Day trips from Catania: how to get there
Catania is a practical base for the east of Sicily. Within one to two hours you reach a volcano, a hill town, a port city in the south-east and the ferry harbour for the Aeolian Islands. Each destination has its own guide in this network, so this page keeps to the journey: how you get there, how long it takes and what can go wrong. For what to see on arrival, follow the links in each section.
Public transport works for all four, but plan around the rail works until 12 December 2026 and check the timetable for your date. This is an independent guide, not an official tourism site.
The four day trips compared
Travel only. Journey times and fares are the figures reported in 2026 and can change.
| Destination | How | Journey time | Fare (adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etna (south side) | AST bus to Rifugio Sapienza | About 2 hours each way | About €6.60 return (September 2026 report) |
| Taormina | Etna Trasporti or Interbus bus | 80 to 90 minutes from the airport, about 70 minutes from the city terminal | €7 one way, €14 return (August 2026) |
| Syracuse | Bus, or train with replacement buses until 12 December | 80 minutes on a 2025 bus example | – |
| Milazzo | Giuntabus from the airport | 2 hours | €13 one way, €26 return (2026) |
Our picks: day trips from Catania
Etna and Taormina in one day, or Syracuse, Ortigia and Noto.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Syracuse, Ortigia and Noto day trip from Catania
Air-conditioned transport with a driver, brunch, wine and water. Entry to Neapolis and a guide there are not included.
Check availability →Etna and Taormina day trip from Catania
A nature guide, hotel pickup, lunch, water, a glass of wine, hiking gear and the transfer to Taormina. Entrance tickets and other food and drinks are not included.
Check availability →Day trips and tours from Catania
Etna, Taormina, Syracuse and food tours with live prices and availability.
Etna from Catania
The volcano is visible from the city.
Etna rises behind Catania and is visible along Via Etnea. The public option for the south side is the AST bus to Rifugio Sapienza. The Italian tourist board lists a departure at 08:15 from Piazza Giovanni XXIII, arrival at 10:30, and a return at 16:30 that reaches Catania at 18:30. A September 2026 press report puts the return fare at about €6.60. AST runs the line every day with exceptions on holidays, so check the AST notice for your date. The bus gets you to the refuge, not to the summit; for cable car, hiking and access rules see Etna from Catania and Taormina. In case of ash or bad weather there is no guaranteed return.
Taormina from Catania
Bus is the practical way.
A transfer company reported in August 2026 that the airport to Taormina bus takes 80 to 90 minutes and costs €7 one way or €14 return. The operators are Etna Trasporti and Interbus, with the line numbers ET07 and IN14. From the city bus terminal on Via Archimede the sample journey took about 70 minutes. There is also a train, but Taormina-Giardini station is not in the upper town, so you need a second connection. Our page Catania to Taormina covers the options in detail, and Taormina has its own guide to the town.
Syracuse from Catania
Choose bus over train this autumn.
An Interbus timetable for 4 August 2025 shows an 80-minute journey to Syracuse; that is an example for one date, not the current timetable. Until 12 December 2026 engineering works replace trains with buses between Catania Airport and Syracuse. In the Syracuse to Fontanarossa example the bus journey takes 1 hour 45 minutes. Syracuse has its own guide with Ortigia and the archaeological park: see Catania to Syracuse.
Milazzo and the Aeolian Islands
The gateway to the ferries.
Giuntabus runs from Catania Airport to Milazzo in about 2 hours and charges €13 one way or €26 return, with luggage included. From 1 July to 31 October 2026 the buses leave the airport at 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:30, 13:45, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30, 19:00 and 21:00. The base timetable for 2026 shows 11:00, 15:30 and 19:00. Giuntabus says tickets can be bought online until 24 hours before departure. Milazzo is the port for the ferries to the islands; see Aeolian Islands ferries.
Planning your day trip
Four checks before you leave.
Check the last return
Look up the final bus back to Catania before you go. Public timetables vary by season and day.
Allow for rail works
Trains towards Syracuse are replaced by buses until 12 December 2026, so allow extra time.
Watch the ash
Flights were suspended on 28 September 2026 because of Etna ash. If you fly out the next day, do not leave the trip to the last hour.
Know your arrival point
Our Catania Airport page explains how to reach the city and the long-distance bus stops.
More on Catania
Plan the days in between.
Day trips from Catania: frequently asked questions
Can I do Etna as a day trip from Catania?
Yes. The AST bus runs to Rifugio Sapienza, with a listed departure at 08:15 and a return at 16:30. Check the AST notice for your date, because holidays have exceptions.
How long does the bus from Catania to Taormina take?
A 2026 report gives 80 to 90 minutes from the airport and about 70 minutes from the city terminal on Via Archimede.
How much is the bus to Taormina?
€7 one way and €14 return, as reported in August 2026. Check the current fare with the operator.
Can I get to Syracuse by train from Catania?
Until 12 December 2026 engineering works replace trains with buses between Catania Airport and Syracuse, so a bus connection is the safer plan.
How do I get to Milazzo for the Aeolian Islands?
Giuntabus runs from the airport in about 2 hours for €13 one way. Tickets can be bought online until 24 hours before departure.