Trains to Catania Centrale

Catania Centrale

Catania Centrale is one of the most important train stations in Sicily – about 12 million passengers pass through the station every year. 80 regional, fast regional and Intercity trains operated by Trenitalia run daily between Catania and Messina (1h 20m), Siracusa (1h), Palermo (2h 50m) and other towns each day.

Catania Centrale is also well-connected to the underground. And, thanks to the large number of buses you can take from the station, you can reach Catania Airport and many nearby towns and villages with ease.

Station details and facilities

Catania train station offers a wide range of services, including a waiting room, a ticket office and ticket machines, toilets, a tourist information office and many bars and restaurants. The railroad police are also available.

How to get to Catania Airport

As there’s no direct train to Catania Airport, you’ll need to take a regional or Intercity train to Catania Centrale and then one of the Alibus buses that go to the airport. The bus journey lasts about 30 minutes, and buses run every 25 minutes from 04:40 to 24:00.

Public transport to and from the station

From Catania Centrale, you can easily take a bus or the underground to reach the city’s main attractions. Catania’s underground covers about 10 km and passes through the busiest areas of the city, from Piazza Giovanni XXIII to the district Nesima. Services run from 06:30 to 22:00 (until 24:00 on special occasions). Catania’s bus network consists of 55 daily services and some night services and helps you move quickly around the city. Alternatively, you can use one of the many taxi services that are available in the city.  

Main attractions near Catania train station

Getting to Catania by train is the best way to take in the vibrancy of the city. Enjoy the welcoming and cheerful atmosphere as soon as you leave the train station and have a stroll in the city centre. Start your visit at Palazzo Biscari, a private building with an amazing courtyard and “Feasts Hall” in Rococo style. From there, walk just three minutes, and you’ll find a beautiful Cathedral dedicated to Saint Agatha, decorated with Norman and Baroque elements and containing many works of art that you can’t just miss! And what about the elephant nearby? Sicilians call it u liotru – it’s the symbol of the city and the “main character” of the elephant’s fountain. If you want to immerse yourself in nature, head down the central Via Etnea and you’ll find yourself in Giardino Bellini, dotted with flower gardens, ponds, fountains and hilltop viewpoints over Catania and Mount Etna.  

You can’t leave Catania without trying some of the best local dishes. Piazza Ogninella, Piazza Mazzini or Via Porticello are only some of the areas where you can find the best restaurants to taste arancini, pasta alla Norma (with fried aubergines and ricotta) and a wide range of extraordinary desserts, including cannoli and cassata.