The best things to do in Catania fit into a compact, walkable centre: Piazza del Duomo with its lava-stone elephant, the morning fish market of La Pescheria, Baroque Via dei Crociferi, a Roman theatre hidden among the houses and the guided tour of the Benedictine monastery.
Beyond the city, Mount Etna is the reason many visitors come, and it deserves a full day of its own. One full day covers the old town. A weekend adds Etna; three or four days leave room for the coast, a long lunch and a slower pace.
Below you will find a plan for each length of stay, the sights with their opening hours and ticket prices, the real options for climbing Etna, what to eat and how to get in from the airport. Prices and hours were checked on official sources on 5 November 2026.
How many days do you need in Catania?
Catania rewards a stay of two or three days, because the city and the volcano are two different trips. The historic centre is small enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes, while Etna takes most of a day once you count the drive up and the weather.
One day in Catania
Start early at La Pescheria, when the market is at its loudest, then cross into Piazza del Duomo for the cathedral and the rooftop terraces of the Museo Diocesano, which opens in the morning except on Tuesday and Thursday.
After lunch near the market, walk up Via dei Crociferi to the Benedictine monastery for a guided tour, and finish at the Roman theatre, which stays open until 19:00.
A weekend in Catania
Use day one for the old town as above. On day two, head up Etna: on your own to Rifugio Sapienza and the cable car, or with a guided summit excursion. Book the excursion before you arrive, because summit trips depend on weather and fill up in high season.
Three or four days with Etna and the coast
With a third day, add Castello Ursino, Palazzo Biscari and an evening walk along Via Etnea, then spend an afternoon on the lava-rock coast at Aci Castello and Aci Trezza. A fourth day is best used for a second Etna outing, such as a winery visit on the northern slopes, or for a day trip covered in our Catania City Guide.
What are the best things to see in Catania's old town?
The centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site as one of the eight Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, all rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693. Catania was rebuilt on the site of the old town in black lava stone and pale limestone, with Giovan Battista Vaccarini among its leading architects, which is why the city looks darker and more dramatic than most of Sicily.
Piazza del Duomo and the Elephant Fountain
The cathedral square is the natural starting point, and it costs nothing. In the middle stands U Liotru, the lava-stone elephant that has become the symbol of the city, facing the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, whose Baroque façade is by Vaccarini and which holds the relics of the city's patron saint.
For the view, climb to the terraces of the Museo Diocesano next to the cathedral. Admission is €7 for the museum, €5 for the Roman baths of the Terme Achilliane below the square, or €10 for both.
The ticket office lists hours of 10:00 to 15:00 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and 15:00 to 20:00 on Tuesday and Thursday, with last entry half an hour before closing. On Sundays and holidays it opens only for booked groups, and posted hours can change with the season, so check before you go.
La Pescheria fish market
Reached down a staircase of volcanic stone just off the cathedral square, La Pescheria is the noisy morning fish market that most visitors remember longest. Opening hours are not officially published, so treat it as a morning affair: go before 10:00 for the full spectacle of stallholders calling out the catch, and wear shoes you do not mind getting wet.
The city's other big market, Fera 'o Luni, fills the streets between Piazza Carlo Alberto and Piazza Stesicoro. Its name means "Monday market", after the only day it once opened; according to Italia.it it now runs Monday to Friday.
Via dei Crociferi and the Benedictine Monastery
Via dei Crociferi is Catania's most theatrical Baroque street, a short run of church façades and convent walls under the arch of San Benedetto. The church of San Francesco Borgia, managed by the regional archaeological park, opens Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 18:30, and on Sunday morning.
A few minutes' walk away, the vast Monastero dei Benedettini of San Nicolò l'Arena is visited on guided tours, with tours in English every day. Places are limited, so book online on the official site, where the current prices and combined tickets are listed.
The Roman Theatre, the Odeon and the amphitheatre
Teatro Romano and Odeon: the theatre sits wedged among the houses of Via Vittorio Emanuele. It is open every day of the year from 9:00 to 19:00, last entry 18:30, with tickets at €8, or €4 reduced.
Roman amphitheatre: on Piazza Stesicoro. Tickets cost €6, or €3 reduced, and until 31 March it opens daily from 9:00 to 17:00.
Free Roman baths: the Terme della Rotonda and the Terme dell'Indirizzo charge no admission. Both open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 18:30, and on Sunday from 9:00 to 13:00; they are closed on Monday.
Castello Ursino and Palazzo Biscari
Castello Ursino: built in the 13th century for Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, the castle has housed the Museo Civico since 1934, with Greek and Roman finds, medieval sculpture and Sicilian painting. Official listings give different opening hours, so confirm the day's times before you go.
