Getting from Catania Airport to the city center is straightforward.
For most travelers staying centrally, Alibus is the obvious budget option. A taxi makes more sense when you arrive after public transport stops, have heavy luggage or simply want door-to-door transport.
When I arrived close to midnight, I took a taxi and paid around €40. If I arrived again, I’d know the options before leaving the terminal.
Alibus: The Simple Budget Option
Alibus connects Catania Airport with the city center and Catania Centrale railway station.
The ticket currently costs €4, is valid for 90 minutes and can also be used on other AMTS urban buses during that time. You can buy it on board, including by card, or through the AMTS ticketing app.
Alibus currently runs from early morning until 00:30, with frequent departures throughout the day.
That makes Alibus practical even for many evening arrivals.
If your hotel is in Centro, Via Etnea, around Stesicoro or near the railway station, check the route against your accommodation before travelling. You may be able to get close enough that the remaining walk is short.
If you haven’t chosen an area yet, my Catania safety guide explains which central locations I would prefer and which areas I would avoid after dark.
Late Arrival: Check the Time, Not Just the Hour on Your Ticket
Landing around midnight is the only situation where I would plan the transfer more carefully.
The last Alibus currently leaves the airport at 00:30. That sounds late, but a flight scheduled to land shortly before midnight can easily arrive late or take enough time to unload that you miss it.
So if your arrival is close to the end of service, don’t build the whole plan around catching the final bus.
Check the live situation when you land and have a backup.
When a Taxi Makes More Sense
The official taxi rank is outside the Arrivals area.
Licensed Catania taxis are white, carry a TAXI sign and display their licence number. The airport advises passengers not to accept rides from unlicensed drivers approaching them outside the terminal.
I would choose a taxi if:
the last Alibus has already gone
I have several large suitcases
my accommodation is inconvenient from the bus route
several people can divide the fare
getting directly to the hotel matters more than saving money
Official fares are metered and can include airport, night and luggage supplements, so don’t assume another traveler’s old taxi price will be your price today.
Which One Should You Take?
If you’re staying in central Catania with normal luggage, I would start with Alibus.
It’s inexpensive, frequent and designed specifically for the airport-to-city connection.
Taxi is the convenience option rather than something you automatically need.
The only part worth planning in advance is a very late arrival. Otherwise, this is one of the easier airport transfers you’ll deal with in Sicily.
If you’re also working out how much the rest of the trip may cost, I’ve broken down the main expenses in Is Catania Expensive? What I Actually Paid for Hotel, Food, Taxi & Etna.
