Sicily has two major airports, and this guide shows you how to get from Catania and Palermo airport to the city. Catania Fontanarossa lies just over 5 kilometres south of Catania on the east coast and is the busier of the two, while Palermo Falcone Borsellino sits at Punta Raisi, about 35 kilometres west of Palermo. In Catania, the Alibus gets you into the centre in around half an hour, and in Palermo both the train and the Prestia e Comandè bus take 50 minutes to an hour to reach the city.
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Here are some of my favourite places to stay & things to do:
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1. San Domenico Palace (one of the best hotels in Europe, known from the White Lotus show)
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3. Palazzo Artemide (surprisingly affordable hotel in the heart of stunning Syracuse)
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Which option is best depends on where you’re heading. If you’re going to Taormina or Syracuse, the direct buses from Catania Airport are the easiest, and in Palermo the bus is best for Politeama and Via Roma, while the train suits Stazione Centrale. If you hire a car, you avoid changing altogether. Here you’ll find all the options with prices, journey times and tips on where to get off.
Contents
Catania and Palermo Airport to the City at a Glance
- Catania, Alibus: €4 (around £3.35), about 15 minutes to Stazione Centrale and about half an hour to Piazza Stesicoro, running every 18 to 25 minutes from 4.40am to 12.30am.
- Catania, train: €2.20 (around £1.85) to Catania Centrale in 6 to 20 minutes and €6.50 (around £5.45) to Taormina-Giardini in 47 to 75 minutes. The shuttle bus from the terminal to the station costs €1 (around 85p).
- Catania, buses to Taormina and Syracuse: about €7 (around £5.85) and 80 to 90 minutes to Taormina, about €6.20 (around £5.20) and about 70 minutes to Syracuse, with several departures an hour in summer.
- Catania, taxi: about €27 (around £23) to Piazza Duomo and the main railway station, while longer journeys are agreed with the driver.
- Palermo, train: €6.80 (around £5.70), 50 to 65 minutes to Palermo Centrale and 33 to 45 minutes to Palermo Notarbartolo, usually two trains an hour from around 5am until late evening.
- Palermo, Prestia e Comandè bus: €6 (around £5) online and €6.50 (around £5.45) on board, about 40 minutes to Politeama and 50 minutes to Stazione Centrale, every half hour from 5.05am to 1.05am.
- Palermo, taxi: fixed fares of €39, €44 or €50 (around £35, £35 or £40) depending on the district.
- Hire car: all the major rental companies have desks at both airports, and a car is the easiest choice if you plan to get around the island.
How to Find the Transport at the Airports
Catania: The airport’s official name is Vincenzo Bellini Catania-Fontanarossa. You come out into the arrivals hall on the ground floor, and the taxi rank is right by the exit. The Alibus and the regional buses stop outside the terminal, and the bus signs show you the way. The ticket offices for the regional buses are in the arrivals area, so you can buy your ticket before heading out to the bus. You’ll find all the bus companies on the airport’s bus page.
Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa railway station isn’t at the terminal but about 600 metres away. You can walk there along a footpath or take the small AMTS shuttle bus, which runs every 10 minutes from early morning until late evening. The rental companies’ desks are on the arrivals level, and the cars are parked in car park P4, which is reserved for hire cars.
Palermo: The airport is called Falcone Borsellino, but most people just call it Punta Raisi. Palermo Aeroporto railway station is beneath the terminal, so you need to go down the stairs or take the lift rather than going outside. The Prestia e Comandè bus stops outside the arrivals hall on the ground floor, to the right as you come out, and this is also where you’ll find the bus company’s ticket sales. The taxi rank is by the exit from the arrivals hall, and just outside the arrivals area there’s an information desk.
1. Alibus from Catania Airport to the city centre
Alibus is the airport bus run by the city’s bus company AMTS between the airport and the centre of Catania. It runs a loop from the airport along the harbour to the main railway station, Stazione Centrale, then on up Viale XX Settembre and Via Etnea to Piazza Stesicoro, and from there it heads back down through the centre and returns to the airport. The journey to Stazione Centrale takes around 15 minutes, and you should allow around half an hour to Piazza Stesicoro, depending on traffic.
