By far my most asked question around our extended trip to Europe. Hi, from Milan at the moment! It has been around our dog. Specifically, how we traveled to Europe with him. I’ve gotten this question so many times. It warms my heart to see how many of you consider your furry best friends to truly be part of the family! I wanted to share our exact process and steps we took to bring Puppers with us to Europe.

How to Travel With Your Dog Internationally

When we were planning to stay in Europe for an extended period of time (several months vs. the usual week or two we go away for), we knew we couldn’t leave him behind. The thought of leaving him with a sitter or our family was honestly unfathomable. So, I immediately began researching how we could safely and legally bring him along. Before I started my research, my initial thinking was this has to be practically impossible. But when we were in Italy for our wedding back in June, my interest was piqued when I saw a dog get off our flight in Rome from the states. I knew it was possible, I just wasn’t sure how difficult it would be.

Thankfully, depending on where you are traveling to (requirements vary by country), traveling with a pet is fairly straightforward. Before I go into depth on how we brought Puppers and what we had to do in order to bring him, I do want to caveat that travel can be extremely stressful on dogs – as it is for humans! I really wouldn’t recommend it if you are flying a long distance for a short period of time. Also, if you are going to be switching up locations constantly.

The only reason we brought our dog is because we were planning on being away for almost 3 months.

We were only visiting 3 separate countries and would be staying in 1 place for a long time. In general we tried to avoid hopping around too many cities and countries in our itinerary. Every travel day has been long, even the days between cities in the same country. I’ve felt it in my body (hello, 30’s?!) and noticed it in Puppers as well. His energy levels are definitely lower and he needs more rest, quiet, and sleep after a long travel day. Dogs are just like us, and they get jet lagged too! I know it’s so, so tempting to bring your pets with you everywhere. However, keep this in mind when you’re deciding whether or not to travel with them.

couple with their dog sharing how to Travel With Your Dog

How We Brought Our Dog to Europe

Before booking any tickets, the first thing we did was look up the entry requirements for the countries we were planning on visiting. I had heard horror stories about dogs having to be quarantined when they arrived. I knew I wanted to avoid that at all costs. Thankfully, most European countries have fairly straightforward requirements. The exception of UK, Ireland, Finland, Malta, and Norway – these are little trickier with deworming.

The countries we planned to visit all had the same requirements for the dog to be able to travel:

  • A health certificate for each country the dog will be visiting
  • Microchip
  • Up to date rabies vaccination

Some countries may also require additional vaccinations, test results for lab tests, or import permits. Again, this varies by country. Be sure to check the site above for each country’s requirements. Also, speak to your vet about traveling internationally with your pet. If your pet is microchipped and up to date on their vaccinations, then you can go ahead and schedule the health check with your vet. This is necessary in order to get the health certificate.

Next, when booking your flights, you will need to call the airline. Let them know you plan to bring a pet with you. The options for pets to travel are either in cabin or in cargo. If you have a service animal, these rules won’t apply to you. Most airlines will have a size or weight limit for pets that are allowed in the cabin. If your pet is above the limit, they will have to go in the cargo area of the plane, unless they are a trained service animal (emotional support animals don’t count, sorry!).

Pets in cabin are also only allowed in certain cabin classes, depending on the airline.

For example – we flew Air France, and they do not allow pets in all cabins. Most airlines won’t allow pets in business class, so you will have to book an economy or premium economy ticket. You will have to call the airline to reserve a spot for your pet (there are limits to how many pets can be on board a flight) and pay the fee, which will vary by airline. I believe we paid around $125 for one way from LA to Paris.

Once you have your pet’s “seat” reserved on your flight, this is the part that gets a little tricky. Your vet should be able to walk you through this, but you will need the health certificate dated no more than 10 days before your flight departs. The best way to coordinate this is to schedule the pet’s health check 10 days before your flight, and then work with your vet to make sure you have all of the documents needed to submit the health certificate.

You will have to pre pay an overnight or express shipping label so the vet can then submit the paperwork on your behalf, and you will be able to have the finalized health certificates overnighted to you. Of course, all of this is contingent on your pet being in good health and deemed “healthy” to fly by your vet.

