Catania Airport at a glance
Catania's airport is called Fontanarossa. It serves the city, the east coast and, by bus, the rest of the island: Sicily's airports are compared on the island guide. Most visitors choose between four ways into the centre: the Alibus airport bus, a train with a short shuttle, a taxi, or a hire car.
For a hotel near the cathedral, the Alibus and the taxi are the simplest. The train is cheap but has more steps, and in autumn 2026 it is affected by engineering works. This page is an independent guide, not the airport's own website.
Airport to city centre: the options compared
Prices and frequencies as reported in 2026. Check the current timetable before you go.
| Option | Price (adult) | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alibus | €4 | About every 25 minutes (airport operator) | Runs between the airport and Catania Centrale station. Ticket valid 90 minutes in total, also on other city bus lines. |
| Train with shuttle | €1 shuttle, plus the rail fare | Shuttle every 10 minutes, 04:30 to 22:40 | The station is about 600 metres from the terminal. Works affect some lines until 12 December. |
| Taxi | €27 flat rate to Piazza Duomo or Centrale | – | Press report, trial until 31 December 2026. Ask the fare before you get in. |
| Hire car | – | – | Price depends on the provider and the dates. Not needed for the old town. |
Alibus from Catania Airport
The straightforward option for most arrivals.
The Alibus costs €4 and the ticket is valid for 90 minutes in total, including on other AMTS city lines. It does not work the other way round: an ordinary city bus ticket or day pass is not valid on the Alibus. The airport operator gives a frequency of one bus about every 25 minutes between the terminal and Catania Centrale, the main station. From there the cathedral square is a short onward trip by bus or taxi. Timetables change by season, so check the current one.
For payment, carry a card. The rules for buying on board have changed over the years, so do not count on paying the driver in cash. AMTS also runs a smart ticketing system for its tickets.
Since 11 December 2025 the city lines that used to end at Piazza Borsellino end at the main station instead. If a hotel's directions mention Piazza Borsellino, ask which stop to use.
Catania tours and transfers
Street food walks, guided city tours and day trips from Catania, with live prices and availability.
Train from Catania Airport: works until 12 December 2026
Cheap, but check your date.
Shuttle to the station
The airport station is about 600 metres on foot from the terminal. A dedicated AMTS shuttle runs every 10 minutes from 04:30 to 22:40 and costs €1.
Combined ticket
If you buy a combined ticket from Trenitalia, choose the destination "Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa Bus". Without the word "Bus" the shuttle is not included.
Replacement buses
From 1 October to 12 December 2026 engineering works replace trains with buses on the line towards Syracuse. An example in the other direction: bus PA510 leaves Syracuse at 04:25, reaches Fontanarossa at 06:10 and Catania Centrale at 06:28. Treat it as an example, not a full timetable. Some regional trains still start at Catania Airport and run north.
Night works
Trenitalia announced changes, cancellations and replacement buses on selected regional trains between Messina Centrale and Catania Airport on the nights of 17 and 18 October and 28 and 29 October 2026.
Taxi from Catania Airport
Door to door, with a price to agree first.
The taxi rank is in front of the arrivals level. Official city taxis are white, carry a TAXI sign and show a licence number. Ask for the fare before you get in, and note the licence number if you need to complain to the city's transport office.
A press report from June 2026 gives a flat rate of €27 from the airport to Piazza Duomo or the main station, as a trial until 31 December 2026. Older guides quote €22; that figure comes from a 2024 airport guide and should not be taken as the current fare. The flat rate does not cover every address in the city, so confirm what applies to your hotel.
Car hire and parking
Useful for the coast and the volcano, a burden in the old town.
The airport lists its car hire providers on its own website; Locauto and Noleggiare are among them. Pick-up point, opening hours, deposit and licence rules depend on the company, and no single price applies. A car makes sense for the east coast and Etna, less so for the centre of Catania.
The city centre has a limited traffic zone (ZTL). AMTS issues the permits for the historic centre and the pedestrian area around Piazza Bellini. A hotel garage does not by itself mean you may drive to it, so ask your hotel before you book. Our where to stay guide has notes on getting around.
If you park at the airport, the AMTS car park on Via Forcile charges €0.50 per hour for the first 7 hours, with a maximum of €3.50 per calendar day. The day ends at midnight, not after 24 hours, and the maximum stay is 20 consecutive days.
When Etna closes the airport
Ash delays are rare but real.
On 28 September 2026 the airport operator suspended flights because of volcanic ash, initially until 23:59 that day. Travellers were told to check with their airline. The Region reported diversions to Comiso, Trapani and Palermo and extra transfers by road. Nothing guarantees a free transfer in a future case, so check your airline's rules and keep a bit of slack on the day you fly out.
Beyond the city
Direct buses leave from the airport area for several places.
Interbus and Etna Trasporti run long-distance buses from the airport. For the details of the Taormina route see our guide to Catania to Taormina. A Giuntabus service runs to Milazzo, for the Aeolian ferries; see Milazzo. For the Syracuse line, see Catania to Syracuse.
Catania Airport: frequently asked questions
How much is the Alibus from Catania Airport?
A single costs €4 in 2026 and is valid for 90 minutes in total, including on other AMTS city lines. Ordinary city tickets and day passes are not valid on the Alibus.
How often does the Alibus run?
The airport operator gives one bus about every 25 minutes between the airport and Catania Centrale. Frequencies vary by season, so check the current timetable.
How much is a taxi from the airport to the centre?
A press report from June 2026 gives a flat rate of €27 to Piazza Duomo or the main station, as a trial until 31 December 2026. Ask the fare before you get in.
Does the train from the airport run in autumn 2026?
Some regional trains run, but engineering works replace trains with buses on the line towards Syracuse from 1 October to 12 December 2026, and there are night works in October. Check the Trenitalia notices for your date.
Is the airport station next to the terminal?
No. It is about 600 metres on foot, and an AMTS shuttle for €1 runs every 10 minutes from 04:30 to 22:40.
Do I need a hire car in Catania?
Not for the old town, which has a limited traffic zone. A car is useful for the coast and Etna. Ask your hotel whether it has parking and whether you may drive to it.