Syracuse: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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Cicero called Syracuse the greatest of Greek cities and the most beautiful of all, and it began on the small island of Ortigia. This walk crosses the island from the oldest temple to the spring of a nymph, through the market, a cathedral that is still a Greek temple, and the Jewish quarter. All on foot, about three hours; the market closes around lunchtime.

A short history of Syracuse

Settlers from Corinth founded Syracuse on the island of Ortygia in 734 BC, and it became the largest city in the Greek world. In 413 BC it defeated the Athenian army here, and in 212 BC, when it fell to the Romans, Archimedes, a native of the city, was killed. Between 663 and 668 the Byzantine emperor Constans II resided here, and in 878 the Arabs captured it. A large Jewish community lived in the old city until the expulsion from Sicily in 1492, and beneath one of the houses on Ortygia an ancient mikveh cut into the rock has been uncovered. The earthquake of 1693 led to rebuilding in the Baroque style, and in 2005 the city and the Necropolis of Pantalica were declared a World Heritage Site.

The ten best sights in Syracuse

1
Temple of Apollo
The ruined temple at the entrance to Ortigia; you see it from the street
2
Syracuse Cathedral
A Baroque front on a Greek temple; inside, the old columns are in the walls
3
Santa Lucia alla Badia
Church on the cathedral square; a Caravaggio hangs inside
4
Mikveh
A Jewish ritual bath cut deep into the rock of the old Jewish quarter; guided visits
5
Castello Maniace
Frederick II's castle at the tip of Ortigia, with the sea on three sides
6
Papyrus Museum
Small museum on how papyrus is made, from the plant that grows here
7
Greek Theatre
Cut into the hillside of Neapolis; plays are still staged here each spring
8
Ear of Dionysius
A tall cave in an ancient quarry with a famous echo
9
Roman Amphitheatre
Gladiator arena at the edge of the archaeological park
10
Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum
One of the great archaeology museums of Italy; allow two hours

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What is an audio walk?

Tours in Syracuse →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Syracuse:

Free walking tours in Syracuse

Ortigia, the first Syracuse

Temple of Apollo · Built early in the 6th century BC, it is the oldest Doric temple in Sicily. On its top step an inscription names Kleomenes, who boasts of having raised the columns.
Ortigia market · Syracuse was founded on this island by settlers from Corinth in 733 BC, and the market is in the old heart of it. Stop at the cheese shop where sandwiches are built to order in front of a queue.
Syracuse Cathedral · The Temple of Athena, built in the 5th century BC, was never knocked down: it was turned into a church, and its Doric columns still stand inside the walls. The Baroque facade was added after the earthquake of 1693.
Santa Lucia alla Badia · Lucy, the patron saint of Syracuse, was martyred here in 304. Caravaggio painted her burial in 1608, while on the run from Malta, and the painting is usually displayed in this church.
Mikveh · Under a building in the old Jewish quarter, steps lead down nearly 20 metres to pools fed by fresh groundwater. Experts date it to Byzantine times; it was sealed when the Jews were expelled from Sicily in 1492 and found again during restoration in the 1980s.
Fountain of Arethusa · In Greek myth the nymph Arethusa fled the river god Alpheus under the sea from Greece and rose here as a spring. Papyrus grows in the pool, a few steps from the salt water.

Neapolis: theatre and catacombs

On the mainland the ancient city spread over a limestone plateau, and its quarries became a theatre, a prison and a garden. The route starts at the museum, goes underground in the catacombs and ends in the theatre where Aeschylus staged his plays. Wear a hat; the park has little shade. About four hours.

Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum · The museum is named after the archaeologist who dug across eastern Sicily around 1900. Its best-known piece is the Venus Landolina, a Roman marble goddess found in Syracuse in 1804.
Catacombs of San Giovanni · After Rome, Syracuse has the largest catacombs in Italy, with thousands of tombs cut into the rock. The apostle Paul stopped in Syracuse for three days on his way to Rome, as told in the Acts of the Apostles.
Madonna delle Lacrime · In 1953 a plaster image of the Virgin in a workers' house was reported to have wept for several days. The huge concrete cone of the sanctuary built to hold it was consecrated in 1994.
Roman Amphitheatre · Under the Romans Syracuse became the capital of the province of Sicily, and the arena was built for its games. Much of its stone was later carried off for other buildings.
Greek Theatre · Aeschylus staged plays in Syracuse in the 5th century BC, and the theatre cut into this hill is one of the largest of the Greek world. Since 1914 ancient tragedies have been performed here each year from May to early July.
Ear of Dionysius · Caravaggio gave the cave its name in 1608, and the story grew that the tyrant Dionysius listened from above to the whispers of his prisoners. The echo is real: clap once inside.

