We're planning on seeing both of these areas on our trip, and wondering if anyone has experiences to share about starting and ending in one or the other city (flying in, checking it out, renting a car and returning it to the same place before flying out)?
Thank you!
We rented one-way from Catania to Palermo, but that was mainly because we got a reasonable flight into Catania. It was several years ago from Autoeurope.
we've visited Sicily twice, and each time flew into one airport and flew home/to our next destination from the other. first trip was into Catania and home from Palermo and we switched the order on the 2nd trip. each time the decision was based on best timing and costs, and then we built our itinerary around that. If you are intending to visit sites all over the island, and not focus on either Western or Eastern Sicily, it makes far more sense to do the open jaw flights. we didn't find that the one-way rental fee made a significant difference in our decision. On our first trip, however, we flew into Catania and got a driver to take us to Taormina where we spent 3 nights, and we picked up our rental upon leaving Taormina........saving those 3 days of car rental and parking charges made a significant difference, for some unfathomable reason.
We flew into Catania and out of Palermo. One reason we did it this way is we flew on unconnected tickets to Sicily. We flew back to Rome the night before on Ryan air. Catania sometimes has cancellations due to Mt Etna and did not want to chance it on return and miss international flight back to US.
We took the bus to Taormina and then the train to Siracusa. We went on a tour to Mt Etna and had no reason to have a car. We rented a car upon leaving Siracusa and returned it at Palermo Airport before going to Palermo. We took a day trip by train to Cefalu.
This worked well. Consider whether you need a car the whole time.
September 2022, we flew into Catania, rented a car there and returned it on arrival to Palermo from where we departed. Driving in Palermo would be difficult and stressful but, otherwise, driving in Sicily was pleasant and parking was manageable. We enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of having a car.
