IT · Sicily · 37.07°N 15.29°E

syracuse

Greek ruins, a cathedral built around a temple and evenings by Ortigia's seawalls.

Best time
April–June and September–October are good for the open-air ruins and evening walks by the sea. July–August is very hot; winter is mild, with some rain.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Catania, usually via Istanbul or Dubai, about 16–18 hours all in. Airport coaches reach Syracuse in about 1.5 hours. Italy is 6 hours behind KL in summer and 7 in winter.
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IT · Sicilysyracuse37.07°N 15.29°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Greek ruins, a cathedral built around a temple and evenings by Ortigia's seawalls.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingSyracuseIT, Sicily
KLsyracuse
≈ 9,478 km from KL, as the crow flies
L'isola di Ortigia, Siracusa e sullo sfondo gli Iblei e l'Etna, tramonto.

Photo: AndreaCT78 · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Once one of the great cities of ancient Greece, Syracuse has two halves: an archaeological park on the mainland and Ortigia, a small island of pale stone lanes joined to it by bridges. Stay in Ortigia, where the sea is never more than a few streets away.

Makan

  1. Pasta con le sardeSardines, wild fennel, raisins and pine nuts, Sicily's sweet-and-savoury pasta.Map ↗
  2. GranitaLemon, almond or mulberry ice, the way Sicilians cool down.Map ↗
  3. Ortigia marketThe morning market by the Temple of Apollo, with fish, olives, citrus and sandwich counters.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. OrtigiaThe old island town, with baroque churches, a morning market and seawalls for sunset walks.Map ↗
  2. Piazza DuomoA baroque square whose cathedral was built round a Greek temple; its Doric columns still show in the walls.Map ↗
  3. Neapolis Archaeological ParkA huge Greek theatre cut into the rock, and the Ear of Dionysius, a tall cave with a famous echo.Map ↗
  4. Fonte AretusaA freshwater spring right by the sea, ringed with papyrus.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The archaeological park is about half an hour's walk from Ortigia, so go early, before the heat, then retreat to the island.
  • Cars need a permit to drive into Ortigia; park at the Talete car park on the island's edge.
  • Halal meat is rare, but seafood is everywhere, and much of the local cooking is built on fish and vegetables.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.