Messina
Messina is a harbour city at Sicily's northeast tip, the main ferry link to mainland Calabria, and a base for day trips to Taormina and the Aeolian Islands.
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Messina is a harbour city on the northeast tip of Sicily, on the Strait of Messina. It is the island's third-largest city after Palermo and Catania. It is also the main ferry link from Sicily to mainland Calabria: boats run from the Messina Marittima port to Villa San Giovanni, and Reggio Calabria sits just across the strait. The city has no airport. Catania is about 96 km away and Palermo about 223 km.
The cathedral's bell tower stands about 90 m high, and its astronomical clock performs at noon every day. An earthquake and tsunami nearly destroyed the city in 1908, and the rebuilding from 1912 was mostly in Liberty style, with wide straight streets. The seafront faces the strait, and Mount Etna is visible to the south. Taormina and the Aeolian Islands are close enough for day trips, so Messina works well as a stop between ferries or as a base. Summer is the drier season, but southern-wind heatwaves can push temperatures to 40 °C.
Messina in five
- Treat Messina as a gateway, not a baseMost visitors pass through on the way to Taormina, Cefalù or the Aeolian Islands. A night helps if your ferry or train arrives late, but there is more to see elsewhere on the island.Sicily travel guide
- Catch the cathedral clock at noonThe cathedral's astronomical clock tower puts on a show at midday. Arrive a few minutes early for a place in the square, and check the cathedral's official site for opening hours.
- Cross the strait by ferry on foot or by carShort ferries link Messina with Villa San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria on the mainland. Check operator timetables for foot, car and train options before you travel.
- Use the train for the coastRegional trains run north to Milazzo and south toward Taormina and Catania. Check timetables, because services thin out on Sundays.Milazzo travel guide
- Use Milazzo for the Aeolian ferriesHydrofoils to the Aeolian Islands leave mainly from Milazzo, not Messina. If your goal is the islands, base in Milazzo instead of Messina.
Things to do in Messina
See all attractions in Messina
Need to know
- Airport
- Catania (CTA) about 1.5 hours; Reggio Calabria across the strait
- Getting there
- Ferry from Villa San Giovanni; train from Catania and Palermo
- Getting around
- Walking, trams and local buses; trains for the coast
- Best base
- Near the harbor and cathedral
- Time needed
- Half a day to 1 night
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Mild, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Mild, rainFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°SpringMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Warm, wildflowersAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, wildflowers
- MayClear9 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Warm, sunnyMayClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, sunny
- JuneClear6 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°HotJulyClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- AugustClear7 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Hot, ferries busyAugustClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, ferries busy
- SeptemberClear10 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°MildOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°WetNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Mild, lightsDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, lights
Average daily high and low in Messina, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Messina
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 17 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Messina
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°14°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue20°15°53%Tuesday: Rain. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Wed20°14°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu19°17°25%Thursday: Rain. High 19°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Fri20°17°21%Friday: Rain. High 20°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Sat20°16°13%Saturday: Rain. High 20°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sun21°17°13%Sunday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 13%.
Updated 06:13 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Taormina and Giardini-Naxosabout 45–60 minutes by trainGreek theater and beaches.Read the guide
- Milazzoabout 40 minutes by trainCastle, cape and the Aeolian port.Read the guide
- Reggio Calabriaabout 25–40 minutes by ferryArchaeology across the strait.
Before you go to Messina
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Rules for Messina, checked
- Check whether you need a visa for Italy before you book, since the rules depend on your passport. The Italian Foreign Ministry site lists current requirements.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Some restaurants add a cover charge (coperto) per person, so check the bill before you tip.
- Buy ATM Messina bus tickets before boarding and check the validation rules on the bus or at the ticket office.
Plan around Messina
The island overview and first-timer routes
Read the guideMilazzoPort for the Aeolian Islands
Read the guideGiardini-NaxosBeach base near Taormina
Read the guideCataniaAirport city and Etna base
Read the guideAll of ItalyCities, coasts, lakes and the Alps
Read the guideEES, explainedPassport checks at Schengen borders
Read the guideMessina FAQ
Is Messina worth visiting?
As a stop, yes: the cathedral, its clock and the harbor give a few hours of interest. As a base, usually no, because Taormina, Milazzo and Catania offer more to see and stay for. Treat it as a gateway.
How do I get from the mainland to Messina?
By ferry from Villa San Giovanni or Reggio Calabria, with foot, car and train options. Long-distance trains may cross by ferry, and arrangements change; check operators before you travel.
How long should I spend in Messina?
A few hours is enough for the cathedral square and clock, and one night makes sense if your ferry or train arrives late. Two or more nights are better spent in Taormina or Milazzo.
Can I reach the Aeolian Islands from Messina?
Some services exist, but most ferries and hydrofoils leave from Milazzo, about 40 minutes by train. Base in Milazzo for the islands, and check operators for seasonal timetables.
What time is the Messina cathedral clock show?
The astronomical clock performs at midday. Stand in the cathedral square a few minutes beforehand, and check the cathedral's official site for the current opening times and any changes.