The 13 best things to do in Syracuse Sicily
When I went to Syracuse on my last trip around Sicily, I was only there for three days. So I had to pack a lot into my itinerary. I did a lot of research, but I also spoke to a lot of my family, and they recommended some of the best things to do in Syracuse, Sicily. So hopefully you will find out what to do in Syracuse for yourself with this guide.
What to do in Syracuse, Sicily
1. Ear of Dionysius
First up is a visit to the ear of Dionysus. This is outside of Ortigia, towards the mainland in Syracuse. To put it into perspective, if you are taking a car, it takes about 10 minutes, or if you walk, about 30 to 40 minutes.
What it is, is actually a limestone cave that looks like an ear, hence the name. It has been sculpted into the hill in Syracuse. It was also named because of all the echoes and acoustics that resemble the shape of an ear.
A little bit of history. It was built in the Greek-Roman era, actually to store water. Later on, it became a prison. And the actual Dionysius I, who conquered a lot of the cities in Sicily, actually used the echoes in that cave so he could hear what the prisoners were saying about him. Very interesting. And then, really recently, this cave was featured in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 2023.
When I went there, it was just remarkable how large it was, and you get to go inside. Now, if you are going during the summer, it can be a bit busy, so try to book tickets online beforehand.
Address: Via Ettore Romagnoli, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
2. The Greek theatre of Syracuse
Now, about a one-minute walk away is the Greek theatre of Syracuse. This is on the south slopes of the Temenites Hill. It is in very good shape and was built in the 5th century BC, and then renovated over time, most recently in the Roman period.
It is actually one of the biggest Greek theatres in the world and holds around 16,000 people. Due to its condition, it is actually used for performances today. So I highly recommend going there if you are looking at what to do in Syracuse, Sicily.
When you are going through, on some of the walls, you can actually see some of the names of the gods and the royal members of the family. I would advise going in the morning because it is completely open air, and you do not want to roast.
I would spend about 1-2 hours here and book a tour in Syracuse.
Address: Via Luigi Bernabò Brea, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
3. The caves of the archaeological park
So while you are here in this area, behind the Greek theatre is the Grotta del Ninfeo. It is a cave in the archaeological park of Syracuse. You will also find some other caves, such as the Grotta dei Cordari and the Grotta del Salnitro.
This whole area is one of the top things to do in Syracuse if you are into history and archaeology. It is all very close together so you can tick off a lot in one visit.
Address: 96100 Syracuse, Free municipal consortium of Syracuse, Italy
4. The Tecnoparco Museo di Archimede
Next up, if you are looking to cool down a bit, there is also the Tecnoparco Museo di Archimede in Syracuse. In 2025 it was actually ranked in the top 10% of best things to do in Syracuse by TripAdvisor.
The museum has a lot of scale models and replicas of instruments from the 3rd century BC. You can get a ticket for €8 and they also have virtual reality for a few euros extra.
Some of the technology you can see there is the Stomachion, which is an ancient Greek game. You have got the Archimedean screw, which is a hydraulic machine that lifts or transports liquids. And water clocks. It is a very interesting thing to do in Syracuse once you are finished visiting the theatre and the ear of Dionysus. They close at 6 pm, so you can get there earlier or later depending on your plans.
Address: Viale Giuseppe Agnello, 26, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
5. Syracuse Cathedral
So now, going back to the centre of Syracuse, you have the Syracuse Cathedral. It is a pretty remarkable building from the outside, and there is a lot of work that has been put into it. It is actually classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
There has been a lot of influence over the centuries. It was constructed in the 7th century, then it became a mosque, and then it became a cathedral. Then it got damaged by the 1693 earthquake and had to be rebuilt.
So inside there are a lot of Baroque items such as Doric columns and a statue of the Madonna della Neve. When I went there was an entrance fee of €2 to get in. It is definitely worth a visit. And if you are wondering what to see in Syracuse, Sicily, the cathedral is right at the top of the list.
Address: Piazza Duomo, 5, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
6. The temple of Apollo
Next stop is the Temple of Apollo. This temple was constructed in the 6th century BC and is one of the oldest temples in Sicily. The temple itself, again, went through a lot of changes. It used to be a Byzantine church, then an Islamic mosque, and then after the Norman conquering it became the Church of the Saviour. Then it became the Spanish barracks in the 16th century. Now it is a pile of ruins.
You can see it in the picture below that I took. But a lot of history and something to see in Syracuse.
To get there, you have to walk to the island of Ortygia. It is a couple of minutes before you get to all the shops. In terms of the history here, I actually got that from a Syracuse walking tour, so I would advise booking one in when you are going to Syracuse.
Address: 96100 Syracuse, Free municipal consortium of Syracuse, Italy
7. Fontana di Diana
Very close by is the Fontana di Diana. Again, a lot of history. It was designed in 1907 by Giulio Moschetti, and his son Mario was actually the sculptor. It was built in just 10 months, which is pretty amazing.
What you will see, and I have got a picture below that I took, is the goddess Diana with a bow, and then a dog showing the hunting characteristics. So it represents the protector of the island and water. It also has some other characters, such as seahorses and pig fishes.
What I really liked, and you can tell from the picture I took in the evening, is that it was lit up at night, which is really quite nice. They have got a little bench there so you can sit down and just enjoy yourself when you are on holiday in Syracuse. There are also quite a few restaurants in Syracuse close by, and you can look at it from the restaurants themselves, as it sits in a squarish piazza area.
Address: Piazza Archimede, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
8. La Catacomba di San Giovanni
Now, if you are looking for something a little bit interesting, one of the best things to do in Syracuse that I managed to do was check out the catacombs of San Giovanni. I thought this was very interesting.
