Catania

The city has a history dating back 2,700 years, dominated by several different cultures (Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, etc.) and was a rich commercial centre, mainly due to its port. Again, since the 1970s, the city economy is growing as the urban area and the suburbs, making Catania a large metropolitan centre, mainly between the volcano and the sea. Today, even if you can find there most of the biggest commercial centers in Europe (especially Etnapolis), the 17th-century downtown area is still the centre of the day-to-day life.

Catania sits under the most major active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna, and has been destroyed many times in the past. As a result, Catania is a city where you can find a great variety of landscape and architecture, a lot of dirty buildings and also a lot of abandoned houses, especially in the mountains. However, since the city is a World Heritage Site, a lot of renovations have been made.

Today, you will feel in Catania a mix of nostalgia and joie de vivre, especially at night or during festivals.

The major feature of this city is its architecture, which is predominantly baroque.

The major characteristic of Baroque architectural is its theatricality. This style dominated Europe in the 17th century as a result of the reformation/counter-reformation where the statement given was one of grandeur. The preceding style was Renaissance, while the succeeding was Neoclassicism. The three major features are a near excessive amount of detail (statues, lots of gold, columns and pilasters, garlands and wreaths, etc.), façades which are taller than the nave (to fool the viewer of the size) and frescoes often featuring trompe-l'œil.

Baroque from Catania has several unique features such as use of dark lava stone (basalt), the Bell in the façade itself and grotesque masks and putti.

Catania has a hot summer-mediterranean climate with long hot, dry summers and short, mild winters. Summer experiences a pronounced aridity with a strong prevalence of stable, sunny conditions whereas winter presents more interchangeable weather. Temperatures of 35°C are usual in summer and temperatures in winter generally revolve around 17°C during the day. Springs and autumns enjoy warm day temperatures, ranging from 20°C in March to 31°C in September.

Catania
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       64     16 5       46     16 5       43     19 6       30     21 9       18     26 12       11     31 17       7.8     34 19       9.8     35 20       51     31 18       59     26 15       66     21 10       79     17 7 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Catania Climate Averages
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       2.5     61 41       1.8     61 41       1.7     65 44       1.2     71 47       0.7     79 54       0.4     88 62       0.3     93 67       0.4     94 69       2     87 65       2.3     78 58       2.6     70 50       3.1     63 44 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

• 1 Bureau Turismo, via Vittorio Emanuele II, 172, ☏ , toll-free: , bureau.turismo@comune.catania.it. M–Sa 08:00–19:15, Su 08:30–13:30. The Tourist Bureau of the city. (updated Jan 2016)
• Info point of the province of Catania at the via Etnea.
• Catania Pass. The city of Catania promotes a tourist bundle which combines a transport pass for the city with some discounts to a handful of the city's museums. See yourself if you need one of them: Museo Civico "Castello Ursino", Museo Belliniano, Museo Emilio Greco, Museo Diocesano and Terme Achilliane are free, plus Monastero dei Benedettini is €4 instead of €7. Personal: 24 hr €12.50, 72 hr €16.50, 120 hr (5 days) €20.00. (updated Mar 2017)

Eruptions of Mount Etna and Stromboli can cause disruptions of the flights, such as in July 2024.

• 1 Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA  ^IATA Vincenzo Bellini Airport), ☏ . The airport is on the coast 5 km (3.1 mi) south of central Catania. There are frequent flights to Rome FCO; other domestic destinations include Bastia, Bologna, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Perugia, Pisa, Turin, Venice and Verona. International destinations (some seasonal) include Barcelona, Berlin, Bucharest, Madrid, Malta (frequent), Manchester, Paris and Stuttgart. Arrivals: exit straight ahead for the Alibus stop and taxi rank. Turn right (east) through Arrivals hall for car hire desks, TIC (☏ ; M-Sa 08:00 to 19:15) and intercity buses & ticket booths. There's also a cafe, shop, currency exchange, ATMs and (handy, this) a pigeon trap. The airport hotel is 200 m north. Departures: airside is a large hall with shops and two cafes. The non-Schengen area (gates 19-22) is small: there's toilets and a shop but no cafes, so don't go through passport control until an hour or so before your departure.  (updated Mar 2018)

