This page contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more info.
Syracuse, Sicily (not the one in New York), or Siracusa in Italian, is known for its rich Greek and Roman history with ancient ruins dating back to the 6th century BC.
The highlight is Ortigia, an island connected to the mainland by a bridge. This is Syracuse’s old town, where it was founded by ancient Greeks.
It’s the most beautiful part of the city with a maze of medieval lanes, Baroque palaces, and a cathedral that shows Sicily’s many layers of history.
Simon and I spent a week getting lost in alleyways, strolling the seaside promenade, and eating delicious street food. We also used it as a base to explore the Val di Noto with its many Baroque towns.
In this Syracuse travel guide, I share the best things to do in Syracuse and Ortigia, as well as how to get there and where to stay. At the end, you’ll find a map with everywhere mentioned.
Contents
- Our Top Picks in Syracuse, Sicily
- Best Things to Do in Syracuse (Ortigia)
- Things to Do in Syracuse (Mainland)
- Day Trips from Syracuse
- Where to Stay in Syracuse
- How to Get to Syracuse, Italy
- Syracuse Map
- Is Syracuse Worth Visiting?
- More Sicily Tips
Our Top Picks in Syracuse, Sicily
Best Activity: Street Food Walking Tour
Best Lunch: Tagliere (tasting platter) at Caseficio Borderi
Best Gelato: Pistachio at Levante Gelato Artigianale
Best Pizza: Piano B
Best Day Trip: Ragusa Ibla
Best Things to Do in Syracuse (Ortigia)
You’ll spend most of your time in Syracuse in Ortigia, the island old town. It’s by far the most beautiful part of the city with most of the attractions and lots of great places to eat and drink. Here are our picks:
1) Take a Street Food Walking Tour
Although we’re generally not tour people, we love to take a food tour in Italy. As well as tasting lots of delicious food (every region has different specialities), we get an overview of the city and learn some history.
We did this three-hour Street Food Walking Tour in Ortigia, and it was excellent. At the beginning of April, we were the only people on the tour, and Giuseppe taught us lots about the city and Sicily’s history.
You definitely want to go hungry to this tour. We started with a giant platter in the market and continued on trying fried vegetables, melanzana parmigiana (eggplant parmesan), impanata (a type of pie), granita, and cannoli. Wine at one stop was also included.
I’d done a lot of food research for our trip, and we still went to places I hadn’t heard of, many of which have been run by the same family for generations.
Our guide easily catered for us as vegetarians, and I think they’d be flexible if there’s anything you do or don’t want to eat.
It wasn’t just about the food, though—I fell in love with Ortigia on this tour, especially the backstreets of the Jewish Quarter.
We visited most of the places on the first half of this list on the tour, so it’s a good overview of the city. I recommend doing it on your first day.
Check prices and availability for the Street Food Walking Tour we did on Get Your Guide.
If you are vegan, check out this Syracuse Vegan Food Tour instead.
2) Eat Lunch at Ortigia Market
The Ortigia Market is small but mighty and an essential stop in Syracuse.
It’s open air with changing street stalls plus a few permanent shops/delis. You can buy fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, olives, herbs, cheese, and fish.
It’s open on Monday to Saturday mornings from around 7am – 1pm (the shops open until 4pm). We found there were fewer stalls on a rainy day.
What we love most about the market is having lunch at one of the delis—one of the best things to do in Ortigia, for sure.
Our favourite is Caseficio Borderi, famous for its huge sandwiches. You can get a takeaway or sit at one of the outside tables opposite. It can be busy, so it’s best for an early lunch.
They have a selection of sandwiches, but most people recommend the Chef’s Choice (available vegetarian or meat), which is stuffed full of cheeses, marinated vegetables, sundried tomatoes, and more.
The sandwiches are very good, but we preferred the tagliere (platters). Our vegetarian version included some of their homemade cheeses (the freshly made mozzarella is especially delicious), plus lots of vegetables and Sicilian caponata.
Another option next door is Fratelli Burgio, which also offers excellent platters (they are known for their meat). The vegetarian version was less cheese-focused than at Borderi, so we didn’t enjoy it quite as much, but the selection of vegetables was still delicious.
3) See the Temple of Apollo
When you cross the bridge from Syracuse’s mainland onto Ortigia island, the Tempio di Apollo (Temple of Apollo) is the first sight you come across.
