LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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9 EXCELLENT DAY TRIPS FROM CATANIA WITHOUT A HIRE CAR.

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Catania is a vibrant city in the east of Sicily. It is a city that divides visitors. Personally, we really enjoyed the vivaciousness of Catania, the bustling markets and the youthful, sometimes noisy, nightlife. Other visitors find the city a bit too gritty, brash in places.

However, I think one thing that most could agree on, is that Catania geographically makes an excellent base from which to explore more of the eastern side of the island.

In this blog post, we will explore nine of the best day trips from Catania.

One aspect of our travel philosophy, is that we always try to take public transport where possible. For this reason, all of the nine trips we highlight can be enjoyed without a hire car – either by using public transport or by taking a tour.

If you’d like more hints and tips for spending time in Catania itself, you can find our guide to how to spend one day in the city here.

9 excellent day trips from Catania

Here are our top picks for nine excellent day trips from Catania that you can enjoy without a hire car.

Visit Aci Castello & Aci Trezza

Although Catania is on the coast and does have a city beach, they are (in our opinion) not the prettiest, and probably not the type of beaches that you’d want to spend much time one.

Instead, head just 30 minutes north of Catania to the seaside villages of Aci Castello and Aci Trezza. These two twinned villages are ideal for a peaceful seaside escape from the city.

Aci Castello boasts a dramatic Norman castle perched on volcanic rock, offering sweeping views of the Ionian Sea. In nearby Aci Trezza, you’ll find the famous Isole dei Ciclopi – striking rock formations.

I should caveat, as with much of Sicily, the two Acis do not exactly have beaches. In keeping with Italian tradition, instead you’ll find plenty of rocky outcrops from which to relax. As well as purpose built Lidos to accommodate more refined sunbathers.

Our recommendation is to start with Aci Trezza in the morning – head to the bustling cafe of Mythos to try one of their popular granitas with warm brioche. After exploring this area including the pretty harbour and interesting rock formations, take a stroll to Aci Castello. For us, the more impressive of the two.

The best swimming spots in Aci Castello can be found close to the castle, just follow steps down to the ocean. Finish off your day with a late lunch, at a restaurant like Al Tubo taking in the azure sea below you.

🚌Go with public transport -You can take bus 534 from Catania’s main bus station, which runs directly to Aci Castello and Aci Trezza. The journey takes around 30 minutes. You can find up to date times on Google Maps. When it comes to tickets, we were a little confused – the driver wouldn’t allow us to buy them onboard, so we ended up with a free ride. But I think you can buy tickets in the station.

Go wine tasting

Sicily is known for its wine, particularly punchy red wine and there’s no better place to sample them than at the vineyards surrounding Mount Etna.

It’s best to take a tour to make the best of the vineyards in the area. A highly rated one is this one – which includes transport for a full day out exploring Etna, including tastings at two vineyards.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to a wine tasting tour but you still want to sample a few local drinks – we highly recommend the wine bar and tapas restaurant Vermut, in Catania. Drop by to taste a few glasses of local wine or Vermouth. If you want to eat, either book a table or join the long queue (honestly, it’s well worth the wait!)

🎫Take a tour – consider this excellent tour which takes in two wineries. Or, if you’re short of time, a tour with lunch at a winery closer to Catania.

Climb mount Etna

No visit to Catania is complete without a trip to Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano. Whether you’re looking to hike or take a cable car to the higher altitudes, the surreal landscape of black lava fields is unforgettable.

You can theoretically visit Etna independently, especially if you have a hire car. If not, we recommend taking a tour to get the best of the day.

When choosing a tour, keep in mind that tours heading to the summit of Etna sometimes do not include the cost of the cable car, so you’ll need to factor this in. Tours to around 2,500ft (i.e. not the summit) are less expensive and can still be a fantastic experience. You can find some of the best tours recommended below.

🎫Take a tour – summit hiking tour with cable car included. The tour we did was a Half day hiking tour on Etna, including a wine tasting. This is ideal if you don’t want to commit to a full day, and just want a taste of Etna.

See enchanting
Taormina

Taormina is a popular destination in Sicily for many travellers to the island. Made even more popular by Series Two of White Lotus.

Being totally honest, Taormina is not really a budget destination and as lovers of independent travel, it was not somewhere we considered staying. That said, we knew that we wanted to take a day trip to visit the “Pearl of the Ionian.” And it is very easy to reach for a day trip from Catania.

Taormina is a picture-perfect town perched on a hill overlooking the sea, famous for its ancient Greek theatre, stunning views of Mount Etna, and elegant pedestrian streets lined with chic stores. Spend the day wandering through its historic center, visiting the Teatro Greco, or taking in the views from Piazza IX Aprile.

Now, just a little word of warning – in peak summer, Taormina can be heaving with tourists. Popular hot spots like Cafe Bam Bam (famed for it’s granita), will have queues around the block. If you want to explore the town with less crowds, then visit off-peak, or arrive early in the morning.

To escape crowds, fans of White Lotus may wish to consider a fun coastal tour which takes in many of the filming locations from the tv series.

🚌 Go with public transport – You can easily take the Interbus from Catania to Taormina. The bus journey takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. It’s best to book the bus ahead of time – we use the Omio App. But, you can pay for tickets on the bus if needed.

