Catania in 3 days
Day one holds Piazza del Duomo and the castle, day two the monastery and the park on Via Etnea, day three heads up the volcano.
- How long
- 2–3
- Arrival
- Alibus (AMT)
- La Pescheria
- Mornings only, closed on Sundays
Day one stays around Piazza del Duomo: the cathedral, the fish market, Castello Ursino and the Roman Theatre. Day two goes to the monastery by Piazza Dante, then up Via Etnea to Villa Bellini. Day three is for Etna, because the bus has only one morning departure.
The Duomo, the market and the castle
From the airport, Alibus (AMT), direct line airport–centre–Stazione Centrale, 20–28 min, then to Piazza del Duomo. The Elephant Fountain first, then St Agatha's cathedral, open 8–12 and 15–18 (outside mass times).
Right behind the cathedral is La Pescheria, the fish market. Walking through is free, and on Sundays it doesn't run.
A snack you walk with: an arancino €2.50–3.50 (arancino).
Castello Ursino, south of the square, with the city museum inside. Entry €6 (€3 reduced), open daily 9–19 (last entry 18).
The Roman Theatre and Odeon, both on a single ticket: €10 (€5 reduced), open daily 9–19 (last entry 18.30), 365 days a year.
A walk up Via Etnea, with the volcano at the end of the street.
The monastery, the dome and the park
The Benedictine Monastery (San Nicolò l'Arena) at Piazza Dante. The guided tour takes about an hour and a quarter, entry €10 (from €3 under 19, discounts for students/groups), tours every hour, booking recommended.
Lunch in the old core.
The dome of the Badia di Sant'Agata, a climb to the terrace under the dome, €5 (church itself free).
The Terme Achilliane, Roman baths, €5 (€3 reduced).
Villa Bellini and the Orto Botanico, two free green stops. The park is open 6–23 in summer, 6–21 in winter.
Etna
AST bus from Piazza Giovanni XXIII to Rifugio Sapienza, about 2 h by bus to Rifugio Sapienza (one way).
The Funivia dell'Etna from Rifugio Sapienza; the cabin alone or a jeep with a guide up to 2700 m. Price: €6.60 bus (return) + €54 cable car (return, cabin only) or €78 with jeep and guide up to 2700 m.
The return bus, the only one of the day.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Does Catania fit into a single day?
Piazza del Duomo, La Pescheria, Castello Ursino and the Roman Theatre fit one packed day, but the monastery, the park and Etna need a second and third.
What if day one falls on a Sunday?
La Pescheria is closed on Sundays, so it moves to another day; the Duomo, the castle and the theatre open every day.
Ready for Catania?
Where to next
Day trips from Catania
→A volcano, two cities on the east coast and a Cyclops village: from the closest, Aci Trezza, to Etna for a…
Taormina · 45 km
→An ancient theatre on a hill above the Ionian Sea, with Etna behind it
How well does Catania suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
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