Discover our Salzburg to Sicily road trip with a toddler and Cockapoo, including the best stops, hotels, beaches and experiences in Tuscany, Calabria, Sicily, Sorrento and Lake Garda.
The Scenic Route to Sicily
If you are dreaming of an Italy road trip from Austria to Sicily, travelling by car is one of the best ways to experience the country beyond the classic tourist destinations. This summer, we travelled from Salzburg to Sicily with our little boy (2 1/2 years old) and our Cockapoo, combining beautiful hotels, Italian food, beaches, historic towns and nature.
Our route took us through Tuscany, Calabria, Sicily, Campania and Lake Garda, with plenty of memorable stops along the way.
Here is our complete Salzburg to Sicily road trip itinerary, including some of our favourite places to stay.
Our Salzburg to Sicily Road Trip Route
Our journey looked like this:
Salzburg โ Saturnia โ Tropea โ Cefalรน โ Palermo โ Syracuse โ Noto โ Taormina โ Sorrento โ Torbole โ Salzburg
Travelling with a toddler and a dog meant that we wanted to keep our itinerary flexible. Instead of trying to see everything, we focused on places where we could combine sightseeing, beautiful surroundings and relaxing accommodation.
That made the road trip feel much more like a holiday rather than simply a long drive to Sicily.
1. Saturnia, Tuscany โ Thermal Springs & Authentic Italy
Our first stop was Saturnia in Tuscany, famous for its natural thermal springs and beautiful Tuscan countryside.
We stayed atย Tellus Saturnia, located directly in the village. It was a great choice for a road trip because it was affordable, welcoming and so conveniently located.
One of our favourite discoveries was the pizza restaurant right next door. Sometimes it is the simple places you remember most โ a relaxed evening, good pizza and that unmistakable feeling of being in Italy.
Why stop in Saturnia?
- Natural thermal springs
- Beautiful Tuscan countryside
- Authentic Italian atmosphere
- Great stop between Northern Italy and Southern Destinations
- Perfect for slowing down after a long drive
2. Tropea, Calabria โ One of Italy’s Most Beautiful Coastal Towns
From Tuscany, we continued south to Tropea in Calabria.
Tropea’s sea view is spectacular. The historic town sits high above the turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea, with beautiful viewpoints, narrow streets and traditional Italian architecture.
We stayed atย Middle Town Palace, which gave us a convenient base for exploring the town.
Tropea is also a destination where food plays a major role. We enjoyed traditional Calabrian pasta and local specialities while exploring the historic centre. And of course the famous Nduja pasta (a spicy, soft Calabrian pork sausage/spread made with chili peppers) was tried and we took around 5 kg Tropean Red Onions home with us!
For us, Tropea was the perfect combination of beaches, Italian culture, food and scenery.
Travel tip
If you are planning a road trip through southern Italy, Tropea is definitely worth adding to your itinerary. It is a great alternative to some of the busier destinations further north and Calabria still isn’t on everyone’s bucket list yet.
3. Cefalรน, Sicily โ Beach Days & Mediterranean Atmosphere
After reaching Sicily, our next stop was Cefalรน, one of the island’s most popular coastal towns.
We stayed at Hotel Baia del Capitano, which was one of the highlights of our trip.
The hotel offered exactly what we were looking for after several days on the road: a beautiful setting, plenty of space and a relaxing atmosphere with a pool site.
Cefalรน itself is ideal for combining aย Sicily beach holiday with sightseeing. You can spend the morning at the beach, wander through the historic centre in the afternoon and enjoy dinner overlooking the Mediterranean in the evening.
For families, Cefalรน is also a particularly enjoyable base because you can combine relaxing days with various easy excursions.
4. Palermo โ A Day Trip from Cefalรน
From Cefalรน, we made our way to Palermo for a day.
Sicily’s capital is completely different from the smaller coastal towns. Palermo is energetic, colourful and full of history.
We explored the city on foot, by a small tourist train (which was much enjoyed by our little guy), taking in the architecture, streets and lively atmosphere before returning to the more relaxed surroundings of Cefalรน.
If you are planning a Sicily itinerary, Palermo deserves at least a day โ even if you choose to stay outside the city.
5. Syracuse โ Ortigia, Noto, Beaches & Nature
Our next destination was Syracuse, where we stayed in the countryside around Contrada Maeggio.
This was one of our favourite areas because there is so much variety nearby.
Ortigia
We visitedย Ortigia, the historic island of Syracuse, in the evenings.
The best time to explore Ortigia is arguably after sunset, when the streets, restaurants and piazzas become especially atmospheric. Especially the small streets around the fresh water source Fonte Aretusa (Arethusa Spring) by the Sea!
Sipping an evening drink by the Sea should definitely be on your travel list!
Noto
We also visitedย Noto, famous for its magnificent Baroque architecture. The golden-coloured buildings and elegant streets make Noto a small, beautiful town in southeastern Sicily. Visiting this place was a great way to spend an evening in a nearby town. However, as an Austrian, you may not be as impressed by the Baroque architectureโitโs beautiful, but itโs not necessarily what you come here for.
