But if you prefer a livelier venue, Afrobar is a bar with a dance floor on the beach. Visit Mount Etna twice! In the wildlife reserve of Isola Bella, youll visit a spectacular sea cave famous for its crystal-clear blue waters and abundant marine life. However, staying at Rifugio Sapienza only would mean to miss the best part of Mt. Its also the tourist side and often very busy. During this time, they built a grand cathedral in Monreale. However, you are not allowed to go any further after arriving at 2,900m (see below) without a guide. While we still highly recommend reading our Hand-Picked Tours section below, the three tours above are still the greatest overall. Read our detailed guide & tips below to understand this part. The bus runs once a day only (twice daily July-August) from Catanias Stazione Centrale, or main railway station. For beautiful Baroque architecture, base yourself in the southeast near Val di Noto. The easiest way to get into town is on the train service that links the airport to central Palermo from 5 am to 8 pm. In October its windier, the chance of clouds is a little higher and there is even a chance of snow. A once-in-a-lifetime experience youll never forget! This provided a blank canvas for rebuilding on a grand scale in a fashionable style we now call the Baroque. And your guide will help you to understand all the unique features of the cave. 50 rooms have been excavated by archaeologists to reveal over 38,000 square feet of mosaic floors and lots of fine features, such as a thermal bathhouse with a colonnaded courtyard and fountain. The difference in price relates to the number of passengers carried and the time of day. He has trekking and survival experience throughout Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. I warmly suggest to walk along the sentiero dellasino, the donkey pathway.
Visiting Etna during Eruptions? Hiking up to the summit of Mount Etna active craters, 3.300 mt altitude. If you prefer, you can take a taxi into town. The easiest way to get into the city center of Catania is to take the AMT Alibus or a public bus. The south side has the typical volcano look, with barren black lava rocks, typical lunar-like landscape (find photos from the south side in the gallery below). Equipped with a headlamp and helmet, your guide will take you into this volcanic cave and teach you how lava flows are formed. Along the coastline and beaches, the Addaura, Mondello, and Sferracavallo coasts are where youll find the locals drinking and dancing. Catania has a small terminal with a good selection of food outlets and shops, including a post office and duty-free. It takes around 50 minutes and costs 6.50. Granita con brioche is an interesting traditional breakfast. It was in the autumn and not very crowded, but not sure thats relevant 25 years later! Some offer it even cheaper: Taxi Catania for 75 EUR. 457 runs the same route every 40 minutes but only costs 1! However, the best months to visit with pleasant temperatures and without the extreme July/August tourist crowds are May and late September October. Mount Etna is an active volcano, so the ground around the island isnt as stable as most other places. In the past four decades, the roads have been upgraded so getting around by rental car is also a good option. Copyright 2022 | World Guides To Travel | All Rights Reserved. The services are operated by Trenitalia. If your health condition allows it, choose a tour to the higher summit craters (3,300 m). However, Sicilian sfincione pizza has an unusually thick base. Cassata is a sponge cake flavored with citrus fruits, chocolate, marzipan, and sweet ricotta cream. Summit (3300m): 25C vs. 9C (77F vs. 48F), You can also rent a coat at the mountain station (Etna South, 2500m), Wear sturdy shoes. The Full-Day Mount Etna and Taormina Tour is our Editors Choice for the Best Mount Etna Tours From Catania. Its frequent eruptions have shaped the east of Sicily and provided fertile volcanic soil for grapes used in local wine production. Read below the insights about transport and stations for both treks, long and short (you can decide at any point/station to stay there and/or head back): 1. Sicily boasts many unique products that make excellent gifts for your friends back home or souvenirs for you. Visitors are often treated to views of a smoking cone, bubbling hot springs, volcanic vents, and occasional lava flows. That means you book a private Etna tour on the north (east) side, as its unforgettable with great guides and less touristy than Etna South. The tours by experienced operators are usuallynot affected by eruptions. Popular activities and the best hotels can be fully booked months in advance. Taormina on the other hand is more like a typical tourist resort, but the transit connections arent as good. The main harvests are during September and October, when the pistachios, almonds, and olives are ready to reap. The guided Etna North tours either use jeeps or are pure hiking tours. On the smaller, rural roads, watch out for potholes and landslides. Taxis are more expensive at night. Additionally, avoid weekends, its less busy during the week. Mount Etna! If you just would like to know really quick which tour you should join, we got you covered. Mountain Station (2,500m > enter 44 Jeep): After arriving with the cable car at the mountain station (Webcam) you can take a break at the bar there if you like. You buy the tickets on the spot. Keep in mind that even in the summer youll need a jacket above 2000m. However, the other tours are stunning as well. Taxis are generally fast and safe, but they are also expensive. A popular vegetarian dish originating in Sicily is caponata. Nearby is a large Acropolis with surrounding walls from the 7th century BCE. If you choose to get to Rifugio Sapienza by car, we highly recommend to book in advance: Rental Car Deals in Taormino or Rental Car Deals Catania Airport(best price guaranteed). Stromboli boasts the most active volcano, and its pyrotechnics frequently light the night sky. Youll find a broad variety of nightlife in Sicily from quiet bars with soft piano music to wild beach bars and nightclubs. A particularly large one in the 17th century changed the shape of the Sicilian coast with a huge outpouring of lava. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 
The different tours and hikes are confusing. 
