Arrival in Sicily

You can reach Sicily by plane, by car and ferry, by train or by boat. The plane is the fastest: six airports have scheduled flights, and the large ones are Catania and Palermo. Anyone bringing a car crosses the Strait of Messina or takes an overnight ferry to Palermo.

How do you get to Sicily?

By plane. Catania, Palermo, Trapani and Comiso lie on the main island, Pantelleria and Lampedusa on the small islands. Which airport suits which holiday area is covered on the page Airports in Sicily, and the map below shows where they lie.

By car and ferry. From Villa San Giovanni in Calabria to Messina the crossing takes about 20 minutes (as of October 2026). Longer routes are served by overnight ferries, for example from Naples to Palermo. The ports are described on the page Ports in Sicily, the roads on the island in the highway guide.

By train. Intercity trains from Rome run to Palermo and Syracuse. At Villa San Giovanni the train is shipped across the strait on a ferry, which lengthens the journey. Timetables are published by the rail operator.

By boat. Those arriving on their own yacht will find the marinas on the page Marinas in Sicily.

How do you get around once you are in Sicily?

Most places lie away from the airports and ports. A rental car is usually the most flexible way to reach them. Airports, ports, marinas, highway and rental car follow further down this page.

Which way of getting there suits which trip?

For a week without your own car, the plane is the shortest connection. Anyone coming with their own car or staying long plans for the ferry. For the Messina and Taormina side, Reggio Calabria airport (REG) on the mainland is also an option, with the crossing to Messina.