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Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Sicily, as well as one of the most important in Italy. Located just a few kilometers from the city center, this airport is the ideal gateway for those who want to explore the wonders of the island, especially the eastern coast with cities like Catania, Taormina, Syracuse, and Ragusa.
Services and amenities Catania airport offers a wide range of services:
- Shopping: Inside the airport, you will find several shops, especially in the gate area, where you can buy your last-minute souvenirs before departure.
- Restaurants and bars: Various dining options allow you to enjoy a quick meal or a coffee before your flight. You can also find a delicious cannolo or a refreshing granita.
- Car rental: Several car rental companies are present inside the airport, with desks in the arrivals area, allowing you to better organize your itinerary in Sicily.
Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Sicily, as well as one of the most important in Italy. Located just a few kilometers from the city center, this airport is the ideal gateway for those who want to explore the wonders of the island.
Services and amenities Catania airport offers a wide range of services and amenities to make your journey more comfortable:
- Shopping: Inside the airport, you will find numerous shops where you can buy souvenirs, typical Sicilian products, clothing, and accessories.
- Restaurants and bars: A wide selection of dining options allows you to enjoy a quick meal or a coffee before your flight. You can taste local specialties or choose from various international cuisines.
- Car rental: Several car rental companies are present inside the airport, allowing you to organize your itinerary in Sicily.
- Free Wi-Fi: You can connect to the internet for free throughout the airport.
- Waiting rooms: Spacious waiting rooms are available to passengers, equipped with comfortable seating and electrical outlets.
- Services for disabled people: The airport is equipped with specific services for passengers with disabilities, such as elevators, ramps, and equipped bathrooms.
How to reach the city center From Catania airport, you can reach the city center in several ways:
- Bus: Several bus lines connect the airport with Catania and other locations in Sicily. Bus stops are located outside the arrivals area.
- Taxi and NCC: Taxis are available 24/7 outside the airport, and many companies allow you to book a private transfer by car or minivan.
- Car rental: If you prefer to travel independently, you can rent a car directly at the airport.
What to see in the surroundings of Catania Catania airport is the ideal starting point to explore the wonders of eastern Sicily. From here you can easily reach:
- Catania: The city of Etna, with its baroque historical center, Mount Etna, and the characteristic Piazza del Duomo.
- Taormina: One of the pearls of Sicily, with its Greek theater, beaches, and historic center.
- Etna: The highest active volcano in Europe, a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers.
- Acireale: A town rich in history and traditions, famous for its lava stone sculptures.
Useful tips:
- Book your flight in advance: Especially during peak season, it is advisable to book your flight well in advance to find the best deals.
- Check the necessary documents: Make sure you have all the necessary documents for your trip, such as a passport or valid ID card.
- Download the airport app: The Catania airport app will allow you to keep track of your flights, find useful information, and book the services you need.
Catania airport is ready to welcome you and make you experience an unforgettable stay in Sicily. Enjoy your trip!"
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The Catania Fontanarossa airport is the most important airport in Sicily. It's location is perfect to discover the island and many airline companies offer direct flights to Catania. Discover wich towns have direct flights to Catania.
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The airport "Falcone-Borsellino" of Punta Raisi is connected to Palermo by the daily train service of Trenitalia.
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Book a reliable private transfer service between Catania airport and Syracuse
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The international airport Falcone-Borsellino of Palermo, Punta Raisi (PMO) is connected to Palermo and other Sicilian destinations by regular bus lines. Here, below, are the main public transfers run by private bus lines :
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The airport of Comiso (CIY) is a new air terminal in Sicily (opening: May/June 2013), in the southeastern part of the island, in the area of Ragusa. Thanks to its position this airport is a good landing base for those that are looking for a beach holiday along the southern coast of Sicily (e.g. Sampieri, Marina di Ragusa, Scoglitti), for a cultural tour among the baroque Unesco world heritages (Noto, Ragusa, Modica, Scicli) or to explore the location of famous sicilian film ad tv serials like inspector Montalbano. The airport of Comiso is far about 1 hour by car from the Catania Fontanarossa airport and is a good alternative for clow-cost airlines. During the eruptions of mount Etna it can also be a substitutive destination if the airport of Catania is closed.
Subcategories
Trains & Subways in Sicily
The Sicilian railways network covers, with its 1400 Km lenght, the nine provinces of the island with stations in all main towns. Besides the regional network which is served only by Trenitalia trains, there are also the Circumetnea train, a local line which connects the towns around Mt. Etna (from Catania to Giarre-Riposto) and the subways of Catania and Palermo.
Moving by train in Sicily
The train is not always the best choice to move in Sicily using the public transport. Some parts of the railway network are old and trains move very slow (compared to the regional busses). There are also few trains compared to other parts of Italy. We always suggest to plan your trip in advance and to check the train timetable online on the website of Trenitalia (also with English language version). Trains can be a good option in the northeast of the island, e.g. to move between Catania and Giardini Naxos-Taormina. In the southeastern part of Sicily trains are suggested only on small sections (e.g. Syracuse-Noto). For greater distances, e.g. to move between Syracuse and Ragusa, the travel times are long and suggested only if you have a lot of time and if you like slow traveling, enjoying the panorama. The panorama from the trains is often beautiful, along the coastside or countryside and during the high season there are often special touristic trains like the "treno del barocco", the baroque train which connects Syracuse with Ragusa and Modica including also guided tours on place.
Moving to/from other Italian regions
There are several trains from the main Sicilian stations to the most important towns in Italy but it's not suggested to move by train because at the same price it's possible to find flights which are much faster. In Messina the trains are loaded on a ferry to move to Villa San Giovanni in Calabria or it's necessary to get off and take an other train in Calabria.
Airport connections
At present only the airport of Palermo - Punta Raisi is connected by train. A connection is planned also with the Catania Fontanarossa airport: a new train station should be built on the line Siracusa - Fontanarossa - Catania and also the local subway of Catania should arrive to the airport. There are no train connections with the airports of Comiso and Trapani.
Historic and touristic trains
The Fondazione FS organizes various touristic trains during the high season. There isn't a yearly timetable but every season or on the occasion of special events special trains are organized. It's possible to find more information on our webpages or on the website of the Fondazione FS. The main touristic and historic trains in Sicily are:
- The train of the baroque: which connects Syracuse with Noto, Modica, Ragusa and Donnafugata's castle.
- The train of the wine: between Messina and Giarre.
- The train of the temples: from Caltanissetta to the Volcano temple in Agrigento and to Porto Empedocle.
Often historic coaches of the beginning of the 20th century are used and the tickets include also food tastings of guided tours.
A special train is the Circumetnea which connects the towns at the feet of Mt. Etna. The final stations are Giarre/Riposto and Catania Borgo. We have published a post about visiting the Etna with the Circumetnea train.
Train tickets and timetable
It's possible to buy the train tickets also online (for a specific date and time) on the website of Trenitalia but it's necessary to print the tickets. It's also possible to buy tickets at the ticket office at the train stations (also automated ticket machines), at some Tabacchi shops and travel agencies. Tickets must be clipped before boarding the train at the machines in the stations. Prices of the tickets vary depending the distance and the train category (regional, intercity etc.) but the travel time is similar. Sometimes there could be a substitutive bus service.
The map below shows the Sicilian railway network and the main stations (credits: A.Taverna/Wikicommons)
The quality of the trains is variable: along some routes there are modern "minuetto" trains and on minor routes there are also old coaches without toilets. Only few stations are open during the night.
The complete timetable of the trains in Sicily for the current season is published on the official website at this link.
Photo credits: Dalibri/Wikicommons; A.Taverna/Wikicommons