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Catania

Catania travel guide

City in Sicily, Italy

Flights from$671 round trip
Best time to visitApril to May
Nearest airportCTA · 3 mi from centre
Time zoneUTC+1
Population311,584

About Catania

Catania is the second-largest city in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy, after Palermo, both by area and by population. Despite being the second largest city of the island, Catania is the centre of the most densely populated Sicilian conurbation, which is among the largest in Italy. It has important road and rail transport infrastructures, and hosts the main airport of Sicily. The city is located on Sicily's east coast, facing the Ionian Sea at the base of the active volcano Mount Etna. It is the capital of the 58-municipality province known as the Metropolitan City of Catania, which is the seventh-largest metropolitan area in Italy. The population of the city proper is 296,984, while the population of the metropolitan city is 1,067,550.

Cheap flights to Catania

The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $671 from New York, travelling 18 Nov – 9 Dec. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.

Cheapest month to fly

$671 Nov $707 Dec $847 Jan $873 Feb $746 Mar $929 Apr $988 May $1,171 Jun $954 Jul $942 Aug $911 Sep $912 Oct

Airlines travellers compared most often: ITA Airways, Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Finnair, United Airlines, Aer Lingus.

Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 12 Oct and 11 Nov 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.

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Best time to visit Catania

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Catania is April to May, when average daytime highs are around 68–75°F and rain falls on about 6 days a month.

MonthTemperature (°F)Rain days
Jan 48° – 62° 8
Feb 48° – 61° 12
Mar 52° – 65° 11
Apr 54° – 68° 5
May 60° – 75° 6
Jun 70° – 86° 1
Jul 75° – 92° 1
Aug 75° – 91° 2
Sep 70° – 84° 5
Oct 62° – 77° 8
Nov 56° – 68° 8
Dec 49° – 62° 9

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Catania weather forecast

  • Wed 11 Nov 80° 68° 0%
  • Thu 12 Nov 78° 69° 20%
  • Fri 13 Nov 80° 68° 18%
  • Sat 14 Nov 77° 62° 0%
  • Sun 15 Nov 74° 59° 8%
  • Mon 16 Nov 71° 58° 29%
  • Tue 17 Nov 71° 55° 26%

Know before you go

Currency
Euro (EUR)1 US dollar ≈ €0.89
Language
Italian
Calling code
+39
Driving
On the right
Time zone
Europe/RomeUTC+1
Capital
Rome

Upcoming public holidays in Italy

  • Immaculate ConceptionImmacolata Concezione
  • Christmas DayNatale
  • St. Stephen's DaySanto Stefano
  • New Year's DayCapodanno
  • EpiphanyEpifania
  • Easter SundayPasqua

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Catania

These are the airports closest to central Catania. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

  • CTA Catania-Fontanarossa Airport3 mi (5 km) from the city centre
  • NSY Naval Air Station Sigonella11 mi (18 km) from the city centre
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Getting around Catania

Catania has a compact centre and it is most convenient just to walk around.

By bus

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By train

Ferrovia Circumetnea (FCE) is a narrow-gauge railway that loops around the west flanks of Etna then back to the coast and mainline at Giarre-Riposto, 28 km north of Catania. The terminus in Catania is Borgo, with a metro connection to Centrale railway station and downtown. Trains run from Catania Borgo M-Sa hourly, all as far as Paterno, most as far as Adrano, and eight per day reach Bronte and Randazzo (2 hours) where these south-side trains terminate.

By Metro

Visitors to Catania can use the metro to reach the Circumetnea railway. It's one of the shortest metro systems in the world, just under 9 km long, and it's run by the same company. The line starts from Stesicoro in midtown Catania, runs east to the transport hub of Giovanni XXIII, then turns west. Get off at Borgo for the Circumetnea railway. The metro line ends at the suburb of Nesima, which has Park & Ride. The metro runs M-Sa 06:50-21:00 every 10-15 min; no service Sundays or public holidays.

Catania travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Catania?

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Catania is April to May, when average daytime highs are around 68–75°F and rain falls on about 6 days a month.

What is the weather like in Catania?

July is usually the warmest month in Catania, with average highs of 92°F (33°C). February is the coolest, with average lows of 48°F (9°C). The wettest month is typically February, with about 107 mm of rain.

Which airport is closest to Catania?

Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) is the closest airport, about 3 miles (5 km) from the centre of Catania. Other nearby airports include Naval Air Station Sigonella (NSY, 11 mi).

How much are flights to Catania?

The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Catania in the last 30 days was $671 from New York, travelling 18 Nov – 9 Dec. November is currently the cheapest month to fly, with fares from $671.

What currency is used in Catania?

Catania uses the Euro (EUR). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ €0.89.

What time zone is Catania in?

Catania uses the Europe/Rome time zone (currently UTC+1). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.

How do I get around Catania?

Catania has a compact centre and it is most convenient just to walk around.