Travel by: [ Road ] [ Rail ] [ Water ] [ Air ]
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Driving in Italy is not for the faint-hearted but for travelers wishing to see many of the smaller or more remote sights, hiring a car is the best option. City driving is not recommended but elsewhere a car will enable you to travel, stop and sightsee at your own pace. For car hire companies, see Getting Around.
Palermo, in the northwest of the island, is connected to Catania via Enna by the A19. The A20 follows the northern coast of Sicily to the east via Cefalu and Capo d’Orlando, while the A29 goes west towards Trapani.
Drive on the right, overtake on the left. Driving licences should be carried at all times. Speed limits are as follows: 50 kph (31 mph) in built-up areas, 90 kph (56 mph) on secondary roads, 110 kph (68 mph) on main roads, and 130 kph (81 mph) on motorways. Motorways are known as autostrades and indicated by a green sign. Petrol (benzina) is expensive in Sicily.
Emergency breakdown services in Sicily are run by the Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) (website: www.aci.it). The cost can be quite high, so hiring a reliable car from a reputable firm is essential.
Emergency breakdown service: ACI (tel: 116).
Coach services: SAIS Autolinee (tel: (091) 616 6028; website: www.saisautolinee.it) has modern, comfortable coaches that serve most of the major cities and towns in Sicily, including Cefalu, Messina, Enna, Caltanissetta, Catania and Siracusa. Segesta (tel: (091) 304 106; website: www.segesta.it) serves Trapani and Cuffaro (tel: (091) 616 1510) serves Agrigento. Most services depart from Via P Balsamo. Call individual operators for more information. |
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Trenitalia operates all services in mainland Italy and Sicily (tel: 892 021, in Italy only; website: www.trenitalia.it). Visitors travelling from mainland Italy can catch a train from Rome or Naples (the train will be loaded on a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina). The main railway lines in Sicily are efficient enough, and there are regular departures from Palermo to all major towns on the island, including Cefalu, Messina, Catania, Siracusa, Enna, Caltanissetta, Agrigento and Trapani.
Palermo Centrale is the main train station in Palermo (tel: (091) 603 1111). For tickets and bookings, call (091) 603 3173. |
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| Grandi Navi Veloci (tel: (010) 209 4591; website: www.gnv.it) runs ferry services from the mainland to Palermo. There are daily sailings from Genoa and Rome (Civitavecchia) and three sailings a week from Livorno. From Naples, daily services are operated by Tirrenia (tel: (081) 017 1998; website: www.tirrenia.it). |
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Falcone Borsellino (Punta Raisi) Airport
Tel: (091) 702 0111 or 800 541 880.
Website: www.gesap.it
Palermo airport is located 35km (22 miles) to the northwest of Palermo.
Airport facilities: There is a bank, bureau de change and five ATMs, a post office, a bar and self-service restaurant, a tourist information desk and various shops. Car hire is available from a number of operators, including Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Maggiore and Sixt.
Transport to the city: There are regular trains linking the airport to the city centre. The journey takes about an hour and trains run every 30 minutes peak times, every hour at other times. Coaches also serve the city centre (tel: (091) 580 457), running every 30 minutes and leaving from just outside the arrivals terminal. Taxis are also available (tel: (091) 225 455). |
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