How to Get to Sicily: Flights, Airport Transfers and Driving from the US

Sicily is an island at the southern tip of Italy, and you reach it by air through Catania-Fontanarossa, Palermo-Punta Raisi or Trapani Birgi. Catania is the largest airport in southern Italy, and Palermo is linked to all three, so the airport you choose depends on which part of the island you’re heading to.

At a glance

• Arrival airports: Catania-Fontanarossa, Palermo-Punta Raisi, Trapani Birgi
• Catania airport to Sant’Angelo di Brolo: 78 miles (126 km)
• Palermo airport to Sant’Angelo di Brolo: 116 miles (187 km)
• Nearest station to Sant’Angelo di Brolo: Brolo-Ficarra, 5.6 miles (9 km), Palermo-Messina line
• Nearest A20 motorway exit: Brolo-Capo d’Orlando est, 7.5 miles (12 km)
• Stay without a visa: 90 days for U.S. citizens

How do you fly to Sicily from the US?

Catania-Fontanarossa is the airport to look at first. It’s the largest in southern Italy and became a Mediterranean hub when Comiso airport merged into it.

Wizz Air has opened a new base, and DAT flies to Lampedusa, Pantelleria and Cagliari. If you plan a side trip to one of the small islands, check those flights when you pick your arrival airport.

How do you get from the airport to Sicily?

Distance helps to choose between the two big airports. From Sant’Angelo di Brolo, on the north coast, Catania-Fontanarossa is 78 miles (126 km) away and Palermo-Punta Raisi is 116 miles (187 km). For that stretch of coast, Catania is the shorter transfer.

SAIS Autolinee runs buses between Catania and Palermo, Messina and Enna, and on routes to and from Catania Airport. From Palermo, several bus companies serve the island, among them Prestìa e Comandè, Salemi, Cuffaro, SAIS, Terravision, Russo and AST. The train also reaches Punta Raisi airport, so Palermo has a rail link as well as buses.

Can you get to Sicily by train, bus or car?

Brolo-Ficarra railway station, on the Palermo-Messina line, is 5.6 miles (9 km) from Sant’Angelo di Brolo. Trains from Palermo also serve Agrigento, Caltagirone, Catania and Cefalù.

By car, the A20 Messina-Palermo motorway exit Brolo-Capo d’Orlando est is 7.5 miles (12 km) from the village. Etna Trasporti buses link Catania with Licata, Ragusa, Taormina, Piazza Armerina, Gela and other towns, which helps if you’d rather skip the motorway.

How do you get around Sicily once you arrive?

Stamp your ticket in the validation machine (obliteratrice) as you get on.

In Ortigia, the old center of Siracusa, driving is restricted by a ZTL, a limited traffic zone. Monday to Saturday it’s active from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. the next day. On Sundays and public holidays it runs without a break from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Since October 16, 2025, entry is prohibited during those hours except for residents and authorized vehicles. Vehicles may park only in designated spaces, for a maximum of 30 minutes with the parking disc displayed. Loading and unloading follows the same 30-minute limit, and on weekdays it is allowed only from 2:00 to 11:00 a.m. and from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

What documents do you need to board a flight to Italy?

U.S. citizens can stay in Italy for 90 days without a tourist or business visa. According to travel.state.gov, passports must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area, and a 6-month validity is recommended. Passports must have 2 blank pages for the entry stamp.

U.S. citizens must arrive at Italian ports of entry with a valid passport. If your passport has ever been reported as lost or stolen, or is expired, Italian authorities could deny you entry and return you immediately to the United States. You will need proof of sufficient funds and a return plane ticket.