course subjective, but, for example, one never eats poorly in a restaurant, even under 20 €.