The simplest way to reach central Catania is on the AMTS Alibus, ☏ , toll-free: . This bus runs daily 05:30 to 00:00, every 25 min. From the airport via sea-port to the railway station takes 25 min. Coming back allow 30 min, as from the railway station the bus makes a city centre loop before returning to the station roundabout. So if you see a red & blue Alibus standing at the station plaza, take it, otherwise go to bus stop Giovanni XXIII Sturzo at the corner of Via Luigi Sturzo and Viale della Liberta. The bus stop Giovanni XXIII Sturzo is only indicated by a small sign under the pedestrian crossing sign, just leap out waving as the bus approaches. €4 (available on board, debit or credit card, valid 90 min including urban bus lines or app). (updated Oct 2019)

Because the airport is so close, the inter-city buses running to Catania also call here, so you can usually get a direct connection: see listings below. Buses to nearby towns and villages (run by AST) mostly don't call here, so you'll have to go downtown to change. However the local buses to Donnalucata, Modica and Carlentini do call here, as the airport happens to be on the route. Buy bus tickets from the kiosks by the east exit of the Arrivals hall.

The transport hub of Catania is the big roundabout Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII (that's "Pope John 23rd" for non-Latins). The metro station is right here, as is the main railway station, and just north is the bus station 2 Stazione AST. The main bus terminal is S side of Via Archimede (corner with Viale della Liberta.) But there are no facilities here, and you need to buy your ticket from the ticket offices along Via D'Amico, a short block north. Coach parking lots sprawl over adjacent blocks but the only other active pick-up and drop-off areas are for some SAIS long-distance services, facing Via D'Amico. (updated Mar 2018)

The main bus companies running from here are:

• A.S.T. (Azienda Siciliana Trasporti), ☏ . These run from the city to nearby small towns including Acireale, Caltagirone, Carlentini, Grammichele, Lentini, Modica, Nicolosi for Mount Etna, and Siracusa. They don't run to Taormina. (updated Mar 2018)
• Interbus (Etna Trasporti), Via D'Amico 187, ☏ . These run from city & airport to Taormina and Giardini Naxos (every couple of hours, 90 min), Messina (one per day, 4 hours), Ragusa (frequent, 2 hours) and Siracusa (frequent, 70 min). Also to Agira, Avola, Catenuova, Leonforte, Nicosia, Nissoria, Noto, Pachino, Portopalo, Priolo, and Regalbuto. Interbus is part of a conglomeration of Sicilian bus companies. Around Catania the main operator is Etna Trasporti, with blue buses. (updated Mar 2018)
• SAIS Trasporti, Via D'Amico, 181, ☏ . These make overnight runs from city and airport to Bari (8 hr), Naples (9 hr), and Rome (10 hr). They also run frequent buses across Sicily via Caltanissetta and Canicattì to Agrigento. (updated Mar 2018)
• SAIS Autolinee, 181 Via D'Amico, ☏ . These run from city and airport to Enna (6 per day, 75 min), Messina (hourly, 2 hr) and Palermo (hourly, 2 hr 30 min). At Messina they connect with buses by Giuntabus Trasporti to Milazzo, the ferry port for the Aeolian Islands. (updated Mar 2018)

Trains run roughly hourly along the east coast via Taormina-Giardini to Messina (90 min to 2 hr). Three of these per day are direct services to Naples (7-8 hours) and Rome (10 hours), via the Straits ferry. Five trains per day run inland via Enna (1 hour) to Palermo (3 hours). 12 trains a day run south to Syracuse (one hour); two of these connect with onward trains to Pozzallo (2 hr 30 min); 2 trains a weekday run the scenic inland route to Caltagirone (1 hr 30 min) and then with the replacement bus to Gela (1 hr more) (as of Feb 2020).

