As a rule, ferries from mainland Italy to the island of Sicily arrive in the main city, Palermo. But it's too noisy. Tourists prefer to relax in small towns and quiet towns such as Catania. For the inexperienced traveler, this can be a problem. After all, you need to think about how to get from Palermo to Catania (or Catania). Actually there is no problem.
Public transport in Sicily runs with the precision of a Swiss watch. And if you decide to rent a car, the quality of the local roads will only please you. Don't worry about this short trip. It is enough to choose only the mode of transport that suits you, and go!
Palermo is located on the northern tip of the island of Sicily, and Catania is on the east. The distance between the two settlements in a straight line is 168 kilometers. On the shortest freeway, given its windings and mountainous terrain,all 211 km. Now consider how to overcome this distance.
By train
Yes, yes, as strange as it sounds, little Sicily has its own railway network. They are operated by two companies: Regionale and the state Trenitalia. But an ordinary traveler does not need to know all the subtleties. After all, the price of a ticket is the same everywhere - about 14 euros (1054 rubles) for a seat in a class 2 carriage.
There is no point in overpaying for the highest level of service - the train from the capital of the island to Catania takes less than three hours. Moreover, the difference between the first and second class in comfort is minimal - the seats are slightly wider, the armrests are white instead of blue, and the price is very noticeable (35 euros or 2634 rubles).
How to get from Palermo to Catania by train? Easy peasy! Arrive at the station of the main city of Sicily, Palermo Centrale. Trains in the direction we need depart at 7.30, 9.30, 10.00, 13.30, 15.321, 17.30 and 19.30. You don't need to move anywhere. Two hours and 55 minutes later, you will arrive at the train station in Catania.
How to get from Palermo to Catania by bus
Transportation between the two settlements is carried out by three companies. They have different car intervals, travel times, arrival stations and ticket prices. Consider the first company. It is called Autoservizi Salemi Srl. Its only advantage is the high comfort of cars. White double-decker buses are equipped with various benefits of civilization. But the company carries out on a given route onlyonly one flight a day - at 13.30.
How to get from Palermo to Catania by bus Autoservizi Salemi Srl? Arrive at Piazza Cairoli. Tickets can be purchased at the box office just before boarding. It costs 15 euros (1130 rubles). In three hours you will be in Catania. The final stop of the route is Pope John XXIII Square.
SAIS Autolinee
Now let's see how to get from Palermo to Catania using another carrier. SAIS Autolinee is bringing in more buses. Maybe they are not so comfortable, but they follow with an interval of one hour. The first A-19 flight from Palermo leaves at 4:50, and the last one at 8 pm. Buses reach Catania in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The ticket costs a little cheaper - 13.5 euros (1016 rubles). Buses of this company all depart from the same Piazza Cairoli.
But travelers don't have to go to the station. You can get on the bus (subject to availability) from stops on Archimedes Street and Polizzi Generosa. In Catania, cars arrive at a different place - on D'Amico Street. Another significant advantage of the company is that its buses call at the airport. If you have a flight home from the air harbor of Catania, you need to get off about ten minutes before the final stop. Unfortunately, on the websites of bus companies you can only see the schedule and find out the exact prices. But you need to buy tickets at the box office. These buses are inferior to rail traffic. After all, train tickets can be bought remotely, via the Internet.
How to get from Palermo airport to Catania
The main air harbor of the island, Falcone Barsellino, is located 35 km west of the capital of Sicily. Therefore, the same number of kilometers further from Catania. Unfortunately, there is no direct direct bus service to this city from the airport. Therefore, you first need to get to Palermo. The traveler has two options here. The first is the train. Its platform is located right at the airport terminal. The train arrives at the main railway station, from where it is very convenient to change trains to Catania.
The second option is buses. Comandè and Prestia do not have numbers. On the board of buses is indicated "Falcone-Berselino - Port" or "Airport - Central Station". If you have a flight from Catania, then, upon arriving in the city, look for the stop of route number 457. SAIS Autolinee buses drop off passengers on Svoboda Street and Paolo Borsellino Square. The last stop is the most convenient for tourists wishing to see the sights of Catania. It is located a stone's throw from the cathedral and the ancient church of St. Agatha.
Drive
If you are an avid motorist, you need to think about how to get from Palermo to Catania on your own. It's not that hard to do. Depart Palermo south and follow the coast on the S113 to Termini Imerese. Then you get on the A19, which will lead you to the town of C altanissetta, in the center of the island. From there you need to head straight east on S192. The whole journey will take two and a half hours. You will cover 210 kilometers.
Blah blah car
Don't rely on hitchhiking in Sicily. Drivers are very reluctant to take strangers into the car. But the Bla-bla-car service is very developed there. The advantage of such a movement can be called low prices and the opportunity to communicate with the driver or fellow travelers. Among the minuses is the need to adapt to the schedule of the owner of the car and its route. Now you know all the ways to get from Palermo to Catania. The choice is yours.
