The best things to do in Catania
Catania is a city to walk. Most sights lie within a few minutes of Piazza del Duomo, and the main street, Via Etnea, runs north from the square towards Mount Etna. The historic centre belongs to the UNESCO listing of the late baroque towns of the Val di Noto (2002), and much of it was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693.
The list starts on the cathedral square, moves through the market and along Via Etnea, then covers the museums, the Roman theatre and the beach. Prices are adult prices for 2026. Two sights are closed or suspended this year, and the list says which.
Around the cathedral square
Experiences 1 to 4: the square, the cathedral, the museum terraces and the fish market.
1. Piazza del Duomo and the elephant fountain
The square is the centre of the old town and the best place to start. The lava-stone elephant of the Fontana dell'Elefante stands in the middle, with the cathedral on one side. Walking tours and street food tours often meet here.
Cathedral and square →2. Cathedral of Sant'Agata
Entry is free. Opening hours are not confirmed by the cathedral for 2026, but a travel guide lists Monday to Saturday 7 am to 12 pm and 4 to 7 pm, and Sunday 7:30 am to 12 pm and 4:30 to 7 pm, with changes possible. The cathedral asks visitors to respect services, dress modestly and switch off their phones.
3. Diocesan museum and panoramic terraces
The museum costs €7, the Achillian baths €5 and the combined ticket €10. Reduced prices are €4, €3 and €6. The main schedule is Monday to Saturday 10 am to 3 pm, with an extra opening from 3 to 8 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, but the museum also prints a summer 2025 timetable that differs. Check the hours before you go.
4. La Pescheria fish market
The market sits just behind Piazza del Duomo, in the lanes around the Amenano fountain. It is a working market, not a show. Stalls trade Monday to Saturday from about 8 am to 1 pm. On Sunday morning the fish market is closed, so go on a weekday.
Fish market guide →Our picks: things to do
Street food, a monastery visit and a day trip to Etna.
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.
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 →
Catania street food walk with a local guide
An English-speaking local guide, tastings at four or more stops, water and one alcoholic drink, usually beer. Further food and drinks are extra.
Check availability →
Benedictine Monastery of Catania, guided visit
Entry to the monastery, including areas that are normally closed, with a guide in English. Luggage can be left at the meeting point.
Check availability →Catania tours and tickets
Street food walks, old town tours, the Benedictine monastery and day trips to Etna and Taormina, with live prices and availability.
Via Etnea and the baroque streets
Experiences 5 to 8: walking north from the cathedral, plus the monastery.
5. Via Etnea
The main street runs about 3 km from Piazza del Duomo towards Etna and is paved with lava stone. Walk it in order: Piazza Università, the Collegiata church, the Quattro Canti crossroads, Piazza Stesicoro and the entrance to Villa Bellini. Shop hours vary, so treat it as a stroll, not a timetable.
6. Villa Bellini
The public gardens are reached from the northern end of Via Etnea and make a green stop after the traffic. In summer take water: the average daily high in July and August is above 33 °C.
7. Via Crociferi
A short street of baroque churches and convents, with four churches on about 200 m. It is a short detour that shows the baroque rebuilding after 1693.
8. Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l'Arena
A large former monastery, now part of the university, at Piazza Dante 32. You see it on a guided visit in Italian or English, daily between 10 am and 5 pm. A ticket costs €10, with €7.50 for over-65s, €3 under 19 and free for under 7s. Places are limited, so buying the ticket is also your reservation.
Ruins, theatre, castle and beach
Experiences 9 to 12, including the two sights that are closed in 2026.
9. Roman theatre and Odeon
At Via Vittorio Emanuele 266, the ancient theatre and the small Odeon open daily from 9 am to 7 pm, last entry 6:30 pm. Entry is €8, or €4 reduced. A combined ticket with two bath sites costs €10, or €5 reduced.
10. Teatro Massimo Bellini
The opera house at Via Giuseppe Perrotta 12 has suspended its guided visits since 10 May 2026 for maintenance, with no restart date. Performances are separate tickets.
11. Castello Ursino
The medieval castle is closed for restoration. Local press in September 2026 expected a reopening in spring but gave no date, so do not plan to go inside. Part of the collection moved to the Pinacoteca Santa Chiara on Via Castello Ursino 10.
12. La Playa beach
La Playa is the city beach, with free public beaches and paid lidos (a lido is a beach club). In summer 2026 the free beaches 1 and 3 opened 20 June, daily from 9 am to 7 pm. At Lido Azzurro entry is €5, a lounger €7 and an umbrella €8. Check current bathing notices before you swim.
Beaches guide →Beyond the city and where to go next
Etna, Taormina and Syracuse have their own guides.
These places are day trips, not part of this list. Read about Taormina and Syracuse on their own sites, and see how to get there on our day trips page.
Things to do in Catania: frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do in Catania in one day?
Start at Piazza del Duomo, visit La Pescheria before 1 pm on a weekday, walk up Via Etnea to Villa Bellini, then take the guided visit at the Benedictine monastery or see the Roman theatre.
Can I visit Castello Ursino?
Not at the moment. The castle is closed for restoration, and no reopening date has been published.
Are the guided visits at Teatro Massimo Bellini running?
No. They have been suspended since 10 May 2026 for maintenance.
Is the fish market open on Sunday?
No. La Pescheria trades Monday to Saturday from about 8 am to 1 pm, and the fish market is closed on Sunday morning.
What does the Roman theatre cost?
Adult entry is €8 and reduced entry €4 in 2026. The site opens daily from 9 am to 7 pm.