We will be in Sicily for 10 days in the fall starting in Catania, flying out of Palermo to Florence. I am wondering what would be the best strategy for car rental. Staying in Catania for a few days and then picking up the car and dropping it off a few days early in Palermo. It doesn't seem like driving in either place is a great idea. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
We would agree with your plan not to have the car while staying in the first and last cities. City buses around Palermo are pretty easy and your hotel staff can probably answer bus questions, including the nearest spot to buy bus tickets. It's also fairly walkable, depending on the weather; there could still be high temps over 90 degrees F.
Posted by
OP
Sacramento, CA - Calif, United States
339 posts
Would the airport be the best place then, to pick up a car or are there other places that would be better. Thanks.
Posted by
Chicago/Rural WI
811 posts
Hi Claire,
I can't speak to Catania, as we only drove around it, but we ended our trip in Palermo and dropped the rental car off at the airport before staying in town a couple nights. It was super easy to do it that way and take the airport shuttle (the company is Prestia e Comande Bus) directly into town rather than trying to negotiate driving those busy streets (even to find the car rental drop-off location).
While we had no troubles driving around Sicily, driving through the cities was a tad more nerve-wracking than the countryside. Sicilians seem to have their own style of driving and it's a little more, um, chaotic than we typically encounter.