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Latest update: 9 June 2025
The magic of the town of Noto in southeastern Sicily becomes clear around sunset. The many baroque buildings take on a warm, golden glow. It almost looks like a movie set (and it turns out it actually is). In this blog, I’m sharing the 10 best things to do in Noto, Sicily.
Noto in Val di Noto
Noto sits in the Val di Noto, a valley in southeastern Sicily where you’ll also find places like Syracuse, Ragusa, and Caltagirone. The area was hit by a severe earthquake in 1693. Noto had to be rebuilt entirely, and it was done 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) away from its original location. Built entirely from scratch.
They also bid farewell to the medieval winding streets and opted for a much more linear layout. This was during the height of the Baroque period. And that explains why you see so much baroque architecture in Noto. You can recognize Baroque by its many oval shapes, intricate patterns, lots of decorations, and symmetry. Wonderfully over-the-top.
You’ll be amazed by what you see. Beautiful buildings everywhere, gorgeous balconies, decorated doorways… A perfect backdrop for a stroll as the sun sets – even on a cloudy day. And also a beautiful backdrop for The White Lotus series because it was partly filmed here. Luckily, Noto is a great idea, even without any White Lotus knowledge. So check out my 10 tips for the best things you can do in Noto.
Stroll down Corso Vittorio Emanuele
Corso Vittorio Emanuele is Noto’s main street. It starts even before the beautiful city gate Porta Reale with a tree-lined avenue where you can shop for souvenirs in the shade. At the end of the little avenue, you have a nice view over the Val di Noto. Take a quick photo and then head back into the town. On Corso Vittorio Emanuele, you’ll find pretty much all of Noto’s attractions and lots of shops, restaurants, and cafés.
Turn into a side street now and then, look out for old Fiats and beautiful balconies, and enjoy!
Admire the Chiesa di San Francesco
Like every self-respecting town in Sicily, Noto has quite a few churches you can visit. I start at the Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi all’Immacolata. Free to visit, but there’s someone at the entrance handing out brochures so eagerly that I can’t possibly refuse a small donation. Inside, they’ve really gone all out with decorations and golden details. The adjoining monastery is next door, but you can’t visit that.
In the footsteps of The White Lotus
I missed the hype. Hey, that happens! But when I’m in Sicily, I’m a bit sad about it. I apparently keep walking through the set of The White Lotus series. Unintentional and unnoticed because I haven’t seen the series. Those who are familiar with the series might recognize the steps at Noto’s cathedral. They also filmed in Taormina and Palermo by the way.
If you’re a fan of the series, you can do White Lotus tours in Sicily.
Chill on the steps of Noto’s Duomo
On one side of the street are the almost endless steps that lead you to Noto’s main cathedral, and on the other side stands a beautiful palazzo, which is the city hall. I’m getting churched-out by now, so I decide to skip visiting the cathedral and enjoy a gelato on the steps. The steps are definitely a popular meeting place in the evening. That’s when lots of people come to chat with each other.
Order a drink in the church
Suppose you want to have a drink in the evening in an exceptional setting. In that case, you need to go to Anche gli Angeli – Cucina Vicari. This used to be a church. Now, it’s a restaurant, but just ordering drinks is fine, too. When you enter, you pass a couple of giant white giraffes and walk straight to the beautifully lit bar. Aesthetically, everything is perfect, but it is a bit pricey. So I stick to one drink because I actually prefer to sit outside anyway.
Climb the bell tower of San Carlos
A very narrow staircase leads me up to the small viewing platform Belvedere del campanile de San Carlos. This short climb is particularly enjoyable around sunset, as the yellow limestone looks especially beautiful at that time. I’m actually surprised that we’re only standing here with the two of us instead of a whole crowd of tourists. You don’t need to skip it for the price: €2.50 ($2.75) in 2024.
Check out artistic stairs
Because Noto has so many elevation changes, there are also quite a few stairs in the town. They’ve tried to spruce up some of those stairs. That sometimes looks pretty cool in photos, but I’m often disappointed when it turns out to be just some kind of sticker. I thought it was painted on, so I feel cheated.
Want to check them out? You can do that here:
- Scalinata dipinta ad effetto Google Maps location
- Scalinata Mariannina Coffa Google Maps location
- Inferno by Carlo Coniglio Google Maps location
Taste sweets from Netflix’s Chef’s Table at Caffè Sicilia
Netflix made a ‘pastry’ series of Chef’s Table and one episode was about Corrado Assenza, the owner of Caffè Sicilia. The café has been in the Assenza family’s hands for over 100 years. It is especially renowned for its cannoli and granita. I go for the popular almond granita and a cappuccino. Yum! You can also order a granita tasting, and there’s so much more delicious stuff on the menu and on the display counter. I’m getting greedy, haha.
Enjoy live music at SECRET
At the top of one of Noto’s stickered stairs, there’s a small bar where you can eat and drink in the courtyard. The menu has sandwiches, simple pasta, and small pizzas. But the coolest part is the stairs. Musicians regularly take a seat there to entertain you. When I’m there, SECRET doesn’t seem to be a secret for Sicilians, but it hasn’t been discovered by too many tourists yet.
Take a tour of a vineyard
Around Noto, there are quite a few vineyards, and I always find it really fun to visit them. It’s a nice way to spend time, and I also learn something about wine. Especially in Sicily, it’s interesting because they usually use completely different grapes than what I drink at home. Sometimes that works out well, sometimes less so.
I do a tour and tasting at Feudo Maccari (Google Maps location). It turns out to be a fairly large vineyard with lots of French oak barrels and also a few cement ‘eggs’ for the white wine. I missed the harvest by a week, but tasting is always possible, of course. If you want to do that too, you need to reserve in advance. You can find all the details here.
Other options for wine tours in the area are Tenuta Palmeri, Vini Rudini, or Terre di Noto.
Cute little apartment in Noto
I find a charming little apartment with a shared courtyard just outside the center. The courtyard we mainly share with a photogenic cat. The apartment is small, so I wouldn’t spend a long time there, but you can cook, make coffee, and, of course, shower and sleep. Clean and comfortable, perfect for a night!
More Sicily travel inspiration
Useful links for your Sicily trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. Book the best tours and activities at GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. Book “free” walking tours at Freetour or GuruWalk , and for bike tours, Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare prices and insurance coverage at DiscoverCars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Definitely Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Bol.com and Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Start your search at Expedia or CheapOair.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Yoga retreat. Or join a yoga retreat in Sicily.
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