Top Destinations in Sicily for Fans of ‘The White Lotus’

With the second season of The White Lotus coming to a close, Sicily is capturing everyone's attention. While the series presents a social satire focused on affluent guests at the luxurious White Lotus resort, its influence on the showcased locations is undeniable. Following the premiere of its first season filmed at Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, hotel general manager Ben Shank mentioned to the Guardian that inquiries surged after the show aired. The second season took place in Taormina, Sicily, at the San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons hotel, which was fully booked until April 2023 even before its release.

This phenomenon is quite understandable. When a stunning locale like Taormina appears on screen, it sparks the imaginations of those who may have overlooked it, enticing them with visions of azure waters, charming streets adorned with baroque architecture, and the ancient Greek theater, not to mention the inviting locals. The themes of indulgence only enhance its allure. This season, White notably embraced Sicily's dramatic essence, weaving in references to Greek and Roman mythology, alongside a striking scene filmed at Teatro Massimo, the opera house located in Palermo.

As a journalist based in Rome who has explored Italy extensively, I cherish Sicily, yet I’m concerned about the impact The White Lotus may have on the island's tourism. Lorenzo Maraviglia, the general manager of the San Domenico Palace, shared that local merchants in Taormina welcomed the show's cast and crew, recognizing the immense promotional value it could bring. However, Taormina doesn’t truly need more visibility—it has long been a key destination in Sicily since the Grand Tour era. It’s a compact city perched atop a cliff, featuring the lush gardens of the Villa Comunale that provide stunning coastal views, with many shops lining Corso Umberto, where several iconic scenes—including the last shot of Lucia and Mia—were filmed.

During our trip in August 2021, Marco and I encountered significant crowds in Taormina. Finding an affordable room at the San Domenico Palace—or anywhere in the area—proved impossible, so we opted for lunch at the hotel and booked a stay in a nearby town. There, we paid $400–$500 for a night at a mediocre four-star hotel overlooking a beach littered with cigarette butts. This experience makes me worry that Taormina will be even more overwhelmed next summer, with hotels charging even higher prices.

Tips for avoiding crowds in Sicily

This isn’t to say that Taormina isn’t worth visiting; however, if you aim to dodge the crowds, steer clear of July and August and consider the shoulder seasons instead. (From May to October, the weather remains perfect for the beach.) Sicily, being Italy’s largest island, has numerous other gems to explore. For instance, Noto, where Harper and Daphne venture in the third episode, is a captivating city known for its baroque architecture and the famous pasticceria Caffè Sicilia—visiting in September guarantees a blissfully crowd-free experience. Between Noto and Siracusa, you'll find several sandy beaches and the Vendicari Nature Reserve, but don't expect the luxurious beach clubs featured in The White Lotus.

If the golden limestone buildings from the show entice you, consider a visit to Ortigia, the small island that forms the baroque core of Siracusa, linked to the main city by a couple of bridges. This area is rich with shops selling handmade jewelry, stunning clothing, and alluring perfumes. During your time in Ortigia, you can explore a vibrant open-air market with fresh and dried fruits, admire the baroque cathedral, marvel at the Aretusa Spring (a natural fountain with Egyptian papyrus), sunbathe on small beaches, and refresh yourself with a granita—all in one day.

On the opposite side of Sicily, you can immerse yourself in a completely different experience. If the scenes filmed at the ancient Greek theater in Taormina captivated you, consider exploring the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you visit during the summer, opt for an evening tour to escape the crowds and intense heat. Along the way, stop by the Scala dei Turchi, a striking white marl rock cliff. Enjoy sunbathing and swimming at the beaches where the cliff meets the sea, and sip an Aperol Spritz while watching the sunset at a venue like Lounge Beach Scala dei Turchi. The nearby town of Sciacca is famous for its hand-painted ceramics, including the Moor’s heads featured in The White Lotus.

The White Lotus explores a week in the lives of guests at Taormina’s most luxurious resort, with excursions to Noto and Palermo, but to truly experience authentic Sicily, venture beyond the locations shown in the series.