Catania travel guide
Catania Tourism | Catania Guide
You're Going to Love Catania
With a population of 290.927, Catania is a must-see destination in Sicily, Italy. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Catania has to offer.
When to visit Catania
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Catania in August, when the average temperature is 26 °C, and the highest can go up to 32 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 5 °C, with an average temperature of 11 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 106 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Catania, with an average rainfall of 5 mm.
How to Get to Catania
Plane
When flying to Catania, you’ll arrive at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), which is located 5 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Catania from Australia departs from Perth and takes around 28h 55m.
Train
Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Catania, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Catania to Palermo takes 5h 28m and costs around $38 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Naples, expect to pay about $69 for a 7h 19m trip. Located 0.5 km from the city centre, Catania Centrale is the busiest station in Catania. Another popular train station is Catania Ognina, located 4 km from the centre.
Car
Another option to get to Catania is to pick up a car hire from Palermo, which is about 167 km from Catania. You’ll find branches of NOLEGGIARE and Europcar, among others, in Palermo.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Catania, including FlixBus, Itabus and SAIS Autolinee. From Palermo, the bus ride to Catania takes 233 km and will cost you around $24. From Lamezia Terme, the ticket costs about $47 for a journey of 378 km. The most popular bus station is Catania Autostazione, located 0.4 km from the city centre of Catania. Catania La Rena Est is also a commonly used station, and is 3 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving Catania
Where to stay in Catania
From 5-star hotels such as the Romano Palace Luxury Hotel to great affordable options like the Hotel La Ville, Catania offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $122 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $157 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Le suites del duomo house and Palazzo Cerami.
Where to stay in popular areas of Catania
Most booked hotels in Catania
Hiring a car in Catania
Hiring a car in Catania costs $84 per day, on average, or $252 if you want to hire it for 3 days. Dollar, Hertz and Budget are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Catania is the SURPRICE CAR RENTAL branch at Aeroporto Fontanarossa, which is 4 km from the city centre.
You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 17% more expensive than at Catania Fontanarossa.
Expect to pay $3.02 per litre in Catania (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $36.18 and $48.24. The most frequently booked car type in Catania is Mini (Fiat 500 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Class Compact Wagon or similar) is, on average, 76% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.