Best Day Trips from Catania

Among the best things to do in Catania are definitely excursions to other cities. Catania's location makes it a very attractive place to travel and spend a few pleasant days in Sicily. From there you can travel to Mount Etna, visit Agrigento or even visit the ancient city of Noto.

All these cities are home to impressive Roman and Greek stories that will surely enchant you. You will feel like you are travelling back in time with every building and castle you encounter. Some tours include a brief food tasting, others a refreshing swim in a lake or an architectural exploration - take your pick!

Catania is a city not only to spend an unforgettable holiday in, but also to explore the surrounding towns. If you like to get to know the typical food of every place you visit, then I recommend you to take a food tour to Castelmola. This picturesque village will charm you with its exquisite food and delicious wines and can be explored in around four hours for €150.

A private tour is the ideal option, as you won't have to deal with public transport. These tours usually have a tour guide who drives a comfortable vehicle to get you to your destination in peace and quiet. The trip to Castelmola usually takes about an hour on average.

When you arrive, your guide will take you on a walk through the beautiful streets of Castelmola. Afterwards you can make a few stops for a delicious "pasta alla Norma" or even some delicious Sicilian cannoli. This meal is usually included in the price of the tour, however, you can buy something else of Sicilian gastronomy. Take the opportunity to have your guide recommend the best dish for you.

At the end of your tour of approximately three to four hours, your guide will take you back. You can agree on a central location or you can arrange for your guide to take you back to your hotel. The good thing about these tours is that they are usually very flexible in terms of itinerary and meeting times. That's why I recommend that you research other interesting places to visit in the area. Then you can tell your guide about them and include them in the tour.

Details of interest

• Price: around 150 €.
• Duration: around 5 hours or less counting the travel time to and from the tour.
• Means of transport: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you can explore a very picturesque village and its gastronomy without having to deal with public transport.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour focuses only on one village. Other tours offer more nearby sites that you can visit.

Another city to visit if you're in Catania for two days or more is Taormina. This city is known for its attractive old town full of cobblestone streets and buildings that have been preserved almost intact over time. Get your camera ready to capture the architectural beauty of this site on a five-hour tour at an average cost of €150.

On a private tour to this city you usually travel in the company of a tour guide who is knowledgeable about the history and routes of Taormina, the foodie corner of Sicily, because here you can eat and taste the best Mediterranean flavours. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in a private vehicle and drive you there and back.

Once you arrive in Taormina, your guide will take you to the famous Teatro Antico di Taormina. This emblematic site has more than 2000 years of history: from being the scene of Greek tragicomedies to the presentation of plays and concerts.

Near this theatre you will also be able to see the impressive cliffs that go down to the sea forming incredible sandy coves. You will also be able to see Mount Etna, where you can take a full day excursion. At the end of the tour your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Interesting details

• Price: around 150 €.
• Duration: about 5 hours or less counting the travel time there and back.
• Means of transport: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to see a historic city full of architecture worth enjoying.
• Disadvantages of this option: the private vehicle can make the price of the tour higher than other tours.

Do you love Greek and Roman history and have you ever dreamed of seeing the impressive buildings of that time? If you are in Catania you can do so by visiting the cities of Piazza Armerina and Agrigento located only one and two hours respectively from Catania. The tour to these cities has an average duration of nine hours, so it is a perfect plan if you will be in Catania for more than one day. Please note that this experience has an average cost of €150.

On this tour, your guide will take you directly to Agrigento. This hilltop town is renowned for having the ruins of Acragante. Right there you will see the ruins of the Valley of the Temples. These include the temples of Olympian Zeus, Juno and the Temple of Concord. Of course, during the tour, your guide will tell you much of the history and curious facts behind these ancient buildings.

In the same city, you can visit the Ekklesiasterion, the theatre used as a meeting place for citizens to exercise their right to vote. You can also see the necropolises of Montelusa, Moses and Pezzino.

After seeing all these important sights, your guide will take you back to Catania. On the way back you will stop at Piazza Armerina located in the Erei Mountains. Here you can see the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site mosaics of the Villa del Casale.