It’s one of the oldest Doric temples in the world, dating back to the 6th century BC.
You can’t enter the site but can easily see it outside. It has an overgrown garden vibe (often with cats sunbathing on the grass) and not much remains, but you can still see some columns and part of a wall.
Ortigia’s market is to the left of the ruins.
The following few items on this list are in geographical order for a self-guided walking tour.
Ortigia isn’t large, and it’s just a 17-minute walk from Tempio di Apollo to Castello Maniace at the southern tip of the island. But it’ll take longer with diversions, and there’s a lot to see along the way.
4) Admire the Diana Fountain
From Tempio di Apollo, walk down the modern shopping street Corso Giacomo Matteotti or the narrower, more charming lane Via Dione.
Both lead to Piazza Archimede, which has the beautiful Fontana di Diana (Diana Fountain) at its centre, built in 1907.
The Greek goddess Diana (or Artemis in Greek) protects Ortigia and stands with her hunting bow above other Greek characters, including Arethusa.
The cafes here are popular spots for an evening drink with locals (and us). Diana looks especially dramatic lit up at night.
5) See the Layers of History in the Duomo
It’s not far south to Ortigia’s main square, the Piazza del Duomo, home of the stunning Duomo (Syracuse Cathedral).
The honey-coloured buildings here are typical of Ortigia, as much of it was built using limestone (in contrast to Catania, known as the Black and White City due to its use of volcanic stone).
On our food tour, we learnt to see the layers of history in the Duomo. On the left side of the building, you can see Greek columns from the original Doric temple (5th century BC) before the Catholics transformed it into a church in the 7th century BC.
The architecture also shows Arab and Norman influences, but the highlight is the 18th-century Baroque facade with ornate sculptures.
Entrance to the Syracuse Cathedral costs €2, and it’s open Monday to Saturday from 9am-5.30pm (until 6.30pm in summer). Note that Google Maps has the wrong hours.
Inside the Duomo is much plainer, and we didn’t find it terribly exciting (I’m sure religion/history buffs would disagree).
A rather odd sight you can see nearby, down a side street, Via Santa Lucia alla Badia, is a small statue of Mary that sticks out from a wall and faces the sky. It’s marked on Google Maps as Madonnina Orizzontale.
6) Spot Papyrus at Fonte Aretusa
Continuing south, you’ll hit the seafront and another top attraction in Syracuse—the Fonte Aretusa.
This ancient, freshwater spring is right next to the sea and is the only place in Europe where you can see papyrus growing.
It’s a surprising and scenic sight in the heart of the city, with ducks paddling around.
From here, you can delve inland again to the Jewish Quarter or walk along the seafront promenade (covered in #8 below). Ideally, you should do both at some point.
7) Explore the Jewish Quarter
The Giudecca (Jewish quarter) is Syracuse’s oldest neighbourhood. It was home to a thriving Jewish community since at least 70 AD, until Jews were expelled from Sicily in 1492.
Although little remains of the original quarter, this southeast corner is one of the most picturesque parts of Ortigia and a good place to wander.
Start on Via della Giudecca and then delve down lanes between here and the sea.
On this street, you’ll find the Puppet Theatre (see below), good takeout places to eat (Antica Giudecca and U Siciliano Ortigia), and bars with a few tables on the street (we never made it to Taverna Giudecca, but it looked appealing).
One of the prettiest streets in Ortigia is Via del Crocefisso, a narrow residential lane where all the owners have potted plants outside their homes, creating an oasis-like feel.
Chiesa di San Filippo Apostolo is a church in this area that was once a synagogue. You can take short underground tours for €5 (April to October) to see the original Jewish baths and crypt. The tunnels down here were also used as bomb shelters during WW2.
The Bagno Ebraico – Mikveh is another Jewish bath that offers tours.
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista is a scenic church with no roof. You can’t enter it, though (unless you attend a wedding there).
8) Walk Around Ortigia’s Seafront
While Ortigia’s interior is atmospheric and beautiful, I also recommend walking along its seafront for lovely views.
The most attractive stretch is on the west coast, from the marina full of superyachts in the north down the main tree-lined promenade, Foro Vittorio Emanuele II.
