Is Catania safe for tourists?

Yes, Catania is safe in general with the usual pick-pocketing precautions you would use world-wide in any large city. And yes, this has nothing to do with immigrants. And yes, avoid San Cristoforo and Castello Ursino.

Is Palermo or Catania better?

Palermo “may” have the edge on markets, but overall, Catania is better for shopping – You would find boutique shopping on via Etnea, as well as hypermarkets all around Catania. There are beaches in Catania and beaches easily reached by public bus from Catania towards the airport – Mondello is Palermo’s beach.

Is Catania expensive?

While much more affordable than cities such as Rome, Catania is still more expensive than some of the other European destinations that I’ve visited, and so I decided to put together a handy guide to visiting Catania on a budget!

How many days do you need in Catania?

If you stay 3 days in Catania, you should spend 2 days (most likely 1 day and a half or a bit less, if you don’t arrive early in the morning) to visit the city. You can find all the best Things to do in Catania in my article. For your 3rd day, the best is to do a day trip to the Etna Volcano!

Does Catania have a beach?

With its 18 km, La Playa is the locals’ favourite beach: a long stretch of fine golden sand. Locals and tourists alike appreciate both the beach services offered by the lidos, and its lively and entertaining night life. Another strong point of La Playa is the breath-taking view of majestic Etna.

Is Sicily paying tourists to visit?

In April 2020, I told you about a plan Sicily hatched to restart its tourism industry. The government announced it had set aside millions of euros to pay 50% of visitors’ airfares and give travelers who booked two nights of hotel accommodations a third night for free.

How big is the city of Catania in Italy?

Again, since the 70’s, the city economy is growing as the urban area and the suburbs, making Catania a large metropolitan centre, mainly between the volcano and the sea.

Which is the best way to travel to Catania?

Catania has a compact centre and it is most convenient just to walk around. Travelling by public transport may be quite problematic, (watch out for your wallet too), due to the long waiting times for buses (even more than 1 hour).

Why is Catania considered a World Heritage Site?

Catania is also well known for its particular baroque architecture and urban design (the downtown area is a World Heritage Site, along with all the Val di Noto), consequences of the great earthquake of 1693 after which the city had to be rebuilt, like most of eastern Sicily.

Where is the main meeting place in Catania?

Teatro Massimo Bellini Via Giuseppe Perrotta, 12, 95131 Catania, tel. +39 095 730 6111, [45]. It is 19th century opera house in Piazza Teatro, which is the main meeting for the local young people. So its neighborhood is very lively and busy by night.