Catania, Sicily
A baroque city built from black lava stone, a morning fish market full of noise and color, and Mount Etna on the skyline. Here’s how to plan your day in eastern Sicily.
The city under Etna
Catania sits at the foot of Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano, and the mountain has shaped the city in every way. After a lava flow and a major earthquake in the late 1600s, Catania was rebuilt in a grand baroque style using dark volcanic stone, and its historic center is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mount Etna is the request we hear most for Catania, and the Silvestri Craters in particular, but the city itself and the clifftop town of Taormina are strong choices too. Etna and Taormina are each about an hour or more by road, so this is a port where planning matters. Below are the cruise line favorites, the highlights to know if you’d rather stay in town and the details that keep the day easy.
Where you’ll dock
Ships berth alongside at the cruise terminal in the port of Catania, right beside the old town. Confirm your arrival details on your itinerary a few days before you arrive.
Sporgente Centrale
The cruise terminal on the central pier is run by Catania Cruise Port and is set up for today’s large ships, with room for several at once. It’s a working harbor shared with cargo ships, so expect an industrial feel at the gate. From the terminal, the baroque center around Piazza del Duomo is about three quarters of a mile away, and ship tours meet in the coach area by the terminal.
Used by: Azamara, Celebrity, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Viking and Virgin Voyages.
Cruise line favorites
Book these in your cruise planner. Ship-sold tours cost a bit more, but the ship waits for you if the tour runs late, which matters on a day with this much driving.
- Mount Etna. A drive up the volcano’s southern slopes to walk among old craters and lava fields at around 6,000 feet. It can be cool and windy up there even in summer, and access to higher areas depends on what the volcano is doing. Popular small-group and 4x4 Etna tours can sell out, so book early.
- Taormina. The clifftop town north of Catania, with its ancient Greek theater, boutique-lined main street and views down the coast. Allow about an hour or more each way by road.
- Etna & Taormina. The two big names in one long day. It’s a lot of time on the road, so this is one to book through your cruise line so the timing is handled for you.
- Syracuse & Ortigia. Greek and Roman ruins, a cathedral built into an ancient temple and the island old town of Ortigia, about an hour south. A strong choice for history lovers.
Exploring without a tour
Prefer to explore at your own pace? These are the highlights to know, wherever your day takes you. Keep an eye on the clock.
Piazza del Duomo
The main square, with the Cathedral of Sant’Agata and the lava-stone elephant fountain the locals call “u Liotru,” the city’s symbol. Via Etnea runs north from here with Etna framed at the end.
La Pescheria market
Just off the square, the historic fish market is loud, crowded and fun, with vendors calling out the day’s catch. It runs in the morning, Monday through Saturday.
Baroque & Roman Catania
Via dei Crociferi’s churches, the Roman theater, the Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena and Castello Ursino show off layers of the city’s history. Stop for granita with brioche or pasta alla Norma, a Catania classic.
Before you go ashore
- All-aboard is firm. If you book independently, plan to be back at the pier an hour before all-aboard. Traffic on the roads back from Etna and Taormina can add real time.
- Traveling with mobility needs? Catania’s center is mostly flat, but the paving is uneven, and Etna and Taormina involve slopes and steps. If you or someone in your party has mobility needs, tell your advisor when you book. Our accessibility specialist can help arrange the right support.
- Etna is active. Eruptions and ash are part of life here. Guides follow the current safety rules, and plans can change at short notice. Bring a layer, closed shoes and sunglasses for the volcano.
- Dress for churches. The cathedral and other churches ask that shoulders and knees are covered.
- Pick one big trip. Etna, Taormina and Syracuse are each the better part of a day. Guests who hope to add a winery or a second big stop usually find the port schedule too tight, so if you want two, choose a well-planned ship tour.
Sailing to Catania
Many Western and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries call here, often sailing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Barcelona, Athens (Piraeus) or Venice, and it also appears on some Greek Isles and Malta routes.Find a cruisePlan with Harr Travel
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