Once you have all of the paperwork and admin done, you’re ready to fly with your pet! Again, please be sure to conduct your own research and speak to your vet, as requirements may change, and do vary by country.

How to Manage an International Flight with a Pet

The paperwork to get Puppers approved to come to Europe was the easy part. It took a bit of organization and diligence, but overall the process was straightforward (our vets in West Hollywood were also incredibly helpful!). However, the long flight was our biggest concern.

This is how we managed the trip from LA to Europe.

  • We didn’t feed Puppers the morning of our flight, and took him a long walk in the morning to make sure he went to the bathroom. Then, once we were at the airport we found the pet relief area (most/all airports should have this) and spent a good amount of time there before the flight.
  • Once we were on the flight, we gave (with the permission of our vet) a very mild sedative to relax him and help keep him calm during the flight.
  • Unfortunately, unless you have a service animal your pet has to be fully in their carrier under the seat for the entirety of the flight. This was really hard and sad, we checked in on him often and he was sleeping and just hanging out for the entire flight. But trust me, this was the worst part of the trip. I HIGHLY recommend investing in a high quality, comfortable pet carrier. I did a ton of research before our flight, this is the BEST carrier we found by far. We love this carrier because it’s super stealth and sleek. You can’t even tell there’s a dog inside. The padding is super comfortable for a dog to lay on, and the mesh allows them to see through while still being in a cocoon-like environment. If you’re going to splurge on anything, splurge on this carrier!!
  • As soon as we landed and made it through customs, the very first thing we did was let him out of his carrier to stretch his legs, and give him lots of water, food, and treats.

How Much Does It Cost to Travel With Your Pet Internationally?

Another factor that might weigh into your decision to travel with your pet internationally is the cost and all of the expenses tied to traveling with a pet. Here are just a few of the expenses we encountered when bringing our dog to Europe. This does not include his daily expenses or what it has cost to have him traveling with us.

Pet Fee for Flight to and from Europe (round trip) – $250

Vet Health Check for Health Certificates – $100

International Health Certificate – $195

3 Countries Health Certificate – $120 ($40/country)

Overnight Shipping Label – $40

Total: $665

There are also additional fees for every additional flight we take (although this fee is much less once you’re in Europe – we’ve paid between $40-$80 per flight here), as well as any hotel fees that come with bringing a dog. We’ve gotten pretty lucky booking dog friendly Airbnbs and finding hotels that have low/no pet fees, but these can add up quickly! Make sure to do research on where you can stay with a pet abroad.

Our Experience Traveling With a Dog Through Europe

One final note – I thought living in LA, we were already living in the most dog friendly place. But Europe (so far only France and Italy) has been so much more dog friendly, I honestly couldn’t believe it! Puppers has been allowed almost everywhere – no questions asked. Restaurants (indoor and outdoor), stores, the metro, beach clubs in Puglia – so far he has been welcome most places and treated so, so well. The French and Italians love dogs, they bring them everywhere.

The one time we were given a look was when we took him to a grocery store in Puglia. Even then they asked us to carry him vs. letting him walk around on his own. There are also some parks in Paris and beaches in Puglia that were no dogs allowed. Overall, Europe has been significantly more dog friendly than the US so far. It is another reason why we’re so happy we brought him along!

It truly has been the trip of a lifetime. As such, it’s even more memorable and meaningful we were able to bring our dog along. I’m really grateful we were able to do it safely. Any minor inconveniences that we’ve encountered from having a pet while traveling have been entirely eclipsed by the joy it’s brought us simultaneously and the memories we’ve made that we’ll cherish forever.

Let me know if I missed anything, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions on what it’s been like to travel with our dog. xx

It’s almost September, and wedding season is still going strong. We got home from the most beautiful wedding in Northern California. Also, have another wedding to attend in a couple of weeks to round out this wedding season. 2022 saw a record number of weddings in recent history. And, it appears the wedding rush won’t be slowing down anytime soon!

