Hi, I'm doing a tour that starts in Palermo on Mar 8/2020 & ends in Girardini Naxos on Mar 15. I have an extra week on my own. I arrive PMO 2 days before the start of the tour & want to get to Erice by public transit on Mar 7 (Sat). I'm staying near Teatro Politeama - tried Google Maps & Rome2Rio without any luck. If anyone knows how to do this, I'd appreciate hearing from you & thanks in advance!
Question 2 - my tour ends in Girardini Naxos on Sun Mar 15. I can't find how I can get from there to Ortigia on a Sun. Currently I found a train from GN to Siracusa, but there are no details for March/2020. Or perhaps it doesn't run in March?? I see there's a bus from GN to CAT airport, but not to CAT itself, it seems...I thought I might have to go to CAT & then transfer to a bus to either Siracusa or Ortigia. It's not in my budget to arrange a private transfer, so that's out. If anyone has traveled this route (or similar) at that time of year, I'd love to hear from you. Thank you for your time. Gail
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7054 posts
You're looking too far out in terms of train schedules, that's why you're not seeing any details. I would look only a few months ahead, no more than say 4 months and taking into effect schedule changes by season. There should be a shuttle bus from PMO that will drop you off close to your hotel (http://www.palermo-airport.com/transportation.html). Unfortunately, Sundays are not a great day for public transit in Sicily - the schedules are quite constrained that day, but you may still be able to find something. Generally, there is good bus service from Giardini Naxos to Catania Airport (it stops in Catania Centro on the way).
I would check out a guide book (at your local library or bookstore or Amazon) if you haven't already - I used Lonely Planet at the time I went and got around by train and bus. It will tell you the bus routes, including the one to Erice.
Posted by
11651 posts
Catania Airport code is CTA not CAT.
Posted by
California 🦋
5298 posts
Gail,
Getting to Erice from Palermo will take longer than expected via public transportation. You’ll need to take a bus to Trapani (2 hour journey) then a bus (40-60 minutes), or the funicular to Erice.
(You’ll need to take a public bus from Trapani to the funicular)
If you time, you may consider spending an overnight in Trapani to avoid a very long day trip.
The best way to get to Siracusa (Ortigia) from Naxos Giardini, via public transportation, is to take the train.
Note that some trains are direct from Taormina- Giardini to Siracusa, and some require a change in Catania. I’d suggest choosing a time that offers the direct train. Once you arrive to Siracusa, you can take the navetta (at the bus stop near the station), a taxi, or walk to Ortigia (15 minute walk)
I’d urge you get a good guidebook.
The Lonely Planet book was very helpful when planning my trip.
Rick Steves has a new Sicily book that just became available this spring.
Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Washington DC
28422 posts
I see six trains scheduled to run between the station called "Taormina-Giardini" and Siracusa on Sunday, July 14. The trip takes about 2 hours. That's this year's summer schedule. You'll be traveling during next year's winter-schedule period. It's possible you won't see any signs of the winter schedule until November, but I expect there will be adequate service for you.
Trapani is the nearest city to the hill town of Erice. The train from Palermo to Trapani follows a comvoluted route and is slow. A bus will be faster. I don't know what is the best general website to use for Italian buses, but buscenter.it shows more than 10 buses to Trapani next Saturday, so I think you'll be fine there.
Once in Trapani you can get a bus (I think run by AST) to Erice, a taxi or the funivia. The funivia departs from a different part of town, not terribly near the train station, bus station or port. There's some local bus service over to the base of the funivia, but you might end up waiting awhile. I suspect it may run less frequently on Saturday than on weekdays.
Are you trying to make a day-trip from Palermo to Erice? I guess the transportation will support that, but it would be nicer to spend one night in either Trapani or Erice.