Palazzo Biscari: this noble palace in the old town shows its rococo salons on guided visits of about 30 minutes, by reservation. English visits run at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30; tickets are €10, or €7 for over-65s, students and FAI members, and free for children under 10.
How do you visit Mount Etna from Catania?
Mount Etna is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most active volcanoes on earth, with activity documented for at least 2,700 years. On the southern side, Rifugio Sapienza, at 1,910 metres, is the last point you can reach by car or bus; from there a cable car climbs to about 2,500 metres.
On your own: Rifugio Sapienza and the cable car
Cable car only: a round-trip ticket on the Funivia dell'Etna costs €54. The cable car runs every day from 8:30 to 16:45, with the last descent at 17:15, weather and technical conditions permitting.
Without a car, the usual way up is the regional AST bus from Catania, which travel guides describe as one morning departure and one afternoon return. We could not open AST's own timetable to confirm current times and fares, and the figures quoted by guides differ, so check with AST the day before.
Guided options: Tour 3000 and the summit craters
Tour 3000: sold by the cable car company, it combines the round-trip cable car, a 4x4 bus or snowcat and an alpine or volcanological guide towards 3,000 metres. It costs €82 per person, takes about 2.5 hours and departs between 8:30 and 15:15.
South summit craters on foot: certified guides such as Guidetna lead a full excursion of about six hours from the cable car station at Rifugio Sapienza towards the summit craters. It costs €130 per adult and €120 per child, paid on the day, and includes the guide, insurance, helmet, boots and a windproof jacket.
Summit access can be limited or cancelled at short notice because of weather or volcanic activity, and the guides decide on the morning. Keep a spare day in your plan if Etna is the main reason for your trip.
Etna wine country and the Circumetnea railway
The northern slopes are wine country. The Strada del Vino dell'Etna runs a wine tour that starts on the historic Circumetnea railway and continues by bus to two wineries, with a guide in Italian or English; check dates and prices on its booking page.
If you plan to use the Circumetnea on your own, note that local press reported in March 2026 that the stretch between Paternò and Santa Maria di Licodia was suspended for metro works, with replacement buses to Nesima metro station. Its trains and buses also do not run on Sundays and public holidays.
What should you eat in Catania?
Catania cooks from the market and the mountain. Order pasta alla Norma, named after the opera by Vincenzo Bellini, who was born here; an arancino, which in Catania is masculine, not the arancina of Palermo; and the morning's fish from La Pescheria.
For something sweet, try granita with a brioche, and anything made with pistachio from Bronte, a town on Etna's slopes. To drink, look for Etna DOC wines from the vineyards on the volcano.
For addresses, from MICHELIN-starred dining rooms to an osteria beside the fish market, see our Catania restaurants directory.
Where can you swim near Catania?
Catania has two very different coasts. To the south, the Plaia is a long sandy beach with private lidos and free stretches, the easiest choice for families.
To the north, the coast turns to black lava rock. At Aci Castello and Aci Trezza the sea stacks of the Cyclops Islands form a marine protected area, best enjoyed from the rocks or on a boat trip. Avoid the harbour areas and swim from beaches and established bathing spots.
How do you get around Catania?
The centre is best seen on foot. For the airport, the beaches and late evenings, the city buses and the metro are cheap and simple once you know which ticket to buy.
From the airport: the Alibus
Alibus: there is no metro to Catania airport, so take the AMTS Alibus into town. The ticket costs €4, can be bought on board by cash or card, in the AMTS app or at resellers, and is valid for 90 minutes on the other city bus lines as well.
Buses, metro and taxis
City buses: an AMTS 90-minute ticket costs €1.40 and a day ticket €3.50, or €2.00 and €4.10 if bought on board. Ordinary bus tickets are not valid on the Alibus.
Metro: the single line runs Monday to Thursday from 6:00 to 22:30, until 1:00 on Friday and Saturday, and from 7:00 to 22:30 on Sundays and holidays. It is closed on 25 December and Easter Sunday.
Driving: a car is useful for Etna and the coast, much less so in the old town. If you rent one, ask your accommodation about parking and traffic restrictions before you drive into the centre.
When is the best time to visit Catania?
Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking the city and the volcano. Summer is hot and dry, and snow can cover the upper slopes of Etna in winter, which changes what the guides can offer.
Sant'Agata in February and August
From 3 to 5 February the city celebrates its patron saint, Agatha, with the candelore, tall decorated candles carried by the old guilds, and the silver fercolo bearing her relics; the main procession on 5 February runs into the early hours of the next day. A smaller festival on 17 August marks the return of her relics in 1126. Book early if you plan to visit in early February.
Etna weather
On Etna, check the forecast for the summit, not for the city: it can be sunny on the coast and cold, windy or cloudy at 3,000 metres.