Great tour operators and tours are (check their tour details, as they often offer both Etna South and Etna North tours): Tip: If you stay in Taormina and dont have a rental car, its easier to book a tour which starts in Taormina rather than taking 2 bus lines until you arrive in Catania or Rifugio Sapienza: Taormina >bus> Catania, then >bus> from Catania to Rifugio Sapienza. Its a lot quieter with fewer tourists than Etna Sud, especially more relaxing for a visit during the busy summer season. Helpful monthly overview: Mount Etna Weather. If possible, try to avoid July and August on the south side, as its ridiculously crowded during both peak months. A challenging hike up to 2750 mt and back on a fun downhill of volcanic ashes. Read on for more tips on how to avoid the crowds, even in the peak summer months: To use the cable car + jeep and avoid the crowds at Etna South between April and October: Regardless of the month, take the very first bus to Rifugio Sapienza (see below). Tours and Hikes: The village of Linguaglossa is the best starting point for excursions on the north side of Etna. When planning connections or booking events at your destination, be aware that Sicilian trains are notorious for running late. Make sure you take along your camera for the stunning photographs you can take while youre creating memories. As an alternative to the standard long or short trek or even going on a self-guided hike, you may also book a guided private tour in advance.
Schedule: 9 AM 5:30 PM. Your excursion includes a visit to the town of Zafferana on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna. In the winter, a pre-booked tour (see below) is highly recommended instead of going up on your own. In 1998, he survived in the wilderness for over a week without food or specialist equipment.
Youll find the Information Desk in Arrivals, and its open from 6 am to midnight. Its difficult but we usually recommend skipping day either skipping day 2 or day 3. On all the tours below you get picked up from Catania or Taormina. Your knowledgeable guide will explain all the volcanic features you experience and answer any queries you may have regarding local geology and history as you tour Etna. Sicilian cuisine is distinctly Italian and Mediterranean but of a distinct local variety shaped by the islands rich history and the locally available food ingredients. The first day should be on a private pre-booked tour with excellent guides on the north side of Etna (north/east flank). Perhaps the most famous dish in Sicily is pasta alla Norma.
Even more important is to choose the right time of day for your hike or visit. There are many Etna tours available from Catania. Before boarding your train, you must stamp your ticket in one of the orange ticket machines in the station to validate it.
Before your visit, do a few practice hikes up and down hills near home to prepare your muscles. With an active volcano and its position on the edge of a tectonic plate, Sicily sees a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Buses are usually cheaper but slower than trains, but there are exceptions like the connection between Palermo Airport and the city center where the buses are both quicker and more expensive than the local train connection. But youll also see elements of cooking influenced by the Moors and the Greeks who occupied the island in the past. Youll need your passport ready if youre traveling from Tunisia or Malta. As soon as you take the jeep, a mandatory guide is included. If you want to do your bit for the environment, check out the Bio Hotel in the Politeama area. You can see snow atop Mount Etna again, but the fields remain green. If you have a care or if you skip day 2 (Etna South on your own) then it doesnt matter. Local Bus No. If you choose to take the bus, buy the tickets at the AST office (Google Maps) in advance close to the station. for a one-way drive with up to four people. The airport near Palermo is a little better. You enter a helicopter, ride high over Mount Etnas highest craters at 4000 m. You get a unique and absolutely stunning look at the summit craters and the lava flows that flank the volcanoes sides. Otherwise, where you stay depends upon whether your main interest is soaking up the sun and swimming in the Mediterranean or visiting some of the many cultural and historic sites. There are lots of fascinating attractions spread around Sicily, and if you want to visit them all then you might want to consider staying in several locations during your visit rather than settling in just one. They can be identified by an illuminated TAXI sign atop a yellow or white vehicle. Climb up to 3000 mt and discover hot craters and lava tunnel. And if Mount Etnas volcanic landscapes appeal to you, then stay somewhere around Catania.
