Best Way to Get Around Sicily by Public Transport, Taxi, and Car

Maria Webb

With so much to see and do in Sicily for adults as well as kids activities, you need to consider how to travel in and around Sicily while considering factors such as cost, comfort, and speed of travel. These are particularly relevant when travelling with children, as you might need more flexibility in your travel plans to account for any mishaps, carrying extra luggage, etc. So, what’s the best way to get around Sicily? 

The best way to get around Sicily is to rent a car, particularly if you are a family. This is because it offers more flexibility and comfort, and may be more cost-effective. Although there is inexpensive public transport around Sicily, it can be inefficient, and is sometimes late or unreliable. 

However, I totally understand that only some people wish to drive while on holiday. This is why this article goes into how to travel in Sicily, outlining the pros and cons of each method. 

This information was gathered in December 2022.

Renting a Car 

In my opinion, the best way to get around Sicily is by car, especially if you have young children. Although it is not necessary to do so if you don’t wish to, you’ll find that you can be much more efficient in your visits when using a car. It also gives you the flexibility and freedom to plan as you go, take as many bathroom breaks as required, and have less luggage to lug around since it would be in the back of the car.

Renting a car can be expensive, but it might actually be cheaper than public transport if you are a family. Ultimately, the charges depend on the company you use, so you should shop around to see if you get some good deals.

For example, consider using Discover Cars which will allow you to compare prices and rental terms from various car rental companies in one place, making it easier for you to find the best deal for your needs. They also happened to win the award of the world’s best car rental booking website in 2022 and in fact they have an excellent rating on Trustpilot.

Having said this, driving in Sicily can be quite an adventure and is not for the faint of heart. The roads are often narrow, poorly maintained, and need better signage except of autostradas. You can also expect heavy traffic and crazy drivers especially in larger cities. Because of this, make it a point to rent a car with full insurance to avoid any hassle when returning it. 

Guides for More Information

There are 3 comprehensive guides you might want to refer to for more information on driving in Sicily. One for driving in Sicily which focuses on road rules, congestion tax and tolls. One for hiring a car covering costs, rules and documents required by car rental companies. And finally, crossing Sicily by car to get a sense of scale of the island.

Train

The most picturesque forms of public transport around Sicily are the trains, as these tend to take very scenic routes through the beautiful Sicilian countryside. Trains also tend to be more comfortable than buses, as there is more space and often a larger and cleaner bathroom. These components can be very important for families with young children. 

However, in some instances, train routes might take longer than buses (more on that later). This means that although bus and train prices are similar, taking a train might be more expensive as you may need multiple tickets. 

For intercity travel your best bet is using Omio which is better than the local train site Trenitalia. This is because it gives you prices and trip duration for both trains and buses wherever applicable.

It’s great because most of the time (especially for longer journeys) buses are more direct, hence they take less time to reach the destination and are cheaper. Additionally, there are many different bus operators with no centralised system for booking, making Omio the only option I’m aware of.

Routes 

The Sicilian rail network is made up of regional and intercity trains that cover the nine provinces of the island: Palermo, which is the regional capital, Trapani and Agrigento in the west, Caltanissetta and Enna in the centre, and Ragusa, Siracusa, Catania, and Messina in the east. There are also train connections between Palermo airport and the city centre. 

However, the main station hubs are located in Palermo, Messina and Catania. Although this means that you can reach the rest of the regions from these stations, it also means that other major cities are not always connected optimally, even if they are on the same side of the island.

Most of the time you will stick around to a particular area within Sicily, but in some cases you may need to travel around. Hence you need to be careful about your travel options, depending on where you’re visiting and the activities you plan on doing.

For example, to go from Agrigento to Trapani on the west coast, you would first need to go from Agrigento to the main station in Palermo in the north. Then, you’ll need to go south to Mazara del Vallo, then north again to Trapani, making the trip as long as 8 hours by train compared with 3.5 hours by bus or just over 2 hours by car.

Tickets and Prices

There are two types of train tickets: either first-class or second-class tickets. First-class seating is more spacious, has more luggage space, and is usually quieter, since many opt to travel in second class. It also includes laptop connection plugs, power outlets, complimentary soft drinks, free newspapers, leather seats, and/or meals.

However, second-class tickets are generally about two-thirds the price of first-class. I have always travelled in second-class and never had any particular complaints about comfort on the train. 

Train tickets are more or less the same price range as bus tickets, running you between €7-€30 for adult second-class tickets. However, for families with children, note that children between 4-11 usually travel for about half the price of an adult fare, and kids three and under ride for free.

It’s also relevant to note that trains in Sicily run on strange schedules compared with most of the rest of Europe – for example, there might only be two trains a day going to a particular destination (often at strange times too, like midday).

Taxi

Taxis in Sicily are notoriously expensive. However, if you wish to avoid renting a car and there is no public transport that can take you to whatever spot you want to visit, you may prefer to use them. Uber operates in Sicily if you prefer to use them as opposed to other taxi services. 

Prices 

If you opt for other taxi services, keep in mind that each city sets tariffs for taxi drivers that are composed of two elements: a fixed sum of €2-€3 (that reaches €5-€6 for night taxi services) and a per-kilometre tariff of between €0.70 and €1.15 per km.

Also, all taxis should have a card stating the tariffs that is visible from the back seat. The only exceptions should be rides from the airport to its city, which are generally run on a fixed price and clearly stated inside the car. You’ll need to find the tariffs for whichever city you want to use a taxi in. For example, here are the taxi tariffs for Catania. 

I’d suggest you calculate the taxi price beforehand based on the city you’re in and the distance you want to travel. This way, you should be able to avoid being asked to pay a costly fare. Once you have this calculation, seek out a taxi driver and confirm the itinerary and price before getting into the taxi. 

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