Seems to be a shortage of trains going from these two places in late September. Trains run either at around 5am and then not again until 2pm, arriving in Siracusa after 4pm. I looked for buses but can't find any that run between these two cities that leave Taormina between 10 - noon. Has anyone found any?
Posted by
Milan Italy
71 posts
Hi, Giangilberto from Milan, so I need to understand what you mean by late September.
I've now tried to go to the Trenitalia website and I put a random day, September 24th, and there are trains that leave from the Taormina Giardini station and arrive in Syracuse without making any changes, it's about two hours, a little over two hours of travel. There are trains that leave at 5:00 in the morning, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00, noon, 2:00 p.m., so I need to understand when and which are the days in which you would need to take the train.
Without precise dates, I can't give you correct and certain information. As for the bus issue, I don't know any type of company that operates this line, I have much more expertise, on the railways, so if there were to be trains, I would use the train instead of using the bus. So if you could tell me the exact date or in any case the exact period in which you would need to travel, I could be more precise with the information to give you,
I'll send you the link to the Trenitalia page, just search trains running between Taormina Giardini and Siracusa.
Taormina Giardini train station can be reached from the historic centre by buses provided by Trenitalia or by taxi. It takes about fifteen minutes.
If you want to take the buses just search for Taormina Centro station on the Trenitalia website.
Posted by
OP
USA
314 posts
I am traveling on Sept 29. I do see the other trains you mentioned on the 24th but apparently that is the last day for that schedule. guess I will have to leave at 2pm.
Posted by
Milan Italy
71 posts
So I just checked and indeed on the 29th the frequency of trains is reduced this often happens at the end of what is considered high tourist season in addition It must be said that unfortunately in Sicily public transport is a problem because the island has always
have a few railway lines and even land transport, let's say by bus, is not the best.
I repeat, this is a historical problem whether in Sicily with public transport.
However, I did a quick look on Google and I find buses could fit for you.
I saw that there are two companies Etna Trasporti and Interbus.
I'll send you both website below
Enta Trasporti connects Taormina to the central bus station in Catania and then Interbus from Catania to the Syracuse station, so you would have to make a change, but the journey can be done easily and there are more frequent services, that is, throughout the day you can find this type of solution, the journey takes just over two and a half hours. The only thing that leaves me a little perplexed is the fact that there are only 5 minutes for the change. If it were to miss, you could take the next one. From what I see, buses leave about every half hour, so if you were to miss the connection, you could take the one half an hour later, resulting in the journey being extended from two and a half hours to three. But at least you have buses that go throughout the day.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
9538 posts
There are lots of other options, they just may not be direct, not sure if there is a truly direct option.
Buses run a couple times an hour from Taormina to either the Catania bus station or Catania Airport (my preference), from there, you could switch to a train (involves a walk for both), or to another bus. To be honest, the bus is probably better, much more frequent, plus you would have to get from Taormina all the way down to the Train station (Taormina-Giardini) for a train.
The main bus companies are Etna Trasporti and Interbus, they both have websites, just not very user friendly, and the same bus line may not run both routes. You have to have a little faith that buses are frequent and get you there. You can as easily search on Google, basically results are that you can leave about every half hour, the trip takes 2-3 hours. Between 10 and noon on the 29th, Etna Trasporti shows buses leaving for Aeroporto-Catania at 9:45, 10:15, 10:30, 10:45, 11:15, 11:45, and 12:15, from the airport, there are frequent buses on Interbus to Syracuse
You do not need to be getting tickets now, you can wait until you are ready to travel or buy from the ticket stand the day before.
Posted by
OP
USA
314 posts
Wow, Thank you Paul and Giangilberto! This looks like a great solution. Do you know if we can take our carryons on the bus or do they have to store them below? Have either of you attempted the "5 minute" transfer? Not a big deal as there are frequent buses. Is it less chaotic to transfer at CTA? Do both bus companies stop at the same location at CTA - both Etna and Interbus?
Posted by
Milan Italy
71 posts
Below is the link to the conditions of carriage policy taken from the Etna Trasporti and Interbus websites (both companies share the same conditions of carriage and an identical PDF file, and most likely belong to the same corporate group).
As reported on the website:
By purchasing a travel ticket, you can carry one piece of hand luggage and one piece of hold luggage free of charge, the latter measuring no more than 50x40x25 cm and weighing no more than 20 kg.
Additionally, you may transport a small musical instrument or a properly folded stroller. Bicycles are also permitted, provided they are dismantled into two pieces and placed in a suitable bag. Electric scooters (even if folded or without a battery), similar devices, and, in general, battery-powered personal transport vehicles are not permitted.
Please also pay particular attention to the contents of your luggage.
Please note that baggage containing smelly, dangerous, harmful, or flammable goods, oil, alcoholic beverages, or weapons is not permitted. Violation of this provision will result in refusal to admit or continue transportation of the traveler with such baggage, unless the traveler agrees to discard the materials.
Furthermore, valuables, electronic devices, and other items of value are prohibited in checked baggage. These items may only be carried in carry-on baggage or, if large, in the seat adjacent to yours, so that they are under your direct supervision. To occupy the seat adjacent to yours, you will be required to purchase a second ticket. Please note that the airline is not responsible for baggage in your custody.
In the event of loss or damage to luggage stored in the hold, you must report the matter to the on-board staff upon arrival and within three days of the trip you must contact the assistance centre on 06 164 160 (Mon-Fri 9:00-13:00 and 16:00-19:00, Saturday 9:00-13:00) or fill out the form in the LOST PROPERTY section .
The Company, unless the loss or damage is due to causes beyond its control, is liable up to a maximum of €6.20 per kg. For further information, please read the CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE carefully .
https://www.etnatrasporti.it/condizioni-di-trasporto/
https://www.interbus.it/condizioni-di-trasporto/
You need to look at Section 8, ART. 8 – IL TRASPORTO DEI BAGAGLI, unfortunately, it is only available in Italian, but you can easily translate it using a standard online translator.
Both companies stop at the Catania bus station (bus terminal), the Etna Trasporti website lists the location as Via Enrico De Nicola, while Interbus lists it as Via Archimede. These two streets intersect right where the bus station/terminal is located, so it is the same stop you do not need to move to a different location to transfer.