Page 308 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

Essentials There is a hydrofoil and fast-ferry service at least four times a week
between Catania and Malta in summer ( 095 703 1211, virtuferries.com). TTT
Lines ( 800 915 365 or 081 580 2744, tttlines.it) run a daily ferry to Naples,
taking 12 hours; most travel agents have timetables and can sell tickets. The port is a
5min walk along Via VI Aprile, southwest of the train station, and is also served by a
stop on the Metropolitana (Stazione Porto).

Destinations Naples (1 daily; 12hr); Valletta, Malta (1–5 weekly; 3hr).

GETTING AROUND

By bus AMT city buses ( 800 018 696 or 095 751 9111, amt.ct.it) have

terminals at Stazione Centrale and Piazza Borsellino, where there’s a stop for the
airport. Central pick-up points are Piazza del Duomo and Piazza Stesicorot. Tickets
(€1) are valid for any number of journeys within 90min and are available from
tabacchi, the newsagents inside Stazione Centrale or the booth outside the station. The
same outlets also sell a biglietto giornaliero (€2.50), valid for one day’s unlimited
travel on all local AMT bus routes.

By metro The city has a metro system, operated by the same folk who run the

Circumetnea line, which operates every 15min (7am–8.30pm) on a limited route
running from the main Stazione Centrale (beyond Platform 11) south to Catania Porto
and north and northwest to Catania Borgo, the terminal for the Stazione Circumetnea
on Via Caronda. Bus tickets are valid on metros and must be punched at machines
before boarding the train.

By car Driving into Catania isn’t too difficult (just follow signs for “centro” for Via

Etnea), but driving around the city is a different matter thanks to chaotic traffic, the
fiendish one-way system and the utter impossibility of parking. Some hotels have their
own parking or arrangements with nearby garages, but as you really don’t need a car
in Catania, the best advice if you’re renting a car is to do so on the day you leave the
city, and to consider picking it up from the airport, connected by frequent local buses
with the centre.

Car rental All the big-name agencies – Avis ( 095 340 500, avis.com); Europcar
( 095 348 125, europcar.it); Hertz ( 095 341 595, hertz.it); Maggiore ( 095
340 594, maggiore.it); Sixt ( 095 340 389, sixt.it) – have outlets at the airport
(opposite the bus stops outside arrivals) and in the city. However, you may find prices
from local operator Hollywood ( 095 281 161) beat even the car rental broker
websites.

By taxi There are taxi ranks at Stazione Centrale, Piazza del Duomo and Via Etnea
(Piazza Stesicoro); call 095 330 966 or 095 338 282 for 24-hour service.