Buses to and from Catania Airport (CTA)

Similar to all other international airports, Catania-Fontanarossa Airport offers extensive bus services to the city of Catania and other surrounding areas. Bus services tend to be much cheaper than taking a taxi, and many passengers prefer this economical option.

The city of Catania is only a few miles away from the airport, therefore, buses leave the airport every 20 minutes to reach the city center and the train station. Buses are available from 05:00 until midnight. This bus transport is provided for by the AMT ‘Alibus’ service. The route and stops that the buses follow from Catania Airport are as follows: Asse dei servizi, Faro Biscari, Tempio, Colombo, Borsellino square, Vittorio Emanuele, Duomo, Etnea, Stresicoro, Sicilia, Martiri Libertà and finally, Catania Railway Station. They also stop directly across the street from the Excelsior Grand Hotel and the Jolly Hotel Bellini. For a 60 minute valid ticket, the price is €0.80, and for a ticket valid until midnight, it is around €2.00.

The Alibuses can be taken to reach the airport as well. They leave from the Catania Railway Station, and follow almost the same route as above to the airport. The only difference is that they travel to Mulino S. Lucia, and to the roadside of Borsellino square, instead of under the bridge. They also do not stop at Vittorio Emanuele.

From Catania Airport there are also many other buses that provide transportation to country locations, or out-of-town areas. These buses include A.S.T, Etna Trasporti, Giuntabus, Interbus, Molica, SAIS Trasporti and SAIS Autolinee. Some of the destinations offered by A.S.T include the towns of Carlentini, Avola, Lentini, Piazza Armerina, Pozzallo and Caltagirone. Etna Trasporti travels to Licata, Aidone, Gela, Taormina, Vizzini and Recanati, and the Giuntabus covers the port of Milazzo from April to September for hydrofoil and other sea connections to the Eolian Islands. Interbus travels to the towns of Agira, Catenuova, Nicosia, Noto, Portopalo and Siracusa, and SIAS Trasporti offers services to Caltanissetta and Agrigento. The Molica Bus service runs between the 15th of June and the 15th of September, and travels to Porto Rosa, Capo D’Orlando and Gioiosa Marea. SIAS Autolinee covers the towns of Enna, Messina and Palermo.

The above mentioned information only notes some of the towns and cities to which the buses travel, and up-to-date timetables can be obtained at Catania Airport’s information desk. Bus tickets can be purchased at the airport from the Exchange Office/Bus Ticket Office in the Arrivals area, on the ground floor of the terminal. This office is open between the hours of 06:00 and 22:00.

Take note that all bus tickets, once used, should be validated, or stamped. This is usually done by the validating machines near the entrance of the buses. The machine will put a stamp and a date on your ticket to show that it has been used. Passengers of the bus must validate their own tickets, as they are not validated by the driver of the bus. Fines of up to €50 can be issued (on-the-spot) should you be found with a used ticket that has not been validated.

Besides the regular bus services, there are also more private vans and shuttles available. These services usually require an advanced reservation, and are a little more convenient and comfortable than the metropolitan buses. They may also transport fewer passengers and make less stops, and you will therefore reach your destination a little faster. An example of a shuttle service at the airport is Cityhopper, and they can be found at www.cityhopper.com. Some hotels offer complementary airport transportation as well, and you can find out the details when you book your accommodation.