PUBLIC TRANSPORT COSTS
CATANIA
PALERMO
MESSINA
TOP TIP
Avoid on-the-spot fines - be sure to stamp your ticket to validate your journey.
g Need to Know g Contents
Whether you are visiting for a short city break or a rural country retreat, discover how best to reach your destination.
Two main international airports serve Sicily: Palermo Punta Raisi and Catania Fontanarossa, both operating international flights. European budget airlines offer flights to Sicily at very reasonable prices.
The smaller Trapani Birgi airport offers connections only to and from Palermo and the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa (the latter has a tiny airport linked to Rome, Milan and Verona). The airports on the island connect to Trapani and Palermo airports, and to other mainland towns. A new airport in Comiso serves the Ragusa Syracuse area. For information on getting to and from Sicily’s main airports, see the table opposite.
International Train Travel
If you are planning on reaching Sicily by train from abroad, you will first have to cross the whole Italian peninsula which will take at least 14 hours. When buying your ticket, make sure you reserve a seat (or a sleeping compartment), as trains can get very crowded in high season.
Once in Villa San Giovanni, the train is boarded onto a ferry and passengers are asked to get off, even in the middle of night. Make sure to take your valuables with you.
You can buy tickets and passes for multiple journeys around Italy and Europe via Eurail or Interrail. However, you may still need to pay an additional reservation fee depending on which rail service you travel with. Always check that your pass is valid before boarding.
Eurail
Interrail
Given the varied and often mountainous topography of Sicily, remote areas are not accessible by train, and the very few train lines in those areas can be slow and unreliable. All the main train lines in Sicily are run by Trenitalia, Italy’s main railway operator. Tickets can be bought online and must be validated before boarding by stamping them in machines at the entrance to platforms. Heavy fines are levied if you are caught with an unvalidated ticket.
The island’s two main railway routes run between Messina and Syracuse via Catania, and from Messina to Palermo along the northern coast. A secondary line branches from the Messina–Palermo route at Termini Imerese, running southwards to Agrigento. Another line connects Palermo with Trapani. North of Catania, the privately operated Ferrovia Circumetnea line runs around Mount Etna, offering a scenic route.
Ferrovia Circumetnea
Trenitalia
Bus services in Sicilian cities are reliable and user-friendly. In Palermo the transport network is operated by AMAT, in Catania by the AMT and in Messina by the ATM.
Tickets can be bought at tobacconists (tabaccai), news stands (giornalai) or from special transport kiosks that also provide transport maps. Tickets are timed and are valid 90 or 120 minutes, and need to be validated in the yellow machines on the bus. Day tickets are usually very cheap and are often the best option.
AMAT (Palermo)
AMT (Catania)
ATM (Messina)
The three lines – SAIS, AST and Etna Trasporti – cover the entire island, while services such as Flixbus and Eurolines connect the island to the rest of Italy. Fares are very reasonable. You can usually buy tickets on board for long-haul buses (pullman or corriera) between towns and cities.
Services often depart from outside main railway stations or from a town’s main piazza. In rural areas, check bus stops for timetables and the details of local transport companies.
AST
Etna Trasporti
Eurolines
Flixbus
SAIS
Taxis are not hailed; take one at an official taxi stand (usually found at the station, main piazza or close to key tourist sights), or reserve one by phone. When you order a taxi by phone, the meter will run from your call.
Only accept rides in licensed, metered taxis. Official taxis are white, have a “taxi” sign on the roof and their official taxi licence number on the doors. Extra charges are added for each piece of luggage placed in the boot, for rides between approximately 10pm and 7am, on Sundays and public holidays, and for journeys to and from the airports. The following companies offer a reliable service:
Radiotaxi Catania
§ 095 8833
Radiotaxi Messina
§ 090 6505
Radiotaxi Palermo
§ 091 8481
For those eager to discover Sicily’s lesser-known parts or its rural areas, travelling by car is the best option. Make sure you have all the necessary documents with you, as traffic police (carabinieri) carry out routine checks.
Driving to Sicily
The drive to Sicily from Rome takes around 8 hours and around 6 hours from Naples. Car ferries going across the Strait of Messina leave regularly. Allow 1 hour for the ferry ride, including waiting times and boarding.
Driving in Sicily
If you bring your own foreign-registered car into the country, you must carry a Green Card, the vehicle’s registration documents and have a valid driver’s licence with you when driving. Many towns and cities enforce a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL). To avoid fines, consult one of the Urban Access Regulations in Europe websites.
Tolls are payable on most motorways (autostrade), and payment is made at the end of the journey. Avoid tolls by using the national roads (strade nazionali), or secondary state roads (strade statali). Although less direct, they are often more scenic, allowing you to stop at viewpoints and places of interest en route.
Roads known as white roads (strade bianche) have only a gravel surface. These are often narrow and steep, but are usually passable to cars. Always check your route before travelling.
ACI
∑ aci.it
ZTL and Urban Access Regulations in Europe
Car Rental
To rent a car in Sicily you must be at least 21 years old (some renters insist on a minimum age of 25) and have held a valid licence for at least a year.