Temperature-wise May is better than April as temperatures are rising. Visits to Etna and even hiking tours are still possible. The hike takes at least 2.5 hours. Monday to Sunday: 8:00-21:00 Addr: Via Giuseppe Verdi, 11, Trecastagni, CT, Italy Addr: Via Firenze, 171, Catania, Italy Tn: +39 393 910 8061 Email: info@etnaunlimited.com. While your first choice for a vacation in Italy might be Rome and the Coliseum or Venice and its gondola rides, Sicily actually offers more. Every question is answered right here in this detailed guide! The photo shows one of the sleepy craters, easily achievable by car, close to the cableway car parking (Rifugio Sapienza).
There is no direct (public) bus connection from Taormina to Rifugio Sapienza. No reservation is necessary. Ascending to the top of Etna by askii, CC BY-SA. There are 8 car rental companies at the airport, including Hertz Italiana and Sixt. That means there is no way of getting to the high craters (3,300 m) on your own. Theres an Information Desk in the Arrivals area and a Tourist Office nearby. Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The differences between both treks: Short Trek (1-3 up to 2,900m): From Rifugio with Funivia + Jeep (see description above) to the summit, then short hike with a guide (40 minutes) to a low crater. Both offices open at 8 am, the tourist office closing at 10 pm and the information office at midnight. catania falkner savoring palatum itinerari enna cosa sicilying While the bars and clubs in other parts of the city are closed by 3 am, some of the venues around Vucciria in Old Town stay open until dawn. Youll find better medieval Norman buildings than anywhere in Normandy, the best-preserved Roman villa in the world, and Ancient Greek temples larger and in better condition than anything found in the Acropolis in Athens. Depending on which trek you are on. If youre traveling with kids, youll be happy to hear that kids between 4 and 11 get half-price tickets. The most complete excursion on Etna, from south to north across the top. But it is the large complex of tombs and temples in Agrigento that most visitors want to see, including the famous Tempio di Concordiaone of the best-preserved Doric temples in existence. Preferably early in the morning. This is all changing very rapidly, with new roads being built and tourism going through the roof as more and more people realize what a prime cultural site the island is. The most recent outbursts tend to be smaller, but still dangerous enough to cause evacuations to nearby villages and stop air traffic with plumes of smoke and ash. Almost a thousand years ago, the Normans spread out across Europe and occupied many areas of coastland or islands, including Sicily. lava tube) by Sicila Adventure. These are balls of creamy risotto rice breaded and deep-fried. Its winter season and quieter. Sample the local produce and taste the difference. It takes time to move around the island, so research where you want to spend your time and base yourself nearby or in a central location. Note that Sunday services are very diminished. Which means there is no official reliable source for status/alerts at the moment). They explain the volcanology and take you to lava tubes and special lava fields. The shops and food outlets all close by midnight. Both offer stunning views. Your guide will also lead you into an amazing lava flow tunnel formed during one of the eruptions. There are a lot of great things to see and do in Sicily. The north side is much quieter and includes forest, wildflowers as well as some lava parts of course, but not the lunar-like feeling from the south side. The exact recipe changes from restaurant to restaurant, but caponata is seen on menus throughout Italy. Its also possible to take the cable car first and hike the rest. The tallest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna dominates the eastern end of Sicily and fascinates millions of visitors every year. transfer sicily read However, the airport bus is quicker. This is the only tour which takes you to the highest point at 3300m! Do I need to make tour reservations? If you want to begin the evening with a snack, the Etnea Roof Bar & Restaurant is a great place to enjoy a drink with stunning views of Mount Etna and a delicious evening buffet. However, depending on the weather conditions there might be days when they are not operating. This is one of the most informative Mt Etna tours youll find. The trains are a fast option and provide great views of Sicilys landscape. The hottest month is August, with an average high of 860F and low of 750F. If you want to ski, go in winter. You may also choose to use the Funivia (see #2) from Rifugio Sapienza to the mountain station and then hike from there to the top. The nightclubs tend to draw a younger crowd, many of them students. Youll find tons of additional helpful information on their website: Parco dellEtna. Where can I go without a guide? Tours are almost always possible during normal eruptions. Yes, you are reading it right. Sicily offers some of the most amazing cultural sites youve ever seen. Orange-colored buses run services around a specific town or city, and you can use them to reach attractions around that city. First of all, youll get to the highest craters 3300m with this tour with amazing guides! 4WD excursions are organized from here, and hikers can take the 3-hours hikes from here to the cone of Etna.
