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 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 traveling 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 vacation in, but also to explore the surrounding towns. If you like to know the typical food of every place you visit, then I recommend you to take a gastronomic tour to Castelmola. You will love this picturesque town for its exquisite food and delicious wines and you can tour it in about four hours for 150 €.

A private tour is the ideal option, as you will not have to deal with public transportation. Usually this type of tour has a tour guide who drives a comfortable vehicle so you can arrive at your destination with peace of mind. 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. Afterwards you can make a few stops so you can taste 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.

At the end of your tour of approximately three to four hours, your guide will take you back. You can agree on a central point or you can 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: about 5 hours or less counting the round trip time.
• Means of transportation: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you can explore a very picturesque town and its gastronomy without dealing with public transportation.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour focuses only on one village. Other tours offer more nearby sites that you can visit.

Another city you can visit if you go to 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. Prepare your camera to capture the architectural beauty of this site in 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 well informed about the history and routes of Taormina, the sybaritic corner of Sicily, because in this city you will be able to eat and taste the best Mediterranean flavors. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in a private vehicle and drive you there and back.

Once you arrive in Taormina, your guide will take you to visit 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 theater you can also see the impressive cliffs that go down to the sea forming incredible sandy coves. You will also be able to appreciate 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.

Details of interest

• Price: about 150 ¤.
• Duration: about 5 hours or less counting the round trip time.
• Means of transportation: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know 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 era? 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 known for having the ruins of Acragante. Right there you will see the ruins of the Valley of the Temples. Among them are 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 theater used as a meeting point for citizens to exercise their right to vote. You can also see the necropolis of Montelusa, Moses and Pezzino.

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

Details of interest

• 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 do it.

An excursion to Mount Etna is another way to spend an enjoyable day when traveling 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 more than nine hours and has an average cost of 95 €.

This type of excursion is usually done in groups of less than 10 people accompanied by a guide. This person picks up each of the participants at their hotels and takes them to the final destination in a bus with a private driver. The trip from Catania to Taormina has an average duration of one hour. When you arrive in this city you will be amazed by a mountain almost two meters 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 for a while and admire its impressive architecture until it is time to return to Catania.

Details of interest

• Price: about 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 can breathe fresh air.
• Disadvantages of this option: some of the routes of Mount Etna can be very long. If you do not have enough physical stamina it can be a challenge to explore it.

Traveller tip
To explore Mount Etna it is important to wear a good pair of comfortable and resistant 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 city that many call the fable of the Baroque because of all the stories of which it was the scene. To reach it requires a road trip of at least an hour to the south. An excursion to this ancient city can take about eight hours and costs an average of 100 €.

To reach this city your guide will pick you up in a private vehicle and set off on the road to Monte Alveira, where Noto is located. When you arrive you will be able to cross its medieval walls and walk until you reach the Carosello cave. Along the way you will see a variety of animals and plants until you reach the Asinaro river.

Following the river you will reach its lake. Don't forget your swimsuit and sunscreen! Right there you can stop for a rest stop at the lake and take 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 that 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 remodeled and has had different functions, even being a prison for a long time.

Details of interest

• Price: about 100 €.
• Duration: about 8 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you can get to know one of the emblematic cities of Sicily 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 for being the island of the gods. Catania is one of its best located cities, as 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 take a guided tour or excursion you will be able to have private transportation. This way you won't have to deal with public transportation 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 tasting or even lunch. This can be a great advantage during the 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 appropriate clothing. Wear the most comfortable shoes you can get, 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 go with comfortable clothes and shoes. However, it is important to consider the temperatures of the site. It is usually very cold in that area, so it is best to bring a sweater and a hat to protect you from the low temperatures.

If you are traveling 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 of the house. Many times children get tired quickly or simply the routes are not the most suitable for them.