I was in Catania for the first time before Christmas. It had a wonderful charm. Christmas decorations, but with the sun and the warmth, you could go around in a t-shirt. Christmas atmosphere, but a volcano looming in the background. And between the markets, the sights and the beautiful views, I was just sampling the best cannoli, arancini and brioche with granita over and over again. Catania is great not only as a city itself, but also as a place from which I took some nice trips further afield in Sicily. And I loved this part of Sicily right away.
Tip: If you’re heading to Catania, don’t miss a half-day trip to Etna with wine tasting and guided city tours. I recommend booking tickets online in advance to avoid long lines.
Where to stay in Catania
Centro Storico is the obvious choice for me. Streets lined with Baroque palaces, cafes with outdoor seating and the bustling Piazza del Duomo were all at my fingertips. I also managed to see the fish market in the morning still full of big fish.
Quieter and further away but still within walking distance is Borgo-Sanzio. There are more locals than tourists, smaller family restaurants and often cheaper accommodation. If you want the sea close at hand, it’s best near La Playa beach. There are resorts here too.
Tips for accommodation in Catania
- Airone City Hotel – a modern hotel with a swimming pool and a high rating,
- Palace Catania | UNA Esperienze – design hotel in the city centre with views of Mount Etna,
- Habitat Boutique Hotel – boutique hotel with modern design and breakfast included.
Tickets for sightseeing in Catania
If you want to save time on site and avoid queues, some tours and tickets can be bought online in advance.
- Etna volcano – guided tour of the volcano,
- Roman Theatre in Catania – a historical theatre from the Roman era,
- St. Agatha’s Cathedral – the main religious building of the city,
- Ursino Castle – a medieval castle with a museum,
- Convent of San Nicolò l’Arena – a baroque monastery with a rich history.
Things to see in Catania
Catania is a super small compact town to walk around, but it also has several very wow places that are definitely worth going to. It took me a day to see the city itself, but realistically I enjoyed spending every evening out here after I got back from my trip.
Via Etnea – main avenue
A street you can’t miss. It’s like the Champs-Elysées of Catania. Apart from being the main shopping street, you can see Etna at the end of the street (it starts from Piazza del Duomo), or rather in the distance beyond the end of the street, but in the view of the street.
The Via Etnea was created in the 17th century when an earthquake caused lava to flood the town. Along the boulevard are baroque palaces, boutiques, designer shops and traditional Sicilian cafes.
I enjoyed the evening passeggiata, a traditional Italian walk, as a local.
La Pescheria Fish Market
Undoubtedly the liveliest place in town. The noisiest fish market in Sicily takes place here every day (except Sunday).
The very first evening I arrived in Catania, I smelled raw fish on the way. I walked past the fish market, of which there was no trace this evening except the smell.
It’s right next to the main square, Piazza del Duomo, if you go out the bottom right corner (facing the cathedral) where the Fontana dell’Amenano is. There’s quite a large piazza below the steps and if it’s early morning or mid-morning, it’s full of fresh fish and seafood stalls. The market also extends into the surrounding streets, where there is then fruit, vegetables, cheese. It’s probably the biggest open-air fish market I’ve ever seen.
The vendors shout prices, the octopus tentacles are still moving and you can taste the oysters as soon as they open, have fried sardines or just enjoy the energy of the place and, like me, see what the local fishermen have managed to pull out of the sea.
In the afternoon and evening, the square is completely empty and what happened in the morning is reminded only by the wetness of melted ice and the smell of fish.
Piazza del Duomo and Fontana dell’Elefante
The main square, surrounded by magnificent baroque buildings and especially on one side by the Cattedrale di Sant’Agata. In the middle is the symbol of the city, the Fountain dell’Elefante.
The fountain is a black lava elephant with an obelisk on its back, which is supposed to protect the inhabitants from the destructive forces of Etna.
St. Agatha’s Cathedral
The Baroque cathedral, which dominates the Piazza del Duomo, is dedicated to the city’s patron saint, Saint Agatha. The cathedral has been damaged several times by earthquakes and the eruptions of Mount Etna, but it has been rebuilt, each time more beautiful.
Inside is the tomb of the famous composer Vincenzo Bellini, and if you’re here during the Feast of St Agatha in February, you’ll experience one of the biggest and most passionate religious festivals in Italy.
Chiesa della Badia di Sant’Agata
The Baroque church is beautiful, of course, but what I liked most about it is the lookout point that goes around the tower, so you have a perfect view of the cathedral and also the view across the city to Etna. There’s a 5€ entrance fee to the lookout and it’s a few steps, but it’s worth it. Be warned, the church is not open all day, it opens in the morning and then again in the afternoon.
