Downtown Luxury Slum

Catania, a city on the east coast of Sicily, is a place of beauty and danger. It is a city of fire and ash, of history and myth.

The streets of Catania are lined with Baroque churches and palaces, but they are also pockmarked with the scars of volcanic eruptions. The city is built on the side of an active volcano, Mount Etna, and it is constantly at risk of being destroyed.

But Catania is also a city of resilience. It has been rebuilt time and time again, and it always emerges stronger than before. The people of Catania are known for their fierce independence and their love of life.

I would recommend spending one full day in Catania and more if you plan to use it as a base from which to visit Mount Etna or Taormina.

Here’s my Google Map of the best things to do in and around Catania. Hit the “Follow” or “Save” button to save for later.

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If this is your first stop in Sicily, read my 10 tips for planning a trip to Sicily.

What to See and Do in Catania

• Take yourself on a self-guided walking tour to get acquainted with the city.
• Visit the Cathedral of Sant’Agata: The Basilica Cattedrale di Sant’Agata has been destroyed and rebuilt several times because of earthquakes and eruptions of Mount Etna. It was most recently rebuilt in the Baroque style after the 1693 earthquake.

• Explore the Greek Roman Theater: The Roman Theater was built in the 1st century CE over an existing Greek structure which dates from the 5th to 4th century BCE. The theater was designed to accommodate about 7000 spectators in a semi-circle. After the end of the Roman Empire, much of the marble that decorated the theater was used to construct the Cattedrale di Sant’Agata, and other buildings were constructed over it. Excavation of the site began in the late 1700s and it is now used for occasional summer performances. There is also an Odeon on the site, with a capacity of about 1500 spectators. Regular admission is €6 as of September 2023.

• Take a walk through the Piazza del Duomo: Piazza del Duomo is the main city square in Catania. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of the city’s most notable historic buildings and an elephant fountain that is said to protect Catania from Etna’s violent eruptions.

• Explore all that Mount Etna has to offer, whether that be wine tasting or hiking. Here are more tips on exploring Mount Etna.

• Visit Catania Fish Market: This workday fish market is pure street theater full of colour and movement. Try to go before noon and look for swordfish, prawns, and trays full of clams, mussels, sea urchins, and all manner of less familiar sea life. There are also plenty of restaurants cooking up fresh seafood where you can sit and enjoy the atmosphere.

• Enjoy the food: Catania is a foodie’s paradise. There are restaurants serving all types of cuisine, from traditional Sicilian to international fare. Be sure to try some of the local specialties, such as Pasta alla Norma, arancini, and cannoli. Do a street food tour:
  • Catania Street Food Walking Tour lasts 3 hours starting around 11am for €59 per person
  • Food tour of Catania by night lasts 3 hours starting around 6pm for €59 per person

Getting to Catania

Fly: Catania Fontanarossa / Vincenzo Bellini Airport (CTA) is a few miles southwest of town. It has flights to many destinations across Europe as well as to Dubai. 

Train: Trains run every hour or two along the Siracusa – Messina line stopping at Catania Centrale station. In Messina there are train connections to Palermo and mainland Italy. Check trenitalia.com or their app for routes, schedules, and to buy tickets. 

Bus: The intercity bus station is located across the plaza from Catania Centrale. Bus companies with service to Catania include Etna Transporti, Interbus, FlixBus, Sais, Itabus, and AST. Check their websites for routes and schedules. Busbud and Google Maps transit directions may also be helpful to help you determine which company might service your route.

Self-drive: If arriving by car, note that having a car in Catania’s historic center is not particularly useful. Ask your hotel where to park if you’re staying overnight or aim for Parcheggio Borsellino and expect to pay €1.50/h or €15 for 24h, paid at a machine.

Getting Around Catania

From the Catania Fontanarossa / Vincenzo Bellini Airport:

• There is a bus from the airport that runs every 25 minutes. The AMTS Alibus leaves from the first lane outside Arrivals Terminal A and will take you to Catania Centrale and on to the historic center. Tickets cost €4 and can be purchased when you board as of September 2023.
• To take the train from the airport, you will first catch an AMTS Fontanarossa shuttle from the first lane outside Arrivals Terminal A that will take you to the Catania Airport-Fontanarossa Station. The shuttle runs every 10 minutes and you can buy a €1 ticket when you board. Alternatively, you can buy a ticket that includes your shuttle and train ticket from trenitalia.com or their app by selecting ‘Catania Airport Fontarossa Bus’ as your departure point. From the Catania Airport-Fontanarossa Station, you can catch a train to Catania Centrale, the central train station. The shuttle + train ticket costs €3.10 as of September 2023. 
• Taxis from the airport are located just outside Arrivals. Official Catania taxis are white and have the word “TAXI” on the roof. It should cost about €19 to the city center but agree on a price before getting in.
• In addition, the airport has agents for the major car rental firms but having a car in Catania’s historic center is not particularly useful. Ask your hotel where to park if you’re staying overnight or or see above for general parking information. aim for Parcheggio Borsellino and expect to pay €1.50/h or €15 for 24h, paid at a machine.

