Car Rental at Catania Fontanarossa Airport

Airport travel guide

Lying in the shadow of Mount Etna, the mighty volcano that erupted spectacularly (albeit not too dangerously) as recently as 2021, Catania can feel like a unique place to visit — and the impression is only heightened by the city’s monumental history and scenic, accessible coastline. Those always hungry for new adventures can also use Sicily's second city as the base for exploring all of the island’s eastern coast. With that in mind, here are five interesting travel destinations in and around Catania:

• Piazza del Duomo. The main square of the city, Piazza del Duomo is both Catania’s beating heart and the location of many of its most notable historic attractions. No visit to the city is complete with at least some time spent here. Landmarks include the Duomo itself (also called the Cathedral of Saint Agatha of Sicily), the Amerano Fountain, the Diocesan Museum, and two palaces.
• Castello Ursino. Built in the 13th century at the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II’s behest, the distinctive Ursino Castle is one of the most impressive buildings on Sicily. Nowadays, it is home to the interesting Catania Civic Museum which has fascinating artifacts from the Greek, Etruscan, and Roman civilizations that are centuries older than the building itself.
• Roman Theater. About 2,000 years old, the Roman Theater used to hold spectacles for as many as 7,000 visitors at a time. Next to it is the smaller, slightly younger, but equally interesting Odeon, another ancient performance space. Other Roman sights around Catania include an amphitheater and the Achillean Baths. 
• Mount Etna. Provided that the volcano is not erupting when you visit (check the forecast, although you can simply just look outside your window from many places in the city ), visiting Mount Etna is one of the greatest experiences in Catania. You can get quite high up the mountain by car — the main road from the city is Highway 18 and there is reasonably priced paid parking at the end of the road. The lava-covered valleys of the mountain are just as fascinating as the views of the city and sea below. Hiking around the top part of Mount Etna requires hiring a guide. 
• Catania Cathedral. No Italian metropolis is complete without its cathedral, and the one in Catania is certainly worth the attention of even those visitors not focused on religious tourism. Embodying the city’s Norman heritage, the building was first constructed back in the 11th century when it was built on top of the ruins of Ancient Roman baths. Also known as the Church of Saint Agatha, it has been heavily damaged in several earthquakes but was always rebuilt, eventually acquiring its present-day baroque look.

Top international routes

• Rome
• Milan
• Bologna
• Naples
• Venice
• Turin
• Malta
• Verona

Main airlines

Ryanair, easyJet, Alitalia, Volotea, Wizz Air, and Eurowings

Terminals

The airport has two terminal buildings, Terminal A and Terminal C (opened in 2018). There are plans for further expansion.

Location

Catania Airport is about 7 km (4.3 miles) from Catania city center. Via Fontanarossa, Viale Librino, Asse Attrezzato, and Via Plebiscito are the main streets connecting the airport to the city.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $23 per day
• Medium cars - from $28 per day
• SUVs - from $25 per day
• Station wagons - from $39 per day
• Large cars - from $33 per day
• Vans - from $80 per day
• Premium cars - from $65 per day
• Convertibles - from $83 per day

Car rental desks

Some car rental desks can be found on the ground floor in the Arrivals Hall. Others can be found outside the terminal on P4 of the car park. See which are the easiest to find and more in our list of the best rental companies in Catania

Services and facilities

There are two restaurants, a coffee shop, a store, a duty-free shop, a bank, and an ATM. There’s also a lost and found center, open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unfortunately, there is no luggage storage service. The airport is disabled-friendly.

Nearest gas station

The Esso station is located in Via Madonna del Divino Amore and is 4 km away from the airport. It is open 24/7. The Q8 station is located in Via Zia Lisa 84 and is 3.2 km away from the airport. It is open Mondays to Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. but closed between 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Eni station is located in Via Gelso Bianco 8 and is 4 km away from the airport. The Petrol Company station is located in SP701 and is 4 km away from the airport. There is another Q8 gas station located at SP55 and is 7.5 km away from the airport. It is open Mondays to Saturdays from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Popular one-way rentals

• Palermo (205 km / 127 mi). The capital of Sicily, Palermo is one of the largest and most interesting cities in Italy. Palermo was ruled by Greeks, Moors, Normans, and other great civilizations at different times in history, and this rich heritage can be found in the city’s art, architecture, and cuisine.
• Comiso (91 km / 56 mi). A scenic town on the southern coast of Sicily, Comiso is a lovely place to visit. Its more famous neighbor, Ragusa, is also worth seeing thanks to its great concentration of historic churches and palaces.
• Naples (601 km / 373 mi). The capital of the Campania region is a long drive from Catania (including a ferry trip from Sicily to the Italian mainland), but the trip north is worth it. Located right next to Mount Vesuvius and with one of the largest old towns in the world, it is a mecca of history, culture, and cuisine.
• Trapani (311 km / 193 mi). Located in the northeastern corner of Sicily, Trapani is home to a beautiful city waterfront and long surrounding beaches. The city has other attractions as well, with the Museum of the History and the Sea the chief one among them.
• Noto (93 km / 58 mi). The small city of Noto is a very popular day-trip destination for both inhabitants and visitors of Catania. Located a few kilometers away from the coast, it is home to absolutely amazing Baroque architecture, with the San Nicolo Cathedral and Ducezio Palace the two brightest jewels in that crown.
• Tropea (220 km / 137 mi). Located in the region of Calabria, Tropea’s beautiful Tyrrhenian Sea beaches have been praised by visitors for millenia and continue to attract the lovers of the sun and the sea to this day. The city is also famous for its red onions, so much so that there’s even a gelato ice cream made out of it - trying it will be a highlight of any trip to Tropea.