Downtown Luxury Slum

Considering a trip to Siracusa? Read on for a Siracusa travel guide with everything you need to know to plan your trip to this intriguing city.

Syracuse (or Siracusa) a city on the east coast of Sicily, is a place of history and myth. It is a city of ancient ruins, of Baroque churches, and of colorful markets.

The streets of Syracuse are a maze of narrow alleyways, lined with crumbling ruins from the city’s long and storied past. There are temples, theaters, and catacombs to explore, all of which offer a glimpse into the city’s rich history.

But Syracuse is also a city of beauty. The Baroque churches are a sight to behold, with their ornate interiors and colorful facades. And the markets are a riot of color and noise, with vendors selling everything from fresh produce to spices to souvenirs.

Syracuse is a city that is full of surprises. It is a place where the past and the present collide, where history and myth are intertwined. It is a city that is sure to leave a lasting impression, whether you are a history buff, an art lover, or simply a curious traveler.

I would recommend spending two full days in Syracuse or more if you want to use it as a base to explore nearby towns such as Noto, Ragusa, and Modica.

Here’s my Google Map of the best things to do in and around Syracuse that you can use as a visual companion for this Siracusa travel guide. Hit the “Follow” or “Save” button to save for later.

Don’t miss out on this! This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Syracuse.

This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase using the links at no additional cost to you.

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

What to See and Do in Siracusa

• Visit the Archaeological Park of Neapolis: The Archaeological Park of Neapolis is a vast complex of ancient ruins, including the Greek Theater, the Roman Amphitheater, and the Catacombs of San Giovanni. Spend some time exploring.

• Explore the Baroque and gothic churches: Syracuse is home to some of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Sicily.
  • Syracuse Cathedral was built on the skeleton of a 5th-century BC Greek temple to Athena. Syracuse’s 7th-century duomo became a church when St Paul passed by. Its most striking feature is the columned baroque facade added after the 1693 earthquake. Look along the side for a number of thick Doric columns leftover from the original Greek temple. Admission is €2 as of October 2023 and well worth it.
  • Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia is dedicated to the city’s patron saint, Saint Lucy, martyred in Syracuse during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian. The church is home to a copy of Caravaggio’s masterpiece, Seppellimento di Santa Lucia (Burial of St Lucy, 1609). The nave ceiling is frescoed (1783) with the Triumph of Santa Lucia by Deodato Guinaccia. Look for lots of religious art. The church is free to visit but check opening hours.
  • Church of San Giovanni This gothic style church was apparently built in the late 1300s, converted to a synagogue in the 1400s, and then again back to a church in the late 1400s. It currently has no roof and is used as a beautiful venue for special events such as weddings. If you are lucky, you will be able to peak in if there is an event taking place or if they are setting up for one.

• Walk around Ortigia: Ortigia is the historic center of Syracuse. This island is home to many historical and cultural attractions, including the Temple of Apollo, the Fountain of Diana, and Castello Maniace. Here’s my self-guided walking tour.

• Visit some catacombs.
  • The Catacombs of San Filippo Apostolo are found below a church built on a medieval synagogue. The catacombs link a burial crypt, a WWII air raid shelter, and Jewish ritual bath. From April to October, Monday to Saturday, there is a pay-what-you-want tour that lasts about 15 minutes. Tours start every 30 minutes with the first tour at 10am and the last tour is at 5pm, with a 2h break from 1pm to 3pm.
  • Catacombs of San Giovani are extensive catacombs that lie under the Basilica di San Giovanni. There are approximately 20,000 tombs, niched into tunnels that honeycomb the earth connecting former Greek cisterns, repurposed into Christian chapels. The catacombs can be seen on a 45 minute English-Italian tour. Tour tickets cost €10 as of September 2023 and there is approximately one tour per hour. Pro tip: After determining the tour start times and buying a ticket, head over to Basilica Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime for a quick visit while you wait.
• Visit the Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi, a top archeological museum with an extensive collection of Greek and Roman artifacts from around Sicily. Plan on at least a couple hours up to a full day here. Count on good English language descriptions. Admission is €10 as of October 2023.

• Take a Tour:
  • Siracusa Food and Wine Tour is a 3 hour small group tour for €99 per person where you will visit three local restaurants and see famous landmarks around Ortigia
  • Boat tour of Ortigia is a 2 hour boat tour providing you a view of Ortigia from the water. You will also get to see a sea cave, snorkel in the water, and enjoy fresh fruit and prosecco for €42 per person.
  • Market tour and a meal at a local’s home is a four hour experience that includes a homemade four course meal, wine, and espresso for €139 per person.

Getting to Siracusa

Fly: Catania Fontanarossa / Vincenzo Bellini Airport (CTA) is the nearest major airport. It has flights to many destinations across Europe as well as to Dubai. The other major airport in Sicily is Palermo’s Falcone-Borsellino, a.k.a. Punta Raisi airport (PMO) which has connections around Italy and other parts of Europe.

