Catania is where most trips to eastern Sicily begin, yet many travellers only see it from the airport road. That is a mistake. Sicily’s second city is a lively baroque town built from black lava stone, with one of the island’s best food scenes, a dramatic fish market and Mount Etna rising right behind it. It is also a practical base for Etna, Taormina, Syracuse and the coast. This guide to where to stay in Catania covers the best areas first, then the hotels, so you can choose the right base for one night or a whole week.
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Where to stay in Catania: quick answer
- First visit and food lovers: the historic centre around Piazza Duomo and Via dei Crociferi
- Elegant and calmer: upper Via Etnea near the Villa Bellini gardens
- Beach and resort feel: the coast south of the centre near La Plaia
- Sea views on lava rock: Aci Castello and Aci Trezza on the Riviera dei Ciclopi
- Wine and volcano: the slopes of Mount Etna
Check prices and availability
Catania has fewer luxury hotels than Taormina, so the best rooms book up early. Compare rates for your dates:
Is Catania Worth Staying In?
Yes, for at least a night or two. Catania is a real working city rather than a resort, which is exactly its appeal: prices in restaurants are lower than in Taormina, the baroque centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the evening atmosphere around the bars and squares is young and lively. The airport is only around 15 to 20 minutes from the centre, so Catania also makes sense for the first or last night of a trip.
For a longer stay, it works best if you want to combine city life with day trips. Etna is around an hour away, Taormina about an hour, and Syracuse a little over an hour by motorway. If you prefer a quieter holiday by the sea, Taormina or Ortigia are better bases. See our guides on where to stay in Taormina and where to stay in Ortigia.
The Best Areas to Stay in Catania
Historic Centre: Piazza Duomo and Via dei Crociferi
The heart of Catania is Piazza Duomo, with the cathedral of Sant’Agata and the lava stone elephant fountain that is the symbol of the city. Just behind it, the fish market fills the streets every morning except Sunday. From here, Via dei Crociferi, one of the most beautiful baroque streets in Sicily, leads uphill past churches and convents, and the huge Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena is a short walk away. The area around Piazza Bellini and the Teatro Massimo Bellini is the centre of nightlife.
Best for: first timers, food lovers, short city stays.
Upper Via Etnea and Villa Bellini
Via Etnea, the main shopping street, runs straight from Piazza Duomo towards Etna. Its upper section, around the Villa Bellini gardens, is calmer and more elegant, with Art Nouveau palazzi and good cafés, while the old town is still within walking distance.
Best for: couples, longer stays, travellers who want a quieter night.
The Southern Coast: La Plaia
South of the city, a long stretch of sandy beach known as La Plaia is lined with beach clubs in summer. Hotels here feel more like resorts, with gardens and pools, but you will need a taxi or car to reach the old town.
Best for: summer beach stays, travellers with a car, families.
Aci Castello and Aci Trezza
North of Catania, the coast turns to black lava rock. Aci Castello has a Norman castle built on a lava outcrop, and Aci Trezza looks out over the Faraglioni, the sea stacks that legend says the Cyclops threw at Ulysses. This stretch, the Riviera dei Ciclopi, has sea view hotels, swimming platforms and seafood restaurants, around 20 to 30 minutes from the centre.
Best for: sea views, a relaxed stay close to the city.
The Slopes of Mount Etna
The villages and vineyards on the eastern and northern slopes of Etna have some of the most beautiful places to stay in the area, from wine estates to design hotels. They are best for travellers with a car who want to combine Etna, wine and the coast. See our guide to wine hotels on Mount Etna.
Best for: wine lovers, couples, quiet and nature.
Charlotte’s tip: go to the fish market early
The Pescheria behind Piazza Duomo is at its best between around 8 and 10 in the morning, when the stalls are full and the noise is incredible. Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet, then have breakfast with a granita and a brioche in one of the cafés nearby.
The Best Hotels in Catania
Palace Catania UNA Esperienze
A large, elegant hotel directly on Via Etnea, between the old town and the Villa Bellini gardens, with a rooftop bar and restaurant looking towards Etna. It is one of the most complete hotels in the city, with the main sights within walking distance.
