Best Time to Visit

May to June and September to October are the best months to visit the ancient port city of Catania on Sicily's eastern coast. Spring and fall offer pleasant weather with temperatures reaching a maximum of 19 to 26 degrees and a less crowded city. July and August are the hottest and draw in sun worshippers.

Passport/Visa

Italy can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travellers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.

Airport Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA)

Catania’s airport, known as Fontanarossa or Vincenzo Bellini Airport (CTA), is located 7 kilometres south-west of the city and handles both domestic and international flights. Buses (AMT Alibus) connect the airport to Catania city centre and leave every 20 minutes from 5 am to midnight. There are also several other bus companies, operating other cities on Sicily such as Etna Trasporti to Taormina. The journey takes 50 minutes. Sais Autolinee takes travellers to Palermo in 2–3 hours. Bus tickets can be bought at the currency exchange office or at a newspaper shop inside the airport terminal. A taxi from the airport to the city takes about 15 minutes. There are taxi ranks outside the airport.

• Web:

  www.aeroporto.catania.it

• Address:

  Aeroporto di Catania-Fontanarossa, Via Fontanarossa, Catania

• Phone:

  +39 0957 239 111

Public Transport

A rental car is the best way to explore Sicily. The road network is well maintained, especially the toll roads (autostrade). To drive in the city of Catania can be quite tricky though. A majority of the city centre is for pedestrians and parking lots are difficult to find. An alternative to driving is travelling by train to Messina, Syracuse, Palermo and other cities from the station at Piazza Giovanni XXIII. A cheaper mode of transport is the bus, which departs from the depot at Via d’Amico close to the train station. To get around in the city, the company AMT serves a number of lines. Bus tickets must be validated upon entering the bus (get them punched in the orange machine onboard).

• Web:

  www.amt.ct.it

• Address:

  Piazza Giovanni XXIII, Catania

• More info:

  www.interbus.it

Taxi

Taxi fares vary, and the rate increases after 10 pm. The 10 percent tip is sometimes included in the overall price (check with the driver). The licensed taxis are often yellow or white and have a meter. Radio Taxi Catania +39 095 330 966 www.radiotaxicatania.org Distefano Taxi +39 360 968 390 www.taxi-catania.com

Electricity

The standard voltage in Italy is 230 volts and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Power plugs and sockets are of type F and L.