Day Trips to Mount Etna from Catania

Among the best things to do in Catania are undoubtedly the excursions to Mount Etna. This imposing mountain is actually an active volcano with breathtaking landscapes that will fascinate you. You can explore it in different ways at any time of the year and come across an incredible view.

There are different types of tours to suit you. Among them are those that are mostly hiking, 4x4 jeep tours and others that include wine and food tasting. The latter are usually more dynamic and attractive, since you not only get to know the site, but also its gastronomy. Dare to explore this beautiful place full of nature, fresh air and delicious flavors.

If you want to explore Mount Etna, but don't want to walk too much, a 4x4 jeep tour can be the ideal choice for you. Of course, your guide will pick you up in Catania first in a private vehicle. When you arrive at the foothills of the mountain, you will be able to get into the jeep and start an adventurous tour. This tour usually has an average duration of six hours and costs approximately 60 €.

Your guide will take you along the roads of Mount Etna from where you will be able to see the variety of inactive craters. Along the way you will make several stops to taste the honey, wine and other liquors sold in the local shops on the mountain. Take advantage of this moment to get to know new aromas and flavors.

You will continue your journey until you reach the Bove Valley, where a stop is usually made. Once there, you will be able to explore the ancient cave with lamps provided by your guide. As the day goes by, you will be able to see the impressive sunset, don't forget to photograph it! You will take a beautiful souvenir with you.

Tasting is usually included in the final price of the excursion. In addition, you can ask for special hiking shoes at additional cost. If you are traveling to Catania with children you can also ask for a special chair for the little one to ride comfortably in the jeep.

Interesting details

• Price: about 60 €.
• Duration: about 6 hours.
• Means of transport: 4x4 jeep.
• Advantages of this option: includes tasting of local products, jeep ride and exploration of a volcanic cave.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are allergic to any particular product you may not be able to enjoy the included tasting.

Do you love wine and also want to get to know Mount Etna? Then an excursion to this iconic site in Catania with a visit to a wine cellar is the option I recommend the most. This is probably one of the best gastronomic tours you can experience in this city. It usually has an average duration of six hours and a cost of 60 €.

As in the other tours, the guide will pick up all the participants in a private vehicle. Upon arrival at the hill, you can start the tour on foot until you reach the Rifugio Sapienza. Pay attention to all the instructions of your professional guide, as he will comment on the history of the volcano and take the opportunity to see the different viewpoints along the way. You will also be able to see some craters that hide interesting stories.

Following this path, you will reach a point where you will reach an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level. At one point along the way, you will see a cave that you can explore with your group and your guide. You will be given a helmet and a flashlight, so be prepared to encounter a unique and mysterious site!

The last stop of this excursion is the wine cellar where you will be able to have an exquisite tasting of local wines. Four wines plus a sparkling wine are included in the price of the tour. You can also taste a variety of cheeses, olive oil, pâté and local sausages.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 60 €.
• Duration: about 6 hours.
• Means of transport: shuttle bus.
• Advantages of this option: includes a delicious tasting of cold meats, cheeses and local wines.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are allergic to cheeses you will not be able to enjoy the tasting very much.

Mount Etna is known as the good giant of Italy and you can explore it in different ways. One of the most common is trekking or hiking, that is, a leisurely walk with which you can feel the nature more closely. These tours have an average duration of seven hours and cost around 65 €.

Normally, you will be accompanied by a group of no more than 10 people and a professional guide. In addition, transportation is usually included from Catania to the mountain, from where the actual tour begins. On the way you will pass through Trazzere to see the impressive lava flows dating back to 1792. Being a long walk, you will have time to hear all the history of Mount Etna.

On the way you will also see the Bove Valley, an ancient caldera that was formed more than 60 thousand years ago. Following this direction, you can reach 2,000 meters above sea level. From there you can enjoy beautiful views of the coast. Remember to wear comfortable but warm clothes so you can enjoy the hike without feeling too cold.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 65 €.
• Duration: about 7 hours.
• Means of transportation: van.
• Advantages of this option: includes trekking poles.
• Disadvantages of this option: does not include snacks or any type of food.

Mount Etna is actually a famous active volcano located on the east coast of Sicily. At its foot lies the town of Taormina, which is worth visiting for its impressive architectural works. If you want to visit both sites, keep in mind that the time you should invest is about nine hours. In addition, it has an average cost of 95 €.

The guide of this type of excursion usually creates groups of about 10 people. They can then travel by bus to Taormina. This trip can take about 30 minutes. Upon arrival, you will quickly be able to see Mount Etna. To make the most of the day, the first thing you usually do is to climb the mountain on a short tour where you can see the ancient Silvestri craters.

