Kefalonia or Sicily

[newdiamondring]

Please give me your thoughts on which to head to for Summer '25. One adult and two 13 year olds.

Prefer to be independent, not package

Like a mix of culture beaches activity and lazing

Hotels or Airbnb recommendations welcome.

Thanks.

Sicily! Probably more culture than two 13 year olds could handle and good beaches.

Agree with Sicily - much more interesting.

Love Sicily. Last year we did 10 days split between Ortigia (Syracusa) and Taormina. Beautiful scenery, architecture and roman/greek stuff. Godfather tour and perilous bus to Castelmola, and the gorge. Trips up Mt Etna. For the beach neither are ideal, though Giardini Naxos might be better and you can still access things easily. Cefalu always seems to be highly recommended. Palermo / Catania seem to be a bit marmite - as they have some fab bits and many run down areas also.

We spent 2 weeks in Sicily pre-covid, but our itinerary could be done is less time.
Palermo- we stayed at Extra BNB, which was across the road from the Teatro Garibaldi. https://www.hotels-in-palermo.com/en/property/extra-bed-and-breakfast.html
Its family run and at breakfast, among other food, they brought out delicious home made jams and cakes. So friendly and helpful. The direct bus from the airport has a stop across the road and it was very easy to walk from there all around Palermo.
Catacombs, markets, large parks and museums were our highlights. You can get a local bus to Modello beach which had some lovely breachside tavernas. We wished we'd stay there a night or 2.

We then got a train to Agrigento and stayed in this BNB, which was a 2min walk from the station. https://la-dolce-vita-luxury-house-bed-breakfast.hotelsonsicily.com/en/
Breakfast was brought on a tray each day and it was lovely to sit on the balcony to have it. The decor was like nothing I've seen before. Even the fridge and back of the door was padded in ornate materials!
We caught a local bus to the Agrigento site, similar looking to the Parthenon and the museum. I think we only stayed 2/3 days there.

Then caught a coach to Catania. I wouldn't recommend the place we stayed there. I recall some amazing fruit/veg/seafood markets, 2nds markets and museums. We did a day trip to Syracuse via bus which was lovely.

We would have gone to Taormina, but Etna was rumbling at the time. We then got a coach back to Palermo and stayed there till we flew out. We went off season, maybe Oct, so it wasn't too hot or crowded. I've since read about Cefalu being a great beach town, but we never made it there. We loved Sicily and I'd definitely return.

We went to Sicily in April. The locals said it’s 40 degrees in the summer and horrible - even for them. If you want to see anything, go in April. Or May half term latest. So many wonderful things to see.

I've never been to Kefalonia, but Sicily was an amazing combination of beauty, amazing sightseeing, great food - everything.

We went to Kefalonia this summer and it was stunning I would hire a car and go explore, there were loads of small artisan hotels, B&Bs that we spotted.

I've not been to Sicily so might be the same I did find the Italians a bit grumpy and at times deliberately rude when I visited Sardinia with my SIL who is Sardinian which has put me off other Italian destinations. But could just have been bad luck.

I've always found greek people kind, friendly and family orientated.

Sicily!

Agree with the PP about the weather. Sicily suffered through a horrendous drought last year. The summers are becoming hellish. Mind you the same could be said for much of Greece. I would definitely factor the temperature in before making a decision!

Thanks everyone for replying. I hear you on the temperatures. Summer is a worry. As is the driving. Would I need a car on Sicily as I suspect I would and if anyone has any advice on how perilous it is that would be helpful!

I am also considering Easter hols as we have two weeks. Will give more thought.

I didn't like kefalonia at all! There are other much nicer greek islands.

Thanks for this. Whereabouts did you stay on kefalonia?

Oh no!! Why not? Everyone I know who has visited it has raved about it!

Well I started my trip in zakynthos island (island beside kefalonia)and I was in a really beautiful, quiet, picturesque part of zakynthos. It was stunning. But there was a big town nearby with lots of things to do, if i wanted to. I had a great time.

Then I went and got a ferry to Kefalonia.

Where I was staying in Kefalonia - was just really disappointing. It's much more remote.

It was more difficult to get around. Extremely steep hills everywhere. There wasn't much to do. The beaches were also not half as nice as zakynthos. And the cafes were not as nice where I was. Everything felt stressful. I didn't like it. Now I didn't see the whole island, but where I was, I was disappointed.

I went to Katelios in Kefalonia. It was very quiet and peaceful. The food was amazing. The scenery is stunning but I personally wouldn’t drive there as the roads are steep, windy and narrow. We just chilled out but I think there were water sports, boat trips to Xante and Ithaca available from nearby resorts.
I love Sicily too. Stayed in Castelmola above Taormina. Taormina is beautiful but very busy and touristy. Roads there are also a bit scary. We went in October so unfortunately most of the tours were finished but I think there would be lots of interesting places to visit earlier in the season.
I think Sicily wins for culture . Kefalonia for relaxation and amazing food . Maybe a bit boring for a 13 year old

Yes that's what I remember about kefalonia too. The extremely steep and windy roads.

I remember walking down the beach one day and it was like walking down a mountain.

Then the trek back up to the hotel at the end of the day, up the very steep roads. It's not that easy to walk around.

I didn’t think driving in Sicily was that bad! Pretty decent roads and normal driving behaviour. Cannot imagine using public transport to the nicest towns.

Again just my opinion but I didn't think that Sicily was that amazing either.

I'd recommend lake como!

Really?! Which resort on the lake? Presumably, it's not excessively hot in the summer (or at least not as much as the southern med)

I stayed in a couple of different places.

Everywhere is nice around Lake como.

You can also get a quick train up to switzerland from Lake como for a few hours if you want. Its very near. And the views on the train are stunning.

We stayed near Argostolion if I went again I'd stay in Assos as it was so pretty.

The roads are winding and mountainous but I've driven on worse although I will say I've driven abroad since I was 21, Cyprus used to be pretty scary in the mountains just rough dirt roads. In fact it still is there was lots of rocks on the roads last time I drove there a couple of years ago so much so we had to help some other tourists change their shredded tyre.

@newdiamondring Sicily has the most amazing hill towns, amphitheatres and Greek and Roman ruins. It has fantastic mosaics at Piazza Armerina. I’ve not seen anything like them. We are not bothered about beaches but the food is great and we found people pleased to see us. Sicily is beautiful and historic but you have to want to see it! Just staying in one resort doesn’t do it justice. Travel is necessary to see the best of what’s on offer.

To add to my massive post earlier about Sicily! I never considered hiring a car! I can't imagine where you park in the larger cities! Both Palermo and Catania were easy enough to walk around. The train to Agrigento was clean and on time. The coaches were equally plentiful, clean and reasonably priced.

Sicily is fab but even in October it was hot looking around some of the sights. I can't imagine what it would be like in July/ August. Greek islands should give you more of a breeze.
Someone up thread said that driving in Sicily was OK. They are MANIACS! But in general the roads were good! Although most of the motorways were just endless roadworks..

Thanks again all. Lots of food for thought here.

I'm not sure I'm up to driving on either island tbh!

Also sounds like Easter time would be a better time to visit Sicily.

Will continue to research and ponder.