After you reach the Fonte Aretusa, the Lungomare Alfeo is even prettier as you continue south. This is the best spot to watch the sunset, perhaps from one of the bars (we liked Mikatú).
Eventually, you’ll reach Castello Maniace, a 13th-century military fort that overlooks the sea at the southern tip of Ortigia.
You can enjoy the views from the outside or pay €6 to go inside. There’s not much to see inside (and no information), but we enjoyed wandering the expansive halls and gazing out to sea from the defences. It wasn’t busy on our visit.
From here you can walk up the east coast of Ortigia. The southern section is the most scenic as you pass the popular swimming spots, Cala Rossa (a small pebble beach) and Forte Vigliena (where you can swim off the rocks). The water is wonderfully clear.
The next part is next to the road and not quite as attractive, but you might like to do what we did and continue up to Ortigia Market for lunch.
If you want to see the coastline from a different perspective, you can take a short boat tour around the island and to nearby sea caves.
There are lots of boat trips on offer near Umbertino Bridge as you enter Ortigia, or you can book a tour like this one-hour Ortigia Island and Sea Caves Boat Tour.
9) Enjoy Aperitivo
Aperitivo, or pre-dinner drinks with snacks, is an Italian tradition we love. Ortigia is a great place to partake as there are lots of excellent bars, from hipster cocktail joints to simpler spots for sunset on the promenade.
Here are the bars we enjoyed in Ortigia:
- BOATS – Superb, mostly tequila-based cocktails in a cool bar near the Temple of Apollo. The menu is an epic storybook. My sweet and sour Ofrenda was delicious and came with a candy skull garnish. No snacks, though.
- Cortile Verga – Another good spot for unusual cocktails in a stylish courtyard. Our drinks came with taralli and olives, and they have a food menu if you want something more substantial.
- Mikatú – For us, this was the best spot on Lungomare Alfeo for sunset cocktails. Our Spritzes came with a generous array of snacks.
- Evoè Wine Bar – A good selection of Sicilian wines by the glass. Snacks aren’t included, so we ordered the tasty mixed bruschetta.
- Moon – This vegan restaurant has creative cocktails (which come with vegan snacks) and some comfy seating inside (plus tables outside).
- Piazza Archimede Caffe – This was our go-to when we wanted a simple Aperol or Campari Spritz. There’s outdoor seating overlooking the Diana Fountain (with heat lamps in winter). At aperitivo time, we were brought a selection of pastries, crisps and olives, but were charged €2.50 for them.
10) Eat Delicious Food
Considering Ortigia’s small size, I was amazed by how many restaurants I discovered in my research.
We didn’t have time to eat in them all, but here were our favourites:
For a Multi-Course Dinner: Trattoria La Foglia
We loved Trattoria La Foglia’s quirky mismatched decor (think Grandma’s house chic), friendly staff, and delicious food.
We enjoyed the gran piatto di verdure (a big plate of vegetables, rice, omelette, and other bits), ricotta ravioli with tomato sauce, and tagliolini alla Norma.
It was pretty pricey (but everywhere is in Ortigia), and they asked us to pay our €80 bill in cash, but we’d still go again. Bookings recommended.
For Pizza: Pizzeria Schiticchio
At Pizzeria Schiticchio, our Margherita and Norma pizzas were excellent with wonderful puffy crusts.
The panelle starter was a tasty surprise, as these chickpea fritters are usually only found in Palermo.
We managed to get in at 7.30pm, but you might want to book.
For Takeout: Antica Giudecca
If you want an inexpensive, casual meal, head to Antica Giudecca for arancini (rice balls), pizza slices, and impanata.
You can choose what you want from the counter or ask for arancini, which are made to order. They do have more arancini flavours than listed on the menu—we got our vegetarian favourite, Norma (aubergine).
While it’s more of a takeout spot, there are a few tables inside and out.
On a Saturday night, it was buzzing with locals and had a very Italian, chaotic energy.
For Gelato: Levante Gelato Artigianale
Levante Gelato Artigianale wasn’t the friendliest gelateria we visited, but it’s still my top pick because the pistachio gelato (a must in Sicily) was so good.
You pay for your gelato upfront at the cashier and then order your flavours from the counter. If you want pistachio, you have to pay a 50c premium so be sure to tell them when you pay.