• 3 ^{[dead link]} Catania Centrale, Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII (10 minutes walk east from the city centre). Small cafe & tobacconist here. Wheelchair access to platforms 2-5 involves lumping over the tracks. The nearest Left luggage service is the informatik kiosk in front of the building; open daily 08:00-13:00 & 15:00-19:00. The next Left Luggage service is 500 m away at Atripical, Piazza Duca di Genova, 6; open daily 09:00-19:00.  (updated Mar 2018)

There are two small stations to the north, Catania Europa and Catania Ognina. Visitors are unlikely to use them. To the south, there is the stop "Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa", by which the airport can be reached via a short walk or a shuttlebus.

Most travellers from mainland Italy use the 20-minute shuttle between Villa San Giovanni and Messina; there are also frequent ferries from Reggio to Messina. A car ferry runs every night between Naples and Catania: it's run by TTT lines and takes 12 hours. Other ferries sail from the mainland to Palermo.

A car ferry runs twice a day between Pozzallo (90 km south of Catania) and Valletta, Malta. It's run by Virtu Ferries and takes one hour 45 min, return fare €80 low season rising to €160 mid-summer. Day-trips are possible from Malta every day, and from Sicily on Wednesday and Friday. On Friday, Saturday and Monday there's a connecting coach between Catania and Pozzallo. This is timed for day-trips from Malta, so if you want to day-trip from Sicily you need to make your own way to Pozzallo.

Catania has a compact centre and it is most convenient just to walk around.

To reach outlying accommodation or the university, you'll need the bus, run by AMTS (Azienda Metropolitana Trasporti Catania). Use their interactive map to find bus lines. Single €1 (valid 90 min), Bus+Alibus €4, Bus+Metro €1.20 (valid 120 min), Day pass €2.50 (bus only). (updated Mar 2018)

Ferrovia Circumetnea (FCE) is a narrow-gauge railway that loops around the west flanks of Etna then back to the coast and mainline at Giarre-Riposto, 28 km north of Catania. The terminus in Catania is Borgo, with a metro connection to Centrale railway station and downtown. Trains run from Catania Borgo M-Sa hourly, all as far as Paterno, most as far as Adrano, and eight per day reach Bronte and Randazzo (2 hours) where these south-side trains terminate. To complete the circuit, you change to the north-side train Randazzo-Linguaglossa-Giarre-Riposto, taking 70 min. There are 3 or 4 of these per day in summer but only one or two in winter. At Giarre the Circumetnea and mainline stations are side by side, with Circumetnea trains continuing for a final km to terminate at Riposto. There is no Sunday or public holiday service on the Circumetnea line.

Visitors to Catania can use the metro to reach the Circumetnea railway. It's one of the shortest metro systems in the world, just under 9 km long, and it's run by the same company. The line starts from Stesicoro in midtown Catania, runs east to the transport hub of Giovanni XXIII, then turns west. Get off at Borgo for the Circumetnea railway. The metro line ends at the suburb of Nesima, which has Park & Ride. The metro runs M-Sa 06:50-21:00 every 10-15 min; no service Sundays or public holidays. Single ticket €1 (valid 90 min), Bus+Metro €1.20 (valid 120 min), day pass €2 (metro only).

Driving in the centre is difficult because of congestion, one-way systems and pedestrianised areas. The town center has a small limited traffic zone (ZTL) (map and hours), and most vehicles are prohibited from accessing it at any time. There are ten main parking lots around the city, and a slew of others serving the airport. Park & Ride is available at the airport, and at Nesima metro station west of the city.

