Just landed at CTA Catania Airport last Tuesday, dragging my suitcase behind me like a dead weight. You know that feeling, right? Stepping out into the sun, blinking, and immediately thinking, “Okay, now how the heck do I actually get to my hotel?” I’d heard nightmare stories about transport options being confusing or getting ripped off, so I decided to actually put boots on the ground and figure this out properly. No fancy bookings beforehand, just pure arrival chaos.
First thing I saw walking out the arrivals hall was this mass of people holding signs – some official-looking, some just scrawled names on cardboard. Looked chaotic. I walked straight past them. Directly opposite the exit, right there in your face, was a line of bright white taxis. Looked clean enough. I wandered over, suitcase wheels bumping over the pavement cracks. Asked the first driver waiting, leaning against his car, “Quanto costa per la città?” Trying to remember my basic Italian. He mumbled something fast, waved his hand vaguely towards the city. Price seemed… vague. Asked again for a specific place – my hotel near Via Etnea. He gave me a flat rate number that felt high. Gut instinct kicked in: “Probably more later, mate.” I nodded, said “Grazie,” and backed away slowly. Price felt steep, plus who knows about traffic?
Turned left instead. Saw signs pointing towards buses. Followed a few other travelers lugging bags down a covered walkway. Ended up at this bus stop area right outside the terminal. Simple shelters, a few benches. Saw a couple of different buses lined up: AST, AMTS, and this company called Alibus had a big sign. Alibus seemed popular, lots of people looking kinda relieved getting on. Found the timetable poster nailed to a post. Schedules? Yeah, “orario”. Squinted at it. Looked like one ran every 25-ish minutes? Good frequency. Asked a lady in a yellow vest standing nearby. She confirmed it goes to the main train station, Stazione Centrale, right in the city center. Price was cheap! Like, coins in my pocket cheap. Bought a ticket right there from the little machine by the stop. Simple screens, worked. Hopped on the next Alibus that rolled up. Driver tossed my bag in the hold under the bus. Nice and easy.
The bus ride itself? Well, it was a bus. Stopped a few times on the way, picked up locals. Took maybe 20-25 minutes. Got a decent view through the grubby windows – glimpse of the sea, some dusty buildings, definitely felt “arrived in Sicily.” Got off at Stazione Centrale. Still had a short walk to the hotel, but it was straightforward from there. Much cheaper than taxi vibes.
Later, talked to a guy at the hotel reception. He mentioned rental cars, but man, driving in Catania? No thanks. Especially jet-lagged. Also said some hotels offer shuttles, but you gotta arrange that WAY ahead. Mine didn’t, obviously. He also warned about those random guys inside the airport offering rides – apparently a gamble, sometimes safe but often overpriced. Stick to the official taxi rank or the buses.
So, quick compare in my experience:
- Taxi from Rank: Fastest door-to-door, BUT pricey, especially if solo or to central spots. Fixed rate only to specific zones? Gotta ask clearly. Driver might not speak much English.
- Alibus: Dirt cheap (like €4?), frequent-ish, drops you centrally (train station). NOT fancy. Still need to walk/get another ride to exact hotel. Best for solo/couple on a budget. Watch your bags.
- Other Bus Companies (AST/AMTS): Saw them run, seemed local routes, slower, more stops. Probably better if you know exactly what street you need. Less straightforward for tourists.
- Pre-booked Shuttles/Private Transfer: Didn’t try, but hotel guy said reliable if booked properly through legit company websites, costs more than bus, less than taxi usually for groups. Less stress finding the guy.
So yeah, my actual result? Bus worked perfectly fine for the price and my non-rush mood. If cash is tight or it’s just you, bus all the way. If it’s late, raining hard, or you got kids/spoiled folks with tons of luggage splashing out for the taxi won’t kill you – just get that fixed price upfront clearly! Simple as that.