After a few hours, your guide will take you to Zafferana Etnea. There you can visit a local farm and taste Sicilian wine. You will continue walking until you reach the town of Taormina, where you can stroll through the streets and see the Teatro Antico di Taormina and the Duomo di Taormina, among other iconic buildings.

Details of interest

• Price: about 95 €.
• Duration: about 9 hours.
• Means of transport: shuttle bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will visit the city of Taormina and the mountain.
• Disadvantages of this option: having two destinations, perhaps the time spent in both may be short.

If you have two days to explore Catania and want to experience its natural wonders, I recommend this tour to Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorges. The average cost of this type of experience is 100 € and it lasts approximately eight hours. It usually starts very early in the morning so you can get the most out of this experience.

After your guide picks you up at your hotel in Catania, you will travel to Mount Etna. From there, you will walk with your group and guide exploring the crater-filled lunar landscape. You will also see lava flows and volcanic slopes- take the best pictures of the spectacular views this site has to offer!

This part of the tour usually takes at least four hours. At one point along the way your guide will tell you when it's time for lunch. Don't worry, as lunch is usually included in these excursions. After this break you can continue the tour to the Alcantara Gorges.

This beautiful site has abundant vegetation and lava rock formations. You will also find columnar basalts that have formed over time thanks to the icy waters of the Alcantara. If you travel during Christmas to Catania, you will encounter very low temperatures, but if you want to bathe in the waters of the Alcantara Gorges, I recommend traveling during the summer.

Interesting details

• Price: about 100 €.
• Duration: about 8 hours.
• Means of transport: van or bus.
• Advantages of this option: this type of excursions usually include lunch, plus they allow you to visit two sites in the same tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: to visit each of the mentioned sites you will only have 4 hours, which may be too little for some people.

Traveller tip
To visit the Alcantara Gorges it is necessary to bring a swimsuit, a towel and maybe a change of clothes. It is advisable to go with everything you need to have a nice time. Don't forget your sunscreen.

Among the tips you can keep in mind when visiting Mount Etna, without a doubt, it is important to choose the right time of the year. I recommend going in summer or winter, as either one enhances the incredible beauty of this mountain. However, you should prepare yourself in different ways for either of those climates.

During the summer, hiking will be a fascinating experience. You will be able to take a leisurely stroll through the unspoiled nature of this impressive mountain. It will also be possible to admire closely the different craters and the little flowers that grow around them. In addition, the weather will allow you to reach the lunar surface of the volcano.

During the winter, you should keep in mind that the cold can play against you. You should prepare yourself with other types of clothing so that this does not slow you down so much. However, you will enjoy every second of the experience, since you will be able to see how the snow covers all the craters and turns the landscape into a white volcanic mantle. I assure you that you will fall in love with the landscape!

For any of the occasions, the shoes you wear must be very comfortable and resistant. It will even be better if you wear hiking boots, as well as adequate equipment for hiking. In your backpack you should include your snacks and, above all, plenty of water. Also, I recommend you to look for the most qualified and experienced guide to make this whole experience a success.

Mount Etna is known for being the most active volcano in Europe. It is also a Unesco World Heritage Site. This is due to its impressive features among which stand out its craters, caves, the Bove Valley depression, among other attractions. All this makes it an ideal destination with an important cultural landscape. It is also a strategic center of international research.

If you travel to Sicily, and more specifically to Catania, you should not miss the opportunity to explore this mountain. It is certainly a mandatory stop. Also, going with a guide is essential so that you can quickly see the most important sites. If you go on your own, it can be easy to miss the best things on the tour.

In addition to going up on foot or by jeep, you have the option of taking the cable car up to the Silvestri craters. These are two cavities, created in 1892, that offer a beautiful lunar landscape. If you travel with a guide, you will be able to know all these details in depth and enjoy the experience much more.

If you travel to Catania for a day, you will have enough time to explore Mount Etna. However, that might also be the only activity you do during your entire stay. Keep in mind that the drive from the center of Catania to the mount is about an hour.

On the other hand, in order to explore all the corners of this site you should walk at your leisure. With the help of your guide you will be able to walk around the entire mountain at your leisure and this part of the tour can take about four hours. Generally, after the tour you will spend another four hours in an extra activity.

Also, most of the excursions to Mount Etna take about nine hours. You should evaluate your time and possibilities very well so that the whole experience is exciting and you are not stressed by lack of time. My advice is to stay in Catania for at least two days so that you can visit the mountain at your leisure.