Best tours of Catania

Catania surprises at every step. A thousand incredible stories, mythical places and incredible cuisine await you here. Strolling through its streets, admiring it from the sea and contemplating the silhouette of the city surrounded by Mount Etna are plans not to be missed. And all this, seasoned by the delicious dishes of Sicilian cuisine and local wines.

These are some of the best plans to enjoy Catania. But there are many more that you can discover with guided tours, such as a subway city full of mysteries or fantastic displays of urban art. I'll tell you much more below.

A guided walking tour of Catania is the best way to get to know a city ravaged by wars and natural phenomena throughout history. Did you know that it has had to be rebuilt up to seven times? The one you will see today is the city that was reborn after the terrible earthquake of 1693.

If you are only in Catania for one day, the guided tour is the best way not to miss anything. You will get to know the most relevant details of a city with thousands of years of history and you will see its most outstanding monuments. Some of them will surprise you with their beauty.

Are you planning to spend at least two days in Catania? Perfect, the tour will help you to get in touch with the city and then you can discover and enjoy it at your leisure. I'll tell you that, although it is not a particularly well known city, it has a lot of wonderful places worth seeing.

The list is long. On the one hand, you will discover its Greco-Roman past in the magnificent amphitheater. On the other, you will understand why Catania is called the black pearl of the Baroque, for the elegance of its palaces and churches, built with volcanic stone from Etna. And you can also immerse yourself in one of its secrets: the subway city.

Interesting details

• Price: from 20 euros per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of this tour: it allows to have a general idea of all that Catania offers to the visitor and a first approach to its attractions.
• Disadvantages of this tour: it does not include access to the monuments.

Catania is rich in flavors. If you like to try new things, this tour is perfect for you because you will discover one of Catania's traditions: eating in the street. And, while tasting some typical delicacies, you will tour a city dotted with magnificent monuments and corners full of charm.

One of the stops is La Pescheria, the lively fish market. It is set up every morning in a surprising location, a tunnel under the Palazzo del Chierici, while also occupying part of the ancient city walls. In its surroundings you will taste one of the typical delicacies of Catania: fried fish.

But you are in a city famous for its street food, so in this tour you still have much more to taste. For example, the arancini, stuffed and fried rice fritters; the cipollina, a puff pastry also stuffed; and, above all, the cartocciata, a kind of small calzone typical of the local cuisine.

On the tour you will also taste some of the typical sweets of Catania, such as the Savoia cake, the nzuddi or the almond pastries. And at this point, I can't help but give you a tip: try some artisanal ice creams in the city, they are spectacular. You will leave Catania with the best taste in your mouth you can imagine.

Interesting details

• Price: from 60 euros per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Advantages of this tour: you will be immersed in one of the most deeply rooted Italian traditions, the aperitif.
• Disadvantages of this excursion: you will only taste tapas, you will not get to taste more substantial dishes, also very typical.

Sicilian gastronomy is delicious and, within it, Catania's gastronomy offers typical dishes that are real gems. If you want to take home a great souvenir of your stay, a cooking class is one of the most fun and educational activities you can do in the city.

You will be able to take home traditional recipes to surprise your loved ones with a very special lunch or dinner. These are recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation and have an unmistakable Mediterranean essence.

Caponata in sweet and sour sauce, spaghetti rolls, eggplant parmesan or the traditional sweet, cannoli, will no longer have any secrets for you. You will have a great time and you will learn not only how to prepare these dishes, but you will also discover some other secrets of Sicilian gastronomy.

Interesting details

• Price: about 90 euros per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Advantages of this tour: you will not only learn how to prepare traditional recipes, but you will also learn interesting facts about the typical products of Catania.
• Disadvantages of this excursion: if your stay is not very long it will take you less time to enjoy other attractions.

Some Sicilian wines are among the best in Europe. Your visit to Catania is the perfect excuse to taste them in the same place where they are produced. If you are someone who appreciates a good wine, you will love this experience.

By participating in a tasting you will discover why these wines are so special. There are many reasons. On the one hand, the grapes grow in volcanic soil. For another, that some of the vineyards extend up the slopes of Etna to considerable heights. You will also learn how the growing area conditions the flavors and aromas of the wines.

In the Catania metropolitan area there are magnificent wineries that open their doors to explain the winemaking process and organize tastings. Also in the city you can taste them in countless restaurants and wine shops. A guided tour will take you to the most representative places.

Now I will tell you two curiosities. The first is that vine cultivation and winemaking are ancient traditions in Catania, as they were introduced here by the first Greek settlers. The second is that the Etna Denomination of Origin is one of the oldest in Italy.

Interesting details

• Price: from €220 per person, including the visit to Etna volcano, lunch and wine tasting.
• Duration: about 7 hours.
• Advantages of this excursion: it allows to know how wine is made in all its phases, from cultivation to marketing.
• Disadvantages of this excursion: usually the tours include tours of Etna, which means that they take up a good part of the day.

This tour is the perfect complement to any guided walking or biking tour. And it is also one of the best plans to enjoy Catania with children. The reason? The little ones will have the time of their lives aboard a sailboat. In addition, the east coast of Sicily is spectacular, so you will see incredible places.

