Sicily without a car, is it even possible? Yes, it is possible with public transportation, and I will tell you how in this blog post. Spending seven days in Sicily without a car is perfectly doable if you can manage the train, buses, and local Taxis on Sicily Island. Also, by using local public transportation, you will see a different side of Sicily.
7 Days in Sicily without a Car in Italy
You will need some travel planning before going, and make sure that buses are reaching where you want to go. and maybe take an extra email to the place you stay to see if they can arrange any transport options that don’t include your car.
The Travel Itinerary for
7 Days in Sicily Without Car but With Public Transportation
The best part of visiting Sicily without a car is that you don’t need to think about parking, either understanding where you can park, money for parking, insurance for the vehicle, money for the gas, and then the many crazy drivers on the narrow streets of Sicily. Public Transportation arranges that for you.
Sicily without a car and all the benefits
Going to Sicily without a car has many benefits, and yes, maybe you can’t go to all the undiscovered places, but you don’t have to stress about being nervous about driving in a crazy town. In Italy, the rule is no rule, and if the other car can’t fit in the parking, they will bump into your car to make it fit the parking lot. Why not, instead of stressing about driving around, have a glass of wine and enjoy someone else doing the transport from A to B?
Time needed: 7 days, 7 hours and 7 minutes
Sicily without a Car: The Travel Itinerary by Public Transportation
- Ortigia Old Town of Siracusa
Taxi from Catania Airport to Old Town – 1 h for 65 EUR
- Beach Day at Cala Zaffiro
Taxi to Cala Zaffiro & Back to Ortigia 45 EUR
- Noto the City of Baroque Architecture
Bus from Ortigia to Noto – 1h 21 min for 8,50 EUR by Bus Trenitalia.com
- Noto to Catania Train Station
Bus from Noto to Catania – 2h for 8,40 EUR by Bus Trenitalia.com
- Catania to Etna by Train
We arranged a pick-up from the train station to where we would stay at Etna. The train cost 3,80 EUR
- Etna to Catania Train Station
The train cost 3,80 EUR
- Catania Train Station to Catania Airport
The taxi cost 20 EUR
Day 1 Ortigia Old Town of Siracusa
Explore Ortigia, the picturesque old town of Siracusa. Perfect for the carefree traveler who enjoys wandering the narrow street and getting lost igettingobblestones, and most of all, pizza and pasta! Eat Sandwich at the Famous Caseifico Borderi in Ortigia. We stayed at this charming place: Ortigia Boutique Palace
Best Swimming Platforms in the Old Town of Ortigia
If you walk towards Forte Viglena, you will find a public sun terrace for swimming and sunbathing on the rocks of Ortygia. It is a perfect stop in the old town if you want to hang out with locals and get refreshed by the clear ocean water.
Day 2 Indulge at The Food Market in Ortigia
If you want to find the heart of Ortigia, go to the food market, this is where everyone meets and everyone gets their daily supplies. Remember, diet is a crime when being in Italy. Try everything even twice if you want.
Remember to Eat Antipasti at La Salumeria at Ortygia in Syracuse.
Blogpost’s about Sicily Without a Car
Day 3 Sparkling Blue Ocean at Lido Cala Zaffiro
If you don’t believe in paradise on earth, you have not been to Cala Zaffiro. Sparkling blue water and a mesmerizing oceanfront is what you will receive at this lovely boutique beach club that delivers a small piece of heaven. ENJOY THE DAY, and You are Welcome.
Day 4 Travel to Noto in Sicily Without a Car, but By The Local Bus
The City of Noto was rebuilt after the big earthquake in 1693. Noto has become a UNESCO World Heritage site with its decadent Baroque still expressed in all its glory. One of the other reasons you want to go to Noto is to eat the famous granita from Cafe Sicilia, the one on Chef’s Table from Netflix. Maybe you are lucky and see Corrado Assenza. We stayed at Room 55, which had an excellent location.
Airbnb Experience in Noto, Sicily Without a Car but with arranged transportation
Suppose you can, visit Zisolhouse and meet Annarella and Fabio for a spectacular dinner at their farm right outside of Noto. It will be maybe your best night in Sicily.
Day 5 Travel to Etna in Sicily Without a Car but With Public Transportation
After breakfast at Cafe Sicilia, it is time to go on the bus from Noto to Catania, and from there, jump on the train to Etna and a wine yard that delivers you the best wine from the earth of Mount Etna.
On Sicily Island, we decided to explore the eastern slopes of Mount Etna. We had an Agritourism experience with Notto Stellate, part of the Etnella Vineyard, which produces nature wines and freshly pressed olive oil.
Etnella Vineyard Tour
Five hundred meters above sea level, we were transported between lush olive orchards in a tiny car closer to Mount Etna. We stopped on the Vineyard land, and we were given a complete tour of the Etnellla Vineyard with the ground, grapes, and production history. And a divine tasting of ripe plums right next to the grapes.
Day 6 Boat Trip at Taormina in Sicily Without a Car
An afternoon cruise from Taormina and exploring the town from the coastline may be a less crowded option. The houses look utterly stunning from the ocean’s point of view. And you can even see some neat architecture in some of the clips of Taormina.
Day 7 Mount Etna Volcano in Sicily Without a Car
but by a Tour Company that Has a Car
I woke up at around 07.00, mesmerized by the gloomy, mysterious atmosphere at sunrise. Everything is calm, and the day has just started to awaken Sicily for a new day of life. We are ready to begin our journey to reach the beginning of our Nature Hike at Mount Etna. After driving almost an hour uphill, we could see Mount Etna gloving in the distance with all her natural beauty and first exploring the lava caves then a two-hour hike in the utterly serene volcanic landscape of Mount Etna. I was enamored by this different nature with unique vegetation and black volcanic sand from Mount Etna, the Queen of Sicily.
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3 Comments
As an urban planner & car-free enthusiast, I so much appreciate this post – if you want to make this a series, I can give you car-free tips for cities I’ve traveled to in the USA, Spain, or Turkey!
I have also heard that Bla Bla Car is a popular app in Italy to arrange point to point carpools and group trips- is this still the case? I have so many pins on the map in Sicily- I hope this will be the year I finally go. Just need to learn some survival Italian & find a cheap flight. Greetings from Washington, DC!
That is perfect! 🙂
I you want to avoid the 65 €- taxi from Catania: there is a train, running directly from Catania Airport to Siracusa. It lasts little more than one our. Earliest at 6 a.m., latest at 9 p.m.