Activity Holidays Sicily | Sicily Holidays

Floating just off Italy’s southern tip, Sicily is a wild mix of golden beaches, rolling hills and deep-blue bays. It’s big on beauty, big on personality, and even bigger on Good Energy.

Here, at Neilson x Mangia's Torre del Barone Resort, every day’s an active one. Serve up a storm on the tennis, padel or pickleball courts, or hit the trails on road, mountain or e-bikes that wind through vineyards and volcanic views. The fitness area is shaded, scenic and seriously stylish - perfect for sunrise stretches or a spot of holistic bliss.

And when it’s time to cool off, the sea’s your playground. Glide across calm waters on a paddle board or kayak, try your hand at dinghy sailing or e-foiling, or take a sea scooter out to explore the reef just off the coast.

Beyond the beach, Sicily’s got a wild side, it’s a place where myth and modern life mingle effortlessly - all sunshine, stories and spectacular scenery, with a blend of food, culture and legend that’s pure Sicilian magic.

If you want to book one of our activity inclusive holidays to Sicily, get in touch today.

The lowdown

Neilson x Mangia's Torre del Barone Resort
Activity holidays in the Sicilian Sunshine
Racket sports centre with tennis, padel and pickleball
Road cycling and mountain biking
Watersports
Fitness and yoga
Great for adults and families too

Neilson Beach Clubs

New Beach Club on the island of Sicily

Set on Sicily’s dramatic coastline, our new five-star Beach Club sits high on a spectacular clifftop above the Mediterranean.

New for 2026

Neilson x Mangia's Torre del Barone Resort

Sicily

When to go

Sicily doesn’t really do off-season, but in the earlier summer months, the island warms up beautifully, mid-20s sunshine, lemon-scented breezes and calm seas perfect for sailing.

By high summer, the mercury hits the low 30s and the sea’s as inviting as a cold spritz on a hot terrace. It’s lively, golden and gloriously Mediterranean.

As the season winds down, the heat softens into that dreamy late-summer glow. Days in the high 20s, long evenings outdoors, sun-warmed, unhurried, and quietly spectacular.

Activities to do on your holiday to Sicily

Sicily sets the scene perfectly. Warm light, calm seas and that unmistakable scent of pine and salt in the air. It’s the kind of place that naturally draws you outdoors, where every day invites you to move, explore and make the most of it.

Start on the tennis, padel or pickleball courts, with friendly rallies under the Sicilian sun. Or trade the court for the countryside - hop on a road, mountain or e-bike and ride through olive groves, vineyards and views that stop you in your tracks.

In the shade, the fitness and holistic spaces offer calm among the pines. Yoga, Pilates, and stretches that leave you feeling restored and ready for your next adventure.

Then there’s the water. The coastline here was made for paddleboarding, kayaking and dinghy sailing, with soft breezes and that impossible turquoise shimmer. For something a little more thrilling, try e-foiling or a sea scooter out to the reef - a whole underwater world waiting just beyond the shore.

Culture

Sicily has a rhythm all of its own. Down on the south-west coast, the nearby town of Sciacca captures the island’s soul in one seaside swoop - thermal springs, colourful fishing boats and a jumble of sunlit streets that always seem to lead to a gelato.

Life moves at its own pace here. Morning markets brim with oranges, olives and gossip; afternoons are made for long lunches and lazy swims; and evenings drift into that golden-hour glow where everyone seems to know everyone, and they probably do.

From the age-old ceramics that line the shopfronts to the warm chaos of a Sicilian feast, the towns feel both timeless and gloriously alive. It’s Sicily in full technicolour - passionate, proud and impossible not to fall for.

Places to visit

Sicily is an island shaped by its culture and legends, and you feel its magic the second your feet hit the ground.

Mount Etna
Etna rises like a giant carved from fire, a volcano with a pulse. The ancients swore the gods forged their lightning here, and when you see the smoke drifting into the sky, it’s easy to believe every word.

Valley of the Temples
Just over an hour away, the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is one of Sicily’s standout sights, with vast landscapes, towering columns and history etched into every stone. A UNESCO World Heritage site that feels a world away - yet it’s an easy trip from the coast.

Eating like a local

From fresh seafood to melt-in-your-mouth arancini, Sicily serves up sunshine on a plate. Every bite tells a story of sea, soil and that signature Sicilian flair.

Grilled fish so fresh it practically waves at you, pasta with local prawns, and the island’s most famous sweet treat - cannoli, crisp shells filled with creamy ricotta and a little sugar-fuelled joy.

Just beyond the resort, Sciacca’s markets burst with colour and chatter. Stalls piled high with lemons, olives and glossy aubergines, all begging to be tasted. It’s the kind of place that turns even a quick browse into a full-blown sensory adventure.

How to get to Sicily

Getting to Sicily is a breeze, with direct flights from Gatwick (about 3 hours) and Manchester (about 3.5 hours). Both whisk you into Palermo, the island’s vibrant capital of sunshine and espresso.

From there, it’s a 90-minute transfer to the south-west coast - plenty of time to soak up the breathtaking scenery, and enjoy your first glimpses of those golden hills and sparkling sea.

What time is it in Sicily?

You’ll be on Sicilian time before you know it - just an hour ahead of the UK, but still a world away. Flights from London Gatwick and Manchester make getting here easy.

From the airport, it’s a smooth 90-minute journey to Sciaccamare on the island’s golden south-west coast. By the time you arrive, the sea’s sparkling, the air’s warm with that lemon-and-salt tang, and the first sunset spritz is practically pouring itself. Drop your bags, take a deep breath, and step straight into the slow, sun-soaked rhythm of Sicily.