The Beach Spots nearby
Definitely spend some beach days here. There are various spots and these turquoise waters and sandy beaches made it one of our favourite swimming spots of the entire trip. For a very special place, DM me on Instagram and I’ll share the details.
Nature & Flamingos
We also explored a nearby nature reserve Vendicari Nature Reserve (Riserva Naturale Orientata Oasi Faunistica di Vendicari), where we were lucky enough to seeย flamingosย and learn more about Sicily’s traditional tuna industry and history.
This is one of the reasons we loved staying in the Syracuse area: within a relatively short drive, you can experience historic cities, beaches, wildlife and nature.
6. Taormina โ Isola Bella & Mount Etna
No Sicily road trip would be complete withoutย Taormina! Definitely a MUST-SEE.
We stayed atย a beautiful hotel right above Isola Bella (DMs for the exact name), which was an excellent base for exploring the area.
One of our highlights was definitelyย Isola Bella, the famous small island and nature reserve below Taormina.
The combination of crystal-clear water, dramatic coastline and lush Mediterranean vegetation makes this one of Sicily’s most iconic locations.
In the evening, we walked into Taormina’s historic centre and enjoyed lovely local dishes in the various restaurants in town.
Be prepared for stairs โ but the views and atmosphere make the climb worthwhile!
From Taormina, we also had views towardsย Mount Etna (on half a day tour), Sicily’s famous volcano.
Our Taormina tip
Stay slightly outside the busiest centre if you are travelling with children or dogs. You can still enjoy Taormina in the evening while having a quieter place to return to afterwards, because in the high season this place can get really busy and loads of people are wandering through the narrow streets and alleys.
7. Sorrento โ Italian Lifestyle on the Amalfi Coast
After Sicily, we continued North toย Sorrento.
We stayed atย a lovely hotel, which I can definitely recommend and worked particularly well for us because of its frequent shuttle service into the city (always 3 minutes per way).
Sorrento is an excellent base for exploring the area, enjoying delicious food (I may have eaten the best pasta of my life there!) and shopping while returning to a quieter hotel in the evening.
We loved wandering through the historic streets, grabbing souvenirs for loved ones at the evening markets and enjoying the sea views and simply experiencing the atmosphere of Southern Italy.
8. Torbole & Lake Garda โ Our Final Stop
After travelling through Southern Italy, our final stop wasย Torbole at Lake Garda.
We know this place almost by heart and return often, as it’s a great stop to feel an Italian flair at short distance to Austria.
The landscape of course felt completely different from Sicily: alpine mountains, clear lake water and an active outdoor atmosphere (you can do loads of surfing and biking there).
Torbole was the perfect final stop before returning to Austria.
After several weeks of Mediterranean landscapes, coming back to the mountains around Lake Garda felt like the perfect transition back home to Salzburg.
Travelling Italy with a Toddler and a Dog
One of the most important parts of our trip was that we didn’t travel alone.
We had our little boy and our Cockapoo with us throughout the road trip.
Travelling by car gave us much more flexibility than flying. We could pack everything we needed, stop whenever necessary and choose accommodation based on what worked for our family.
For us, the key to travelling with a toddler was not overplanning.
We built our itinerary around a few important destinations but left enough time for spontaneous stops, relaxed mornings and unexpected discoveries.
When travelling with a dog, it is also worth checking the individual property’sย pet policy before booking, as conditions can vary between hotels. But Italy in general is such a dog, pet and of course child-friendly nation in general!
Our Favourite Things About a Salzburg to Sicily Road Trip
After covering more than six thousand kilometres during this trip, these were the things we loved most about travelling through Italy by car:
Freedom: Stop whenever you discover somewhere beautiful.
Family-friendly travel: Having our own car made travelling with a toddler much easier.
Dog-friendly flexibility: Our Cockapoo could join us throughout the journey.
Different types of accommodation:ย From affordable stays in Tuscany to beautiful, more luxurious coastal hotels in Sicily.
Food: Every region offered completely different flavours and specialities.
Beaches: From Calabria to Sicily and Lake Garda.
Culture: Palermo, Ortigia, Noto, Taormina and countless smaller towns.
Nature:ย Thermal springs, nature reserves, flamingos, mountains and the Mediterranean Coast.
Is a Road Trip from Salzburg to Sicily Worth It?
Absolutely!
A Salzburg to Sicily road trip is not the quickest way to reach Sicily โ but that is exactly the point.
The journey allows you to experience so much more of Italy along the way.
From the thermal springs of Saturnia and the dramatic coastline of Tropea, to the beaches of Cefalรน, the Baroque beauty of Noto, the historic streets of Ortigia, the views of Taormina and the relaxed atmosphere of Sorrento, every stop became part of the adventure.
Travelling with our little boy and our Cockapoo made the journey even more special.
For us, this wasn’t simply a trip from Austria to Sicily.
It was a collection of little moments, beautiful places, great food and memories that we will take home with us.
And sometimes, the best part of a holiday is not where you arrive โ but everything you discover on the way.
I hope this helps you planning your next road trip across Italy and if you have any questions, please let me know, I’m happy to help you plan an unforgettable trip of a lifetime.
xo,
Kris
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