Catania Airport to City Center: Alibus, Metro, Train and Taxi

The Alibus reaches Catania Centrale station 15 minutes after leaving the airport, and a single ticket costs €4.00. The last departure is at 12:30 a.m. The 90-minute city tickets and day tickets are not valid on the Alibus, so buy the Alibus ticket itself.

At a glance

• Recommended line: Alibus
• Travel time: 15 minutes to Catania Centrale station
• Fare: €4.00 single ticket, valid 90 minutes on other AMT city lines
• First and last departure: 4:40 a.m. and 12:30 a.m.
• Frequency: every 18 minutes in central hours, every 25 early in the morning and in the evening
• Stops: Stazione Centrale FS and Piazza Borsellino (Via Etnea)

What is the best way to get from Catania Airport to the city center?

The Alibus suits most travelers: it is quick, cheap and stops in the center. The metro costs less still. A taxi has a fixed fare and takes you to the door, which helps with heavy bags or a group. The train works too, with a short shuttle first.

• Alibus: 15 minutes to Catania Centrale · €4.00 · 4:40 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. · most travelers
• Metro: about 20 minutes to the centre · €1.00 · from the Giovanni XXIII stop, a 5-minute walk from the terminal · budget travelers
• Train: AMTS shuttle to the airport station every 10 minutes, 4:30 a.m. to 10:40 p.m. · regional fare plus €1.40 for the shuttle · rail connections
• Taxi: fixed fare of about €15 to €20 · rank at the arrivals exit · luggage or groups
• Private transfer: from €25 · about 10 minutes · available 24/7 with online booking · late arrivals

Budget: take the metro or the Alibus. Luggage or a group: take a taxi. Late arrival after the last Alibus: book a private transfer.

How do you take the metro or bus from Catania Airport?

The Alibus is the line to look for. It stops at Stazione Centrale FS and at Piazza Borsellino, on Via Etnea.

Buses leave every 18 minutes in central hours and every 25 early in the morning and in the evening. The first departure is at 4:40 a.m. and the last at 12:30 a.m. The Alibus runs on Sundays and public holidays with the same timetable as weekdays.

• Alibus single ticket: €4.00, valid 90 minutes on other AMT city lines
• Metro ticket: €1.00, about 20 minutes to the centre
• Train: regional fare plus €1.40 for the AMTS shuttle

Buy the Alibus ticket for the Alibus. Day tickets, FCE tickets and ordinary season tickets are not valid on it, and neither are the 90-minute city tickets.

How much is a taxi from Catania Airport to the city center?

The taxi rank is at the arrivals exit, on the left side. Taxis are white with «TAXI» on the roof, and the licence number is displayed on the doors, at the rear and inside. The fare to the city centre is fixed, at about €15 to €20. A private transfer costs from €25, takes about 10 minutes and can be booked online, 24/7.

Against the €4.00 Alibus, a taxi to the center costs about €15 to €20 at the fixed fare. Split between three or four people, or with a lot of luggage, it becomes a fair trade.

Arriving late at Catania Airport: what are your options?

The last Alibus leaves at 12:30 a.m. After that, the private transfer is the option with a stated 24/7 service, so book it online before landing.

Renting a car at Catania Airport

Historic downtown Catania has a ZTL (limited traffic zone) and pedestrian areas, in force 24 hours a day, every day of the year. A permit is required to enter. It is free, requested online on the AMTS Catania or Comune di Catania website, and linked to a single plate. Hotels can request temporary permits for clients’ vehicles, valid for no more than 12 hours. According to the U.S. State Department, authorities fine drivers without the proper permits in historic downtown areas, and the fines are sent to the driver’s home in the United States. Seat belt use is mandatory, and outside cities you must always use headlights. Rural roads are generally narrow and often have no guardrails. If you are stopped in a car registered abroad, be prepared to pay a ticket in cash in local currency.