AIR: TO/ FROM
THE AIRPORT
Flights land in Sicily in Palermo and Catania. Depending where you are
coming from, most flights land in Rome first. From Rome the flight to
Palermo is just one hour (Catania is 70 minutes).
Air Sicilia (tel. 091 625 0566) has the cheapest one-way fares which are
Euro 59-91 to Palermo, Euro 65-97 to Catania.
Alitalia charges Euro 132 to Palermo but this leg can often be tacked on to
a connecting international Alitalia flight for less.
The Alitalia website
is http://www.alitalia.it
TRAIN
There is no local metro system in Palermo.
Trains leave for Milazzo, Messina, Catania and
Syracuse in Sicily (and small stops on the way).
Direct trains also go to Reggio di Calabria, Naples
and Rome. Reservations are advised on all long
distance trips. Check the boards in the train station
or go online via trenitalia http://www.trenitalia.it
for more information. For more informationation tel.
166 10 50 50.
BUS
Most buses stop outside the train station.
No. 7 along Via Roma from the train station to Piazza
Castelnuovo.
No 39 from the station to the port.
Most buses stop outside the train station.
Buses to destinations around Sicily leave from the
right as you leave Stazione Centrale around the Via
Paolo Balsamo area. There are a number of bus
companies and their ticket windows here where you can
purchase tickets and get timetabling information. SAIS
Via Balsamo 16, has a daily service to Rome.
Tel. 616 6028. The bus leaves daily from Rome at 8pm
and runs to Catania and Syracuse with connections to
Palermo and Agrigento. SEGESTA
Via Balsamo 26, has a daily service to Rome.
Tel. 616 7919. This bus leaves daily from Rome at
9.30pm, and arrives in Palermo (Piazza Politeama) at
9.30am. A.S.T.
Azienda Siciliana Trasporti Via Caduti
Senza Croce n. 28, CAP: 90100 Palermo.
Tel: 091-6208111, Fax: 091-6703974. www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it
FERRIES
Ferries come to Sicily from Genova, Livorno, Naples, Reggio di Calabria and
Cagliari and also from Malta and Tunisia.
Tirrenia, Tel. 091 333 300 in Palermo, Tel. 06 474 2041 in Rome. Runs Naples
to Palermo (13 hours), Calgiari to Palermo (14 hours). Go to the website
http://www.tirrenia.it for full details.
Grimaldi Grandi Traghetti, Tel. 091 587 404 in Palermo, Tel. 06 4281 8388 in
Rome. Runs Genoa to Palermo (20 hours). Book ahead well in advance in
summer. There is a website http://www.grimaldi.it
DRIVING
It is possible to drive to Sicily from the mainland by
putting your car on the ferry crossing from Villa San
Giovani (near Reggio di Calabria) to Messina. Check
our driving
in Italy pages for more details on parking
and driving. To rent a car in Sicily try the Auto Europe
deals available online.
HITCH-HIKING
Sicily is mainly a rural popultion and hitching is pretty safe here despite
the Mafia and organied crime. However it is not recommended for single
female travellers. To hitch out of Palermo find the major road leaving the
city.
TICKETS
Buy your tickets before boarding buses at
tobacconists, newstands, major bus stops
or vending machines. Tickets are purchased
in time periods. Train tickets must also
be purchased before boarding. Queues can
be long and timely so try the automatic
machines (although try and have the right
change or you lose money). Remember to validate
your ticket before boarding in the yellow
machines on every platform.
CAR/MOTORCYCLE
Most visitors find driving in Palermo a little too hairy however if you are experienced driving in Italy this should pose no problems. However most people will park their car and save it for other trips around Sicily and the local bus system is an excellent way of getting around the city. If you want to day trip outside of the city then the freedom of exploration in a car will be beneficial and save you time on local transport.
Try the following specialists for renting a car:
Auto Europe - www.autoeurope.com
tel. 800 223 5555 or 207 842 2000 Europe
by Car tel. 212 581 3040 or 800 223 1516.
Kemwel Holiday Autos tel. 800 678 0678.
Rates start at about $120 per week, but insurance is mandatory and brings total coverage to about $255/week. Pick up the car upon leaving Palermo to avoid the nightmarish city traffic.
