The best things to do in Syracuse
This list is about Syracuse (Siracusa) in Sicily, not Syracuse in New York. It starts in Ortigia, the island old town, moves on to the archaeological sites on the mainland, then goes out to sea and along the coast. The order is an editorial choice, not an official ranking.
Each entry gives the adult price and the hours that matter. Tickets, hours and works change, so check the current opening times before you go. Two full days cover the highlights, and a third day fits a boat trip and a visit to Vendicari.
Ortigia: cathedral, spring and temple
Experiences 1 to 4, all within walking distance of each other.
1. Explore Ortigia
The island old town is the historic heart of Syracuse and part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk it slowly, without a fixed list of sights. Leave the car outside: a limited traffic zone applies, and a hotel permit covers entry but not parking.
Ortigia guide →2. Visit the cathedral
Ancient Doric columns of an earlier temple are built into the walls of the church. A ticket costs €2 plus a €1 service fee, so €3 in total. The ticket office is open Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 5:30 pm from October to April and from 9 am to 6:30 pm from May to September. The cathedral is closed to tourist visits on Sundays and during services.
3. See the Fonte Aretusa
A spring with papyrus plants at the Largo Aretusa. You can see it from outside at any time. There is also a paid walk on the inside with limited hours, so check the times if you want to go in.
4. The Temple of Apollo
A Doric stone temple, described by the regional tourism portal as the oldest of its kind in Sicily. A regional decree of 11 September 2026 concerns a consolidation and restoration project for the temple. It does not say when work starts, so check what is open when you arrive.
Our picks: things to do
A walk through Ortigia, a cooking class with a market visit and a guided hike at Vendicari.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided walk in the Vendicari nature reserve
Return transfer, a hiking guide, walking poles and bird-watching equipment. Reserve entry is not included.
Check availability →
Cooking class with an Ortigia market visit
A guided market visit, a cooking class with a local cook, lunch and the transfer between market and kitchen. Monument entries are not included.
Check availability →Ortigia group walking tour
Two hours on foot through Ortigia, with free headphones for larger groups. The optional cathedral entry is extra.
Check availability →Syracuse tours and day trips
Walking tours of Ortigia, boat trips to the sea caves, guided visits to the Neapolis park and day trips, with live prices and availability.
Market, ruins and a museum
Experiences 5 to 8: food, the Greek theatre and archaeology.
5. The Ortigia market
A street market near the Temple of Apollo, with olives and dried tomatoes. It runs in the morning from Monday to Saturday, roughly 7 am to 2 pm, and is closed on Sundays. Do not confuse it with the large wholesale market on Via Elorina or the Sunday flea market at Santa Lucia.
6. Neapolis park and the Ear of Dionysius
The archaeological park holds the Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre, the Altar of Hieron, the Via dei Sepolcri and the old stone quarries, including the cave called the Ear of Dionysius. The adult ticket costs €14 on the regional ticket page and €17 with the exhibition in a 2025 municipal tariff sheet. Under 18s enter free. In October 2026 the park opens at 8:30 am.
Neapolis guide →7. A play at the Greek theatre
The theatre hosts the INDA festival of classical drama in May and June. The 61st season ran from 8 May to 28 June 2026, with Alcesti, Antigone, I Persiani and Iliade. Theatre tickets are separate from the park ticket. In 2026 they cost from €28 on single-price dates up to €70 for the best seats on Friday and Saturday. Check the INDA calendar for the dates of the next season.
8. Museo Paolo Orsi
The regional archaeological museum is a separate site and not part of the park ticket. Entry costs €10 (€5 reduced). A combined ticket with the Neapolis park is valid for three consecutive days and is not refundable. The museum is closed on Mondays, and booking online adds a fee of up to €1.52.
Sea, beach and reserve
Experiences 9 to 12: boats, the coast and a day trip south.
9. A boat trip to the sea caves
Short boat trips leave from the Ortigia harbour and run along the island coast. A cave is entered only when the sea is calm enough, and the swim stop is up to the skipper. Some operators ask for at least two passengers. Take sun protection and a towel.
Boat tours →10. The Plemmirio marine reserve
A protected coast with zones for swimming, boats and anchoring. Follow the zoning and do not touch or collect anything underwater. Local press reported a swimming ban at the Scoglio Due Fratelli rock after a notice of 20 August 2026, so do not swim there without checking.
11. Fontane Bianche
A sandy beach south of the city with clear water and a lido (a beach club with sunbeds). In 2026 one umbrella and two sunbeds cost €25 in the first row in May and October, €35 in July and €45 in August. Rows further back cost €5 less. Beyond the two people included, each extra person over five years old pays €5. Check the closing date of the lido late in the season.
Beaches guide →12. Vendicari and Marzamemi
Vendicari is a coastal nature reserve with salt marshes and an old tonnara (tuna-processing house). It costs €3.50 (€1.50 reduced, €7 family, free to age 7), card payment only, and opens at 7 am. Marzamemi is a fishing village nearby, around the Piazza Regina Margherita. Access to the Calamosche cove was closed after a notice of 13 September 2026, so check the reserve notices first. For Noto, see the guide on Noto.
Marzamemi and Vendicari →Plan the rest of your trip
Pages for each part of the list.
Things to do in Syracuse: frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Syracuse?
Two full days cover Ortigia and the Neapolis park. Add a third day for a boat trip and a visit to Vendicari and Marzamemi.
What should I see first?
Start in Ortigia with the cathedral, the Fonte Aretusa and the market in the morning. Keep the Neapolis park for another day, because its quarries and theatre take a few hours.
Can I see the Greek theatre play in autumn?
No. The INDA season of classical plays runs in May and June, and the 2026 season ended on 28 June. You can still visit the theatre as part of the Neapolis park ticket.
What is closed on Sundays?
The cathedral is closed to tourist visits and the Ortigia market does not run. The Neapolis park and Vendicari follow their own hours.
Is Noto part of a Syracuse trip?
Noto is a separate town, roughly 35 km away depending on the route, and about an hour by bus. It is covered by the Sicily guide, and the Marzamemi and Vendicari page shows the coast on the way.