From the Catania Centrale train station. 

• You can walk 15-20 minutes to the historic center. 
• Catch the metro across the street at Giovanni XXIII station (look for the red M sign) to Piazza Stesicoro station. Metro tickets cost €1 and can be purchased from a machine in the station. 
• Official taxis can be found at Taxi stands with orange signs. A taxi or Uber from the train station to the historic center should cost about €10. Agree on a price before getting in, or ask for an estimated price and insist on using the meter.

Walking is usually the best way to get around the historic center. To zip around a little further, there are Lime, Helbiz, and Dott scooters available. 

Tickets for AMT city buses can be purchased at newsstands and tobacco shops. Use Google Maps to determine your route.

A few Ubers operate in Catania but you may have to wait for quite a while to get one so maybe don’t do this unless you have to.

Look for taxis at Taxi stands with orange signs. Agree on a price before getting in, or ask for an estimated price and insist on using the meter.

Where to Stay in Catania

When it comes to accommodations in Catania, you’ll most likely want to stay near Centro Catania so that you’ll easily be able to visit all the sites and enjoy some good restaurants. If you’re only staying for one night, the other option would be to stay near the Catania Centrale train station and bus station. 

Find a hotel that’s in your price range, with the amenities you want, near Centro Catania. Here are a few options:

• We stayed at the Airone City Hotel which was a very nice affordable option with spacious and clean rooms, friendly staff, and a decent breakfast. The downside is that it is outside the historic center and not walkable to anything.
• Liberty Hotel is an affordable and charming boutique hotel, with spacious, well decorated rooms and a great breakfast and tranquil location near the historic center.
• Hotel Centrum is an affordable, small, friendly hotel offering comfortable rooms, delicious breakfast, and stunning views, and an excellent location.
• Palazzo Marletta is a moderately priced, charming boutique hotel in historic Catania center, featuring beautiful baroque architecture, well-appointed rooms, and an unbeatable location.
• Palace Catania | UNA Esperienze is a moderately priced, spacious, clean hotel with friendly staff and complimentary drinks. It has a rooftop bar and excellent location.
• Hotel Centrale Europa is a budget option with an unbeatable location, comfortable rooms, basic amenities, and great views.  

Where to Eat in Catania

Make sure to get some seafood in this coastal city. Other Catanian specialties to seek out include pasta alla Norma, granita, and horse meat. 

• Curtigghiu serves traditional Sicilian food in a cozy side street near Villa Bellini. The food is well cooked and the portions are huge. The food comes out extremely quickly so it’s not a bad choice if you want to get back to exploring the sights. Highly recommend the gnocchi, though it may be a little chewy for some. And there are games on the back of the menu!
• Head to Me Cumpari Turiddu for Catania’s specialty, pasta alla Norma (pasta topped with eggplant, basil, fresh ricotta and tomatoes).
• Trattoria del Cavaliere offers good pasta and seafood dishes but the standout is the horse meat.
• Vuciata has typical Sicilian food served on a nice terrace.
• Ristorante da Antonio is a cozy trattoria with traditional Sicilian dishes, seafood, and pasta near Castello Ursino.
• Ristorante Canni & Pisci serves excellent fish and meat dishes popular with locals.
• Oasis Frutti di Mare da Nitto is a casual spot for seafood on the seaside. Grab a number from a server or dispenser and wait your turn to order at the counter. Order from the menu or just point at what you want. If you want to eat there, a server will help find you a table if there isn’t one available when you arrive, and your food will be brought to the table. Try the seafood lasagna, anything with octopus, or just anything that looks interesting.
• Go to Nuova Trattoria del Forestiero for Catania’s signature dish, pasta alla Norma.
• L’ISKA Catania is a little fish restaurant on a cute street.
• Ristorante Il Bell’Antonio is another great option for fish and seafood in the center of town.
• Razmataz is a great option to sample some local Etna wines in a casual setting. A glass is between €4-7 and the servers will happily give you a suggestion or two if you’re not sure. They’ve also got great food and appropriate portions so don’t hesitate to make this a lunch or dinner spot.
• Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab serves freshly caught and fried seafood in paper cones. Go for a morning snack and eat while you wander the Catania Fish Market.
• Stop by Pasticceria Savia to get a gelato, granita, or pastry to enjoy while wandering through Villa Bellini.
• Go to Pasticceria Quaranta for pastries and gelato by the sea.

Here’s my full Sicily food guide.

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I hope you’ve enjoyed this Catania travel guide. If you’re looking for more, here are all of my posts about Italy.