Fall 2022 Wedding Guest Dresses

As a guest, the number one question is usually around what to wear and how to interpret the dress code. I really loved the dress I wore this past weekend. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so many compliments on a dress I’ve worn as a guest. It also comes in white for my future brides to be! I wanted to share some of my tips for wedding guest attire and favorite wedding guest dress picks for any upcoming fall weddings.

woman wearing floral Fall 2022 Wedding Guest Dresses
woman in the fields wearing Fall 2022 Wedding Guest Dresses

What to Wear to a Fall Wedding

What to wear to a fall wedding depends on two factors – the wedding location and dress code. In many parts of the country (and around the world), early fall is some of the best weather of the year. Days are often still warm (but not blisteringly hot like the summertime) and evenings are briskly cool. Regarding wedding attire – you can get away with long sleeved cocktail or formal dresses. You can also choose darker gem hues in the fall. Always make sure to check the weather and wedding dress code that is typically found on the invitation or wedding website.

Cocktail / Semi-Formal Attire

Cocktail or semi-formal wedding events are slightly less formal. You can get away with shorter dresses or even a jumpsuit. I’ve included some of my favorite cocktail and semi formal wedding guest dresses below. I usually buy my dresses from Revolve (thank you, 2 day shipping!) or Reformation (they have the best selection!), but also love to look for a good deal. For fall I love darker florals, long sleeved dresses, and jewel/autumn tones (think: sage, plum, burnt orange, navy, hunter green).

Black Tie / Formal Attire

For black tie or formal dress code weddings, I would stick to a similar color palette. This will vary though based on where the wedding is and the weather of the current locale! Also, make sure to choose a floor length dress. I love these options below!

If you aren’t looking to buy a dress, my go-tos for renting are either Rent the Runway or Fashionpass. Make sure to reserve your dresses with time to spare. I’ve noticed the most popular styles are often booked months in advance.

In a follow up to my previous post on packing for trips, I’ll be sharing here details on the outfits I packed for our wedding trip/mini-moon in Italy. We heard typically the weather in June is less hot, but this year all of Europe seems to be in a heat wave. Definitely something to keep in mind for future summer travel, in general it is probably best to steer clear of cities and head towards the water if you are concerned about excessive heat. This was definitely the case for us, as we loved our time in Puglia the most due to the proximity to beaches and water.

Most of my outfits were from Revolve – I tend to procrastinate on packing and pulling outfits, and Revolve always comes through with guaranteed 2-day shipping that is really more like 1 day because I live in LA. It’s the best and has saved me so many times over the years when I need something last minute. I buy a lot of gifts for friends from Revolve as well for this reason. You can find most of the pieces I wore from Revolve – I always update my lists to include everything currently in my closet/in rotation.

What I Wore in Italy

Rome Outfit Show Me Your Mumu White Linen Maxi Dress

Alberobello All White Outfit Ostuni Puglia Style

I would wear linen every day on vacation – it’s the best fabric to travel with in hot weather as it’s easily packable and always very chic. Also, I prefer clothes that roll up and fit into packing cubes easily (all about maximizing space!). I wore this bucket hat almost every day, as someone who usually wears giant straw hats on vacation, it was honestly a relief to pack one that was more compact (but still cute) for this trip.

Nonchalant Cropped Top and Shorts in Italy

This bag turned out to be my most used summer bag, I didn’t think it would be very practical but it surprisingly holds a lot of stuff and is very sturdy. I did try to stick to a fairly neutral palette with some color mixed in for the ease of packing and mixing/matching pieces along the way.

Showpo Ivory Plisse Set

By far my most compliment outfit of the trip! This cream plisse set is surprisingly versatile, I also wore it on the plane back home as my travel outfit.

J Crew cutout Midi Dress

woman Wore in Italy a LPA Caprice Dress outfit

woman Wore in Italy a NBD Revolve Prosecco White Jumpsuit outfit

When I first started packing for our wedding trip to Italy, I was overwhelmed, to say the least! From past trips I’ve learned that organization leads to success, so here are the packing tips I’ve implemented to make packing more streamlined and less stressful for big trips.