It’s also supposed to be a good spot to try the classic Sicilian summer breakfast—granita and brioche.
11) See a Traditional Puppet Show
For a unique activity in Ortigia, see a traditional Sicilian puppet show at the Teatro dei Pupi.
It’s best to check their website for upcoming performances and book online. We only just managed to get in turning up 20 minutes before a show.
Shows tend to start between 4.30pm and 6pm and run every day during high season (twice a day in August). They are always closed on Sundays.
The 45-minute performances are of classic stories and are all in Italian. They do give an introduction in English so you have a sense of the story, but we still found it a little hard to follow (and I admit my attention drifted at points).
The puppets are impressive, though, and it’s nice to be part of preserving a tradition that dates back to the early 18th century.
Tickets cost €11 or €12 including access to the nearby Puppet Museum.
Things to Do in Syracuse (Mainland)
While you could happily spend all your time in Ortigia, there are a few sights on the less picturesque mainland of Syracuse.
12) Wander the Neapolis Archaeological Park
One of the top things to do in Syracuse is visit the Neapolis Archaeological Park, a 30-minute walk from Ortigia.
The extensive park features a Greek theatre from the 5th century BC, a Roman amphitheatre, caves, and an ancient quarry.
Aside from the history, it could be a pleasant place to wander with lemon and orange trees now growing in the quarry and modern sculptures scattered (somewhat incongruously) around the ruins.
It’s a place with a lot of potential that’s let down by the complete lack of information. The Greek Theatre is also covered with wooden benches for performances much of the year. It looked awful and had no feeling of history like the Teatro Antico in Taormina.
Our visit was also challenging due to heavy rain, and it was heaving with tour groups, which made it hard to enjoy.
We made the mistake of going at 10.30am. I recommend going early or late—I’m sure we would have enjoyed it more on a sunnier, quieter day.
That said, manage your expectations, and you might want to skip it if you are on a budget (entrance is €17) and not a history nerd.
13) See a Caravaggio
You can see the Caravaggio painting, The Burial of Santa Lucia, at Santuario di Santa Lucia al Sepolcro in Piazza Santa Lucia.
Caravaggio was commissioned to paint Syracuse’s patron saint for this church in 1608 while on the run from the Knights of Malta. Some scholars suggest that the top two-thirds of the painting are bare due to his lack of time to complete it.
While it didn’t impress us as much as the Caravaggios we saw in Rome, it’s worth seeing for art fans.
Entrance to the church is free, but you’ll need a €1 coin (or two for longer) to light up the painting behind the altar.
The church is a 20-minute walk from the top of Ortigia. We combined it with the coastal walk below. This is an untouristy area and feels a bit gritty compared to Ortigia.
The church is open from 9am – 7pm but closes for a break between 12.45pm and 3pm every day.
You can also visit the catacombs below the church.
Note that the Caravaggio painting was displayed for years (until 2020) in Santa Lucia alla Badia on Piazza Duomo in Ortigia. They still have a copy on display.
14) Walk or Cycle the Coast
A 10-minute walk from Santa Lucia church is the start of a 6km bike path, Pista Ciclabile Rossana Maiorca.
It runs along the coast, with views of sea cliffs on one side and less attractive modern housing on the other. We walked a short distance, but it’s probably best to take a bike.
You can rent bikes at Siracusa Tour Bike Rentals and e-bikes at Green Rent in the Syracuse mainland area just over from Ortigia.
15) Eat in Some Untouristy Spots
The Syracuse mainland has the least touristy places to eat.
We loved the thin and crispy pizzas at Piano B. It was so busy with locals on a Friday night that we had to get a takeaway, but we returned during the week and could eat in.
Fari is a pasta shop where you can also eat in to enjoy their freshly made pasta with a variety of sauces. Good for a casual meal.
There are also quite a few gelato places just north of Ortigia. Mangiafico Voglia Matta was good, but Gelateria Belfiore was even better (especially the Diana pistachio and very intense dark chocolate).
Day Trips from Syracuse
Syracuse is a good base for exploring the nearby Val di Noto with its many beautiful Baroque towns rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1693.
See our Eastern Sicily itinerary for more details about these towns.
16) Noto
Noto is the most famous Val di Noto Baroque town and just 30 minutes from Syracuse.