Castello Ursino
The medieval fortress of Castello Ursino has survived everything – earthquakes, eruptions, battles and regime changes. It has stood here since the 13th century as a defensive fortress right by the sea. But in 1669, Mount Etna erupted, lava surrounded the castle and displaced the coast. So today the fortress stands inland, which is probably the most interesting thing to me.
Inside is a museum with art collections and a courtyard where concerts and theatre performances are held in the summer. I’m not a fan of museums, but the view of the city from the fortress walls is worth it.
Roman Amphitheatre
Catania has its own “Colosseum”, right in the centre of the city in Piazza Stesicoro.
Today, only a small part of it is visible at first glance, the rest is hidden under the development. In its day, it was one of the largest amphitheatres in the entire Roman Empire, with a capacity of up to 15,000 spectators! What I find most interesting here is that the amphitheatre is made of lava stone from Mount Etna.
Monastero dei Benedettini
The Benedictine monastery in Catania is huge, one of the largest monastery complexes in Europe and today it is home to a university. There are secret passages, baroque frescoes and even underground Roman ruins!
Teatro Massimo Bellini
The theatre is named after the famous composer Vincenzo Bellini, who was born in Catania, and is one of the most beautiful opera houses in Italy. Teatro Massimo Bellini may be smaller than the famous La Scala, but it is said to have one of the best acoustics in the world. I don’t know, I haven’t tried it.
The interior is luxurious, with red velvet, gold trim and a huge chandelier. Even without the opera, it’s worth a visit. But if you have the opportunity and the time, I would buy a ticket for the performance as well, it must be a great experience.
Giardino Bellini
Catania is energetic, noisy and chaotic, which is why Giardino Bellini is a popular place. It is the oldest and most beautiful park in the city, full of exotic plants and fountains.
During the day, people run or read under the shade of palm trees. And from the highest part of the park, there’s a good view of Etna.
Etna volcano
Europe’s highest active volcano is constantly on the move. It’s smoking or sending volcanic ash into the air. The last major eruptions were in June 2025.
Just looking at Etna is an experience, but you can take it further and experience what it’s like to stand right on top of this volcano. You can only get to the very top with a guide, and only if it’s safe to do so on the day, you may not be able to, so better to plan with that in mind and if you really want to go to Etna, don’t save it for, say, your last day in Sicily.
How to get from Catania to Etna:
- Rifugio Sapienza – the mountain hut and main tourist base on the southern slope of the volcano is at an altitude of 1,910 m above sea level. It is about 50 minutes by car from Catania and is also served by the AST bus, which leaves in the morning from the centre of Catania.
- The cable car from the Rifugio Sapienza (Funivia dell’Etna) will take you up to 2,500 metres.
- From there, you can take an off-road bus up to 2,900 metres to the main craters, where you can then climb to the top with a guide.
The best beaches around Catania
Catania may not be a typical beach resort, but the beaches around here are either long and sandy or made of black volcanic rock, with clear water in any case.
La Playa
Long sandy beach a short walk from the centre. It’s the best place to swim right outside Catania. It stretches a few kilometres south of the city.
La Playa has both beach clubs (sunbeds, bars, music) and open spaces where you can just lay out your towel and sunbathe. The sea here is calm, the shallows are long, ideal for children.
Spiaggia di San Giovanni Li Cuti
San Giovanni Li Cuti is a small town beach with black volcanic rocks. It’s right in Catania and is more for relaxing and seeing the rocks than for swimming. The water is beautifully clear, but the entrance to the sea is on rocks.
Acitrezza and Acicastello
About 20 minutes drive from Catania. Acitrezza is famous for the mythical lava cliffs of the Cyclops (Isole dei Ciclopi). Legend has it that the angry cyclops Polyphemus threw them here when he was blinded by Odysseus. The water here is wonderfully clear, ideal for snorkelling and diving.
Acicastello has an old Norman castle built on a lava cliff.
Where to go on a trip from Catania
Catania is a great starting point for excursions. Whether you decide to stay in Catania and do stargazing tours around the area, like I did, or just take the car or take the train for a sightseeing tour.
Taormina
If I had to pick one single trip, it’s definitely Taormina. It’s about an hour’s train ride north of Catania and it’s one of the most beautiful places in Sicily.
The town is set high on the cliffs with panoramic views of the Ionian Sea. The main attraction here is the Ancient Greek Theatre, from where you can enjoy perhaps the most iconic view of Mount Etna and the sea. Like seriously, maybe I was in a more sentimental frame of mind, but the experience from here was very powerful and I still remember it. I was sitting on the last step of the auditorium, the sun was shining, no one was anywhere (December), I had my favorite song in my headphones and I was watching Etna smolder. I sat there for maybe half an hour and didn’t understand what I was experiencing.