Packing Tips for a European Summer

+ Packing cubes

My #1 packing tip is to use packing cubes!! These are complete game changers, I don’t know how I ever packed for a trip without them. I get mine on Amazon. I have multiple sets. It doesn’t really matter the brand as long as the mesh is somewhat see-through so you can quickly see what’s inside. For my wedding trip, I was very careful with how I packed each cube. I used a large cube for each “region” or occasion of the trip (so every few days I would be using a new packing cube). For example: I packed a cube for Rome. One for Puglia before and after the wedding, the pre-wedding events, the wedding day itself, and Sicily.

In each cube I tried to group together the outfits, swim, pajamas, activewear, etc. for the set of days the cube was for. I also planned outfits in advance (more on this below) so I knew what looks were in each cube. This way, when I was in a certain destination I could just pull out the packing cube for that location. Then, unpack the outfits for that leg of the trip. I also knew once we moved to our next destination that I was “done” with a particular cube and wouldn’t need to dig into it anymore.

+ Pack versatile pieces

I always try to pack pieces that can be worn multiple ways. Don’t take up too much space (fabric is important!). I definitely overpacked this most recent trip for obvious reasons. I didn’t want to forget anything for my wedding,. But I usually try to re-wear pieces if I can, especially if I am taking an extended trip. Examples of versatile pieces I will usually pack are:

A printed scarf

Ascarf takes up little to no space and can be used in so many different ways. This is a must, especially in the summer months! You can wear it as an accessory tied around your neck or purse, as a headscarf, or my personal favorite, as a top. You can really use any square scarf, but I love a vintage one (you can find tons of options on The Real Real and other designer resale sites).

Wide leg trousers

Trousers always look chic, both on vacation and at home. I’m slowly building out my capsule wardrobe to include the perfect trousers in every color. You can wear these with any top for the most part or over a swimsuit. They don’t take up much space and can be worn multiple times over the course of a trip.

White linen shirt

Easiest swimsuit cover-up you can throw into a bag, you can’t go wrong with linen in the summer. I also will always pack an extra one to wear as an added layer in the evenings. It’s great for when it gets a little chilly but a light layer is sufficient.

+ Plan outfits in advance

A little advance planning goes a long way. I’ve seen a ton of videos of girls taking detailed photos of every outfit in advance, I have yet to do this but I love the idea for future trips! I usually just assemble pieces together. Then, write down in the Notes app on my phone the components of the outfit and what I think the outfit will be worn for. It helps to do a little bit of reverse engineering of your trip as well to really think through the different events/occasions you will need outfits for, and plan for these in advance.

+ Simplify your beauty routine

This one is sooo hard for me, I was fully convinced I needed my full skincare, haircare, and makeup routine in Europe and brought everything with me. The truth is, I am much lazier when I am on vacation and end up resorting to much more pared down version of my usual routine. When I came home, I could not believe how many skin and makeup products I didn’t even touch. For skincare, I like a more streamlined version of my usual routine and would probably limit my products in the future. These are the essentials I could probably get by with –

For day: vitamin C serum, moisturizer, sunscreen

For night: cleanser, micellar water, hydrating/soothing serum, moisturizer

Makeup: highlighter, skin tint, cream bronzer, liquid blush, brow pencil, lip oil

+ Limit the number of shoes you pack for European Summer

Unfortunately, shoes take the most space and weight (this is important if you are taking multiple flights and don’t want overweight bags!). If you’re headed to Europe in the summer, you will most likely walk more than you are used to, so practical shoes are key. Leave the heels at home (ok, maybe a kitten heel!) and stick to a comfortable (but chic) walking shoe, a couple of pairs of neutral flat sandals, and a dressier pair of sandals. This is a good foundation for shoe options, and you can add other options from here if you have more space or an extra suitcase.

Once you get in the habit of doing a little prep work before a big trip, it makes the overall trip go by so much smoother and you don’t run the risk of overpacking (nothing worse than an overweight bag fee) or finding out you packed tons of products you don’t need and forgot the ones you actually use everyday.

