Holidays in Sicily

Getting About

The best way to get around is probably through hiring a car.

Although the public transport in Sicily is generally very good having your own car affords the kind of flexibility you might need to maximise what you can see during your stay on the island.

Trains

The islands rail network is simple, cheap and effective. There are several types of train around ranging from inter-cities to the regionnale which is ponderous to say the least! It is important to note that you must validate your ticket in the yellow machines provided before you board any trains.

You can find more information and book tickets at www.trenitalia.it.

Bus

The bus services in Sicily are generally very good and it's possible to get to even the most remote parts of the island on a bus. Buying tickets can be a haphazard affair - often in quieter parts bus tickets are bought in bars. Whilst you can buy tickets on the buses themselves it is worth remembering that you can be fined for not having a ticket - always check first! It's also worth noting that some rural timetables are devised to coincide with local markets and often stop running when the markets close at 2pm.

Cars

As mentioned previously car hire probably affords the most convenient way of travelling around the island. It must be said that driving in the cities can at times be fairly hairy, but generally the driving experience in Sicily is a good one. There is a limited network of motorways on Sicily, linking the major towns and cities. For really exploring the island you need to use the strade stalati or state roads. The main roads are generally good, the minor roads tend to be narrow and bendy, but as a consequence offer some spectacular scenery. They are represented as 'P' or 'SP' on maps.