Hello, I have a 6am flight out of Catania in early Nov. I have 2 days free before my flight (have been in Sicily almost 2 months). Should I stay in Catania for these 2 nights? Is the city safe for a solo female traveler? Should I stay in the center or near the airport? Thanks for any advice & suggestions.
Posted by
new york
754 posts
Yes, it's safe in the center. I'm female and walked around alone at night with no issue; there is life on the streets until very late. But stay nervous the Duomo or near Via Etnea.
The airport is very close to the city and I would strongly discourage stying her there; it's not a nice area and you'd be hard pressed to find anything to do around there.
Posted by
back in the Americas
805 posts
Stay in the city itself. The airport is not far and is an easy short taxi or bus ride away. I was there in March. Spent a few days there with my cousins. We stayed in a lovely Bnb about 2 blocks from the duomo. My cousins left a day before me and I spent that last day and evening walking all around by myself. I felt safe. The main piazza in front of the duomo is absolutely filled with people, locals and tourists in the evenings. There are often ballroom dancers in period costumes dancing in the piazza at night. Many Sicilians make the evening passeggiata (stroll) on Via Etnea so it too is lively at night. I am a senior woman in my 70s so I keep very alert to my surroundings and keep a small crossbody bag hidden from view under my jacket. I had no problems. Catania has many sites to see or can be used as a base to explore nearby towns. I have stayed there on two different Sicily trips and enjoyed both visits. One was this past March and the other was in the month of October a few years ago. Both times the streets were equally lively with lots of people out and about day and night. Both times I stayed at BnBs very near the duomo.