As promised, following my highly requested Puglia Guide is my Sicily guide! We visited Sicily after getting married in Puglia and kicking off our mini-moon there. I will definitely admit that part of me wishes we had stayed in Puglia longer to see more of the region and also move around less. In my 20’s I loved being go, go, go! when traveling, but now I prefer not having to unpack and repack every day and would rather avoid jumping on a plane or train too frequently.

However, at the end of the day I’m very happy we decided to visit Sicily. The most frequent question I got was whether I preferred Puglia or Sicily, and the answer is it’s really hard to say because it’s truly an apples-to-oranges comparison! If you have time, I would really suggest you break them into two entirely separate trips. Read on for all the details on our time in Sicily – what we did, saw, ate, and what we wished we knew before our trip!

Sicily Guide

What You Need to Know Before Visiting Sicily

+ Sicily is a very large island – it’s the largest island in the Mediterranean sea!

Where I think you could technically see most of Puglia in a week (you’d still be rushed, in my opinion, but it’s doable!), there’s so much ground to cover in Sicily I think it would honestly take a month to see the entire island, and even then you’d probably be missing so much of it. We were in Sicily for a little under a week and barely scratched the surface of the eastern coast (which is where we spent most of our time).

However, there is a lot more information readily available on Sicily online! Most guides will suggest you either visit the north and west sides of the island (Palermo and surrounding areas), or stick to more to the east and southern parts of the island (Taormina, Noto, and surrounding areas). That doesn’t even cover all of the smaller islands off the coasts of Sicily that are supposed to be absolutely beautiful!

+ You will need a car.

Preferably a small one! Although Sicily is fairly developed, with several larger cities, there isn’t really public transportation or a train system to get around the island. Towns are fairly spaced apart and if you want to do any sightseeing at all you will need to rent a car or hire a private driver. I was also surprised by some of the roads in Sicily. It’s so important to stay on main freeways if you can and to be very careful of Google Maps and double-check to make sure you’re on an autostrada if possible.

We had a scary experience at night when it was already dark, and the road ahead of us just simply… ended. From reading various travel forums, apparently, that is not uncommon! In addition to keeping an eye out on the roads, you’ll also want to keep an eye out for the other drivers on the road. On that note, this brings me to a very important word of caution…

Driving in Sicily is crazy. There’s no other way to describe it. It’s certainly an experience, but having a car is really the best way to see the island. The overall driving style can feel chaotic if you’re coming from the states. Many people don’t use turn signals, drivers will pass aggressively, and roundabouts seem to operate without rhyme or reason. Once you get the hang of driving it isn’t so bad, but it will take some adjusting. This article was so helpful for us to orient ourselves with some of the rules and norms!

+ The overall pace is slower.

Life moves at a slower pace in Sicily, and it’s not a bad thing. Try not to be too ambitious with your schedules. Don’t plan on visiting more than one (maybe 2) towns in a day. There’s a lot of driving involved in exploring Sicily. Also, with restaurants and stores being closed in the afternoon, you won’t want to feel too rushed or get caught during a siesta hour.

+ Sicily is very different than Italy.

Although Sicily is technically part of Italy, the island has a very rich history and culture that is separate from Italy. Sicily has been occupied by the Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Bourbons, and finally the Italians. Today, Sicily essential functions autonomously from Italian, the Sicilian language differs from Italy, and the overall island feels very, very different from other parts of Italy.

Food in Sicily | The Luxi Look

How to Get to Sicily

There are a few ways to get to Sicily! Keep in mind it does take an extra step to get to since it is an island. From major airports, you’ll be able to fly easily into Palermo or Catania. If you are in the south of Italy, you can also take a ferry or even drive! I would recommend flying and picking up a rental car directly from the airport for the easiest route. It’s an easy hour and a half flight from Rome or Southern Italy, and we also noticed flights to/from Milan at the airport.

