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Getting About in Sicily The Island being some 25,000 square kilometres makes travelling around Sicily a real adventure for those wishing to get about and discover all the delights of the Island. Many of the beauty spots are not accessible by train or bus and for this reason renting a car while you are here makes perfect sense. Inland with a car you can access the motorways for the east and north coasts, further afield will take you longer but is very easy and a treat for the senses. Remember to keep your lights on, even in the daytime as this is the law in Italy. The inland areas however, whilst still being accessible without car are more of a challenge with the public transportation. There are several island services for buses and coaches, www.sais.it being the main coach company for across the island and you will find most of them air conditioned and very comfortable. In some Tobacconist (tabacchi) shops you can purchase bus tickets. If you are renting a car please make sure you have all relevant legal documentation in the car or wallet. There are many toll roads around the coastal areas and so it’s advisable to keep loose change in your car for this reason. An average trip from Palermo to Messina is around 13 euros one way. Expensive but it will keep your journeys as short as possible. Scooter rentals. Many people have a notion when they come to Italy that the best mode of transport is the scooter. Also when you see the local people zipping around the roads on a battered old bike it looks a fun way to travel. Although this is one of the most popular ways to get around in Sicily in the warmer months, most of them drive around uninsured because accidents are very common and it is be very dangerous on some of the roads. For this reason we do not recommend to hire scooters for your own safety. Trains. www.trenitalia.it (written in Italian) Sicily is of course an Island separated by the straits of Messina but the national train system of Italy finds its way onto the island by way of ferry and links to the lines of Palermo and Catania dependent on where you are travelling to. The service is excellent also for the more regional trains, you will find although sometimes a little slow, the scenery is spectacular and interesting for those wishing to seek a little adventure. The East and North coasts have the best links and the most frequent trains. The price of tickets are rarely expensive and a good economical way to see the Island. When buying tickets before getting on the train please make sure you validate your ticket using the many yellow machines on the platforms, as you could be fined if invalidated. It is recommended for cheaper travel within Italy to travel after 9am in the morning. Taxis. As with most places across southern Europe taxis remain in part a little of a mystery on their charges!! I once took a taxi in Rome and travelled from one end of the city to the other (around15km) and it cost me 20 euros!! I have also taken taxis in Palermo from the central station up to the Piazza Verde (around 2 km) and it has cost me 21 euros!! So the general principle of this story is be aware how much you are going to pay before you get in the car (and don’t be fobbed off!!) This way you won’t get any nasty surprises at your destination. If you are a female travelling solo, we would not recommend travelling in the bigger cities alone at night. Finally: remember that these drivers are usually very knowledgeable about the local area, and will be happy to give you some info if you can speak a little of the “lingo” or you maybe lucky enough to get an English speaking Sicilian!! Buon Viaggio !! |
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