The first bus leaves the airport at 4.40am and the last at 12.30am, and it runs every day of the week, including Sundays and public holidays. In the middle of the day it runs roughly every 18 minutes, while there are 20 to 25 minutes between departures early in the morning and in the evening. The earliest and latest services skip the harbour area and use the main roads, but they still stop at Stazione Centrale. You can find the departures in the Alibus timetable on the AMTS website.
Alibus is a good fit if you’re staying in central Catania. The catch is luggage at rush hour, when the bus can be full and the traffic up Via Etnea can make the journey longer. The bus goes no further than the city centre, so if you’re heading on to Taormina or Syracuse, the direct regional buses from the airport are a better choice.
Fares and tickets
An Alibus ticket costs 4 euros (around £3.50). It’s valid for 90 minutes from validation, and during that time you can also use it on the city’s other AMTS buses, so you can change to a city bus without buying a new ticket. If you buy the Alibus ticket on an ordinary city bus, it costs 4.60 euros (around £4).
Watch out with the ordinary city tickets at 1.40 euros (around £1.20). They aren’t valid on Alibus, and neither are day tickets or metro tickets. You’ll find the fares on the AMTS page about Alibus.
Where to buy your ticket
You can buy your ticket from the Alibus driver and pay in cash or by card, and it’s validated straight away. You can also buy it in the AMTS app or from retailers and ticket outlets, but a ticket bought in the app or from a retailer must be validated on the bus, and it has to be used within a few days of purchase.
Where should you get off?
Stazione Centrale: The main railway station is the right stop if you’re continuing by train, or if you’re staying by the harbour or in the neighbourhoods around the station. Many regional buses also stop here.
Via Etnea and Piazza Stesicoro: The square with the Roman amphitheatre is right in the centre on the main shopping street, Via Etnea. From here it’s about a 15-minute walk down Via Etnea to Piazza Duomo and the fish market. If you want to stay in the thick of it, you can see hotels in central Catania here.
If you’re unsure where to stay on the east coast, you can read my guide on where to stay in Sicily, where I cover Catania, Taormina and Syracuse.
2. Train from Catania Airport to Catania, Taormina and Syracuse
The airport has its own railway station, Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa, on the line along the east coast. From here, Trenitalia’s regional trains run north to Catania Centrale, Taormina-Giardini and Messina, and south towards Syracuse. The station is around 600 metres from the terminal, and the AMTS shuttle bus takes you there in about 5 minutes, running roughly every 10 minutes from 4.30am to 10.40pm.
The train takes 6 to 20 minutes to Catania Centrale and 47 to 75 minutes to Taormina-Giardini, depending on how many stops it makes. There’s roughly one train an hour to Taormina from 5am to 9pm. At times, the line towards Syracuse has been served by replacement buses instead of trains, in which case the journey takes 1.5 to 1.75 hours, so check Trenitalia’s timetable before you travel.
The train is particularly good for Taormina, as it’s cheap and doesn’t get stuck in traffic. The catch is that Taormina-Giardini station sits down by the coast below the town, so you’ll need a local bus or a taxi for the final stretch up to Taormina. Catania’s metro doesn’t run to the airport. Read more about travelling by train in Italy in my guide to trains in Italy.
Fares and tickets
A train ticket from the airport costs €2.20 (around £1.85) to Catania Centrale, €6.50 (around £5.45) to Taormina-Giardini and €8.80 (around £7.35) to Syracuse. The shuttle bus from the terminal costs an extra €1 (around 85p).
The clever option is the combined ticket, which you get by choosing “Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa Bus” as your departure station. The shuttle bus is then included, and the ticket costs €3.60 (around £3) to Catania Centrale, €7.90 (around £6.60) to Taormina-Giardini and €10.20 (around £8.55) to Syracuse. If you just choose “Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa”, the shuttle bus isn’t included. This is also explained on the airport’s page about the train.
