SICILY IN SEPTEMBER: WHAT TO EXPECT & WHERE TO VISIT.
We spent one month in Sicily in September, and it remains one of the most enjoyable trips I’ve ever taken.
Not because everything was perfect (it wasn’t), or because Sicily suddenly became calm and well-organised (it didn’t), but because September is the moment when the island becomes just manageable enough to really enjoy. The heat drops a notch, the August crowds finally start to disperse, and you can still eat dinner outside in a sundress without feeling like you’re slowly being cooked.
If I never go back to Sicily again, I’ll be genuinely grateful that September was the month I experienced it.
In this post, you can find a little more information about what to expect if you visit Sicily in September, including the best places to visit.
Weather in Sicily in September
September is still properly warm, but no longer aggressively so!
Daytime temperatures usually sit around 25–30°C, which is hot enough for beaches, sightseeing and long lunches, but without the relentless intensity of August.
The sun is still strong, but the evenings cool down just enough that walking around towns and searching for a restaurant doesn’t leave your makeup slipping down your face.
Especially if you’re travelling from somewhere cooler (like the UK), the heat will still hit you when you step off the airplane but you most likely won’t feel smothered by it for the entire trip.
On average, you can expect about 5cm of rain throughout September (we got caught in a massive storm on Etna). You’re more likely to get rain than in July and August, but it’s by no means a rainy month.
Beaches and swimming in Sicily in September
Yes, a thousand times yes. You can absolutely still swim in Sicily in September, and it’s excellent.
The sea has had all summer to warm up, so the water is actually nicer than in June or early July. The beaches are also less crowded than August, when it can feel like everyone has descended on the beaches.
Accommodation in Sicily in September
September is noticeably easier for accommodation than August, but it’s still a popular month, especially in well-known spots like Taormina, Cefalù and the Val di Noto towns.
Prices start to lighten, availability improves, and you’re more likely to find decent apartments and small hotels without having to book six months in advance. That said, September is still very much “high season adjacent”, so it’s worth booking ahead if you have specific places in mind.
The main benefit is choice. You’re no longer stuck taking whatever’s left.
What to pack for Sicily in September
Packing for September in Sicily is delightfully simple. So much so, that you can definitely get away with “hand luggage only”, even the small bags that have to fit under your seat. Phew.
September packing is straightforward:
- Sundresses, shorts (linen and light materials);
- Comfortable sandals;
- Swimwear;
- Sunglasses and sunscreen;
- A light layer, like a shirt to cover shoulders.
It can also be helpful to pack a light jacket, like denim or leather, for the evenings and mornings.
Where to visit in Sicily in September
With the worst of the summer crowds gone and the temperatures slightly calmer, September is one of the best months to move around the island properly.
1/ The big cities
Both Palermo and Catania work particularly well in September.
In August, both cities feel slightly unhinged with stifling heat and loads of tourists. Personally, I hate sightseeing when it’s simply too hot.
September makes life a little easier in both cities.
Palermo in particular benefits from the shift. You can actually enjoy the markets, street food and long walks through the historic centre.
2/ Mount Etna
If you fancy visiting Mount Etna, you can very much still do so in September. It will be cooler, but still very much accessible.
Look out for the ViniMilo, a wine festival hosted in a village close to Etna in September, which showcases local wines.
3/ The coast
The Sicilian coastline really comes into its own in September.
Near Palermo, Cefalù and Mondello Beach are both excellent: clear water, proper beaches, and much less of the August circus.
Near Catania, the eastern coast around Aci Trezza and Aci Castello is ideal for swimming and seafood lunches.
In the south, Pozzallo has long sandy beaches and far fewer international tourists, which makes everything cheaper and quieter by default.
4/ Val di Noto
September is pretty much perfect for the Val di Noto towns: Noto, Modica and Ragusa.
It’s still warm enough for dresses and long lunches in piazzas, but not so hot that you feel faint walking between churches and viewpoints.
5/ Popular tourist spots
There are certain popular tourist spots in Sicily that are probably best avoided in peak summer. For example, Taormina, Syracuse & Ortigia and San Vito Lo Capo.
They’re still busy in September, but not quite so much. You’re more likely to get restaurant tables and enjoy a somewhat more peaceful ambience.
They don’t suddenly become hidden gems, of course, but they are likely to be much less hectic.
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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