We are traveling around Sicily on bus and train. Starting out May 13 (til June 13). Do we need to purchase train tickets now (April 2023) or can we wait to purchase there? What if plans change? Seems easier to wait and buy in Sicily once we are at a train station. First train will be from Taormina to Siracusa (May 19, Friday). Next would be Ragusa to Palermo (May 29). When traveling around globally I have never. had problem getting train tickets. Is it the same in Sicily ? Any special tips?
I see I can purchase through Trenitalia now but I hesitate to pre-purchase in case we change plans. (unless it's advised.... we probably won't change plans since I have hotel reservations all made.)
Posted by
Washington DC
28249 posts
There are a few InterCity trains from Taormini-Giardini to Siracusa. The tickets are date/time-specific, and those trains could theoretically sell out. But most of the trains are regionals that cannot sell out, so there's no need to buy their tickets ahead of time (other than avoiding a potentially slow-moving ticket line). The 8:06 AM weekday regional train is actually a few minutes faster than the 4:42 PM InterCity.
There's not much service between Ragusa and Palermo; it looks like just 3 departures a day, and one of them is at 5:53 AM. All the trains are regionals, and you'll need to change trains in Caltanisetta. Again, no reason to buy tickets ahead of time.
In Taormina, don't forget to allow time to get from your lodgings (probably up on the hill) down to the train station. There's a bus, but I don't know how often it runs.
Posted by
390 posts
The bus from Taormina drop you/pick up at the top of the hill. Much more convenient than the train at the bottom. We have taken it from Taormina to Catania and from Catania to Syracuse. It is worth looking into the schedules.
Posted by
2817 posts
You can buy a ticket that combines bus and train to Siracusa. I think you put in Taormina centro to search. The advantage is it is faster than the buses that as far as I could find all go to the airport first.