Remember that the city rises at the foot of Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, with its 3,300 meters. Admiring its particular skyline in the shadow of the mountain is the most beautiful postcard of Catania, and it is something you can only do from the sea. A tip: if you can contemplate it at sunset, much better, the moment will be magical.

You can choose between very different walks. Some of them go along a good part of the Gulf of Catania and the coast of the Cyclops. Others are not so far away, but allow you to take a dip if the weather is nice or enjoy a romantic dinner on board. In any case, it is one of the most beautiful walks you can do in Catania, I recommend it.

Interesting details

• Price: from 80 euros per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours on the shorter tours.
• Advantages of this tour: you will see the most authentic image of Catania and discover the beauty of its coast.
• Disadvantages of this excursion: it is subject to weather and sea conditions.

When the sun goes down, Catania is transformed. Even if you have toured it during the day, it is worth doing it at night to discover a completely different side of the city. Did you know that in Italy the aperitif is eaten when it starts to get dark? It is a tradition that few resist and you can discover it. You will love it!

Throughout Catania you will find street stalls, kiosks and bars where you can taste authentic street food delicacies. Don't resist the famous Sicilian sausages and the typical arancini. You can accompany them with a local wine or a spritz, a drink made with dry red wine and sparkling water or tonic.

The evening is also a perfect time to immerse yourself in Catania's darker history. It tells of Norman invasions and pirate attacks. Also of more recent episodes. You may not know it, but in World War II, on the night of July 9-10, 1943, Catania was one of the scenes of the Allied landings in Sicily.

Of course, the night tour will take you through the main streets and monuments of the city. If you then feel like enjoying the partying and nightlife, you can do it on your own. In the historic center you will find many terraces, bars and entertainment venues where you can have a good time, such as La Chiave or the Nievski bar.

Interesting details

• Price: from 50 euros per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Advantages of this tour: you will be fully immersed in the always lively nightlife of Catania and you will feel like a local.
• Disadvantages of this tour: if you have been touring the city during the day, it can be tiring.

Catania is a historic city, dotted with magnificent monuments. But there is a lesser known part of the city, though no less interesting. If you like street art, you should know that here you can take a tour that will lead you to discover fantastic graffiti and other very unique urban art displays.

Where can you see these artistic displays? In places as unexpected as the silos of the port or an old garage of the city's public buses. But if there is one place where urban art has served as a catharsis it is the district of San Berillio, a place that escaped marginalization thanks to those graffiti that now adorn its walls.

There are also other very small, almost tiny urban art displays that you may only discover with a guided tour. They are on the black beach of Catania, a beach that has no sand, but volcanic stones that creativity has transformed into fantastic beings and animals.

This is one of the most surprising tours of Catania because you will discover the most alternative, rebellious and vindictive spirit of this city. A spirit that contrasts with the elegance and classicism of the other side: the black pearl of the Italian Baroque.

Interesting details

• Price: from 30 euros per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of this tour: you will learn how urban art has been the key to revitalize a degraded area and you will discover surprising corners of the city.
• Disadvantages of this tour: you have to leave the historic center, so you will not see some of its main points of interest.

You may not know it, but there are two Catanias. One is the one you will see on the surface, a city of baroque airs, welcoming and lively. And there is another hidden one, just below the one you are walking on, which holds an important part of its history. But finding it and exploring it, if not accompanied by a guide, can be complicated.

What are you going to discover on this tour? Surprising places, such as the remains of ancient Roman domus and sanctuaries where the patron saint of Catania, St. Agatha, was venerated. And you can also see some remains from the Byzantine and medieval eras.

But why this subway city? Catania is on the slopes of Etna, an active volcano. For this reason, it has suffered throughout its history the consequences of eruptions and earthquakes that have forced it to be rebuilt again and again. The last was in 1693, when a major earthquake reduced the city to rubble.

In that last reconstruction was built on the remains of ancient streets and buildings, some from the Greco-Roman period, others later. And this is what you will discover on this tour. If you are passionate about history and archeology, my advice is not to miss it, it will be like immersing yourself in Catania's past.

Details of interest

• Price: from 60 euros per person.
• Duration: between 2 and 3 hours.
• Advantages of this tour: you will get to know and understand much better the history of Catania.
• Disadvantages of this tour: it is not suitable for people with reduced mobility or who cannot tolerate enclosed spaces.

Catania cannot be understood without the presence of Etna. The city has grown at its feet and the volcano has been responsible for its destruction and rebirth throughout history. Also of its wealth and traditions that have reached our days.

If you do not want to move, you can make a short route to see it from the city center. You will have great views from Etnea Street, from the top of the Abbey of St. Agatha or from Villa Bellini. At sunset, they are spectacular.

But nothing compares to the image that Etna offers up close. For this reason, I recommend setting aside a few hours to get out of the city limits and to appreciate all its beauty. You can get there by public transport without problems, but a guided tour will be more comfortable. Prepare your camera because you won't be able to stop taking pictures.

Interesting details

• Price: from 50 euros per person.
• Duration: about 5 hours.
• Advantages of this excursion: there are different alternatives, from trekking through the volcano to touring it in a 4x4.
• Disadvantages of this excursion: you will need at least half a day of your stay in Catania.