• 1 Piazza del Duomo. An attractive, lively baroque square. Here you can find the Fontana dell'Elefante (Elephant Fountain) or U Liotru - the symbol of the city. There are three buildings here that are World Heritage Sites. The square is also an entrance to the elegant via Etnea, the main shopping street.  (updated Jan 2016)

• 7 Castello Ursino (Castello Svevo di Catania), Piazza Federico Di Svevia, ☏ . Daily 09:00-19:00 (last admission 18:00). It was built in the 13th century as a royal castle of the Kingdom of Sicily, and ilater became the seat of the Sicilian Parliament. It hosts the Museo Civico (civic museum), which displays Greek and Roman artifacts from the city; art from the 17th-19th centuries; 2000 bronze figurines from the Archaic, Siceliot, Greek, Etruscan-Italic and Hellenistic eras; and temporary exhibitions. Adult €6, youth or senior €3.  (updated Feb 2021)
• 8 Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l'Arena (The Benedictine Monastery), Piazza Dante, 32, ☏ . M-F 09:00-17:00, Sa 11:00-18:00. It is the oldest one in Sicily and it is one of the biggest monasteries in Europe. It hosts now the Faculty of Literature of the University of Catania. Free entrance to the exterior areas, interor with guided tour €10, which starts daily around 13:00 and hourly during summer. English tours at 13:00 and 16:00.  (updated Dec 2019)
• 9 Chiesa di San Nicolò l'Arena, Piazza Dante (adjacent to the Benedictine Monastery), ☏ . Daily 09:00-12:30. It is an unachieved church which was supposed to be the biggest one in Sicily. Free entrance; visit to the eaves €3.  (updated Dec 2019)
• 10 Via Crociferi. It's a centre of an ecclesiastical architecture in Catania: in no more than 200 m there are 4 churches, 3 monasteries and a college.  (updated Jan 2016)

• 15 Basilica Maria Santissima dell'Elemosina (Basilica della Collegiata), Via Etnea 23. Tu-Su 09:00-12:00, 17:00-19:00. Free admission.  (updated Jan 2016)
• 16 Palazzo Biscari, Via Museo Biscari, 10 - 16, ☏ , info@palazzobiscari.com. Daily 07:00-13:00, 15:00-19:00. It is one of the most interesting baroque palaces in Catania. The palace is privately owned. Check with the tourist office to arrange a visit.  (updated Jan 2016)

• 17 Teatro Romano e Odeon (Roman Theatre and Odeon), Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 266, ☏ . Daily 09:00-19:00, last entry 18:30. The theatre dates back to the 1st century CE when it was built on the remains of the Greek theatre it used to hold up to 7000 spectators. Odeon, a smaller theatrical building, was built next to it in the 2nd century CE. €6; 1st Su/month free (09:00-17:00). (updated Oct 2019)
• 18 Terme della Rotonda (Rotonda Thermal Baths), Via della Rotonda, ☏ . W Su 09:00-13:00. The remains of ancient Roman baths. Free admission.  (updated Dec 2019)
• 19 Anfiteatro Romano (Roman Amphitheatre), Piazza Stesicoro, ☏ . Tu-Sa 09:00-13:30, 14:30-17:00. Some modest remains amidst the square. Free admission.  (updated Mar 2017)
• 20 Terme Achilliane (Achillean Baths), Via Etnea 8 (check with the ticket office at the Museo Diocesano). M W F 09:00-14:00; Tu Th 09:00-14:00, 15:00-18:00; Sa Su 09:00-13:00;. The remains of a small part of a large ancient baths located underground is open for the public. It's under the Catania's Cathedral square. Some parts of mosaics and marble floor as well as some remains of decorated walls. The remains are still quite impressive. €5.  (updated Mar 2017)

• 21 Teatro Massimo Bellini, Piazza Vincenzo Bellini, ☏ . A 19th-century opera theatre named after the Catania-born composer Vincenzo Bellini. The square before the theatre is a popular meeting place among the local young people, so its neighbourhood is very lively and busy by night.  (updated Oct 2019)
• 22 Palazzo dell'Università, Piazza Università.  (updated Jan 2016)
• 23 Palazzo Della Cultura (ex Convento S.Placido, aka Palazzo Platamone), Via Vittorio Emanuele 121, ☏ . M-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 09:00-13:30. A former monastery, it's now a venue for various exhibitions. It also hosts the access point, an information office of the municipal museums (M-Sa 09:00-13:00). Free admission. (updated Mar 2017)
• 24 Palazzo Gravina-Cruyllas, Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi, 3, ☏ . M-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 09:00-13:00. It is the birthplace of Vincenzo Bellini. Thete are two museums here. €5.  (updated Mar 2017)

