Greenland spent decades funnelling every visitor through an old American airbase, and that has just ended.

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Greenland spent decades funnelling every visitor through an old American airbase, and that has just ended. Every international arrival used to land at a former military strip far inland, then transfer to a small propeller aircraft. Now a runway built for jets serves the capital directly from Copenhagen, Reykjavik and Newark, a second airport has opened in the south, and a third is due at the icefjord town. With all three running, most of the country sits within about ninety minutes of one connection. That rebuild is the reason to look now. Check whether the northern airport is operating before planning around it, since the opening has moved more than once, and expect prices that reflect a place where almost everything is imported. Beds are few and fill fast in the short summer. Compare flights and hotels for Greenland at https://destination.chat and build in spare days, because weather cancels flights here as routine rather than misfortune. The icefjord is the headline. A glacier that ...
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Sicily is closer to Africa than to mainland Italy — and it holidays like it.

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Sicily sits closer to Tunisia than to Rome, and once you're there it makes sense: the food, the light, the layered history of Greek temples, Norman cathedrals and Arab-Norman domes feel like their own world rather than a slice of Italy. That distinctiveness is also why booking it needs a little thought — the island is huge, and picking the wrong corner for what you want can mean hours of driving you didn't plan for. Compare the regions first and you get more island for less.

Broadly, Sicily splits into distinct trips. The southeast around Siracusa, Ortigia and the baroque towns of Noto and Ragusa is the elegant, golden-stone side, rich in history and quieter beaches. The east is dominated by Mount Etna and the glamorous cliff-top resort of Taormina, dramatic and busy. Palermo in the northwest is the chaotic, thrilling capital, all markets and street food, near the beach town of Cefalù. And the far west around Trapani offers salt pans, Marsala wine and the launch point for the Egadi islands.

When it comes to where to stay, the region shapes both budget and mood far more than the star rating. Ortigia, the island-heart of Siracusa, has boutique stays in honey-coloured palazzi right by the sea — lovely for couples. Taormina leans upmarket, with hillside hotels overlooking the coast and Etna. Palermo offers characterful, affordable guesthouses near the markets and the cathedral, the best-value city base. And along the coasts, agriturismo farm stays and seaside apartments give a rural or beach alternative. Prices climb in high summer and ease noticeably either side, so where and when you go together set the cost. [compare stays in Ortigia, Taormina and Palermo] before you assume they cost the same, because they don't.

Flights are the second lever, with two main airports — Palermo in the west and Catania in the east — that make a real difference to your route. July and August are peak and intensely hot, especially inland; May, June, September and October stay warm with swimmable sea and clearly lower prices, and are far more comfortable for sightseeing. It genuinely pays to compare both airports across a range of dates, viewing several airlines together rather than one at a time.

A car is close to essential to see the real Sicily, because the interior, the temples at Agrigento and the scattered coastal towns are poorly linked by public transport. Personally, I'd fly into one airport and out of the other, renting a car to cross the island rather than backtracking. One practical tip guides rarely give: don't underestimate Sicilian driving in the cities — Palermo and Catania traffic is intense, so pick up and drop off your car outside the centre where you can, and use it for the open roads instead. [see also our guide to car rental] if it's your first time driving in southern Italy.

If you want a simple rule: pick your corner first — southeast for baroque and calm, east for Etna and Taormina, Palermo for city and street food — then chase a shoulder-season fare into the nearest airport. Comparing usually surfaces one clear combination — an Ortigia base in September flying into Catania, instead of a peak-August scramble — and that's where the saving hides. Start by comparing flights and stays together on destination.chat before you lock in which side of the island you'll explore.

Q: When is Sicily cheapest and most comfortable?
A: May, June, September and October. The sea is swimmable and the heat manageable for sightseeing, with prices and crowds well below the July-August peak.

Q: Which airport should I fly into?
A: Palermo for the west and north, Catania for the east and Etna. Flying into one and out of the other saves backtracking across the island.

Q: Which part of Sicily should I stay in?
A: The southeast (Ortigia, Noto) for baroque towns and calm, the east (Taormina) for Etna and glamour, Palermo for city life and street food.

Q: Do I need a car in Sicily?
A: Close to essential. Public transport is limited, and a car is the only practical way to reach the interior, the temples and the smaller coastal towns.

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