A rental car is the most practical way to explore Sicily, especially for reaching smaller towns and the interior. Roads are generally decent, though driving in Palermo and Catania can be intense. Fuel is expensive by North American standards.
Trains connect the major cities along the coast, but service is slow and infrequent inland. Buses fill the gaps and are often faster than trains for intercity travel. AST and Interbus are the main operators. Within cities, local buses are cheap and cover most areas, though schedules can be unreliable.