Getting Around Sicily by Bus and Train august 12, 2024 – Posted in: Italy, Travel – Tags: Busses, Holiday, Italy, Public Transport, Sicily, Trains, Travel, Vacation

Public Transportation in Sicily

Traveling around Sicily by bus and train is much easier than you might think! There’s no need to rent a car and navigate the winding mountain roads, as even the smallest towns have regular bus and train services. Train schedules can be found on Trenitalia, but finding bus routes can be a bit tricky.

Sicily’s bus system can be complex, with different companies serving each route, making it time-consuming to find the right one. To help, we’ve created a detailed guide on how to reach various cities and attractions using public transport in our travel articles about Sicily. Further down this article, you’ll also find a practical overview of the companies operating different routes.

But first, some practical information…

How Much Does It Cost to Travel by Bus and Train?

Renting a car in Sicily is not worth it compared to the cost of bus and train travel, which is very affordable. For example, in 2022, a bus ride from Catania to Palermo cost €14 for a 2.5-hour trip. The train from Trapani to Marsala (31 km), a 30-minute ride, cost €4.

Where to Find Train and Bus Schedules

When traveling around Sicily independently, the app and website Omio are useful. You can look up train schedules for routes across Europe and buy tickets for Trenitalia trains directly.

For finding specific bus departures, Google Maps can be helpful. Click on the blue arrow under “Directions” and enter the two cities you want to travel between, then click the “Transit” icon (shaped like a train). If you’re lucky, the bus routes will be listed in Google Maps.

You can also use Rome2rio for this purpose. For instance, enter Trapani and Palermo as start and end points, respectively, and you’ll see bus times. Clicking on a specific departure will redirect you to the Segesta bus company, where you can purchase tickets.

If you need to be somewhere the next day and want to ensure that the bus is running according to the schedule you found, here’s a tip: Check the evening before if you can find the bus stop and see if the schedule posted there matches the one you found online. You’ll discover that online information isn’t always up-to-date, while our experience shows that the schedules posted at bus stops are almost always accurate.

Where to Buy Tickets?

For train travel, you can purchase tickets at the station from a machine. You can also buy them online after finding your departure on Omio.

For buses, sometimes you can buy a ticket and pay cash directly. Other times, local kiosks or cafes act as ticket offices. This system is quite handy as it allows you to grab a refreshment while waiting for the bus.

How do you find out where to buy a bus ticket? Sometimes it’s posted at the bus stop, sometimes you can google it in advance. And occasionally, you might just need a bit of Sicilian luck, as locals are usually willing to help.

Is Public Transport Safe?

The local Sicilians are the primary reason we recommend using public transport around the island. Italy has good infrastructure overall, and apart from some older trains, both buses and trains are relatively new and safe. Plus, you get the chance to interact with friendly Sicilians.

Even though many Sicilians don’t speak English well, they are always ready to assist. Sometimes, a train departure may be canceled, but replacement bus services are provided. There is always a Trenitalia staff member on the platform to guide passengers, and it’s done smoothly without fuss.

However, one thing to avoid if you don’t want to draw disapproving looks from fellow passengers is eating and drinking on public transport. Sicilians do not typically eat or drink while traveling, so pulling out a large tuna sandwich on the bus might cause some offended glances. A sip of water is fine, but save your meals for after you’ve disembarked.

Avoid Traveling on Sundays!

Before we dive into the detailed overview of buses and trains in Sicily, here’s our top tip for using public transport: Avoid traveling on Sundays!

94% of Italians have Sunday lunch with their families, which makes Sunday a poor travel day as it also affects bus drivers. Buses run only early in the morning and late at night, with very few or no services between cities during the rest of the day.

How to Get Around Sicily

In many of our travel articles about Sicily, we’ve provided a small guide on how to travel to and from cities and attractions. Here, we offer a broader overview with destinations and links to the companies operating the routes. Since routes, schedules, and prices can change, you should verify current routes and timings on the company’s schedule before setting out on your Sicilian journey.

Here’s an overview of the routes we’ve traveled in Sicily:

Trapani Airport – Trapani – Trapani Airport Bus (bus)

Trapani – Segesta – Tarantola (bus) NB! The bus only operates between Trapani and Segesta Park

Trapani – Marsala – Trenitalia (train) NB! This train route is also used to get to Motya

Trapani – Castelvetrano – Trenitalia (train) and AST (bus)

Castelvetrano – Selinunte – Salemi (bus)

Castelvetrano – Agrigento – Lumia (bus) – NB! The bus also stops in the holiday town of Sciacca

Agrigento – Temple Park, San Leone, and Dunes – TUA (bus)

Agrigento – Catania – Trenitalia (train) and Flixbus (bus)

Catania – Siracusa – Trenitalia (train) and Interbus (bus)

Siracusa – Modica and Ragusa – Trenitalia (train) – NB! The train stops at both locations

Modica – Catania – AST (bus)

Catania – Etna – AST (bus)

Catania – Palermo – SAIS (bus)

Palermo – Trapani – Segesta (bus)

The list will be updated regularly as we continue exploring the beautiful island!

Find a Great Hotel in Sicily

In all our Sicily travel articles, you can read our recommendations for lovely hotels we’ve stayed at in various cities. Sicily offers good value for money, with often more for your budget. Check it out yourself! You can quickly search for great hotels in Sicily right here:

Booking.com