Car hire in Catania
1 office in Catania · airport pick-up · Italy
Catania lives quite literally at the foot of Etna: the city is built of black volcanic stone, from its cathedral facade to the elephant fountain, and its fish market is one of the most authentic spectacles in Sicily. It is the island's second city and the best base for exploring the entire eastern coast.
A car is the essential tool of any Sicilian trip: climbing Etna, touring the baroque towns of the Val di Noto or arriving in Taormina first thing all demand a freedom of timing that public transport simply doesn't offer. Fontanarossa airport, around 15 minutes from the centre, is the great gateway to eastern Sicily.
Search cars in CataniaWhy hire a car in Catania
- Fontanarossa is Sicily's busiest airport, with plenty of direct international flights; collecting there, you set off for Etna or Syracuse without touching city traffic.
- The Sapienza refuge, the starting point for the ascent of Etna, has only one bus a day from Catania: with a car you choose your time and your flank of the volcano according to the weather.
- The baroque cities of the south-east (Syracuse, Noto, Ragusa, Modica) form a natural driving route that is impossible to string together by train.
Day trips near Catania
- Etna — Europe's tallest active volcano: you can drive up to the Sapienza refuge, at 1,900 metres, in around 1 hour.
- Taormina — Sicily's most scenic town, with a Greek theatre suspended between the sea and the volcano, around 50 minutes away via the motorway.
- Syracuse and Ortigia — Greek ruins and a Baroque island old town surrounded by sea, an absolute must-see, around 50 minutes away to the south.
- Noto — The capital of Sicilian Baroque, rebuilt entirely in golden stone after the 1693 earthquake, around 1 hour 10 minutes away.
Where to pick up your car
- Aeropuerto de Catania
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
Is driving in Catania difficult?
City traffic is heavy and somewhat anarchic, and the centre has a restricted traffic zone. The sensible strategy is to use the car to leave the city and explore Catania itself on foot, parking in supervised car parks.
Can I drive up Etna in an ordinary hire car?
Yes: the surfaced road runs all the way to the Sapienza refuge with no need for a 4x4. From there you continue by cable car or in authorised vehicles. In winter, snow equipment may be required on the upper stretches.
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