What to Do in Catania?

At the foot of Mount Etna in Sicily, you will discover a city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002-Catania! A city built around the 8th century BC that has been destroyed and rebuilt seven times throughout its existence It is also embraced by the Ionian Sea, which will delight travelers seeking relaxation as well as good food So without further ado, here's what to do in Catania, Sicily

Palermo is of course the first city that comes to mind when planning a trip to Sicily. The Etna volcano also immediately springs to mind If that's the case for you, I strongly encourage you to set aside two or three days to discover Catania!

Catania's geographical location is absolutely unique, nestled between one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world and the sea! This has also led the city to be hit by natural disasters several times... Yet, this has not hindered the Sicilian city, which today bears witness to various influences from different civilizations that have succeeded each other over the centuries, rebuilding the city each time

These influences can especially be seen in the architecture of the current buildings, as well as in the relics from another era found in the archaeological area

You can find a Piazza del Duomo (Duomo meaning '>') in almost every Italian city, and Catania is no exception. This is the main square of the city right in the heart of the historic center. It is entirely pedestrian! Therefore, it's a meeting point for locals, as well as for tourists wishing to soak in the Sicilian atmosphere

There are several bars, cafés, and restaurants, as well as historical buildings and monuments such as the elephant fountain (>) ⛲️ This fountain was built in 1735 with black basalt. Legend has it that the elephant calmed the eruptions of Mount Etna.

Another monument at Piazza del Duomo is the Cathedral of Sant'Agatha. It is absolutely a must-see due to the complexity of its architecture and the beautifully crafted details It notably houses the relics of the patron saint of Catania and the tomb of Bellini!

This place is generally the starting point for all tours of Catania, whether you're with a guide or on your own By the way, I highly recommend this guided tour of Catania for €20 per person.

The other major place to see in Catania is the historic artery of the city, Via Etna! Modified several times, Via Etna starts at Piazza del Duomo. It has always housed numerous traditional shops, as well as restaurants, bistros, and many gelaterias Of course, there are also beautiful Baroque palaces, making this street, composed of tiles cut from lava, an absolutely unique and unmissable place during a road trip in Sicily.

In the midst of these predominantly volcanic landscapes, you will also find a well-known green space, the Villa Bellini, also known as the '> These gardens are located at the end of Via Etna and invite you to relax!

Amidst the fountains, well-maintained paths, and rare plant species, you can perfectly enjoy a picnic with family on the immaculate lawns while encountering many locals jogging in the Villa Bellini And my little tip is to make your way to the top of the park's small hill, which offers a splendid view of all Catania with Mount Etna in the background

Since we're talking about Etna, I can't speak about the best activities to do in Catania without mentioning the ascent of Etna, which is quite possible despite the volcano being very active

There are several ways to make this ascent of over 3,300 meters! Hiking, quad biking, 4x4... There's even a cable car that can take you to the craters for those less inclined to hike As a side note, if you find the cable car price exorbitant (€50), know that it is usually the first thing damaged in case of an eruption, so it requires regular maintenance

Once you've chosen your mode of transport, keep in mind that the last meters of the ascent of Etna (from 2,920 m to 3,343 m) cannot be done without a volcanic guide! I strongly advise choosing a guided hike on Mount Etna, where you can explore lava tunnels, caves, as well as secondary craters and the Barbagallo crater

In the heart of downtown Catania, there is also an archaeological zone with three absolutely unmissable sites dating back to the 2nd century but only discovered during the 20th century!

The first and most famous site in Catania's archaeological area is the Greco-Roman theater, shaped like a half-circle and constructed from bricks, marbles, as well as magma in the 5th century BC Located just behind via Vittorio Emanuele, it could accommodate up to 7,000 people for theatrical performances, which were very popular in ancient cities.

Some of these remains are still buried under the monuments built around them, and the area is still being excavated, but that doesn't prevent a visit either guided or self-guided

Just a few meters west of the Greco-Roman theater, there is an odeon, a kind of auditorium where many concerts and operas were held in ancient times. It was built well after the theater, in the 1st century AD.

Right next to the Greco-Roman theater on Piazza Stesicoro, you will also discover an amphitheater. According to archaeologists and historians, it is the most recent of the three constructions as it dates from the 2nd century.

