Things to Do in Sicily in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Sicily
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Genuine low season pricing - accommodation costs drop 30-40% compared to summer months, and you can actually negotiate walk-in rates at family-run agriturismi that would laugh at you in August. Flight prices from northern Europe typically sit around €80-150 roundtrip if you book 8-10 weeks ahead.
- Comfortable hiking and exploration weather - those 19°C (66°F) highs are perfect for climbing Mount Etna's lower craters or exploring Valle dei Templi in Agrigento without melting. The summer heat that makes afternoon sightseeing miserable is completely gone, replaced by genuinely pleasant temperatures for walking 8-12 km (5-7.5 miles) daily.
- Autumn harvest season in full swing - November is when you'll find fresh olive oil pressing, late-harvest wine activities, and chestnuts everywhere. The agriturismi that felt touristy in summer are now actually working farms where you might help with the olive harvest if you ask nicely. Sicilian blood oranges start appearing in late November, weeks before they hit export markets.
- Substantially smaller crowds at major sites - you can photograph the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale without 50 people in your frame, and Taormina's Greek Theatre becomes almost contemplative rather than feeling like a theme park. The Palermo markets are still packed, but with actual locals doing their shopping rather than tour groups blocking the aisles.
Considerations
- Unpredictable rainfall that disrupts plans - those 10 rainy days are scattered randomly throughout the month, and when it rains in Sicily, it properly rains. Not the gentle drizzle you might get in northern Europe, but the kind of downpour that floods Palermo's streets within 30 minutes and makes driving genuinely sketchy on mountain roads. You cannot rely on weather forecasts more than 2-3 days ahead.
- Reduced ferry and tour schedules - many boat tours to the Aeolian Islands run on winter schedules with fewer departures, and some smaller islands like Alicudi might only have 2-3 ferries weekly. Several coastal restaurants and beach clubs close entirely for the season, particularly along the southern coast. That cooking class or winery tour you wanted might only run on weekends in November.
- Shorter daylight hours limit your schedule - sunset hits around 5:00-5:15 PM in November, which means you lose 2-3 hours of usable sightseeing time compared to summer. If you're driving the coastal roads or exploring hilltop towns like Erice, you need to plan your day carefully because those medieval streets without streetlights get properly dark and disorienting.
Best Activities in November
Mount Etna Crater Hiking
November offers the best hiking conditions on Europe's most active volcano - summer heat makes the exposed volcanic terrain genuinely exhausting, while winter brings snow that closes upper routes. The 10°C (50°F) morning temperatures are ideal for the 4-5 hour trek to the summit craters at 3,320 m (10,890 ft). The air is typically crystal clear for views across to Calabria, and you might catch fresh lava flows if Etna is in an active phase. The cable car to 2,500 m (8,200 ft) runs daily, cutting 2 hours off the climb. Volcanic activity varies monthly, so routes change, but certified guides know current safe paths.
Palermo Street Food Market Tours
November brings Sicilians back to the markets after the tourist-heavy summer, and you'll find seasonal specialties like roasted chestnuts, fresh ricotta still warm from morning production, and the first blood oranges. The 19°C (66°F) weather is perfect for spending 3-4 hours walking between Ballarò, Vucciria, and Capo markets without the oppressive heat. The humidity actually works in your favor here - it keeps the sfincione and arancini from drying out at the stalls. You'll eat panelle, crocchè, stigghiola, and pani ca meusa while locals do their actual shopping, not performing for tourists.
Agrigento Valley of Temples Archaeological Walks
The Valle dei Templi becomes genuinely pleasant in November - summer temperatures above 35°C (95°F) make the exposed 2 km (1.2 mile) main route almost unbearable by midday. November's mild weather lets you properly explore the entire archaeological park over 4-5 hours without rushing between shaded spots. The low sun angle from 2:00-4:00 PM creates dramatic lighting on the Temple of Concordia that photographers wait all year for. Rainfall keeps the surrounding almond groves green rather than the dusty brown of summer. The site opens at 8:30 AM and you'll have the temples nearly to yourself before 10:00 AM.
Sicilian Winery Harvest Experiences
November sits at the tail end of harvest season, when wineries shift from frantic grape processing to the more relaxed work of olive oil production and barrel aging. The Nero d'Avola and Grillo grapes are already fermenting, and you can taste the new wine still cloudy with yeast. Western Sicily around Marsala and Trapani, and the Etna DOC region on the volcano's slopes, offer the most accessible winery visits. The cooler weather makes the 30-45 minute drives through vineyard roads actually enjoyable rather than sweltering. Many agriturismi combine wine tastings with olive oil pressing demonstrations if you visit in the first two weeks of November.
Taormina and Castelmola Hilltown Exploration
Taormina transforms in November from overcrowded tourist trap to the elegant hilltown it actually is. The Greek Theatre, perched 200 m (656 ft) above the coast with Mount Etna views, becomes almost meditative without summer's cruise ship crowds. The 10°C-19°C (50°F-66°F) temperature range is perfect for the steep staircases and the 5 km (3.1 mile) round-trip walk up to Castelmola village above. November's variable weather creates dramatic cloud formations around Etna that make for spectacular photography. The gardens at Villa Comunale show autumn colors you completely miss in summer's green monotony.
Aeolian Islands Ferry Day Trips
November ferry schedules are reduced but still functional for day trips to Lipari and Vulcano from Milazzo. The rough summer crowds disappear entirely, and you'll find the islands operating at their authentic pace with fishing boats outnumbering tourist vessels. Vulcano's therapeutic mud baths and hot springs are actually more enjoyable in cooler weather - soaking in 40°C (104°F) volcanic waters when the air is 15°C (59°F) feels incredible rather than oppressive. The 90-minute ferry crossing can be choppy with November's variable weather, so take motion sickness medication if you're prone. Stromboli tours still run but depend heavily on sea conditions.
November Events & Festivals
Olive Oil Harvest and Pressing Season
Throughout November, agriturismi and olive farms across Sicily press their harvest into new oil. Many farms welcome visitors to watch the traditional stone mills or modern centrifuge systems, and you can taste oil that's hours old with its intense peppery bite that mellows over weeks. This is working harvest, not staged tourism - you might be invited to help rake olives from nets if you show genuine interest. The oil you buy directly from producers in November costs €8-12 per liter and tastes nothing like the supermarket versions.
Saint Martin's Day Celebrations
November 11th marks San Martino, when Sicilians traditionally open the new wine from autumn harvest. Towns across the island hold wine festivals with barrel tastings, roasted chestnuts, and biscotti di San Martino almond cookies. The celebration ties to the proverb 'A San Martino ogni mosto diventa vino' - at Saint Martin's, all must becomes wine. Expect small-town festivals rather than major tourist events, particularly in wine regions around Marsala, Vittoria, and the Etna slopes.