Contrary to conventional wisdom, including my own, I paid €11.90 for a 2nd class, regionale veloce/regionale ticket from Siracusa to Milazzo for tomorrow. The online price, or the ticket for the next train, was €19.
Life is uncertain, sometimes in a good way.
Regionale tickets are cheap. They're little regional trains that stop at every little station along the way. They're not the high speed bullet trains like Venice->Rome or Rome->Naples.
Yes, Tim, I know. There are no freccia trains in Sicilia, I was pointing out that sometimes a walkup bargain is still available.
The €19 was for a combination of Regionale and intercity which is why it cost more. All Regionale only fares are €11.90.
Well done, Zoe!
Hi Zoe -- Thanks for your recent posts and trip reports about Sicily. They are very helpful and timely, as I have just begun planning our second 3-week trip there, in April-May next year.
I'm wondering if you found the train & bus schedules to be pretty accurate for your planning purposes? I won't need exact times but just want to be fairly sure I can get from point to point on a given day. I'll avoid travel on Sundays and holidays.
We will likely fly from Malta to Catania, then train/bus to Milazzo, ferry to Lipari, make our way over to Palermo. Possibly Scopello if we can get there without a car. We may have to return to Trapani for your Secret B&B.
I'm sitting here looking at a gorgeous photo of Lipari and hope you're headed there next with another great b&b find. We can't wait to be back in Sicilia!
Charlene, I am headed to Lipari next, after a night in Milazzo so I can take an early ferry! I was there a few years ago, I stayed in Cannetto, the beachier area. This time I am near the port.
Bus schedules should always be confirmed, different companies (SAIS, AST, Etna, Interbus) have different degrees of reliability, but they don't always overlap routes. But somehow it all works out. And there are apps!
You're right, it usually does work out. And when it doesn't it sometimes leads to a memorable adventure. I'm looking forward to your trip report from Lipari!
I don't remember any significant issues with adherence to bus schedules when I visited Sicily in 2015, just the no-buses-on-Sunday problem. And the fact that it is darn hot waiting for buses outdoors in June! Oh--it's essential that you pay attention to local holidays, when the (non-existent) Sunday schedule normally applies.
