What is public transportation like in Catania, Sicily? Although train travel on mainland Italy is highly regarded, train lines in Sicily are not nearly as fast or as frequent and can create challenges if you’re relying on public transportation to get around the island. That being said, you can easily accomplish this if you know what to expect!
Why travel to Catania?
Catania has a fascinating, albeit turbulent history, marked by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and invasions, all of which have left their mark on the city. Remnants of medieval architecture can be found throughout Catania, particularly at its main cathedral, dedicated to the patron saint, Agatha. Discover the story of Saint Agatha with a walking tour through the historic center, marvel at the city’s 100 beautiful churches, get lost in its daily food and fish market, explore its Roman history and ancient ruins, and indulge yourself in Sicilian desserts and delicacies!
What kind of public transportation does Catania have?
Catania is a perfect place to travel using public transportation. There is a major airport just outside the city, with both train and bus options for reaching the historic center. There are also intercity and urban buses you can use for traveling in and around the Catania area. The city even has an underground metro system!
Here is everything you need to know about using public transportation in Catania!
Airport Transportation
Although Catania-Fontanarossa is Sicily's busiest airport, there is not a train station located directly on the airport property. However, you can still fly into Catania and get to the city easily.
Bus: The easiest way to get to Catania is by bus. The bus service is called Alibus and picks up between terminal A and terminal C every 25 minutes (there is no terminal B, don’t ask me why). There are multiple stops throughout the city, just do a quick google search to determine where to get off to be closest to your accommodations. You can buy a ticket on board, at the AMTS ticket office, or online. Tickets and other information can be found on the AMTS website or the Catania airport site.
Train: The Fontanarossa train station is about 600 meters from the airport terminal, which you can reach via a pedestrian path or on a shuttle that runs every 10 minutes. The shuttle leaves from just outside terminal A. See this link for more information. Your destination will be Catania Centrale, and you can buy your ticket at the train station or on the Trenitalia website. The central train station is in the historic center, near the waterfront. If you’re heading out on foot from here, just be careful crossing the insane roundabout! You can also catch a bus or the metro from here if your accommodations are a too far to walk.
Getting around Catania
Catania is a very walkable city. If you’re staying in the city center and you arrive from the airport via bus or train you can easily walk to your hotel or apartment. Most of the main sites are within the historic center, and I have always felt very safe walking around the city, even at night. That being said, there are also urban buses and a metro available.
Metro: The metro is nothing to boast about, with only 6 stops on a single line, but it is super easy to use and very cheap! Fun fact: metro expansion in Catania is tricky due to ancient Roman ruins and an underground river beneath the city!
Tickets cost 1€ for 90 minutes or 2€ for all day. The metro is operated by FCE (Ferrovia Circumetnea) of Catania, and you can buy tickets online or on their new mobile app if you don’t mind setting up an account. There are also ticket machines at each of the stations. See the official website for more information on E-tickets and a route map.
Bus: The local bus service is operated by AMTS and has an extensive route system, whether you are going across the city, to the nearby beaches, or one of the suburbs. Tickets can be purchased from machines at the “hub” stations, at authorized sales points displaying the AMT logo (usually small shops called Tabacchi have them), or on the bus at a higher rate. Keep in mind that not everyone in Sicily speaks English, although in my experience everyone in Sicily is extremely friendly and you can usually make any transaction work if you learn a few simple Italian phrases and are polite. You’re basically choosing between a 90-minute (1€) or all-day (4€) ticket, so that’s helpful. Keep some Euro handy if you’re buying your ticket on the bus.
You can also download the AMTS app or purchase tickets from certain parking meters, but this seems complicated to me and I’ve never tried it. Non-electronic tickets must be validated when you first get on the bus. As in other cities in Italy, if you get caught on public transportation without a ticket you can end up paying quite a hefty fine, so it’s best not to take the risk.
Check the official AMTS website for more information.
Mt. Etna: Catania is also convenient for day trips to Mount Etna, with daily buses from Catania’s city center on the AST bus line. For more information and all the best things to do on Mt. Etna, check out this article.
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Check out some of the other articles on my European Destinations page or read more about my Sicilian adventures below!
