Transportation in Sicily

Sicily moves on rails, roads, and ferries. Inter-city trains link the major coastal cities, while regional buses fill the gaps inland and climb the hill towns. Renting a car is the freedom option, cheap if you book early. But parking in historic centers is a splurge and ZTL cameras bite hard. Between the islands, frequent ferries and hydrofoils run from the ports; they're reliable and cost a fraction of private boat charters. First-timers: download the official Trenitalia and regional bus apps before you land. Tickets bought on board cost more. Skip the "tourist" hop-on buses in Palermo and Catania, city centers are walkable and the regular buses use the same streets for a tenth of the price. If you're driving, fill the tank on the autostrada. Village stations close early and charge premium rates. From the airport, the shuttle train to the main station is cheap and runs throughout the day. Miss it and the official taxi rank is the only honest option, ignore the touts inside the terminal.