Train travel in Sicily allows you to comfortably and inexpensive reach many popular tourist attractions. Trains in Sicily connect the most beautiful cities on the island. Trains from Rome to Syracuse and Palermo cover the stretch from the mainland part of Italy to Messina aboard a ferry. This is the last passenger ferry train in Europe. Railway connections in Sicily are served by two carriers – Trenitalia (standard gauge lines) and Circumetnea (narrow gauge lines and metro in Catania).
Trains in Sicily are usually slower than buses, run less frequently, but almost all of them are air-conditioned and equipped with a toilet. They are often cheaper than buses too. Some railway lines run along the sea, and the stretch from Syracuse to Ragusa is considered the most scenic.
Last updated: 26.03.2024
Train travel in Sicily – timetable
The schedule and prices for regional and long-distance trains operated by Trenitalia can be checked on the website www.trenitalia.com
The schedule for trains operated by Ferrovia Circumetnea is available HERE.
Trains operated by Italo or High-Speed Railways do not run to Sicily.
The rehabilitated railway line from Noto to Pachino, closed in 2002 and partially reopened in 2024, is intended mainly for tourist trains and heritage trains. Heritage trains in Sicily and mainland Italy are operated by Fondazione FS.
Railway map of Sicily – my own work
Trenitalia run trains in Sicily on the following routes:
Palermo – Trapani via Salemi and Marsala
Palermo – Agrigento via Sutera
Syracuse – Gela via Noto, Modica and Ragusa
Messina – Syracuse via Taormina and Catania
Long-distance trains from mainland Italy run on the following routes:
Rome – Palermo via Messina, Catania and Syracuse (Intercity)
Rome – Palermo via Messina, Catania and Syracuse (Intercity Notte)
Milan – Palermo via Messina, Catania and Syracuse (Intercity Notte)
Train travel in Sicily – Ferrova Circumetnea
Ferrovia Circumetnea is a carrier operating the narrow-gauge railway running along the slopes of the Etna volcano and the metro in Catania. The approximately 110-kilometer long line connects Catania with Riposto, it does not actually circle around the Etna volcano, as the carrier’s name suggests, but it is the most important route from a tourist’s point of view when it comes to railways in Sicily. The line was built to a 950 mm gauge.
Trains run on two routes: Catania – Randazzo and Randazzo – Riposto. Most often, they are not connected to each other and you need a whole day to cover the entire route back and forth, including visiting Randazzo and Riposto. The entire route in one direction with the shortest transfer takes 3.5 hours.
Rolling stock fleet consists very old diesel multiple units and new air-conditioned diesel multiple units manufactured in Poland.
Ferrovia Circumetnea – timetable
Travel by train in Sicily – the best offers
If you want to travel by train In Sicily, Trenitalia has an excellent network pass for it’s regional trains:
Italia in Tour – a network ticket for regional and suburban trains, including the Leonardo Express, operated by Trenitalia and Trenitalia Tper. At the time of writing the article, it was available in two variants: for 3 consecutive days for 29 euros and for 5 consecutive days for 49 euros, with children aged 4 to 12 eligible for a discounted ticket. The ticket allows travel on regional trains over a large area of Italy but is not valid on trains in the Cinque Terre area (between Levanto and La Spezia stations) or on trains operated by other carriers, including Trenord.
Italia in Tour – official website; more information
Trenitalia also offers a monthly network pass for specific regions, including Sicily. However, this is a pass issued for a calendar month, from the 1st to the last day of the month. At the time of the article update, a pass allowing travel on Trenitalia regional trains in second class for a month cost 135 euros. The offer is called “Full Promo.
Related articles:
Train travel in Italy
Train travel in Sardinia
Railways in Europe by country