Interesting details

• Price: about 150 ¤.
• Duration: about 9 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to see the ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
• Disadvantages of this option: Agrigento and Piazza Armerina are located far from Catania, so this trip can be a bit tiresome and you will have to dedicate at least a whole day to it.

A trip to Mount Etna is another way to spend an enjoyable day when travelling to Catania. Any tour to Taormina would be incomplete without visiting this famous active volcano on the east coast of Sicily. An excursion to this site can take upwards of nine hours and costs an average of €95.

These types of excursions are usually done in groups of less than 10 people accompanied by a guide. This person picks up each participant from their hotel and takes them to the final destination in a bus with a private driver. The trip from Catania to Taormina takes on average one hour. When you arrive in Taormina you will be amazed by a mountain almost two metres high.

To explore Mount Etna you usually start from Rifugio Sapienza. From there your guide will lead you along the line of the ancient Silvestri craters. This path leads you to a lava cave that was formed after an eruption in 1972.

After this tour you can leave with your group to the village of Zafferana Etnea. In this wonderful place you can visit a local organic farm. Take the opportunity to taste wine and honey produced in this region. The last stop is Taormina, where you can stroll around for a while and admire the impressive architecture until it is time to return to Catania.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 95 ¤.
• Duration: about 9 hours.
• Means of transport: shuttle bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to explore an attractive and natural site where you will be able to breathe fresh air.
• Disadvantages of this option: some parts of Mount Etna can be very long. If you don't have enough physical stamina it can be a challenge to explore.

Traveller tip
To explore Mount Etna it is important to wear a good pair of comfortable, sturdy shoes. The higher you go, the colder you will feel. Therefore, clothing, although it should be light, needs to be able to keep you warm enough.

Noto is a town that many call the fable of the Baroque because of all the stories it was the scene of. To reach it is a road trip of at least an hour to the south. An excursion to this ancient city can take around eight hours and costs an average of €100.

To get there, your guide will meet you in a private vehicle and set off for Monte Alveira, where Noto is located. When you arrive, you can walk through the medieval walls to the Carosello cave. Along the way you will see a variety of animals and plants until you reach the river Asinaro.

Following the river you will reach its lake. Don't forget your swimming costume and sunscreen! Just at this point you can take a rest stop at the lake and have a relaxing swim before continuing. It is also recommended that you bring a snack or lunch, as this is not usually included in this type of tour.

After exploring the archaeological park of Noto, your guide will take you on your way back. At this point in the tour you will pass the Castello Realle. This building was built in the 11th century, specifically by the Norman Giordano, son of Ruggero d'Altavilla. This site has been remodelled and has had different functions, even being a prison for a long time.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 100 ¤.
• Duration: about 8 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you can get to know one of Sicily's emblematic towns and swim in the lake.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is a time-consuming excursion and you should bring food and even a change of clothes.

Sicily is known as the island of the gods. Catania is one of its best-located cities, and from there you can quickly reach several iconic cities. Although you can enjoy the city, if you want to make the most of your visit, excursions from there are the best thing to do.

Also, if you choose to go on a guided tour or excursion you can have private transport. This way you won't have to deal with public transport and its possible delays. Also, the guides usually have extensive knowledge of the history of the cities you are going to. This makes the experience more enjoyable and enriching.

On the other hand, some tours often include food tastings or even lunches. This can be a great advantage during excursions as it would be something you don't have to worry about. However, it is a service that you should check before booking.

Most of the excursions from Catania usually include long walks. For this reason the first tip I can give you is to wear suitable clothing. Wear the most comfortable shoes you can find, the lightest clothes and bring your own water bottle. It is always good to ask your guide what kind of snacks he/she will bring or if lunch and some drinks are included.

In case you plan to travel to Mount Etna remember to ask your guide what kind of clothes to bring. Usually you will wear comfortable clothes and shoes. However, it is important to consider the temperatures of the site. It is usually very cold in this area, so it is best to bring a jumper and a hat to protect you from the cold temperatures.

If you are travelling to Catania with children you should also bring everything you need for their comfort and safety in a special bag. I also recommend that before you book an excursion for your whole family, check if you can go with the little ones. Often children tire quickly or the routes are simply not suitable for them.