Many tourists arrive in Syracuse without a car and want to visit the town or go to the beaches by public transport. It's possible to move in Syracuse using the local busses but consider that the organization of the public transport is inadequate and it can often happen that busses are late or runs are canceled. So it's important to verify the timetable on place directly with the bus company.
Two bus companies are active in Syracuse: the small shuttle busses "Siracusa d' amare", very useful for tourists and the local bus company AST which covers the whole town and the outer districts of Belvedere, Cassibile and Fontane Bianche.
Arriving to the monuments with the "Siracusa d'amare" shuttle bus
The small shuttle busses are managed by the municipality with the service Siracusa d'amare. There are three bus lines with stops at the main monuments of Syracuse. The terminal is in via Rodi, in front of the parking Molo Sant'Antonio, near the old town center Ortygia.
- Line n.1 - blue: this bus goes around the town center Ortygia and passes near the central train station and the regional bus terminal if you are arriving in
Syracuse by train or bus it's very useful to reach the accomodation in the town center (remain on the bus at the terminal of via Rodi). It's also useful if you are walking around in Ortygia and you are too tired to walk back to your car parking: the line 1 passes at Talete parking and Molo San Antonio parking. During the last months also the new line 1/A was created. This bus doesn't go around the island but stops at piazza Archimede and via Maestranza.
- Line n.2 - red: this is the main bus to visit the monuments outside Ortygia. There are stops at the Neapolis archaeological park, at the "Paolo Orsi" museum, at the catacombs and in front of the Shrine of our lady of tears. The line n.2 passes also at the Von Platen parking.
- Line n.3 - green: it's useful to visit some minor monuments like the latomie dei Cappuccini or the St. Lucy basilica. This line stops also at the byke trail and at the Hotel Villa Politi.
There isn't a prefixed timetable: busses run about every 20 minutes but it can come to longer waiting times if there's traffic. The tickets cost 1 € and are valid for 90 minutes an all three lines. The day ticket costs 3 €. It's possible to buy the tickets on the machines on the bus. These lines are free under 13 and over 65 years.
The Siracusa d'amare shuttle busses are active during the following times (last update july 2018):
The map on the right shows the itinerary of the different shuttle busses (map credit: Hermes Sicily Tour Guides)
August 2018 update: from this month the shuttle bus n.1 will not arrive to the train station but the bus will turn left on Corso Umberto, returning to the terminal. Below the updated route of the bus:
Going to Syracuse's beaches with the AST busses
The main beaches of Syracuse are few miles southern of the town
. The most famous beaches are Arenella and Fontane Bianche (Camomilla, Sayonara etc.). It's possible to arrive to the beaches with the AST local busses which have their terminal in front of train station. The line n.23 reaches the Lido Arenella and has also many stops at the free beaches of the Plemmirio sea reserve. The lines 21 and 22 go from Syracuse to Fontane Bianche, passing also at the sea district of Ognina. Tickets for the AST busses must bee buyed in advance (at many bars and tabacchi shops, fare € 1,20. Punch the tickets on the bus). Below is the timetable updated in June 2016:
For updated information and times please contact the AST office, phone. +39 0 931 462711 or have a look at the website of the municipality of Syracuse. During the summer months there's also a train between Syracuse and Fontane Bianche.
Hop-on Hop-off bus in Syracuse
There's also a hop-on hop-off bus service active in Syracuse all around the year. It's managed by the company "Siracusa open tour". The ticket is valid 1 day and you can get on and off how often you want, choosing between 16 different bus stops. The ticket costs € 5 and the bus passes near the main monuments of the town. There are also audioguides in different languages available on the bus. The frequency of the bus is 1 hour and thanks to a smartphone app it's always possible to verify the real time position. The terminal of the bus is in via Rodi, near the shuttle bus stop and the Molo San Antonio parking. The service is active daily from 9 am to 7 pm. For further information it's possible to contact Siracusa open tour, phone. +39 0 931 959912 or, in English language also +39 348 34307571.
Useful links
- AST - Azienda Siciliana Trasporti
- Hermes Sicily - Syracuse Tour Guides
- Area marina protetta del Plemmirio
- Hop-on Hop-off bus Siracusa open tour