Catania Airport Train
Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) Trains: All You Need To Know Including FAQs
The Italian island of Sicily in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea draws millions of tourists throughout the year, in particular to the municipality of Catania. It’s among Italy’s largest cities and is situated on Sicily’s eastern coastline, and well known as the base for Mount Etna, an active volcano. The centuries of the city and its surroundings provide plenty to see and do – and if you’re planning a vacation here then it’s likely you will be arriving on a flight to Catania–Fontanarossa Airport.
Also known simply as just Catania Airport, is located about 2.6 miles (or roughly 4.3 kilometers to Catania’s southwest. So you’ll need some type of transportation to get to and from the airport to the city and beyond, and you can choose from taking a bus, renting a car, getting a taxi or riding a train.
This guide offers everything you need to know on taking a train from the airport and back, including how frequently the services run, how much they cost, where to board and everything else. For many travelers, this is an affordable, fast and straightforward way for getting around the island.
Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa provides rail connections not only to the city but many other locations throughout the island, so be sure to research the closest train stop to your hotel or other ultimate destination when planning your vacation, as you can book your train ticket in advance online. You can search the Trenitalia train company website to find out the total cost of the train fare that you’ll need.
If you only need to get to Catania Centrale station, you might want to consider instead taking the AMTS Alibus that leaves every 25 minutes from the airport and costs just €4. But space can be limited on this bus, and the journey time might be longer at busy periods such as rush hour.
Contact details for the airport train station
Tel. +39 095 532226 or www.trenitalia.com
Where to find the airport train station
Once your flight has landed, you have cleared passport control and collected your luggage, look for the signs in the airport directing you toward the airport train station, which is located just 950 meters from Terminal A. If you cannot find this location, ask an airport staff member to help.
You can either walk the short distance from Terminal A (about five to 10 minutes), or you can pay €1 for a shuttle bus that will take you from the airport to the station. This service is good for passengers with mobility issues or disabilities, and it departs every 10 minutes from 4.30am to 10.40pm.
How frequently trains operate at the airport station
There are 50 train connections every Monday through Friday taking travelers from the airport train station to the Catania Centrale station, where you can go on to other stops around Sicily. The first train of the day arrives at the airport at 4.50am and the last arrives at 9.06pm, while in the opposite direction, the first train to leave the airport is at 6.04am and the last leaves at 10.42pm.
What to expect with crowding and luggage space
If you are visiting Catania and the surrounding area during the peak tourist months in the summer, you could find that the trains from the airport are very crowded. This means that large groups might have difficulty finding seats together on services, and space for your suitcases could also be limited.
Regardless of the time of year that your flight lands at Catania Airport, if you want to experience fewer passengers on the train and potentially more luggage space, you can look for flights that would connect with rail services leaving the airport at quieter times like early morning or late at night.
Catania Airport Train FAQ
Is the Catania Airport train station located within the airport?
No, the train station is located about 950 meters from Terminal A.
What are the directions to get from inside the airport to the train station?
After your flight has arrived at Catania Airport and you have gone through the passport check and retrieved your luggage, you can just look for the signs inside the airport that will direct you to the train station. If you are having any difficulty finding it, simply ask an airport representative for assistance.
What options are available for getting from Terminal A to the train station?
You can either walk the short distance, which should take between five to 10 minutes, or you can pay €1 to ride a shuttle bus that operates from 4.30am to 10.40pm, departing every 10 minutes.
How much will my train ticket cost once I’m at the airport station?
The answer depends on exactly where in Sicily you are planning to travel, as distances further from the airport will cost more – so check the Trenitalia train company website to find out in advance.
Am I allowed to take suitcases on board the airport train service?
Yes, the airport train station is designed for people that are visiting Sicily with luggage, but beware that space for bags might be more limited at peak travelling times like high tourism months.
How often do trains run to and from the Catania Airport station?
You can get one of 50 train services throughout the day from Monday to Friday. In the direction of Catania’s Centrale station to the airport trains start at 4.50am and end at 9.06pm, while in the direction of the airport to Catania they start at 6.04am and leave at 10.42pm.