Best for: a central, full service city hotel.
Check rates at Palace Catania UNA Esperienze
Asmundo di Gisira
A small boutique hotel in a historic palazzo close to Piazza Duomo, with rooms designed around Sicilian art and Catania’s myths and legends. Its location puts you in the middle of the old town, steps from the fish market and the best bars.
Best for: design lovers and a characterful city stay.
Check rates at Asmundo di Gisira
Liberty Hotel
A small hotel in an early twentieth century Art Nouveau building, in a quieter residential area north of the old town, with period details and individually decorated rooms.
Best for: travellers who prefer a calm, classic boutique hotel.
Duomo Suites & Spa
Suites close to Piazza Duomo, with a small spa, in the heart of the historic centre.
Best for: couples who want to be in the middle of everything.
Check rates at Duomo Suites & Spa
Romano Palace Luxury Hotel
A resort style hotel on the coast road south of the centre, near the long sandy beaches of La Plaia, with gardens, a pool and a spa.
Best for: a summer stay that combines the beach with city access.
Check rates at Romano Palace Luxury Hotel
Grand Hotel Baia Verde
A hotel on the lava rock coast at Aci Castello, with terraces and pools looking straight over the sea and the Riviera dei Ciclopi.
Best for: sea views and a relaxed resort atmosphere close to the city.
Check rates at Grand Hotel Baia Verde
Where to Stay Near Catania: Etna and the Coast
If you have a car, some of the best hotels in the area are outside the city.
Monaci delle Terre Nere
An estate on the eastern slopes of Etna with suites and pool villas among its vineyards and gardens, two restaurants and its own Etna wines. Read our Monaci delle Terre Nere review.
Best for: a luxury wine estate stay between Catania and Taormina.
Check rates at Monaci delle Terre Nere
Zash Country Boutique Hotel
A former Etna winery near Riposto, with pool villas in a citrus grove and the sea a few minutes away. Read our Zash review.
Best for: design lovers who want Etna and the sea in one base.
Check rates at Zash Country Boutique Hotel
Donna Carmela
A resort with lodges and gardens near Riposto, on the coast below Etna, linked to a wine family. Read our Donna Carmela review.
Best for: families and garden lovers.
South of Catania, our Mangia’s Brucoli review covers a large resort between Catania and Syracuse.
Things to Do from Catania
Mount Etna: Catania is the closest city to the main south side access at Rifugio Sapienza. Most Etna tours offer pick up in the city.
Guided Etna day trip from Catania
Mount Etna volcano and winery day tour from Catania
See our complete guide to Mount Etna tours and to Etna wine tours.
Taormina: around an hour north by car or bus. See the best day trips from Taormina for ideas once you are there.
Syracuse and Ortigia: a little over an hour south. See the best boat tours in Syracuse and Ortigia.
Food: Catania is one of the best cities in Sicily for street food. Our Sicilian food guide explains what to order.
Getting to Catania
Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) is the busiest airport in Sicily and only a few kilometres from the centre. Taxis and the Alibus shuttle connect it with the city, and private transfers run to Taormina, Syracuse and the Etna hotels. Our guide to transfers from Catania Airport compares the options. Within the old town you will not need a car, and parking is difficult, so if you rent one, choose a hotel with parking or pick the car up when you leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best area to stay in Catania?
For most visitors, the historic centre around Piazza Duomo, Via dei Crociferi and Via Etnea. It puts you within walking distance of the sights, the fish market and the best restaurants.
Is Catania or Taormina a better base?
Taormina is better for a relaxed, romantic holiday with sea views. Catania is better for food, city life, lower prices and easy access to the airport and Etna.
How many nights should I stay in Catania?
One or two nights is enough to see the city. Add more if you plan to use Catania as a base for Etna and day trips.
Is Catania safe for tourists?
The historic centre is lively and generally fine for visitors. As in any large city, keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas such as the markets and on public transport.
