Catania
Sicily's second-largest city, with a Baroque old centre rebuilt after 1693, the Pescheria fish market and day trips to Mount Etna.
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Catania is a port city on Sicily's east coast, facing the Ionian Sea at the foot of Mount Etna, Europe's tallest active volcano. It is the second-largest city on the island after Palermo and the economic and transport hub of southeastern Sicily. Its old centre was rebuilt in Late Baroque style after the 1693 earthquake and is part of the UNESCO-listed Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto. Lava stone from the volcano gives many of its streets a uniform, dark look.
Visitors come for the old centre, the food and the volcano. The Pescheria, the fish market near Piazza Duomo, is full of colour, voices and smells. Arancini, cone-shaped to evoke Mount Etna, are the city's most iconic street food, and pasta alla Norma is a typical local dish. Via Etnea runs about 3 km north from Piazza del Duomo, and the Roman theatre and Odeon stand in the centre within the archaeological park. For Etna, the Circumetnea railway runs around the volcano's base. Summers are very hot, with temperatures above 40 °C a couple of times most years, so spring and autumn suit walking best.
Catania in five
- Pick your Etna day by the forecastOpen zones on the volcano change with activity, and cable car and 4x4 runs stop in wind or ash. Book the guided trip once the forecast is clear, not months ahead.Etna day trip from Catania
- Leave the car outside the ZTLThe historic center has limited traffic zones with camera enforcement. Ask your hotel about plates and parking, and check the city's ZTL map before you drive in; fines can follow you home.
- Eat at the fish market in the morningLa Pescheria by Piazza del Duomo runs mornings and winds down by early afternoon. Go before noon for the stalls and the nearby street food, and watch your bag in the crowd.
- Use the train for the coastTrains from Catania Centrale run along the coast to Syracuse and toward Taormina-Giardini and Messina. Buses are the better option for most inland towns.Catania vs Taormina vs Syracuse
- Fly into Catania for the eastCatania Fontanarossa is close to town, and the Alibus airport bus runs to the center; the AMTS site lists a €4 fare valid for 90 minutes on city lines. Palermo is the better airport only if you start in the west.Where to stay in Catania
Things to do in Catania
See all attractions in Catania
Need to know
- Airport
- Catania Fontanarossa (CTA), a short ride from the center
- Getting there
- Flights; trains from Messina and Syracuse; buses from Palermo
- Getting around
- Walkable center; buses; a short metro line
- Best base
- Centro Storico or Via Etnea
- Time needed
- 2 days, plus 1 for Etna
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear7 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Mild, rainJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- FebruaryClear7 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Mild, quietFebruaryClear
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Spring startsMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Easter, Etna snowAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Easter, Etna snow
- MayClear6 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warm, greenMayClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh33°Low24°Hot, crowdedJulyClear
Good
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh33°Low24°HottestAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Warm sea, harvestSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, harvest
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Etna harvestOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 128 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Etna harvest
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Rain returnsNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain returns
- DecemberClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Mild, quietDecemberClear
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Catania, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Catania
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 68%
- Wind
- 18 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Catania
10:14 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°13°100%Monday: Rain. High 20°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue24°14°5%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Wed22°11°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu18°16°81%Thursday: Rain. High 18°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 81%.
- Fri19°15°79%Friday: Rain. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 79%.
- Sat22°13°13%Saturday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sun23°13°15%Sunday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 15%.
Updated 09:15 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Day trips from Catania, the full guide- Mount Etnaabout 1.5–2 hours by bus or tourRifugio Sapienza, craters and cable car; summit areas need a guide.Read the guide
- Taorminaabout 45–60 min by train to Taormina-Giardini, then a bus or taxi upA hilltop town with a Greek theater; Giardini Naxos is the beach town below.Read the guide
- Notoabout 1–1.5 hours by car or busA planned Baroque town in honey-colored stone.Read the guide
- Syracuseabout 1–1.5 hours by trainOrtigia island, the Greek theater and the old harbor.Read the guide
Before you go to Catania
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Rules for Catania, checked
- The Etna cable car climbs from 1,920 m to 2,500 m; the Tour 3000 ticket adds a 4x4 bus and a volcano guide and is listed at €82 by the operator.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Catania FAQ
How many days do you need in Catania?
Two days cover the center, the market and a food crawl. Add one for Etna and a fourth if you want Syracuse or Taormina as separate day trips.
Is Catania worth visiting or just a base?
Both. It has a working-city grit that some find rough, but the Baroque center, the market and the food are good, and it is the best-connected city on the east coast.
Can you visit Mount Etna from Catania without a tour?
Yes, to the lower zones. A public bus runs to Rifugio Sapienza, and the cable car climbs from about 1,920 m to 2,500 m. Summit areas need an authorized guide, and the open zones change, so check the operator on the day.
Is Catania safe for tourists?
It is generally fine, but pickpockets work the market, the station and crowded buses. Keep bags closed, avoid empty back streets late at night and use official taxis.
Should I stay in Catania or Taormina?
Catania for food, trains and a real city; Taormina for views, beaches and a polished resort feel at higher prices. Many visitors sleep in Catania and see Taormina as a day trip.