Getaways from Catania: day trips and destinations close by.

The hire car, almost essential

There are direct flights to Catania Fontanarossa airport (CTA), south of the city, from Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Seville. It is the closest airport to Etna and the one with the most flights from Spain for south-eastern Sicily.

The hire car is picked up at the airport and is almost essential: it combines the south slope of the volcano with the north, the baroque cities with the coast and the port of Milazzo, from where the hydrofoils to the islands leave. Without a car there are three documented ways out. The AST bus goes up at 8:15 from Piazza Giovanni XXIII to the Rifugio Sapienza, at the foot of the cable car, and comes back down around 16:30. The Circumetnea train circles the volcano from Monday to Saturday via Bronte and Randazzo. And to the south, AST buses run from the airport to Modica and the train on the Syracuse line to Ragusa stops at Noto.

The north-slope vineyards, on lava flows

Under an hour away is the volcano. The south-slope cable car is 48 minutes from Catania, with the off-road vehicle to nearly 3,000 metres and the 1892 cones on foot. The north slope, 56 minutes away, is the one of nerello mascalese vineyards on lava flows, with wineries in Castiglione di Sicilia.

About an hour to the south is Syracuse, 58 minutes away, with Ortigia, and a quarter of an hour further, 74 minutes away, baroque Noto and the unbuilt beaches of the Vendicari reserve. It is the gateway to the Val di Noto.

Almost two hours away, 114 minutes, Modica and its chocolate, and the walk down to Ragusa Ibla. It can be done in a day, but it is a long one; better with a night in between.

From two and three-quarter hours you head to the Aeolian Islands: an hour and three-quarters by car to Milazzo and then the hydrofoil. Vulcano and Lipari are 165 minutes from Catania and Salina, 192. They are days of 14 to 16 hours, which are better managed by sleeping on the islands.

September and October, harvest on the north slope

In spring, from April to June, and in September and October Etna is best climbed and the steps of Ibla best walked. September and October are, moreover, the harvest months on the north slope.

Summer is for the sea: swimming at Vendicari runs from June to September, and the excursion boats to Vulcano sail from May to October. In July and August the hydrofoil must be bought in advance, and in strong wind they are cancelled: it is wise to check the forecast the day before.

In winter there is snow up on Etna and the off-road vehicle goes up like a snow plough; the cable car is still an option. The chocolate of Modica and Ragusa Ibla are good all year, except Tuesday, when the osteria is closed. A warning for anyone going to Noto in autumn: Caffè Sicilia is closed from 9 November to 18 December.

Almost 3,000 metres on south Etna

• A day trip to the volcano: south Etna from Catania. 48 minutes away, the cable car and the off-road vehicle to almost 3,000 metres, the 1892 cones and a long lunch at a farm stay in Sant'Alfio, on a Saturday or Sunday.
• With two nights: the Val di Noto in two nights. Ortigia from the sea, a night in Noto's Palazzo Nicolaci, Vendicari in the morning, chocolate in Modica and Ragusa Ibla on foot.
• With three nights: Lipari, Salina and Stromboli. Two nights in the centre of Lipari, a day on Salina and a night on Stromboli to climb with a guide and see the explosions, from March to October.

For those who want more volcano, Etna with two nights sleeps beside the cable car and climbs with guides towards the craters. For a wine day, the wineries of north Etna, Wednesday to Saturday and with someone who does not drink at the wheel. And for a day to the south, Noto and Vendicari.