Explore Syracuse and Ortigia: Essential Travel Tips and Attractions august 13, 2024 – Posted in: Italy, Travel – Tags: Attractions, Holiday, Italy, Ortigia, Shopping, Sicily, Syracuse, Travel, Vacation
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Plenty of Travel Tips for Syracuse
Syracuse is located on the southernmost eastern coast of Sicily, right by the water. Out of all the cities we explored in Sicily, Syracuse stands out as the most welcoming for tourists. The peninsula of Ortigia, the historic heart of the city, is particularly favored by tourists from all over the world. Its charm is undeniable, with its narrow streets lined with quaint shops, charming cafes, and inviting restaurants, evoking a Venetian-like beauty.
Ortigia is the historic heart of Syracuse, and once you’ve crossed the bridge by the many fishing boats, park your car in one of the parking garages outside the city center. The winding streets invite slow strolls, and it takes only 10-15 minutes to walk across the peninsula. Enjoy the beautiful view from the path that circles the island, or sit down and watch the sunset with an Aperol. In Syracuse, you’ll quickly find yourself feeling completely relaxed!
See more travel tips for Syracuse and Ortigia – click here!
When Should You Visit Syracuse?
We vacationed in Syracuse and Ortigia in mid-October 2022. At that time, the bathing platforms were being packed away, and we saw a few locals wearing thick jackets. But then again, it was the Italian autumn with only 25-30 degrees! In other words, you can easily visit Syracuse outside of the summer season and still have an amazing beach holiday.
As a vacation destination, the city is perfect for a romantic getaway for couples who just want to stroll hand in hand through the small streets and enjoy a drink by the harbor with the beautiful sunset as a backdrop. The city is also a hit for families with older children. There’s plenty to see, the chance to swim from the fun platforms in the city, and lovely beaches within driving distance.
Shopping in Syracuse
Syracuse has all the small, charming shops you could possibly imagine! There’s everything from local crafts to stores with the latest fashion. As soon as you step onto the peninsula of Ortigia, you’ll find yourself almost immediately on the city’s main shopping street, Corso Giacomo Matteotti. Here, you’ll find many well-known chain stores like Zara and Max Mara.
If you’re looking for a unique souvenir, like the original Ortigia perfume, you’ll need to venture into the smaller streets. Running parallel to the main pedestrian street is Via Cavour, where you’ll find souvenir shops and local artisans. The small shops are scattered all over the island, and you can safely continue exploring down Via Roma.
Right by the bridges, there’s a colorful street market with cheap trinkets from the East. If you walk past them, you’ll reach the fish market. Here, you can buy fresh fish, fruits, vegetables, and fragrant spices every morning. If you’re looking for a supermarket instead, you’ll find a well-stocked Coop at Via Cavour 71.
Opening hours in Syracuse are like the rest of Sicily: on weekdays from about 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM and again from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Most places are closed on Sundays.
Beaches in Syracuse
If you’re keen on swimming, you’ll have to head a little beyond the city limits. Syracuse itself offers only a handful of rocky urban beaches. Nevertheless, locals make the most of several “Solarium” platforms – spacious wooden decks positioned along the city walls. These spots are perfect for lounging, socializing, and taking refreshing dips in the shallow, crystal-clear waters. It’s a charming scene, but remember to bring your water shoes!
A fifteen-minute train ride south of the city will take you to the popular beach of Fontane Bianche. Take the train towards Gela and Modica. The ticket costs under €5 and trains run all day. If you have a rental car, you can also visit Lido Arenella, which is a bit closer to Syracuse.
Our hotel in Ortigia, Syracuse – Alla Giudecca. Click the image to read more.
Find a Great Hotel in Siracusa
For a truly romantic getaway, like the one we were on, you should definitely stay in the historic center on the Ortigia peninsula, where there are plenty of small, charming hotels. We stayed at the super-romantic Hotel Alla Giudecca in the old Jewish quarter.
In the old 15th-century buildings, you’ll find a charming hotel, beautifully decorated with slightly old-fashioned rooms arranged around an atrium courtyard. It’s not hard to imagine how the medieval building originally looked, as the walls on the ground floor are exposed down to the large limestone blocks, and just below the large arches, you can see the exposed beams.
We were upgraded to a double room with access to our own rooftop terrace, meaning that besides our own bedroom with wrought iron canopy beds (as you can see in the picture), we also had an extra bedroom. From the room, we also had a view of the Greek well located at the entrance to the Jewish mikveh.
Breakfast was served in the medieval dining hall, offering a bit of everything, including some warm dishes. We could have also cooked for ourselves in the small kitchenette in our hotel room, but the hotel is located in the heart of Ortigia and so close to many excellent restaurants that we never even used a spoon.
Read more about the hotel here: Hotel Alla Giudecca
If you find the hotel prices in Ortigia completely unreasonable, you can easily stay on the other side of the two small bridges in Siracusa itself and walk over to Ortigia. You can see the hotels in Ortigia and Siracusa by clicking here – or search for beautiful hotels in Sicily on your own: