{"id":4211,"date":"2024-07-20T16:14:49","date_gmt":"2024-07-20T16:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/?p=4211"},"modified":"2026-04-01T14:01:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T12:01:38","slug":"should-i-rent-a-car-for-my-sicily-holiday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/should-i-rent-a-car-for-my-sicily-holiday\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I rent a car for my Sicily holiday?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Where to stay and how to get around without a car<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Deciding whether to rent a car for your holiday in Sicily is a big consideration when planning your trip. Renting a car for a week or two will naturally bump up the cost of your holiday and for many, the thought of letting someone else take the strain \u2013 whether on a bus, train or taxi \u2013 can be tempting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re often asked how easy it is to get round Sicily with public transport and if a car is really necessary, whether not having a car will mean missing out on some of the island\u2019s top sights or being unable to easily get to the beach – all perfectly natural concerns. The truth is that it depends so much on what you want to do in Sicily so we advise our guests to think carefully about how they want to spend the day and if there are any must-see sights on their list.<\/p>\n

Which is better, bus or train?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you do decide to go car-free, the more you know about the transport system before you go, the better.<\/strong> There are plenty of Intercity buses, for example from Syracuse to Noto, but while there are frequent buses, they are run by a series of operators, which can make it seem complicated. Of course, once you arrive at one of the main cities, such as Syracuse, Catania or Palermo, you\u2019ll be walking everywhere.<\/p>\n

For those who prefer to travel by train, bear in mind that trains are fine if you\u2019re skirting the coast, for example from Catania to Syracuse, but not so great when it comes to crossing the island. However, some places are better accessed by bus. For example, in Taormina, the train station is at the bottom of town by the beach, but if you want to explore the town, getting a bus is far better as the bus station is closer to town.<\/p>\n

But where you stay is also important, not only in terms of the island\u2019s geography, but also in relation to local bus and train connections. These are some of our top tips on where to stay in Sicily for a relaxed car free holiday.<\/p>\n

Car free holidays on Sicily\u2019s north coast<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Finale di Pollina<\/u><\/h3>\n

The small coastal town of Finale di Pollina in the north is one of our top choices for a holiday in Sicily without a car.<\/strong> The town has recently opened a train station which offers great access via a small electric train to a series of locations along Sicily\u2019s north coast. The train line runs along the coast from central Palermo all the way to Messina, making it easy to reach Finale di Pollina if you\u2019re flying into Palermo airport and prefer not to hire a car. And during your stay, with trains running regularly throughout the day, you can easily explore locally. In fact, a trip to Palermo to visit its iconic markets or take a street food tour<\/a> is generally more relaxing by train than by car. From Palermo, it\u2019s easy to hop on a bus to the hilltop town and spectacular cathedral of Monreale. Meanwhile, close to the other end of the line, Milazzo is the starting point for a day trip to the stunning Aeolian Islands.<\/p>\n