• 25 Quattro Canti (Four Corners). A square at the intersection of Via Etnea with Via di Sangiuliano. It is somewhat reminiscent to the other octagonal squares in Italy: Quattro Canti at the piazza Vigliena in Palermo, Quattro Canti in Paternò, and Quattro Fontane in Rome, next to the church of San Carlino by Francesco Borromini.  (updated Feb 2017)
• 26 Porta Garibaldi (Porta Ferdinandea), Via Garibaldi (at the E end of Piazza Palestro). The gates erected in 1768 in honor of King Ferdinand IV and his family.  (updated Jan 2016)

• 27 Giardino Bellini (Villa Bellini) (NE of centre, multiple entrances). Always open. Charming 19th-century park. The oldest part of it, the Prince of Biscari's Maze or Laberinto Biscari, dates back to the 18th century.  (updated Mar 2018)
• 28 Orto Botanico dell'Università di Catania (Botanical garden), Via Etnea, 397 (just north of Villa Bellini; it backs onto other streets but you can only enter by V Etnea), ☏ . M-F (winter) 09:00-17:00, (summer) 09:00-19:30; Sa 09:00-14:00. Small botanical garden of the University of Catania. Free admittance.  (updated Mar 2018)

• 1 Via Etnea. Walk the main shopping avenue, running north from the Piazza del Duomo has most of the city's imposing building and is busy throughout the day and evening. Lots of churches. This road is the equivalent of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, so in the evenings the local people put on their Sunday clothes and walk at a relaxed pace along this avenue. 
• La Plaja, sandy beaches south of the city along the bay
• The Riviera dei ciclopi, a rocky, volcano coast north of the city, stretching almost to Taormina
• Visit a minor religious festival, but avoid Sant'Agata on the 5th February due to the excessive crowds.
• EtnaWay, ☏ , info@etnaway.com. Guided excursions on mount Etna, with transfer from Catania, Giarre or Taormina by jeep and 4x4. Visit of summit craters and most beautiful places of the volcano. (updated Nov 2018)

Catania is proud of its specialities. A famous speciality is pasta alla Norma which consists in pasta (generally macaroni) dressed with tomato sauce and topped with fried eggplant slices, grated ricotta salata (salty ricotta) and fresh basil. The fish is also good, as Catania is a large port. The city is also known for horse meat, especially in some areas around the "Benedictine Monastery".

Typical Catanese pastry include the world-wide famous cannolo alla Ricotta, cassatella di Sant'Agata (a small cassata) and pasta di Mandorla (based on almond meal).

Like in most of Sicily, you can get a freshly made cold panini in a salumeria, where you choose whatever you want to put in (prosciutto cotto/crudo and cheese are probably the most popular ones), for €1-3. Don't forget that most of salumerias are closed 13:00-16:00 and on Sunday afternoon.

You can also have some tavola calda (“hot bite”) meal, most of them made with cheese and meat, fried or baked. You will normally pay €1.50 for one piece.

Another Sicilian speciality is arancino, which are deep fried rice balls with various fillings, meat or eggplant or spinach, that sell for €1.50 at most places. They make a good lunch snack.

Also, especially in the evening, some big kiosks sell hot, tasty and fat panini, some even horse meat filling. Most people add fries into the sandwich. Usually, it's about €2.50-3.00 and they are very popular among teenagers. Because it's quite cheap, there is normally confusion at these kiosks.

In summer, a typical breakfast consists of "Granita" (a kind of sorbet of almond or black mulberry) served with a brioscia (sweet round small loaf): it is a nourishing and refreshing combination that can be found in almost any bar of the city.