Ursino Castle in Catania is undoubtedly the most surprising place in all of Sicily! This fortress, built in the 13th century by Frederick II (emperor of Sicily), has withstood all natural disasters, notably the devastating earthquake at the end of the 17th century There was, however, one consequence: the castle, which was initially located on a cliff by the sea, has moved about 1 km inland!

With this rich and surprising history, you will understand why a visit to Ursino Castle, which now houses a municipal museum from the Greco-Roman period and an art gallery, is indispensable!

Entry costs €6 per person and tickets can be purchased directly on site.

You can't spend time in Sicily without enjoying the Ionian Sea, especially pleasant during the summer ☀️ San Giovanni li Cuti beach is the most famous in Catania, but don't expect a pristine beach!

The beach is indeed surrounded by rocks blackened by various volcanic eruptions over the centuries. It is therefore difficult to lay your towels for sunbathing... I recommend San Giovanni li Cuti especially if you need to cool off in the middle of August and also to admire the scenery of these beautiful wooden fishing boats that float peacefully in the sea ⚓️

Sicily has been one of the 5 regions of Italy since 1946, do you see where I'm going with this? Italy, in my view, is the country offering the best gastronomy in the world, far surpassing France Regional specialties like arancini in Sicily are testament to that!

These are fried risottos with a melting heart of mozzarella or any other key Italian ingredient, and they are simply a delight! You can literally find them on every street corner in Catania, so to find the best, I recommend this street food tour in Catania It costs around €45 per person.

About an hour's drive from Catania is the medieval town of Taormina (or '>). It is among the most beautiful towns in Sicily! The town also offers many excursions to Mount Etna and serves as a great base

In addition to its medieval-style shopping streets like Corso Umberto, like Catania, Taormina has a rich history and also possesses a Greco-Roman theater! I would even say that this theater is in better condition than the one mentioned above

To fully enjoy this place, I advise you to get there on your own, by renting a car (starting at €10 per day on DiscoverCars) or by bus (with Interbus for about €6). Then, choose the skip-the-line ticket for the ancient theater of Taormina, which includes an audio guide (22 €). This will be much cheaper and richer than an excursion from Catania!

If you enjoyed your visit to Ursino Castle, you will love Aci Castello, 30 minutes by bus from Catania. This village, famous for its long cobbled promenade along the sea, also houses a Norman castle, also famous for the panoramic view it offers

Admission costs €3.50 and is to be paid directly on site.

Have you ever heard of agritourism (>) in Tuscany? Before discovering exactly what that means, know that the charming village of Zafferana in Sicily also offers this very authentic type of stay, ideal for immersing yourself in Sicilian culture

To simplify, you will stay in a local inn or farm and learn about various traditional practices from the inn or farm owners! One could compare agritourism to not being exactly restful, but the workshops offered to tourists are very fun, and all these inns and farms generally have an incredible property with gardens, pools, etc...

Since I recommend spending two or three days in Catania, I also advise choosing accommodation in the historic district of the city. You will save considerable time I'm suggesting two places where to stay in Sicily in Catania with great value for money <-️

Plebis B&B offers beautiful rooms with a terrace just steps from Catania's historic center! In addition to spacious and modern rooms, the establishment offers bike rentals and has private parking (a significant advantage in the middle of ZTL... be sure to inquire about that). For the night, prices start at €94.

I Vespri is also located right in the historic center and even in a traditional historic building! Despite that, you will enjoy well-decorated and spacious rooms with a terrace. For the night, expect to pay from €59 with breakfast included.

Even though it is not the capital, Catania has its own international airport, and several low-cost airlines operate routes between it and various airports in France. To get an idea of the prices, use a comparison site like Ulysse and enter your travel dates.

If you are already in Sicily, you can also reach Catania from Palermo by taking a train from the national company Trenitalia, which you can purchase on Trainline

From other cities, you will also have buses available, which is the cheapest option, unless you have your own vehicle on site or (in some cases) a rental car

For car rentals, you can usually find deals for around €10 per day via DiscoverCars (not including fuel)! The price decreases the longer you rent. For a week in Sicily in February, I even found an offer for around €5 So, this is an option worth considering if you have a tight budget!

We are now coming to the end of this practical guide to discovering what to do in Catania, Sicily. In addition to this top 10 of places to visit, you have also received tips for all the organization of your trip If you still need help, for example with visiting the capital, check out my guides on what to do in Palermo and where to stay in Palermo!