Can You Travel Sicily Without A Car?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Public transportation is good in Sicily and

it is definitely possible to go everywhere you want to go without a car

. Except for some isolated hill towns – where you can take a taxi from the train station, or take a bus – most places are reachable by public transportation.

How do you get around in Sicily?

  1. Train. Undoubtedly the most picturesque way to travel through Sicily, the train is usually the quickest way to travel between major cities. …
  2. Bus. …
  3. Car. …
  4. Taxi. …
  5. Boat.

Do you need a car in Sicily?


If you are visiting Sicily for 2 or 3 days, more than likely you may not need to rent a car

. There is so much to do in the large cities, and public transport is readily available. As with many old Italian cities, some streets are quite narrow and parking can be difficult.

What is the best way to travel to Sicily?

The best way to reach Sicily is

by plane

. There are three airports on the island, Falcone Borsellino in Palermo (32 km from the city), Fontanarossa in Catania (7 km from the city, good if traveling to eastern Sicily), and Vincenzo Florio in Trapani Birgi (15 km from Trapani and Marsala, the gateways to Western Sicily).

What can you do in Sicily without a car?

  1. Ortigia Old Town of Siracusa. Taxi from Catania Airport to Old Town – 1 h for 65 EUR.
  2. Beach Day at Cala Zaffiro. …
  3. Noto the City of Baroque Architecture. …
  4. Noto to Catania Train Station. …
  5. Catania to Etna by Train. …
  6. Etna to Catania Train Station. …
  7. Catania Train Station to Catania Airport.

Can I take a train to Sicily?


You can take a train from mainland Italy to Sicily

. The whole train goes onto a ferry from the mainland, and you can reach a few cities by train once on the island, including popular beach resort towns like Taormina. For the most part, Sicily is best explored by car.

Can I take my car to Sicily?


You can drive a car on or walk on, assuming there’s space

, and the trip from Villa San Giovanni or Reggio di Calabria on the mainland to Messina on Sicily takes about a half-hour. Two ferry companies to look for are Meridiano Lines and Caronte & Tourist, and some prices are: Foot passenger – €1.50 one-way/€2 round-trip.

Is it worth hiring a car in Sicily?

For anyone planning a trip to Sicily

we highly recommend renting a car for your time on the island

. Renting a car in Sicily is probably the best way to see the island and allows you the flexibility to explore this incredible island at your own pace.

Is driving in Sicily easy?

Most travelers will find that driving in Sicily is

not overly difficult

, especially in larger cities like Palermo and Catania. When navigating around some of the island’s more complex historic centers, drivers will need to be on top of their game.

How long would it take to drive around Sicily?

I was able to complete my tour of Sicily – driving approximately 900 miles around the entire island in

nine days and eight nights

. There were early mornings, of course, and, at times, long stretches between stops. But since the main roads are well maintained, you can move about fairly quickly.

How many days do you need to see Sicily?

Sicily can be experienced in as little as 3 to 5 days if you are short on time and interested in a quick coastal retreat. However, it’s much better to spend

at least a week

discovering this Mediterranean paradise. If you have 7 days you can explore a meaningful section of the island.

How long does it take to drive all around Sicily?

If you want to cover both sides at a reasonable pace, you need

at least three weeks

. The good news is that this isn’t something to be concerned or upset about – both eastern and western Sicily are fantastic destinations in their own right, and offer ample experiences to enjoy a quintessentially Sicilian summer break.

Can you fly directly to Sicily?


There are no direct flights from the US to Sicily

, so travelers must change planes, either within Italy or at another airport in Europe.

Is there a bridge from Italy to Sicily?

Strait of Messina Bridge Ponte sullo stretto di Messina Construction end – Location Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap

How long is the ferry ride from Italy to Sicily?

The fastest route between Italy and Sicily is Messina with a crossing duration of around

0 hour 25 minute

. With so many routes on offer we make it simple by comparing all similar routes in one search so you can quickly find what you are looking for.

How can I spend 10 days in Sicily?

  1. Day 1: Palermo.
  2. Day 2: Monreale and Cefalù
  3. Day 3: Stromboli.
  4. Day 4: Taormina.
  5. Day 5: Climb Mount Etna.
  6. Day 6: Syracuse.
  7. Day 7: Noto, Modica, and Ragusa.
  8. Day 8: Agriento and Scala dei Turchi.

Is public transport good in Sicily?

Hefty fines are imposed if travelling without a ticket. There are several bus companies operating in Sicily, and for longer distances we consider taking a bus because they are generally the faster option for travel, are air conditioned and very pleasant to travel in.

Buses are more reliable than trains in Sicily

.

What can you do in Sicily in 3 days?

  1. Day 1: Enjoy the local beach of Mondello. …
  2. Day 2: Catch the train to Cefalù (50 minutes), the hidden gem of Sicily. …
  3. Day 3: In the morning visit Palermo and the Ballaro’ Market.

Can you take a ferry from Rome to Sicily?


The Civitavecchia Palermo ferry route connects Rome with Sicily

. Currently there is just the 1 ferry company operating this ferry service, Grandi Navi Veloci. The crossing operates up to 1 times each week with sailing durations from around 15 hours.

Which is better Palermo or Catania?

Catania or Palermo for beaches:

Palermo is the winner here

. Mondello, the local beach of the city, is one of the best in Sicily. Rent a car to drive to San Vito Lo Capo (1.5 hours one way), one of the best beaches in Europe. Don’t keep me wrong, also Catania has nice beaches, but Mondello is unbeatable.

Can you fly from Rome to Sicily?

With several airlines offering plentiful low-cost flights in just over an hour,

air travel is by far the most comfortable and efficient way to travel between Rome and Sicily

.

Can you take a car on the ferry to Sicily?

You must be, with your car, at the boarding point about two hours before departure. Usually, when boarding, only the driver can drive car. Furthermore

it’s not possible, once the car has been parked in the ferry, to get to the vehicle during the ferry journey

.

Can you swim from Sicily to Italy?


You’ll swim across the Messina Strait from Punta Faro in Sicily, to Cannitello, Calabria in Italy with strong currents in your favor

. With water at 73-77 degrees Fahrenheit, you can shed that wetsuit and soak up the blue Mediterranean – and the delicious food and wine in the region!

Can you take a rental car from Italy to Sicily?


Many car rental companies permit one-way rentals between Sicily and mainland Italy

. There are frequent year-round ferries between Villa San Giovanni in the mainland region of Calabria and Messina in Sicily.

Do you need a car in Palermo?

If you are coming to Palermo or Catania for a long weekend,

you don’t need a car

. You can simply walk around or use trains, buses and taxis.

Do they drive on the left in Sicily?

On the road in Sicily


Driving in Sicily is on the right

. The speed limits are 130 km/h on highways, 110 km/h on state and provincial roads, 90 km/h on secondary and local roads and 50 km/h in urban areas.

Who owns Sicily by car?

Sicily by Car, Leader Car rental Company was founded in 1963 by

Tommaso Dragotto

, which began his business challenge with a fleet made up by a fiat 1300, a fiat 1100 and two fiat 500’s.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.