• 1 Camelot, 73 Piazza Federico di Svevia (near Castello Ursino). Okay for the meat lover, fish is from frozen. (updated May 2022)
• 2 L'Angolo dello Chef, 21 Via Grimaldi (corner of Via Plebiscito). Humble home cooking joint. Traditional Sicilian dishes from caponata to polli alla brace. (updated May 2022)
• 3 Il Borgo di Federico, Piazza Federico di Svevia, 100. An Sicilian restaurant (updated May 2022)
• 4 Ristorante da Antonio, Via Castello Ursino, 59. Italian cuisine (updated May 2022)

• 5 Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab, Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto, 7. Seafood (updated May 2022)

• 6 Dopo Teatro, Via Coppola 4, ☏ . Open 7 days, 19:30 till very late. Panineria with tables. Known for grilled meats. (updated May 2022)
• 7 Trattoria del Cavaliere, Via Paternò, 11.  (updated May 2022)
• 8 Del centro, Via Montesano, 11. Pizza (updated May 2022)
• 9 Vermut - Enoteca Salumeria Vermouth Bar, Via Gemmellaro, 39.  (updated May 2022)

• 10 Pizzeria Napule', Via Mario Sangiorgi, 55.  (updated May 2022)
• 11 Voglia Di Pizza Di Santagati Alfio, Via Mario Sangiorgi, 15.  (updated May 2022)

• 12 Sicilia in Bocca, Via Beato Cardinale G.B. Dusmet, 35, ☏ . Typical Sicilian food and pizza. There's another restaurant in town with this name: it's on Piazza Pietro Lupo but it's not recommended. And there's yet another 10 km north up the mountain. (updated May 2022)
• ^{[dead link]} Trattoria Il Mare, 7 Via San Michele, ☏ . Delicious seafood. Casual atmosphere. Tu-Su 12:30-15:00, 19:30-23:00. (updated May 2022)
• 13 Spinella Pasticceria, 292 Via Etna, ☏ . Daily 07:30-22:30, Sa Su to 23:30. Sicilian cakes, cannolis, arancini, espresso. Outdoor seating. (updated May 2022)
• 14 Trattoria di Fiore, 26 Via Pietro Antonio Coppola, ☏ . Closed Monday. Classic Sicilian food in a small family trattoria. (updated Feb 2018)
• 15 Trattoria da Antonio, Via Castello Ursino 59, ☏ . Lunch Tu-Su; dinner daily 19:00-00:00. Reasonably priced fresh seafood. (updated Feb 2018)
• ^{[dead link]} Al Cavalier Roxy, 51 Piazza Federico di Svevia, ☏ . Daily lunch, dinner 19:30-00:00. Sicilian cuisine. (updated Feb 2018)
• 16 Trattoria U Fucularu, 20 Via Euplio Reina, ☏ . closed Tuesday. Antipasto buffet, grilled meats. (updated Feb 2018)
• Gastrosteria du Mori. Via Umberto I, 256. Traditional dishes with a modern twist in a friendly and colourful environment. Open throughout the whole afternoon - an important point for tourists.

You'd find all kinds of kiosks in the city which sell various refreshments, such as coffee, limoncello or popular local drinks such as seltz al limone (soda water with fresh-squeezed lemon juice) or mandarino al limone (soda water with tangerine syrup and fresh-squeezed lemon juice).

• 1 Grammazita, P.za Federico di Svevia, 90-94 (in the smaller square north of the Castello Ursino). W-Su 18:00-2:00. Bohemian bar with wine, beer, cocktails. Has live music performances most nights, LGBTQ+ friendly. Also has an associated bookshop next door with children's toys and local art prints. (updated Jul 2026)
• 2 Vermut, Via Gemmellaro, 39 (in the middle of the bar district), ☏ . Daily 11:00-02:00. Very lively bar with a huge selection of Vermouths (as the name would imply) among other drinks. Lots of young folks in the evenings, so can be hard to find a table. (updated Jul 2026)
• 3 Retrò, Via Pacini, 54 (On the cross street from the street with hanging fairy lights), ☏ . Daily 18:00-02:00. Fancy-ish cocktail bar, with menu of original drinks inspired by famous paintings. Owners happy to talk shop about their craft. €10-14 per cocktail. (updated Jul 2026)

Pizzo means protection money extorted by the Mafia. Addiopizzo Catania is a movement of shopkeepers who refuse to pay - please support them by shopping in their stores. They also run educational and cultural outreach activities.