It’s a nice little town to wander around, too. In addition, you can take the cable car down to Isola Bella beach – a small island with beautifully clear water. Of course I couldn’t miss the great granita with brioche at the famous Bam Bar.
Syracuse
Just an hour south by train. Syracuse was one of the most powerful cities of ancient Greece and today it is still home to a Greek theatre where ancient plays are still performed. Ortigia, the historic centre of the city, is again full of romantic streets, baroque churches and stunning sea views. There is a long coastal road that runs around the circumference of the city, with quite a wild sea.
Noto
I did Noto and Syracuse in one day by train (it’s on the same route). Noto is famous for its historical architecture. It’s about a 90 minute drive south of Catania and is considered the capital of the Sicilian Baroque.
After the devastating earthquake in 1693, the entire town was rebuilt in a uniform Baroque style. The streets are lined with palatial palaces, churches and staircases and all the houses have a characteristic golden colour that changes according to the sun. And because of this, Noto is called “the city of honey stone”.
The most beautiful part of Noto is Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the main promenade full of cafes and monuments. St Nicholas Cathedral stands right in the middle of the action. I also recommend going up to the terrace of the Chiesa di San Carlo al Corso, where you can get a great view of the whole city.
And of course, granita at Caffè Sicilia, one of the most famous pastry shops in Sicily, where they claim to have the best granita on the island!
Aci Trezza and Aci Castello
If you don’t want to travel far but want to see something interesting, head to Aci Trezza and Aci Castella, about 15 km from Catania.
As I mentioned with the beaches, Acitrezza is famous for its cyclops lava cliffs, which are bizarre black rocks sticking out of the sea. Acicastello has its landmark Norman castle, which stands right on a lava rock above the sea.
Savoca and Forza d’Agrò
Fans of the mafia film The Godfather will not want to miss the village of Savoca, where the famous scenes from the first part of the film were shot. You can sit in Bar Vitelli, where Michael Corleone proposed to Apollonia, and have an espresso just like Al Pacino.
Savoca is also a beautiful old village with stunning sea views and pretty churches. From here you can go further afield to Forza d’Agrò, which also appears in The Godfather.
Gole dell’Alcantara
And finally, something for nature fans. Alcantara is one of the most unique natural places in Sicily. It’s a canyon carved out of lava walls through which clear, icy water flows. You can swim here (if you’re hardy), walk along the lava cliffs or enjoy canyoning (in a wetsuit).
What to taste in Catania
Let’s leave the classics of Italian cuisine aside, although many of the Italian specialities popular throughout Italy come from Sicily. Arancini, fried rice balls filled with ragout or cheese, are the perfect quick street food. Pasta alla Norma, pasta with eggplant, tomatoes and ricotta, is a local speciality named after the famous opera. The crispy tube of cannoli, is filled with ricotta, and sometimes topped with chopped pistachios, fruit or candied fruit on the edges. And then, of course, the typical Sicilian breakfast, which I’ve talked about here several times – granita with brioche.
Where to eat in Catania
I had cannoli many times in different places in Italy and elsewhere. But the best one I had so far was at Pasticceria Savia. It’s a famous pastry shop in Catania, right on Via Etnea, and the tubes are really big, but the cream is so fluffy and the dough is so light that it didn’t bog me down like I was afraid it would. And it’s a pastry shop, but I had a great arancino.
Trattoria U Fucularu or Mm Trattoria serves local specialities. There is also the Michelin-starred Sapio restaurant, with traditional dishes with a modern twist.
Where is Catania
Catania is Sicily’s second largest city and lies on its eastern coast, right on the shores of the Ionian Sea and at the foot of Mount Etna. It is about 90 km south of Taormina and 200 km southeast of Palermo, the capital of Sicily.
How to get to Catania
Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) is the island’s main transport hub. Planes land here from all over Europe. There are plenty of direct flights with Ryanair and Wizzair.
How to get from the airport to the city centre
From Fontanarossa Airport, the AMT Alibus runs to the city centre every 20 minutes. It stops at several key spots in the centre. The ticket costs a few euros and the ride takes around 20 minutes.
Rent a car right at Catania Airport to explore Etna and the coast at your own pace, and with most bookings you can cancel for free.
Getting around Sicily
If you don’t have a car, other cities outside Catania are quite easy to reach by train. The train station in Catania is about 20 minutes from the center, and there’s a transfer in Syracuse to Noto, one trip cost me 9.10 euros and took about 2 hours. Practically the whole way to Syracuse is along the coast and there are some great views of Etna for a while.