Where to buy your ticket
Buy your ticket in the Trenitalia app or on trenitalia.com before you head out to the shuttle bus, so you’re sure to get the combined ticket. A digital ticket is valid for the train you’ve chosen, but it can be changed if your flight is delayed. There are ticket machines at the stations, and a paper ticket must be validated in one of the small machines on the platform before you board.
Where should you get off?
Catania Centrale: The main station is by the harbour, east of the centre. From here it’s about a 20-minute walk to Piazza Duomo, or you can take a city bus.
Taormina-Giardini: The station is on the coast between Taormina and Giardini Naxos. If you’re staying in Giardini Naxos or by the beach at Mazzarò, you won’t have far to go, but if you’re heading up to Taormina itself, take a local bus or a taxi up the hill.
Syracuse: The station is on the mainland, and from here it’s about 1.5 kilometres to the bridge over to Ortigia, where most people stay.
3. Buses from Catania Airport to Taormina, Syracuse and Ragusa
Direct regional buses run from Catania Airport to most of eastern and southern Sicily, and they stop at the arrivals terminal. The two big operators are Etna Trasporti and Interbus, which belong together and sell tickets through the same systems. AST also runs to towns in the south such as Noto and Modica, and according to the airport, SAIS runs to Palermo and Agrigento.
Timetables change with the seasons, and there are far more departures in summer than in winter. You’ll find departures with Etna Trasporti and Interbus, and the prices below are approximate, so check the fare when you buy your ticket.
To Taormina and Giardini Naxos
The bus to Taormina runs direct from the airport and usually takes 80 to 90 minutes. A single ticket costs around €7 (around £6), and to Giardini Naxos it’s around €6 (around £5). In summer the bus runs several times an hour from morning until late evening, while in winter there are fewer departures, and the last one may leave as early as around 8pm.
The bus stops in Giardini Naxos and terminates at the bus station on Via Pirandello in Taormina, around a 5-minute walk from the Porta Messina town gate and the main street, Corso Umberto. It’s the easiest option if you’re staying up in the town, and you can see hotels in Taormina here.
To Syracuse
Interbus runs direct from the airport to Syracuse in around 70 minutes, and a single ticket costs around €6.20 (around £5). In summer the bus runs up to several times an hour from around 7am to 11pm. It terminates at the bus station on Corso Umberto near the railway station, and from there it’s around a 15-minute walk to the bridge over to Ortigia. If you want to stay on the old island, you can see hotels on Ortigia here.
To Ragusa, Modica and Noto
Etna Trasporti runs to Ragusa and Marina di Ragusa, while AST runs to Noto, Modica and the towns furthest south. The journey to Ragusa takes around two hours, and there are only a couple of departures a day, so it’s important to know the timetable. Expect a fare of around €8 to €10 (around £7 to £8). If you’re staying in several of the Baroque towns, a hire car is often better than the bus.
Where to buy your ticket
Buy your ticket from Etna Trasporti or Interbus online, in the operators’ app or at the ticket office in the airport before you head out to the bus. The ticket is personal and valid for the departure you’ve chosen. Get to the stop a few minutes early, and ask the driver if you’re unsure which bus is yours.
4. Taxis from Catania Airport
The taxi rank is at the exit from the arrivals hall. Official taxis licensed by the City of Catania are white, with a TAXI sign on the roof and the licence number on the doors. The airport warns against other cars at the exit, as the drivers aren’t always licensed and the fare can end up higher. Ask the price before you get in, as the airport also advises.
The city has introduced a fixed fare between the airport and Piazza Duomo or the main railway station, which has been around €27 (around £23). Ask the driver whether the fixed fare applies when you set off. To other addresses in the city, the taxi runs on the meter, and a surcharge is added at night and on public holidays.
Outside Catania there’s no fixed fare, so you agree the price to Taormina, Syracuse or a holiday home on the coast with the driver before you set off. Expect around €100 (around £85) or more to Taormina.
Private transfer
If you land late, or there are several of you with lots of luggage, you can book a private transfer from Catania Airport to your hotel in the city here. The price is agreed in advance and covers the whole car. If you’re heading straight to Taormina, you can book a private transfer from Catania Airport to Taormina here, and the driver will take you all the way up to your hotel.
