# Etna from Catania in a day: cable car and 4x4 to 3,000 m, Crateri Silvestri and lunch at Case Perrotta

About 50 minutes from Catania: the cable car and 4x4 up to almost 3,000 m, the 1892 cones on foot and a long lunch at a farm stay in Sant'Alfio.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sicily/etna/itineraries/etna-south-cable-car-day-case-perrotta-from-catania · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 08:00 · Salida: 45 min by car (Via Nicolosi and the south Etna road to the Rifugio Sapienza esplanade)
- 09:00 · Etna cable car and 4x4 ride up to 3,000 metres (Funivia dell'Etna · Tour 3000 with off-road vehicle and guide · €82) · Funivia dell'Etna, From €82 per person
  - 4 min on foot
- 11:45 · Silvestri Craters, next to the Rifugio Sapienza (Across the road · free)
  - 45 min by car, 26,3 km
- 13:15 · Case Perrotta restaurant, Etna farm-stay cooking in Sant'Alfio (Only Saturday and Sunday at midday, by reservation · Sunday menu published at €38) · Case Perrotta restaurant, Etna farm-stay cooking in Sant'Alfio, €€€
- 15:45 · Vuelta (In Catania around 16:45)

Etna's southern slope in a day, with no long hikes: you go up by cable car and 4x4 to close to 3,000 m, walk round the cones of the 1892 eruption beside the Rifugio Sapienza and go down to eat at an organic farm stay in Sant'Alfio, with views of the sea and the volcano. Everything starts early, because the summit is usually covered in cloud from midday.

## Getting there from Spain

By plane to Catania, with direct flights from several Spanish cities, and by hire car from the airport. Sleep the night before in Catania: the plan leaves from the city and the esplanade of the Rifugio Sapienza is about 50 minutes away via Nicolosi. Without a car there is an AST bus in the morning to the Rifugio, but then you do not get to lunch at Case Perrotta.

## The day, hour by hour

8:00 · Leave Catania. Go up via Nicolosi and the Etna Sud road to the esplanade of the Rifugio Sapienza, at 1,910 m. Park there: you have everything on foot.

9:00 · Cable car and Tour 3000. The Funivia dell'Etna climbs to 2,500 m over black lava flows. With the Tour 3000 you continue by 4x4, or snowcat in winter, to close to 3,000 m and walk a while with an alpine or volcanological guide among extinct cones. It costs €82 with everything; the return cable car alone, €54. Up top they hire boots and windcheaters. Allow about two and a half hours.

11:45 · Crateri Silvestri. On the other side of the road, two cones from the 1892 eruption that you walk round on lapilli paths in about 45 minutes. They are free and need no guide.

13:15 · Lunch at Case Perrotta. Go down towards the east slope to Sant'Alfio, about 800 m. The organic farm stay is open at lunchtime on Saturday and Sunday, from 13:00 to 14:30, and only with a booking. Catania and Etna cooking with produce from the farm: house fried dishes, maccheroni with ragù and aubergine, a mixed grill served on a roof tile and cannolicchi of ricotta. The published Sunday menus cost €38 without drinks.

15:45 · Return. In Catania at about 16:45. If you have time to spare, buy oil or preserves at the farm shop before leaving.

## With children or in bad weather

With children the plan works: the Tour 3000 suits all ages and the Crateri Silvestri are the easiest volcanic outing. Case Perrotta has a children's menu on Sundays. If the summit is in cloud or closed because of wind, stay with the cable car alone or with the Crateri Silvestri; on a Saturday, swap the morning for the Circumetnea train.

## Cómo llegar

### By car
The way to do the whole plan: 48 minutes from Catania to the Rifugio Sapienza and about 40 to Sant'Alfio. Have the car prepared in winter.

### Without a car
The AST bus leaves from Piazza Giovanni XXIII at 8:15 and arrives at 10:15; it returns at about 16:30. It gives you the cable car and the Crateri Silvestri; eat at the Rifugio.

## Consejos

### Go up early
Clouds usually cover the summit from midday.

### Bring a coat
At 3,000 m it is cold and windy even if it is summer below.

### Book lunch
Case Perrotta does not give a table without a booking.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does the day cost?
Between €120 and €135 per person with the Tour 3000 and the Sunday menu, without petrol. With the cable car only, between €90 and €105.

### Can it be done on a weekday?
Yes, but Case Perrotta is open at lunchtime only at weekends: eat at the Rifugio Sapienza restaurant.

### Do you need to be fit?
No. The Tour 3000 takes you up by 4x4 and the walks are short, although at high altitude.

### How do I get there from Spain?
By plane to Catania and a hire car; the Rifugio Sapienza is about 50 minutes from the city.