You buy the tickets at their Meeting Point at Rifugio Sapienza. Summit Area (2,800 m, 3,300m): With the large jeep you reach the summit area: Torre del Filosofo. The most remarkable thing about this structure today is that, unlike many other cathedrals across Europe, it has remained largely unaltered since its first construction making it the best-preserved Norman building in Europe. Come with us on this Jeep Tour and wander around craters and lava tunnel. If youve got a sweet tooth like me, youll love the vast variety of desserts found around Sicily. By taxi or book a tour with pick-up service: We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Some say that the hike up itself at Etna South can be a little monotonous until you get to the top. There are 4 main areas for nightlife in Palermo: Old Town, La Cala Marina, Downtown and the beaches. All seasons are good for a visit to the volcano, but personally avoid July and August, too hot and crowded, Etna is one of the most visited places in Italy. But be careful and only go on organized tours run by experienced locals. You can even get to 2,900 m and experience great views without a longer hike by taking the public short trek (see above): From Rifugio Sapienza, you take the cable car (Funivia), then get into the jeep and at the summit area its a 40-minute walk to the closer craters. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Alternative Hotels and B&Bs in each town: Start: Only once a day at 10:30 (be there at 9:00 AM sharp), Its cold up there at the top, even in the summer. Renting your own vehicle is a great option if you want the freedom to explore at your own pace, especially on a Sunday. We visited the summit with a local guide and its worth the money. Photo North Side. Is it difficult? On actual hikes, carry plenty of bottled water and stay hydrated. Landscape: Forests, wildflowers, less volcano-like. You may find it difficult to hail a taxi in the street or find one at a taxi rank, but hotels can arrange one in advance if you ask at reception. If you book a private tour and get picked up from almost any town (Catania, Taormino, Nicolosi) then choose the town you like. For safety reasons and a much better experience, we highly recommend booking a tour!
You are not allowed to ascend to 3300 m without a guide. Etna North can be ascended with jeeps as well, but only via privately pre-booked tours. However, its still busy at Etna South. On the contrary! One of the highlights of the tour is exploring a lava tunnel created by flowing lava. Long-distance ferries also link Sicily to more distant places, including Malta and Tunisia as well as major Italian seaports like Genoa and Naples. You can find tasty Sicilian pasta dishes in Ristorante Bellotero in Palermo. Then, following a lunch break, youll be taken on a guided tour around the historic town of Taormina. So, be prepared. If you dont like longer hikes: The summit area of Etna South can be reached without pre-booking via the public transports (cable car, + 44). The Politeama and Liberta Downtown area are where youll find the quieter crowd of more mature drinkers and the more sophisticated cocktail bars. These should take around 15 minutes and cost between 25 and 40. Youd need years to explore them all completely. In winter, snow tops its peak providing fun for skiers and a beautiful skyline. Its difficult to find power outlets to charge mobile devices and Wi-Fi is only available inside the two airport lounges, which you must pay to enter. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In summer, its cooler on the beaches and a great place for dancing. Some visitors only do this quick visit and dont go further.
The Inter City Express trains are the fastest and most comfortable, but theyre more expensive than the local trains that stop at every station. If an active volcano crater is what you want to see, this is a perfect excursion to Etna for you. The train takes about an hour and costs 5.50. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. If you want to hike up and down mountains or to the many wonderful ruins, avoid the midsummer heat and go in spring or the fall. However, if you choose a guided tour to the very top, youll see the same craters and volcanic landscape at the summit area. On day 3 you book a private tour to experience Syracuse and other fascinating historical parts.
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