Sandy beaches of Naxos

A few minutes on the bus from glitzy Taormina, is Giardini Naxos. For a beach day, Naxos offers long sandy stretches, crystal-clear waters, and a lively promenade lined with cafes and restaurants. It’s a more laid-back alternative to nearby Taormina and is perfect for sunbathing or swimming.

We spent a blissful afternoon on the sandy beaches of Naxos, dipping in and out of the warm ocean. Before a lowkey lunch at a beachfront pizzeria, complete with local wine (all for under 20 Euros.) A stark contrast to nearby Taormina, where one dish might cost you the same price as our entire meal.

Naxos offers Lidos with paid for access to loungers and umbrellas. Or, you can freely lay a towel down without any bother.

🚌 Go with public transport – you can take the Intercity busy from Catania to Naxos. Book tickets via Omio. Our top tip if you are short on time is to combine a visit to Taormina with a beach day in Naxos. Buses run frequently between the two towns.

Explore the town of Noto

Noto is one of Sicily’s Baroque gems, with its honey-coloured buildings, grand churches, and elegant streets. Honestly, we just couldn’t get over how stunning Noto is. As UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town is a must-visit for architecture lovers.

Visit the Cattedrale di San Nicolò and take a stroll along Corso Vittorio Emanuele for some of the best sights. Allow yourself enough time to wander and get lost.

We would also recommend at least two long coffee stops – purely so that you can position yourself in a cafe in front of the most spectacular buildings in Noto and spend time gawping at them. Try Cafe Sicilia and Il Tagliere di Don Mario.

🚌Go with public transport – Intercity buses run from Catania to Noto, and the journey takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Book tickets via Omio or pay onboard.

Delight in Modica & Ragusa

Modica and Ragusa are two gorgeous Baroque towns inland of Catania. They are a little further away than you may like for a day trip, but if you are a big fan of historic places with breathtaking architecture, you won’t mind the journey.

Both Modica and Ragusa offer an incredible insight into Sicily’s Baroque heritage. In Modica, don’t miss the chance to try the town’s famous chocolate, while Ragusa’s historic center, Ragusa Ibla, is filled with beautiful palaces, gardens, and churches.

You can find our more detailed guides to Modica here and Ragusa here.

🚌Go with public transport – You can take a direct bus from Catania to Modica and Ragusa, with travel times around 2 hours. Modica is the closest of the two around 15 minutes before Ragusa. You could theoretically visit both in a day, but it may feel a bit rushed. Buses run a few times per day between the two towns.

Travel to Syracuse & Ortigia

As I sit writing this in rainy England, all I can think is that if I could spend one day in Sicily at this very moment, I would spend it in Syracuse & Ortigia.

A quick explanation – Syracuse & Oritigia are essentially the same place. Ortigia is the old town of Syracuse and happens to be an island attached by a bridge. With one day in the area, you are likely to spend most of your time in Ortigia.

Syracuse is rather a treasure trove of Greek history – fans of all things ancient will appreciate Neapolis Archaeological Park, known for the amphitheater.

Alternatively, start your day walking the narrow streets of Ortigia, stopping for coffee in a piazza, visit the utterly impressive Syracuse Cathedral before browsing artisan stores along Via Roma. On route to the Old Market of Ortigia, pause to see the Temple of Apollo. Spend an hour or so browsing the market, before settling in for a spot of lunch at one of the casual stall eateries.

Any warm afternoon in Syracuse & Ortigia is best spent at the beach (in my view). For us, this was invariably Spaggia di Cala Rossa, which enjoys a rare mix of warm sea and shaded beach in the late afternoon, followed by Spiaggia Diana nel Forte for the early evening sun.

🚌Go with public transport – although Syracuse looks quite far from Catania, it is only a one hour 10 minute bus ride. Intercity buses run frequently from Catania central bus station.

Visit the Valley of the Temples

Located near Agrigento, the Valley of the Temples is one of Sicily’s most famous archaeological sites. The well-preserved Greek temples are spread across a picturesque site providing a fascinating look into the island’s ancient past.

Tickets for entry cost 15 Euros for adults, with a little extra if you also want to visit the archaeological museum and gardens on site. For any National Trust members reading this, you can access the gardens inside the Valley of the Temples for free -so don’t forget your membership card!

🎫Take a tour – unless you have a car, the best way to get to the Valley of the Temples is to take a tour. The cost is around 100 Euros per person, a little more pricey than travelling tot he site independently, but it does tend to include a tour guide. This top rated tour is a popular choice including transport from Catania.

Where to next in Sicily?

We’ve got loads of similar guides to help you explore Sicily more. Find them below:

• One day in Palermo: A guide to seeing the best bits
• Visiting Mondello Beach from Palermo
• One day in Cefalu: A day trip from Palermo
• One idyllic day in Syracuse & Ortigia
• Palermo or Catania: Where should you start your Sicily adventures?
• One day in the city of Catania: An unexpected gem
• Day trips from Catania: 9 of the best
• Best things to do in Modica for the day
• A guide to Ragusa: things to do and where to stay
• Modica or Ragusa – which is better?
• Pozzallo Beach – the traditional sandy beach town dream
• Best things to do in Sutera, Sicily
• Walking in Sicily on the Magna Via Francigena
• A two week itinerary in Sicily – how to travel without a car

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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