• From the Catania Fontanarossa / Vincenzo Bellini Airport:
  • Take an Interbus bus. The bus runs approximately every 30 minutes from 8am to midnight and take 70 minutes. Tickets cost €6.20 as of October 2023 and can be purchased online. Turn right outside the arrivals terminal to find the bus stop. Busses arrive one block from the Siracusa train station along Corso Umberto I. Here’s the exact location.
  • 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 the Siracusa train station, Syracuse’s main train station. The train ticket costs €8.40 as of October 2023. There are about 9 trains a day so check trenitalia.com or their app for the schedule and to get tickets.
  • In addition, the airport has agents for the major car rental firms. See below for general parking information.

Train: Trains run every hour or two along the Siracusa – Messina line arriving at the Siracusa 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: Busses arrive one block from the Siracusa train station along Corso Umberto I. Here’s the exact location. Bus companies with service to Syracuse include Etna Transporti, Interbus, and FlixBus. 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 Ortigia is not particularly useful. Ask your hotel where to park if you’re staying overnight or aim for Parcheggio Molo Sant’Antonio if you’re staying outside of Ortigia and expect to pay €1/h or €10 for 24h, paid when you exit. In Ortigia, aim for Parcheggio Talete and expect to pay €1/h or €10 for 24h, and use the EasyPark app to pay. Finally, if you’re visiting outside of ZTL enforcement hours (not overnight but check the signs for exact times) you can park in any white lined parking spot on the street.

Getting Around Siracusa

From the Siracusa train station or main bus station:

• You can walk. It should take about 15 minutes to get to Ortigia. 
• Catch a taxi from in front of the train station. A taxi or Uber from the train station to Ortigia should cost about €10. Agree on a price before getting in, or ask for an estimated price and insist on using the meter.
• To take the bus, walk 5 minutes to Piazza Guglielmo Marconi to find a stop for the small tourist shuttle. Conflicting information suggests the shuttle may be free or may require a €1 ticket bought from a machine on board. The shuttles run every 20 minutes and connect the main tourist areas. If you can’t find a map at the stop or on board, show the driver the name and address of your destination to determine where you should get off.
• The other bus option, also from Piazza Guglielmo Marconi is the hop-on hop-off bus operated by Siracusa Open Tour. Keep reading for more about that.

Walking is usually the best way to get around Ortigia.

The hop-on hop-off bus operated by Siracusa Open Tour is super affordable at only €5 per day so it’s also a viable transportation option, especially for getting to sights outside of Ortigia. They clearly don’t spend much money on their website, but the bus runs every 20 minutes or so from 9am to 7:30pm. Buy your ticket on board. Here’s the route map.

Taxis can come in handy to get to sights outside of Ortigia. Expect to pay about €10. Look for taxis at Piazza Emanuele Pancali. Agree on a price before getting in, or ask for an estimated price and insist on using the meter.

A few Ubers operate in Siracusa but you may have to wait for quite a while to get one.

Where to Stay in Siracusa

When it comes to accommodations in Syracuse, you’ll most likely want to stay in or near Ortigia so that you’ll easily be able to visit all the sites and enjoy some good restaurants.

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

• Algila Ortigia Charme Hotel is a luxury hotel located on the waterfront in Ortigia. Expect four-poster beds, antique furniture, and colourful bathroom tiles.
• We stayed at the mid-range Grande Albergo Alfeo just outside of Ortigia. It has free breakfast and plenty of room options.
• Hotel Roma is another mid-range historic hotel in Ortigia, located next to the Syracuse Cathedral.
• B&B Spiraglio is a budget friendly option in Ortigia with free breakfast. There are only two rooms so book well in advance.

Where to Eat in Siracusa

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

• Fratelli Burgio offers super popular charcuterie boards with various combinations of smoked fish, cured meats and cheeses, vegetables, and preserves.
• Caseificio Borderi is a great place to grab a panino for lunch after exploring the Ortigia market. Expect a line to snake around the corner at lunch time.
• Go to Burgio al Porto for wine or a cocktail or stay for a meat and cheese board, fish platter, or sandwich stuffed with marinated vegetables.
• Trattoria La Foglia offers a quirky, homey atmosphere and great Sicilian food.
• Try A Putia for home-style Sicilian food near the Fountain of Diana. Favourites are the caponata, linguine alla Siracusana, and grilled swordfish. Go early or expect to wait for a table.
• Pizzeria Schiticchio is a pizza restaurant with a cozy, cave-like atmosphere and a great selection of local craft beer.
• Ristorante @ Gutkowskino has a small fish and veggie forward menu that changes weekly.
• Go to the Apollonion – Osteria da Carlo for the multi course fixed seafood menu.
• Stop by Antica Giudecca for arancini, calzone, pizza by the slice, and other quick takeaway food.
• Enoteca Solaria is a highly rated wine bar with a huge selection of wines, a nice atmosphere, and helpful service. The staff will happily recommend wines to pair with the meats, cheese, olives, and bruschetta that they also serve.
• Stop at Bistrot Bella Vita for coffee, cornetti, biscotti, and pastries.
• Cannoli Del Re has cannolo in a cone. Pro tip: Pick one up after visiting Syracuse Cathedral.

Here’s my full Sicily food guide.

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I hope you enjoyed this Siracusa travel guide. Let me know if you still have any lingering questions.