Where We Stayed

Where you stay is so important, considering how vast the island is and how you will likely be driving around and doing several excursions. We focused our trip along the eastern side of the island. I would suggest Taormina, Catania, or Noto as popular bases. Although, you really could stay anywhere, as long as you are willing to drive! We debated staying in Taormina as most of the sites we wanted to see were further south. We ended up landing on an Airbnb in Acrieale (a city outside of Catania) for a couple of nights rather than Taormina and then moved to a hotel outside of Noto.

Taormina

We did consider hotels in Taormina. Of course, the Belmond hotels came very highly recommended and are probably the nicest options in Taormina, although there are of course more budget-friendly hotels and Airbnbs. Personally, I did not really care for Taormina. I found the city to be crowded, full of tourists, overpriced, and very difficult to get in and out of.

Acireale

+ We actually loved our base in Acireale. It felt like a proper city with a ton of conveniences we were missing about home after being on the road for two weeks. We were able to stop at a supermarket for some groceries. We also got our laundry done at a local laundromat (about 10 euros for a large bag of laundry). Also, because we were out and about so much we didn’t want to spend too much on a fancy hotel and not enjoy or use any of the amenities. Oddly enough, after being away from home for a couple of weeks, it felt really relaxing to be living in a house and not a hotel.

+ Dimora Delle Balze

The final leg of our trip was spent at Dimora Delle Balze, which may be one of the most natural and beautiful hotels I’ve ever stayed at. We loved the space and the breakfast spread was divine, however, the overall hospitality did feel a bit lacking. To be honest, we kind of experienced this all around Southern Italy and Sicily at the hotels we stayed at. Nothing egregious or even bad. But considering how much hotels are charging per night, we did expect a little more warmth and hospitality from the nicer hotels we stayed at. I can’t really isolate the experience to one hotel or region. It was very consistent over the course of two weeks.

What to Do in Sicily

There is so much to do in Sicily given the vastness of the island, how developed it is, and how much history and culture there is to take in from thousands of years. Depending on your interests and preferences, it really is a choose your own adventure. This list is limited to the eastern side of Sicily as we did not have time to visit Palermo or any of the western towns/cities this trip.

+ Spend a day in Taormina

I know I just said it wasn’t my favorite, but hear me out! I still think it is very much worth visiting for a day. Also, I personally would not base myself there because of how far it is from other attractions and the toll roads (you can’t avoid them getting in and out of the city). There’s a lot to do and see in a single day. Start at the bottom of the island and visit Isola Bella if you are a beach lover. Because the city is on a cliff on the eastern coast of the island, you will get the most sun in the morning.

As the sun sets in the afternoon, the beach does not receive as much sun. You can make your way to the top of the city (the cable car is easy and affordable, and a fun view!). I heard from several people comparisons to Positano. Don’t get me wrong, Taormina is GORGEOUS but very different from Positano and the Amalfi Coast. I really wouldn’t compare the two. And if you’re dying to visit Positano, I would personally recommend just going there rather than going to Taormina.

Once you are in the town, grab a granita at Bam Bar (sadly closed Mondays when we were there) and wander through the streets. Taormina has great shopping, there are many adorable shops and even some designer boutiques!

There’s also a short hike to Madonna della Rocca where you’ll get an even better view of the coast. If you are interested in archeological sites, be sure to check out the Greek Theater. If you need to cool off, head to Grand Hotel Timeo for an aperol spritz.

+ Day trip to Syracuse/Ortigia

I put these together because although they are separate entities, they are essentially connected and you may not even realize it when you’ve crossed over from Syracuse to the island of Ortigia. I would recommend Syracuse if you are really interested in history and archeological sites.

+ Day trip to Modica/Ragusa

My favorite towns we visited in Sicily! You can also combine these into a day trip (they are less than 30 minutes apart, which is fairly close in Sicily) or do them separately. I found both of these towns to be incredibly charming to simply walk around and explore. Modica is famous for its Sicilian chocolate – Antica Dolceria Bonajuto is an absolute must! Some of the best chocolate I’ve ever had in my entire life.