5. The train from Palermo Airport to the city centre
The train from Palermo Airport leaves from Palermo Aeroporto station beneath the terminal and runs through the northern suburbs into Palermo. Many people still call it the Trinacria Express, but on Trenitalia’s departure boards and in the app it appears as an ordinary regional train. The most important stations for visitors are Palermo Notarbartolo and Palermo Centrale.
The journey takes 33 to 45 minutes to Palermo Notarbartolo and 50 to 65 minutes to Palermo Centrale. There are usually two trains an hour from around 5am until late in the evening, and on some days there’s also a train around midnight. The railway around Palermo is sometimes affected by engineering works, which means fewer trains or replacement buses, so always check Trenitalia before you travel.
The train suits you best if you’re staying near the main station, in the southern part of the centre or near Via Libertà, or if you’re carrying on by train to Cefalù. The catch is that the journey takes longer than the bus, and the train doesn’t run quite as late in the evening.
Fares and tickets
A single ticket costs €6.80 (around £5.70), and the fare is the same to Notarbartolo and Centrale. There’s no discount on a return ticket, so you might as well buy your ticket for the return journey later.
Where to buy your ticket
Buy your ticket in the Trenitalia app or from the ticket machines at the station beneath the terminal. A digital ticket is valid for the train you choose, and it can be changed if you make an earlier or later train. If you buy a paper ticket from the machine, you must validate it on the platform before boarding, otherwise you risk a fine.
Where should you get off?
Palermo Notarbartolo: The station is in the newer part of the city, close to Via Libertà. Get off here if you’re staying in the northern part of the Libertà district.
Palermo Centrale: The main station sits at the end of Via Roma and Via Maqueda in the southern part of the centre. From here it’s about a 15-minute walk up Via Maqueda to Quattro Canti, and Ballarò market is just a few minutes away. Read more about the neighbourhoods in my guide to where to stay in Palermo.
6. The Prestia e Comandè bus from Palermo Airport to the city centre
Prestia e Comandè has been running the buses between the airport and Palermo for decades, and the bus is the most popular way into the city. It leaves the airport every half hour from 5.05am to 1.05am, all year round and on public holidays too. The last departures after midnight may leave 10 to 15 minutes later if a flight is delayed.
The bus takes the motorway into the northern part of the city and then continues down Via Libertà to Politeama, Via Roma and finally the bus terminal on Via Fazello by Stazione Centrale. The journey takes around 40 minutes to Politeama and around 50 minutes to Stazione Centrale.
The bus is the best choice for most people, because it runs frequently and late and stops close to the popular hotel areas. The catch is getting a seat in high season: the company recommends booking ahead, and your ticket is only valid if there’s room on the bus. In summer, Prestia e Comandè also runs a direct bus between the airport and the beach at Mondello.
Fares and tickets
A single ticket costs €6 (around £5) and a return costs €10 (around £8.50) when you buy online or at the ticket office. If you buy on the bus, they cost €6.50 (around £5.50) and €11 (around £9). Children aged 3 to 12 pay €4 (around £3.50), and children under 3 travel free. Your ticket is valid on any departure on the day you’ve chosen, as long as there’s room.
Where to buy your ticket
You can buy your ticket on the company’s website and app, at the ticket office by the bus stop at the airport, which is open from 7.30am to 11pm, or from the driver with cash or card. In the city, the company sells tickets at the bus terminal by Stazione Centrale and from early morning at the stops on Via Roma and at Politeama.
Where should you get off?
Via Libertà: The bus stops at several points along Via Libertà after around 30 to 35 minutes. Get off here if you’re staying in the Libertà district with its elegant shopping streets.
Politeama: The stop by Piazza Ruggero Settimo and Teatro Politeama is the right one if you’re staying in the newer part of the centre. From here it’s around a 10-minute walk to Teatro Massimo.
Via Roma: The bus stops on Via Roma by the Vucciria market, which puts you close to La Cala, Quattro Canti and Kalsa. It’s the easiest stop if you want to stay in the historic centre, and you can see hotels in central Palermo here.