If you are thinking of staying longer than a holiday, our guide to living in Catania compares neighbourhoods from the historic centre to Ognina, with rents and everyday practicalities. For hotels within walking distance of the sights, see our selection of top hotels in Catania.
What Catania's visitors mean for hosts and local businesses
The way people search for things to do in Catania says a lot about how they travel. The questions are framed by length of stay: one free day, a weekend, three or four days. Most visitors treat the city as a short base for Etna and the east coast rather than a week-long destination, so hosts compete for two or three nights, not for long stays.
Etna shapes the guest's schedule
Because summit trips start early and can be cancelled on the morning, guests who come for the volcano often ask for an early breakfast, a packed lunch or a flexible check-out. A host who knows the cable car's last descent time and the difference between a cable car ticket and a guided summit trek can turn a common question into a reason for a good review.
Weather changes plans here more than in most Italian cities. Offering a rainy-day or windy-day alternative, such as the monastery tour, the Roman sites or a market and cooking morning, keeps a cancelled excursion from becoming a disappointing stay.
The calendar: Sant'Agata and the seasons
Demand peaks around fixed dates. The February festival of Sant'Agata fills the centre for three days, and the summer beach season brings a different guest who asks about the Plaia and the lava coast rather than museums.
Pricing and minimum stays can follow those dates, while quieter months can be marketed around the cooler weather for walking the city and climbing Etna.
Tourist tax and the CIN code in Catania
Catania's current tourist tax regulation was approved with resolution no. 65 of 28 October 2025. The tax is charged per person per night on non-residents, for a maximum of four consecutive nights in a calendar year, and minors up to the age of 16 are exempt. The rates by type of accommodation are set by the city government and published on the city's website.
Under the regulation, hosts and short-let managers must register on the city's tax portal, inform guests of the tax, collect it and issue a receipt, and report guests and taxable nights through the portal within five days of arrival.
What they collect is paid each calendar quarter, within 15 days of the following month, via PagoPA. An annual statement, Modello 21, is due by 30 January of the following year, and records must be kept for at least five years.
The same regulation requires the identification code (CIR or CIN) to be entered at registration, shown in every advertisement and displayed outside the property. For the national tax side of short lets, see our article on the Italy short-term rental tax. This is general information, not legal or tax advice: check the current rules with the Comune di Catania and a qualified adviser.
FAQ: things to do in Catania
Is Catania worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you are interested in Baroque architecture, street markets and volcanoes. The old town is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, the markets and street food are a reason to come in themselves, and the upper slopes of an active volcano are a day trip away by bus and cable car.
What can you do in Catania for one day?
Go to La Pescheria early, see Piazza del Duomo and the Museo Diocesano terraces, have lunch near the market, then take the guided tour of the Benedictine monastery and end at the Roman theatre, open until 19:00. Leave Etna for a second day.
Can you visit Etna from Catania without a tour?
Yes. A regional bus or a rental car takes you to Rifugio Sapienza at 1,910 metres, and the cable car, €54 return, climbs to about 2,500 metres. Going higher towards the summit craters requires an authorised guide, either on the €82 Tour 3000 or on a full-day trek.
How do you get from Catania airport to the city centre?
Take the AMTS Alibus. The ticket costs €4, can be bought on board by cash or card, and is valid for 90 minutes on other city bus lines too. There is no metro to the airport.
What is free in Catania?
Piazza del Duomo, the markets, Via Etnea and Via dei Crociferi cost nothing, and so do the Roman baths of the Terme della Rotonda and the Terme dell'Indirizzo, open Tuesday to Sunday.
For day trips to Taormina and Siracusa, the evening scene and more places to eat and stay, see our full Catania City Guide.
Sources, checked 5 November 2026: UNESCO, Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, UNESCO, Mount Etna, Italia.it, Catania, Italia.it, Castello Ursino, Italia.it, Rifugio Sapienza, Italia.it, Festa di Sant'Agata, Parco archeologico di Catania, opening hours, Parco archeologico di Catania, tickets, Museo Diocesano di Catania, Monastero dei Benedettini, guided tours, Palazzo Biscari, guided visits, Funivia dell'Etna, cable car, Funivia dell'Etna, Tour 3000, Guidetna, south summit craters, Strada del Vino dell'Etna, wine train, Ferrovia Circumetnea, lines and metro hours, LiveUniversity, Circumetnea works (March 2026), AMTS, Alibus, AMTS, tickets, Area Marina Protetta Isole Ciclopi and Comune di Catania, tourist tax regulation (resolution no. 65 of 28 October 2025).
Photo credits: cover, Via Etnea at sunset, by NOVA; Mount Etna over Catania by Samir Kharrat; both via Unsplash (Unsplash License), lightly retouched by Holiplanet.