Ragusa is a complete gem, the feeling of walking through the streets was entirely magical. I would honestly return to Sicily just to live in Ragusa for a month, I loved it so much. We also randomly stumbled into a restaurant that ended up being one of the best meals we had in Sicily (after having some disappointing meals in Taormina!).

+ Visit Noto

Noto felt, to us, to be a younger and trendy city. Despite its deep history and rich baroque architecture, the city was buzzing around dusk with many young couples and groups of friends having aperitivo or sitting down for dinner. The restaurant scene was lively and modern. Definitely would recommend spending time here or even choosing Noto as a home base for a few nights!

+ Valle dei Templi (Valley of Temples)

I’ll be honest, I don’t go crazy over ruins or archeological sites. However, this was a highlight of our trip! It’s a bit of a drive from Noto and requires its own day, but you can easily combine it with seeing Scala di Turchi (more on that below). These are some of the best preserved Greek ruins outside of Greece. There’s so much history to explore here and is really a sight to see. I’d recommend the day trip/excursion if this is something of interest.

+ Scala di Turchi

After visiting Valle dei Templi, I would suggest driving to Scala di Turchi. Unfortunately, due to vandalism earlier in 2022, the rock formation has been closed off to visitors and you can only look at it now (in the past you could walk on the formation). The beaches nearby are beautiful sandy beaches, which can be hard to find! The southern coast had the most beautiful beaches we saw in Sicily and is must-visit destination for beach lovers.

+ Hiking Mount Etna

This is a full-day excursion but highly recommended. We ran out of time to do this but it is high on our list if we ever returned.

+ Wine tasting

We didn’t engage in any wine tasting this trip, but I do remember loving Sicilian wine. There are so many options for wine tasting, I feel like this could be an entire trip in and of itself!

Where to Eat

Our meals were very hit or miss in Sicily. However, we were very surprised by the amount of fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants that were scattered throughout the island. We heard from several friends that their experiences at high end restaurants in Sicily were phenomenal. It’s certainly a great destination for fine dining! Below are the meals we had and enjoyed, keep in mind they are spread all over!

+ Eat granita (with brioche)!

Essentially shaved ice meets ice cream and is a popular breakfast choice. I had this everyday, you’re basically eating ice cream for breakfast. It gets so hot in Sicily in the summer, granita is the perfect way to cool off. For breakfast, almond or pistachio are popular flavors (you can even get almond mixed with coffee, which is delicious!). Fruit granitas such as lemon or strawberry are more popular in the afternoon. I ate this every chance I got – our favorites were at Caffe Sicilia in Noto and Caffe Cipriani in Acireale.

+ Pastries

Sicilian pastries are delicious! At the very least, you need to try cannoli (ricotta filling is my favorite) and an assortment of cookies/cakes. I fell in love with cassata cake – soaked sponge cake layered with ricotta and candied fruits

+ Caseificio Borderi

Sandwich shop in Ortigia, you get a massive sandwich for around 8 euros. You can specify the ingredients you’re interested in or have it “chef’s choice” style – either way you really can’t go wrong.

+ Noto

Manna came highly recommended for dinner in Noto, we enjoyed our meal here and found the menu to be straightforward, with modern twists on classic Sicilian dishes. Would definitely suggest making a reservation here.

+ Accursio

Michelin-starred restaurant in Modica that came recommended by our hotel. Al Duomo in Ragusa also came highly recommended, but we ran out of time. Reservations are recommended for both! If you have a hard time making one, you can always ask your hotel or Airbnb host to help (sometimes they only take reservations by phone)

+ Osteria Imperfetta

Nonpretentious restaurant in Ragusa that we stumbled across, family run and simply so charming. The truffle pasta and caponata were divine. I would eat here every day if I could.

As I mentioned above, you really could spend months in Sicily exploring the island. A week hardly felt like enough! It’s fairly mixed which part of Sicily is ideal for a first-time visitor. The east (where we were!) has more beautiful towns and more archeological sites, while I hear the west has better street food and beaches. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve visited Sicily! As always, this is a living guide and will be updated as we learn more about the island and hopefully revisit soon.

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