Stazione Centrale: The final stop is at the bus terminal on Via Fazello by the main railway station. Get off here if you’re continuing by train or regional bus, or if you’re staying near Ballarò.
7. Taxis from Palermo Airport
The taxi rank is by the exit from the arrivals hall, and there are fixed fares between the airport and Palermo in both directions. According to the airport, a taxi costs €39 (around £33) to the area around Viale Michelangelo and Viale Lazio in the north of the city, €44 (around £37) to Corso Calatafimi and Corso Vittorio Emanuele in the historic centre, and €50 (around £42) to Stazione Centrale and Brancaccio. The fare is per car.
If there are no taxis waiting, you can call for one, but expect to wait around 20 minutes. If there are at least four of you, there’s also a shared taxi for €10 (around £8.50) per person from two ranks at arrivals, but it only leaves once there are four passengers. It’s all explained on the airport’s taxi page.
A taxi is worth it when there are three or four of you, or when you land late with lots of luggage. Give the address clearly so the driver knows which zone the journey falls into, and have the fare confirmed before you set off.
Private transfer
If you’d like a driver waiting with a name sign, you can book a private transfer from Palermo Airport here. The driver meets you inside the arrivals hall and the price is agreed in advance, which is handy if you’re heading to an address outside the fixed taxi zones.
8. From Palermo Airport to Cefalù, Trapani and Mondello
Cefalù: There’s no direct bus from the airport to Cefalù, so most people take the train. You buy a single through ticket for €13.10 (around £11), and on most departures you change in Palermo, so the journey takes about two hours. At times there have been direct trains on Sundays and public holidays. If you’re staying in Cefalù, a hire car or a transfer is the quickest option, as the drive takes around an hour and a half.
Trapani: Segesta runs direct buses from the airport to Trapani several times a day. The journey takes around an hour and a ticket costs around €9 (around £7.50). Check the timetable with Segesta. Watch out for the Salemi bus, which runs from the airport to Trapani’s airport and Marsala, not into Trapani itself. The train to Trapani is slow and involves changes, so I can’t recommend it.
Mondello: The beach at Mondello lies between the airport and Palermo. In summer, Prestia e Comandè runs a direct bus from the airport to Mondello, and the rest of the year a taxi or a transfer is the easiest option. If you take the bus to Palermo, you’ll have to change to a city bus, which takes a long time with luggage.
If you’re staying in Cefalù, Trapani or one of the other towns, you can read more about them in my guide to where to stay in Sicily.
9. Car Hire from Catania and Palermo Airport
If you’re planning to get around Sicily, a hire car is the easiest option, as buses to the small towns and beaches are infrequent. All the big rental companies have desks at both airports, and several budget firms have offices outside the airport and take you there by shuttle bus. Check your confirmation to see where you need to go and what time the desk closes if you’re landing late.
Catania
The rental companies have desks on the arrivals level, including Hertz, Sixt, Locauto and Noleggiare, and the cars are parked in car park P4, which is reserved for hire cars. The desks are usually open from 8am until late in the evening. See the list on the airport’s car hire page. From Catania, you drive along the A18 motorway to Taormina in about an hour and along the motorway towards Syracuse in about an hour.
Palermo
Follow the signs for Autonoleggi or Rent a car from the arrivals hall. From the airport, you drive along the A29 motorway to Palermo in 35 to 45 minutes and to Trapani in about an hour. For Cefalù, you drive through Palermo and along the A20 motorway, and for Catania you take the A19 motorway through the middle of the island in about two and a half hours.
What You Need to Know About Driving in Sicily
Palermo, Catania, Taormina and Ortigia in Syracuse have limited traffic zones, known as ZTL, where you can only drive with a permit. Cameras send the fine to your home via the rental company, so ask your hotel where you can park, and leave the car outside the centre. The A18 motorway between Catania and Messina and the A20 between Messina and Palermo are toll roads, while the A19 and A29 are free.
Traffic in Palermo and Catania is hectic, and parking in the centre is difficult and expensive. If you’re staying in one of the two cities for the first few days, it pays to pick up the car when you leave the city.