Every morning except Sundays, try haggling at:

• 1 Fera 'o Luni, Piazza Carlo Alberto. M-Sa morning. A bustling food and clothes market. The main historic market of Catania. (updated Mar 2018)
• 2 La Piscaria, Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto. M-Sa morning. A large fish, fruit & veg market just off Piazza Duomo. (updated Mar 2018)

If you want to buy some interesting souvenirs while supporting local artists:

• 3 Baubò Art Factory, Via Carcaci, 18 (In the centre of town, 5 min walk from the elephant fountain), ☏ . M-Sa 10:00-13:00 & 16:30-19:30, on Fri only 16:30-19:30. Cute shop run by local artist selling artisanal prints, drawings, and jewellery. (updated Jul 2026)
• 4 Vetriamo, Via Coppola, 15 (just north of the Piazza Bellini), ☏ . M-Sa 09:30-13:00 & 16:30-20:00. Stained-glass store with all the products made by the proprietor. Has many suitcase size appropriate pieces, on a variety of local themes. (updated Jul 2026)

• 1 Agora Hostel, 1 Piazza Curro, ☏ , agorahostel@gmail.com. In a backstreet under the Duomo, it's lively and can fill up even out of season. Beds in a dorm rooms from €14. (updated Mar 2026)
• Ananda B&B, Via Muscatello 7 (Near Piazza Roma), ☏ . B&B in the centre, walking distance from the Bellini Gardens, Via Etnea and the Market. €30. (updated Feb 2018)
• 2 Suite Inn Catania (BMoDe), Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 108 (central), ☏ , info@suiteinn.eu. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 11:00. Clean & central b&b. €45. (updated Mar 2018)
• 3 B&B Opera, Via Antonio di Sangiuliano, 129 (Catania centre), ☏ , info@bbopera.it. Check-in: 11:00-22:00, check-out: 10:30. Central b&b, rooms have balconies, bathroom, hairdryer, TV, air conditioning, minibar. Free Wi-Fi. €60-80 for double room. (updated Feb 2018)
• Hotel Etnea 316, ☏ , fax: +39 095 250 3076. Bright and airy 3-star guest house ideal for young travellers. €35. (updated Feb 2018)
• ^{[dead link]} Hotel Valentino, 39 Piazza Turi Ferro, ☏ . Central 3-star hotel with friendly staff and a pleasant and peaceful atmosphere. €75 double. (updated Feb 2018)
• BAD: Bed and Breakfast and Design, Via Cristoforo Colombo 24 (near Duomo), ☏ . Simple hostel, striving to be funky. €45. (updated Feb 2018)
• ^{[formerly dead link]} Hotel Rigel, 8 Viale della Liberta, ☏ , fax: +39 095 534 911. Clean and comfortable 3-star hotel very near bus station. €45. (updated Mar 2018)
• Hotel Villa Romeo, 8 Via Platamonte, ☏ , fax: +39 095 530 257. Clean, comfortable 3-star hotel very near the railway & bus stations. €50. (updated Mar 2018)
• 4 B&B Globetrotter Catania, Vicolo della Lanterna, 14 (200 m from Duomo), ☏ . Check-in: 12:00, check-out: till 11:00. An antique building that has been renovated. B&B (also rents independent apartments) with fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, air conditioning, TV, DVD, HiFi, internet Wi-Fi and hairdryer. €30. (updated Feb 2018)

