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Experience the best of Syracuse

Syracuse is a Sicilian city on the Ionian Sea, once a great power of the Greek West, with a baroque island old town and a Greek theatre.

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Founded by Greek settlers from Corinth in the eighth century BC, Syracuse became one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world, and Archimedes was born here. Its old town, Ortygia, is a small island joined to the mainland by bridges, where baroque palaces and narrow lanes open onto the Piazza del Duomo. The cathedral incorporates the columns of an ancient Greek temple of Athena into its walls, and the Fountain of Arethusa feeds papyrus plants at the water's edge.

On the mainland the Neapolis Archaeological Park holds a vast Greek theatre, a Roman amphitheatre and a quarry cave called the Ear of Dionysius. The ruined Temple of Apollo, one of the oldest Doric temples in Sicily, stands near the bridge onto Ortygia, and the Castello Maniace guards the island's tip. Noto, a baroque town to the south-west, and the papyrus beds of the Ciane river are within an easy drive, and Mount Etna rises to the north.

Granita with a warm brioche is the Sicilian breakfast, and the morning market on Ortygia sells swordfish, sea urchins, capers and olives. Arancini, fried rice balls, pasta with sardines, and cannoli filled with ricotta follow, and sweet Moscato di Siracusa is the local wine. Mild winters make spring and autumn the best months.

  • Free cancellation on 94% of experiences
  • 4.8 across the top 15

Top 9 attractions in Syracuse

See all 9 attractions
  1. Number 1

    Mercato di Ortigia

    4.91k reviewsfrom $7
  2. Number 2

    Ortygia (Ortigia)

    4.71k reviewsfrom $29
  3. Number 3

    Syracuse Cathedral (Duomo di Siracusa)

    4.71k reviewsfrom $8
  4. Number 4

    Syracuse Greek Theater (Teatro Greco)

    4.6665 reviewsfrom $7
  5. Number 5

    Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio di Dionisio)

    4.4360 reviewsfrom $7
  6. Number 6

    Plemmirio Marine Protected Area

    4.8344 reviewsfrom $56
  7. Number 7

    Church of Santa Chiara (Chiesa di Santa Chiara)

    4.739 reviewsfrom $117
  8. Number 8

    Nicolaci di Villadorata Palace (Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata)

    4.739 reviewsfrom $117
  9. Number 9

    Fontane Bianche Beach

    5.03 reviewsfrom $1,163

Day trips from Syracuse

23

Landmarks and attractions in Syracuse

8

Guided tours in Syracuse

39

Walking and bike tours in Syracuse

9

Food and drink experiences in Syracuse

15

Go beyond Syracuse

  1. Catania · 51 km

    Piazza Duomo

    3 hr4.81k reviewsfrom $4
  2. Catania · 51 km

    Via Crociferi (Via dei Crociferi)

    2–3 hr4.7955 reviewsfrom $6
  3. Ragusa · 52 km

    Church of San Giuseppe (Chiesa di San Giuseppe)

    2 hr4.886 reviewsfrom $6
  4. Ragusa · 52 km

    Scicli

    8–9 hr4.665 reviewsfrom $160
  5. Taormina · 86 km

    Isola Bella

    5 hr4.75k reviewsfrom $2
  6. Taormina · 86 km

    Corso Umberto I

    5–7 hr4.84k reviewsfrom $7
  7. Messina · 126 km

    Fountain of Neptune (Fontana di Nettuno)

    7 hr4.81k reviewsfrom $45
  8. Messina · 126 km

    Bell Tower and Astronomical Clock (Orologio Astronomico)

    3–5 hr4.7694 reviewsfrom $1
  9. Valletta · 148 km

    Upper Barrakka Gardens

    3–4 hr4.96k reviewsfrom $6
  10. Valletta · 148 km

    St. John's Co-Cathedral (Kon-Katidral ta' San Gwann)

    3 hr4.95k reviewsfrom $6
  11. Agrigento · 154 km

    Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi)

    9 hr4.52k reviewsfrom $7
  12. Agrigento · 154 km

    House Museum of Soap (Casa Museo del Sapone)

    1 hr4.822 reviewsfrom $8

Questions about Syracuse

What is there to do in Syracuse?
We list 119 experiences in Syracuse. The largest groups are day trips (34), city tours (11).
What are the top attractions in Syracuse?
Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Syracuse are Mercato di Ortigia, Ortygia (Ortigia), Syracuse Cathedral (Duomo di Siracusa), Syracuse Greek Theater (Teatro Greco).
What is the most popular experience in Syracuse?
By number of traveller reviews it is "Syracuse Ortigia - Sicilian Street Food Tour by Do Eat Better", rated 5.0 out of 5 from 703 reviews.
How long do tours and tickets in Syracuse take?
The typical experience in Syracuse lasts about 5 hours; the middle half run between 2 hours and 8 hours.
Can I cancel a booking in Syracuse?
The operator lists free cancellation on 95% of the 119 experiences we hold for Syracuse. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.

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