Travelling Onwards Around Sicily Straight from the Airport
From Catania Airport, you can reach much of the island directly by bus. SAIS Autolinee runs to Palermo, Messina and Enna, and SAIS Trasporti runs to Agrigento and Caltanissetta. Circumetnea serves the towns around Etna such as Paternò, Adrano and Randazzo, and Etna Trasporti runs to places including Piazza Armerina, Gela and Licata.
If you’re travelling on from Catania to Palermo, the SAIS bus is usually quicker than the train. From Palermo Airport, the train and bus into Stazione Centrale are the starting point for most onward journeys, as both trains and regional buses run to the rest of Sicily from the main station and the bus terminal on Via Fazello.
Getting Back to the Airport
Catania: Alibus runs in a loop, so you can board in the centre, including at Piazza Stesicoro and Stazione Centrale, and it goes all the way back to the airport. From Stazione Centrale, the journey takes about a quarter of an hour, and the bus runs from early morning until after midnight. If you take the train, it runs from Catania Centrale to the airport station in about 6 minutes from 5am, and the last departure is around 10.20pm. Buy the combined ticket to “Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa Bus”, and the shuttle bus to the terminal is included.
Palermo: The train from Palermo Centrale to the airport usually runs twice an hour from 4am, and the last departure is around 10.10pm. The Prestia e Comandè bus leaves from the bus terminal at Stazione Centrale every half hour from 3.30am to 9.30pm and stops at Via Roma, Politeama and Via Libertà on the way. The taxis’ fixed fares also apply from the city to the airport.
Allow plenty of time for your journey home, as both airports can have long queues at security in summer, and the bus from Palermo sometimes gets stuck in traffic on its way out of the city.
Which Option Should You Choose?
Here’s my recommendation based on where you’re staying:
Central Catania: Take Alibus to Piazza Stesicoro or Stazione Centrale. It runs frequently, costs 4 euros (around £3.50) and also runs late in the evening.
Taormina: Take the direct bus from the airport to the bus terminal in Taormina. The train to Taormina-Giardini is cheaper and quicker, but then you have to get up the mountain at the end.
Syracuse and Ortigia: Take Interbus directly from the airport. It’s quicker and easier than the train.
Ragusa, Modica and Noto: Hire a car if you want to get around the baroque towns. Otherwise, take the Etna Trasporti or AST bus and plan around the timetable.
Central Palermo: Take the Prestia e Comandè bus to Politeama or Via Roma. If you’re staying near Stazione Centrale or Ballarò, the train is just as good.
Cefalù: Take the train, changing in Palermo, or hire a car at the airport.
If you land at night: In Palermo, the bus runs until 1.05am, and in Catania, Alibus runs until 0.30am. Any later than that, a taxi or a pre-booked transfer is your only option.
If there are three or four of you: In Palermo, a taxi costs between 39 and 50 euros (around £35 to £40) for the whole car, while four bus tickets cost 24 euros (around £20). In Catania, four Alibus tickets cost 16 euros (around £13) compared with about 27 euros (around £23) for a taxi to the centre. If you’re heading out of the city, the bus is far cheaper than a taxi.
Practical Tips for Getting from Catania and Palermo Airport to the City
Buy the right train ticket in Catania. Choose “Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa Bus” as your departure station, and the shuttle bus from the terminal to the station is included in the price.
Keep an eye on the season. Buses to Taormina, Syracuse and Mondello run far more often in summer than in winter, and the last bus can leave early outside the season.
Only use official taxis. In Catania, they’re white with a TAXI sign and licence number, and in Palermo they wait at the taxi rank by arrivals. Say no thanks to drivers who approach you inside the hall.
Watch out for the ZTL zones. If you’re driving a hire car, find out where you can drive and park near your hotel before you arrive, as the fines only turn up at home once your holiday is over.
Choose your airport based on your trip. If you want to see Taormina, Etna and Syracuse, Catania is the best choice, and if you’re heading to Palermo, Cefalù and Trapani, Palermo is best. Many people fly into one and home from the other. If you’re unsure where to stay, read my guide to where to stay in Sicily and my guide to where to stay in Palermo.
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