The beautiful historic centre is compact and easy to explore in half a day. The highlight is the main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, where you’ll find the impressive Duomo and many honey-gold palazzi and churches.
There are several church bell towers you can climb to see the city from above—we liked the view of the Duomo from Chiesa di Santa Chiara.
It’s also worth veering off the main street to discover painted staircases on Via Fratelli Bandiera and Scalinata Mariannina Coffa.
For a delicious, affordable meal, follow slices of sfincione (like pizza) from Panifico Maidda with a granita from Caffe Sicilia.
17) Ragusa
Ragusa Ibla, the old town of Ragusa, was our favourite of the Baroque towns we visited.
It has a dramatic location on the edge of a gorge—best appreciated by climbing the stairs up to Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Scale for stunning views.
The maze of traffic-free streets is a joy to wander.
We tried local products for lunch at the wine bar, Enoteca Il Barocco.
18) Modica
Modica is famous for its dark, grainy chocolate, which is still made from a recipe brought by the Spanish from Latin America to Sicily in the 16th century.
We learnt about the bean-to-bar process (and tasted many samples) on a tour at Modica’s oldest chocolate shop, Antica Dolceria Bonajuto.
Modica is another Baroque town with many beautiful churches and narrow lanes to explore. Expect to walk up lots of stairs in this hillside town.
Where to Stay in Syracuse
Ortigia is by far the most charming and atmospheric place to stay in Syracuse. There are many B&Bs and apartment rentals in the old town, plus a few larger hotels (like Grand Hotel Ortigia).
If you only have a few days in Syracuse and don’t have a car, I definitely recommend staying in Ortigia.
Some tempting options include:
- Hotel Henry’s House – A historic B&B with some sea view rooms.
- Re Federico Boutique Hotel – Affordable rooms close to a swimming spot.
- Maniace Boutique Hotel Ortigia – Stylish rooms next to Cala Rossa beach, some with sea views.
Where We Stayed
If, like us, you have a rental car and want to take day trips, staying in Ortigia is more difficult.
Non-locals can’t drive in much of the island, and parking is expensive and mostly limited to public car parks (such as Parcheggio Talete). It is possible, but check the parking situation with your hotel before you book.
We decided to stay on the Syracuse mainland but only a 10-minute walk from Ortigia.
We rented a one-bedroom apartment called A Casa di Clara in a residential building. It has free parking in the courtyard, a big plus for us, and the location worked well.
For our longer stay, we appreciated having more space than a B&B, a kitchen, and a washing machine. The self-check-in was easy.
The downsides were that in rainy early spring, we found it a bit cold and damp (despite the heating). It was also noisy on weekend nights, and the water tasted salty, so we had to buy bottled water.
Although we didn’t love every aspect, it was good value and worked well as our base.
How to Get to Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse (Siracusa) is located in southeast Sicily. The nearest airport is Catania International Airport (CTA).
We drove to Syracuse as part of our East Sicily road trip. It’s a one-hour drive south of Catania (where we went afterwards) and two hours south of Taormina (where we started our trip).
If you travel by public transport, you can take the train from Catania to Syracuse (around 1 hour 15 minutes) or the Interbus.
The Siracusa train station is a 20-minute walk or 10-minute taxi ride from the top of Ortigia.
Syracuse Map
Is Syracuse Worth Visiting?
Syracuse is one of the most popular destinations in Sicily and is well worth visiting.
While the main part of the city isn’t particularly attractive, the historic island of Ortigia is beautiful.
You can easily spend a week or more, as we did, wandering the narrow streets, admiring the golden Baroque buildings, strolling the seafront promenade, taking dips in the sea, and enjoying the many bars and restaurants.
Syracuse is also a good base for exploring the Val di Noto towns, and in summer, venturing to sandy beaches (which Syracuse lacks) down the coast.
More Sicily Tips
- The Perfect Eastern Sicily Itinerary: Food, Views and Baroque
- 11 Wonderful Things to Do in Taormina, Sicily
- 12 Best Places to Visit in Western Sicily
- Exploring Peaceful Salina in Sicily’s Aeolian Islands
- A Guide to Hiking Stromboli Volcano
- The Best Food in Sicily: 18 Dishes to Try
- Dos and Don’ts of Eating in Italy
If you enjoyed this post, pin for later!
Leave a Reply