• Agriturismo San Leonardello, 165 Via Madonna della Liberta, San Leonardello (On SS114 20 km north of Catania), ☏ . Rustic farmhouse off highway close to Etna, Taormina and the beach resorts of Riposto and Acireale. (updated Feb 2018)
• La Pietra Antica O Munti, Via Andronico, Puntalazzo (off SP 155 in mountain village above Giarre, 40 km north of Catania), ☏ , fax: +39 095 968792, info@lapietraantica.it. Farm accommodation on flanks of Etna. (updated Feb 2018)
• Agriturismo Arrigo, C.da Arrigo Soprano, Linguaglossa (50 km north of Catania; follow SS120 to Linguaglossa then SP 59 iv, signs for Hotel Neri), ☏ , fax: +39 095 777 4518. Farmhouse on flanks of Etna. (updated Feb 2018)
• 5 Villa Etelka, 5 Via Prof Enrico Sagone, Valverde (Valverde is 20 km north of Catania), ☏ . Check-in: 14:00-21:00, check-out: 10:30. Villa with sea view and swimming pool. (updated Mar 2026)

• Hotel Agathae, 229 Via Etnae (on main drag through town), ☏ , fax: +39 095 715 2668. 3-star accommodation (updated Feb 2018)
• ^{[dead link]} Gresi Hotel, 28 Via Pacini (off Via Etnea close to post office), ☏ , hotelgresi@tin.com. Clean, AC, bathroom, balcony, high arched ceilings with paintings. €75 without breakfast. (updated Feb 2018)
• The Parco degli Aragonesi, Viale Kennedy, on beach (☏ ) and the Catania Centro, 13 Piazza Trento, downtown (☏ ), are the two NH hotels^{[dead link]} in Catania.
• Hotel il Principe, 24 Via Alessi, ☏ , fax: +39 095 325799. Boutique hotel in a restored aristocratic building, very central near Cathedral. (updated Feb 2018)
• Hotel La Ville, Via Monteverdi, 15 (very central near railway station), ☏ , fax: +39 095 746 5189. One of the oldest hotels in Catania, it's a large 3-star family run establishment. Self catering apartments also available. (updated Feb 2018)
• Hotel Nettuno, Viale Ruggero Di Lauria 121 (off coastal SS114 east of downtown), ☏ , fax: +39 095 498 066. Modern 4-star beach hotel with open air swimming pool, restaurants, health spa and meeting facilities. For families and corporate travellers. (updated Feb 2018)
• Luxury Hotel Romano Palace, Viale Kennedy 28 (on coast 2 km south of downtown), ☏ . Beach resort, very close to airport, with Jacuzzi, private beach and restaurant. (updated Feb 2018)
• Four Points by Sheraton Catania, Via Antonello da Messina 45, Cannizzaro (on coast 4 km east of downtown), ☏ . Hotel & conference centre with 162 rooms and 7 suites. With sea-water pool and beach access. (updated Feb 2018)
• 6 Villa Cibele, 17B Via Francesco Marletta (Off Via Cibele 3 km west of centre), ☏ . The hotel is in an elegant early 19th-century building edge of town. Clean & quiet, good if you're touring with your own car. (updated Feb 2018)
• Grande Albergo Maugeri, 27 Piazza Garibaldi, Acireale (Acireale is 15 km N of Catania), ☏ , info@hotel-maugeri.it.  (updated Feb 2018)
• 7 Eco Hostel, Via Fornai 44 (near Ursino Castle), ☏ . A modern hostel. From €24. (updated Jul 2018)

Catania is the safest major city in Sicily, even during the night as there are a lot of students and people around throughout the city centre.

Be careful not to look conspicuously touristy, exposing jewelry, large bags or photo gear that might entice fast pickpockets or robbers. They are abundant all around the city and they recognize immediately anyone who is not from around here. However using common sense is more than enough the avoid all problems.

You may encounter some people asking for money. Just ignore them and say "Non ho niente, mi dispiace" (I don't have anything (=money), I'm sorry).

As in any other city avoid the station area, especially at night.

San Cristoforo is the most dangerous neighborhood in Catania and is located near the city centre, at the end of Via Plebiscito. Do not wander the streets alone at night. Another dangerous neighborhood is Librino, but of no interest for a tourist.