Papyrus, sea and Noto

Around Syracuse lie a Greek fortress, a river of wild papyrus, a marine reserve and the lagoons of Vendicari. The day ends in Noto, the most complete Baroque town in Sicily, at the hour when its stone turns gold. Bring swimsuits and binoculars. A full day by car.

Papyrus Museum · Start with how papyrus was made: strips of the stem laid crosswise and pressed. The plant grows wild by the Ciane river, one of the very few places in Europe where it does.
Castello Eurialo · Dionysius I built this fortress around 400 BC at the western tip of the walls, the largest Greek military work to survive. Archimedes is said to have improved its defences before the Roman siege of 212 BC, in which he was killed.
Ciane River · In the myth the nymph Cyane tried to stop Hades carrying off Persephone, and in grief she dissolved into the spring of this river. Thick stands of papyrus line its banks.
Plemmirio · The headland closing from the south the Great Harbour, where the Athenian fleet was destroyed in 413 BC. Today its waters are a marine reserve, good for snorkelling off the rocks.
Vendicari Reserve · Coastal lagoons where flamingos and herons feed, with a Norman tower and an old tuna fishery on the shore. Paths lead to sandy coves like Calamosche.
Noto Cathedral · After 1693 Noto was rebuilt on a new site, all of it in the same golden stone. The cathedral's dome collapsed in 1996 and the church reopened in 2007 after years of rebuilding.

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Getting to Syracuse and getting around

Catania Airport · The nearest big airport, about an hour north; direct buses run to Syracuse
Siracusa station · Trains to Catania and Noto; a 20-minute walk to Ortigia
Bus terminal · Next to the station; buses to Catania airport, Noto and the beaches

Cheap eats in Syracuse

Syracuse eats from the market: swordfish and anchovies, Pachino tomatoes from the south of the province and Avola almonds. Try pasta alla siracusana, with anchovies and toasted breadcrumbs instead of cheese. For a quick lunch, Ortigia's lanes are full of sandwich counters and arancini, and a granita costs about €3.

Caseificio Borderi · Sandwiches made to order at the market, about €8-10; there is always a queue
Amandorla Marciante · Almond pastries and granita, about €2-5
Gelati Bianca · Gelato in central Ortigia, about €2.50-4
Pane di Mare · Fish sandwiches near the cathedral, about €6-10
Ciauru · Street food on Via Larga, about €4-8
Sale & Olio · Quick food on Via dell'Amalfitania, about €4-8

Museums in Syracuse

Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum · Greek Sicily in depth; two hours
Mikveh · Guided visits below a building in the Giudecca
Catacombs of San Giovanni · Guided tour underground, about 30 minutes
Papyrus Museum · How papyrus is made; small
Santa Lucia alla Badia · Caravaggio's Burial of St Lucy

Nature and day trips near Syracuse

Ciane River · Boat trip through wild papyrus
Vendicari Reserve · Flamingos, lagoons and sandy coves
Plemmirio · Clear water off the rocks; snorkelling

Things to do in Syracuse with kids

Ear of Dionysius · Test the echo inside the cave
Castello Eurialo · Ancient tunnels and moats to explore
Castello Maniace · Castle at the end of the island; sea views

Where to eat in Syracuse

Don Camillo · Classic Syracusan cooking; book ahead
Taverna Giudecca · Simple food in the lanes of the old Jewish quarter
Da Carmelo · Trattoria near Piazza Minerva
Il Cortile di Archimede · Courtyard restaurant in central Ortigia

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Frequently asked questions about Syracuse

What is there to see in Syracuse?

The top sights in Syracuse are Temple of Apollo, Syracuse Cathedral and Santa Lucia alla Badia. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Syracuse?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Syracuse without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Syracuse?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Syracuse, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: Ortigia, the first Syracuse.

How do you get to Syracuse and get around?

The main ways are Catania Airport, Siracusa station and Bus terminal. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Syracuse, and for how much?

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