Driving licences issued by any EU member states are valid throughout Italy. If visiting from outside the EU, you may need to apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP). Check with your local automobile association. Major international car rental agencies have outlets at all main airports and in all major towns and cities in Sicily.
Rules of the Road
Drive on the right, use the left lane only for passing, and yield to traffic from the right. Seat belts are required for all passengers, and heavy fines are levied for using a mobile phone while driving. A strict drink-drive limit is enforced.
During the day dipped headlights are compulsory when you are driving on motorways, dual carriageways and on all out-of-town roads. A red warning triangle, spare tyre and fluorescent vests must be carried at all times, for use in case of an emergency. In the event of an accident or breakdown switch on your hazard warning lights and place your warning triangle 50m (55 yd) behind your vehicle.
For breakdowns call the ACI emergency number (116) or the emergency services. The ACI will tow any foreign-registered vehicle to the nearest ACI-affiliated garage, free of charge if you are a member of a similar, affiliated club.
Hitchhiking, or autostop, is illegal on motorways, but in more rural areas it is a common way for tourists and backpackers to get around on a budget. Always consider your own safety before entering an unknown vehicle.
Sicily’s internal roads are fairly quiet and suitable for cycling. There are many scenic routes along the coast and around Mount Etna. However, Sicilian drivers are not used to seeing cyclists on the road, so stay alert at all times. Helmets and high-visibility clothing are not obligatory but wearing them is strongly advised. You can find traffic-free city centres in towns like Syracuse and Ragusa. The website Sicily Cycling maps the best cycling routes on the island.
Sicily Cycling
Bicycle Hire
Social Bike Palermo offers touring and city bikes for rent in Palermo, while Etna Sicily Touring rents bicycles in Catania.
Etna Sicily Touring
Social Bike Palermo
Bike Touring
Several companies operate guided and self-guided bike tours. Agencies such as Ciclofree, Sicily Biking Tours or Ciclabili Siciliane offer different types of adventures and excursions, providing you with bicycles and with the added convenience of vans carrying your luggage.
Ciclabili Siciliane
Ciclofree
Sicily Biking Tours
Reggio Calabria is the principal mainland port for ferry services to Sicily with Caronte & Tourist. Tirrenia offers ferries between Palermo, Genoa, and Naples. In summer, car ferries operate between Messina and Naples. Ferry services between the Sicilian islands are well organized and run regularly. Services are offered by several companies, such as Liberty Lines, SNAV (Societá Navigazione Alta Velocitá), and Siremar. Ferries (traghetti) and hydrofoils can get quite crowded in summer and might skip some crossings if the weather is bad.
Caronte & Tourist
Liberty Lines
SNAV
∑ snav.it
Siremar
Tirrenia
Touring Sicily by Boat
Sailing around the Aeolian and Aegadian islands and visiting Sicily’s ports is a fabulous way to see some of the island’s most breathtaking scenery, including erupting volcanoes.
If you are looking for the ultimate sea vacation, Sailing Sicily rents out catamarans and sailboats, complete with a crew of sailors. Pasqualo is a great option for small boats to circumnavigate the active volcano of Stromboli. If you are lucky you can see it erupt.
Pasqualo
Sailing Sicily
The city centres in many of Sicily’s towns are usually compact, with key sites within easy reach of each other. Syracuse, Catania, Palermo, and many more Sicilian towns have large pedestrian areas and are best enjoyed on foot.
Sicily also offers many opportunities for scenic hikes, both in the countryside, on Mount Etna, or in nature reserves, and expert guides are often available to help you plan your route or take you. Outdoor Active is a great source for finding your perfect hiking trail. Always make sure you bring enough water, and wear sturdy shoes and a hat, as the sun can be very strong.
Outdoor Active
Need to know Getting Around
CATANIA
PALERMO
MESSINA
TOP TIP
Avoid on-the-spot fines - be sure to stamp your ticket to validate your journey.
Need to know Getting Around
MOTORWAY
DUAL
CARRIAGEWAYS
NATIONAL
ROADS
URBAN
AREAS
Need to know Getting Around
| Airport | Distance to city | Taxi fare | Public Transport | Journey time |
| Palermo | 33 km | €45 | Trinacria Express | 56 or 72 mins |
| Prestia e Comandé | 30 mins | |||
| Catania | 10 km | €18 | Alibus | 20 mins |
Need to know Getting Around
This map is a handy reference for road travel times between Sicily’s main towns and cities. The times given reflect the fastest and most direct routes.
| Rome to Messina | 8 hrs |
| Naples to Messina | 6 hrs |
| Catania to Siracusa | 1 hr |
| Catania to Agrigento | 1.5 hrs |
| Catania to Piazza Armerina | 1.5 hrs |
| Catania to Noto | 1 hr |
| Messina to Catania | 1 hr |
| Messina to Palermo | 2.5 hrs |
| Palermo to Trapani | 1.5 hrs |
| Palermo to Catania | 2.5 hrs |
| Trapani to Agrigento | 2.5 hrs |
| Agrigento to Caltanissetta | 1 hr |