The passage itself, when I went there, was around 100 metres. You could see a lot of the inscriptions on tomb surfaces and a lot of paintings. And when you get to the end, there is a mural which indicates a huge, significant burial site. There are over 10,000 burials in this area.
So it was a very interesting thing to do. You can take a tour there, and the tour takes about 40 minutes. And interestingly, it was actually used as a World War 2 bomb shelter. They have also added a virtual reality trip at the end, which really shows a lot of the reconstructions. I would definitely add that onto your ticket as well.
Now, they do have a lunch break during the various different months and usually open around 9.30 to 5.30. Make sure to check the website before booking in.
Address: LARGO SAN MARCIANO, 3, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
9. Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi
Next up is the Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. This is actually one of the number one museums in Europe. It has got a lot of artefacts in there. You have got a lot of Greek and Roman items that have been found from archaeological digs around Syracuse but also the whole of Sicily.
I spent about an hour here. I will say, when I last went, there was not really a clear direction of which way you had to go, but the staff can be helpful. So I would advise probably booking a guided tour so they can really explain things to you. Some really interesting things to see.
Address: Viale Teocrito, 66, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
10. The puppet theatre
Next up, if you have kids, they actually have a puppet theatre called the Opera dei Pupi. And it is one of the top things to do in Syracuse with the family.
Actually, in 2001, it was included in the UNESCO Registry of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and it showed one of the most important representations of Sicily and its history and cultural identity. The theatre itself has been around for over two decades, and they have had over 40 shows. They have also crafted over 140 puppets in their workshops, and they have a small museum, too.
Now, you might think it is on the side of a road, but it is actually inside. Not that large, it probably fits about 30 to 40 people. There is just something really unique about it. It is one of those best things to do in Syracuse, Sicily that not everyone knows about. Make sure to check the show calendar and book in advance because it is quite a small venue.
Address: Via della Giudecca, 22, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
11. Take a day Trip to Noto
Next up, this is something you just have to do when you are in Syracuse, and it was one of my favourite things. That was taking a day trip to Noto. I drove there, but you can also book a private tour of Noto.
To get to the town, it takes about 20 miles southwest of the city. In 2002, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site. From here, there are so many sites to visit, such as the Noto Cathedral, Sant'Alfano Palaces, and the Royal Gate. It also has one long strip of boutique shops and restaurants alongside all the historical sites.
Now, I spent the day there. Do you need longer in Noto? I reckon you could do all the sights in one to two days. I managed to visit everything. And I actually found the best cannoli in Sicily here, which is a real plus. I have tried cannolis everywhere, all over Europe, all over Italy, and so far this has been the best.
The place is a bakery called Panificio Maidda. They also do really nice sandwiches for lunch afterwards. We got both.
Address: 96017 Free municipal consortium of Syracuse
12. Spiaggia di Fontane Bianche
So next up, if you are looking at what to do in Syracuse, spending the day at the beach is a must. It is actually a short drive, but one of the best beaches in Sicily is the Spiaggia di Fontane Bianche. Here you have got crystal clear waters and fine white sand. What I liked about going there was the very gentle waves, and it is very shallow, so it is great to bring the kids. There is lots of parking and the ability to rent a chair.
So if you are spending a few days, I would definitely go to Fontane Bianche. Now, I had friends who actually stayed there and they said it was a bit boring because there were not really any restaurants or much of a town. So I would definitely recommend just having this as a day trip.
13. Local markets and a cooking class
Then lastly, there were the local markets over the weekend that I liked going to. There is an Ortigia street market that is open Monday to Saturday, from around 9 am until about lunchtime. Here you can get, if you are staying there, fresh fish and vegetables, but you can also get cooked foods like oysters, cheeses, wines, and olives. And then you have also got opposite it a few stands with souvenirs and clothing.
There is also another local market near the Temple of Apollo, which is similar. And some of my friends did something really special. They actually booked a cooking class with a local in Syracuse. They take you around the markets, you can watch them haggle with all the store owners, and then they teach you how to cook that traditional Syracuse Sicilian food in the kitchen. So that was a really unique thing to do in Syracuse, Sicily.
I hope you liked my guide on the best things to do in Syracuse, Sicily. If you have been to Syracuse and done anything else, please drop a comment in the box below so I can share more value with my readers.
Things to do in Syracuse, Sicily FAQ's
Is Syracuse in Sicily worth visiting?
Absolutely. Syracuse has so much to do. From day trips to all the historical places like the Fontana di Diana, the temples, and the cathedrals, it really does have it all. And it also makes a good base for day trips around the wider area of Sicily.
What to do in Syracuse in a day?
If you have only got a day it is a bit difficult, but go early. I would probably head over to the archaeological park and check out the Greek theatre, the ear of Dionysus, and check out the museum if you can in a couple of hours. Then I would head back to the city, go visit the Temple of Apollo, the cathedral, the markets, and the Fontana. And then if you have time after lunch, check out the catacombs because I thought that was a really cool thing to do.
How many days should you spend in Syracuse, Sicily?
I would probably advise spending about 3 days because that allows you to take a day trip to Noto, go to the beach for one day, and then spend one day going to the archaeological parks around Syracuse.
Unique things to do in Syracuse, Sicily
In terms of unique things to do in Syracuse, it would probably be going to the puppet theatre. I would also say taking a day trip to Noto. And hopefully you have got a car or you have booked a tour. But also going to the local markets and booking a cooking class was a really unique thing to do that I liked.
Free things to do in Syracuse, Sicily
In terms of free things to do in Syracuse, Sicily, you can view the Temple of Apollo from the outside. You can check out the Fontana di Diana. You can go to the market. But apart from that, the other things to do in Syracuse, Sicily are paid. But they can be relatively low-cost, like going to the Syracuse Cathedral, which is definitely something you should do. It cost €2 last time I went there, and it is for charity.