The 8 Best Things to Do in Catania
Catania was one of my favourite cities to explore in Sicily. In this guide, I am going through the best things to do in Catania. What makes it so fascinating is that Catania has been impacted by so many geological events, from earthquakes to eruptions from Mount Etna. So there is a lot of history and a lot of things to do. I also have a whole Catania travel guide if you want to go deeper.
There are many things to do in Catania, here are the top ones:
1. Explore the history of the Cathedral of Saint Agatha
The Cathedral of St. Agatha was originally built in 1078. It was actually the seat of the bishops of Catania until 1859. It then received archdiocese status and became the seat of the archbishops of Catania.
As I mentioned, Catania has been impacted a lot by Mount Etna. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe. The most recent major impact was through an earthquake in 1693. Because of that, a Sicilian architect called Gian Battista Vaccarini turned it into a really Baroque style cathedral with a lot of decoration.
You could probably spend about an hour inside. It is just fabulous. There is so much to read about and see. You can also see marble statues of St. Agatha, as well as paintings and canvases from the 17th century. It really is a remarkable what to see in Catania.
2. Visit the ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre in Catania
Next up is the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre. It sits right in the city centre and was originally built in 2 AD by the emperors. It now lies below ground level. What is amazing is that this amphitheatre could hold between 15,000 and 20,000 people. As the theme goes, it was buried in volcanic eruptions, and then in the 18th century it went through a lot of restoration and excavations.
You can get inside. Last time I checked, it was about €4. However, because of all the renovations and questions around stability, they may close it at short notice. So try to check beforehand. It is in the centre of Catania so it is quite easy to get to.
3. Go to the Teatro Massimo Bellini
This is something I actually really loved. If you feel like dressing up, you can book yourself and your family a night out at the theatre. When I went, we went to enjoy some jazz for one night. Because it is music, you do not have to speak Italian. However, if you are going to a play, you might want to brush up on your Italian.
If you are not there at night, you can also book a daytime tour of the theatre. They take you inside all the seating areas and explain all the history to you. That runs from Tuesday to Saturday.
4. Climb Mount Etna Volcano
Now onto one of my favourite things to do in Catania, and that is climbing Mount Etna. It is about 50 minutes drive away from Catania and also from Taormina. I actually went to Mount Etna from Taormina.
Like I said, it is one of the tallest and most active volcanoes in Europe. I have been up there before, a few years back when I was a lot younger, and it actually erupted a few hours after I departed. This time I went during the day, but that does not mean much. It can erupt at any time. The guides do seem to know when it is likely to erupt, or at least I hope they do.
Mount Etna was added to the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2013. It stands at 3,357 metres, though because it keeps erupting, it tends to grow after each eruption. Words really do not do it justice. It is just an incredible feeling to be on such a site in Catania, to actually be on top of a volcano.
I also met one of my best friends up there. I knew they were in Italy, but we coincidentally went on the same day and he came running down one of the ledges towards me. Everyone was watching.
In terms of getting there, you can take the cable car up to 2,500 metres. But if you want to go higher, like we did, you have to book a Mount Etna tour. If you are looking for a unique and fun thing to do in Catania, this is magical.
5. Go Wine Tasting in Catania
This is also a really fun thing to do in Catania. Mount Etna gives a lot of volcanic soil, and the lower part of the volcano is just the perfect area for vineyards. I went to a couple of wineries. One is the 19th century Benanti Winery, which is on the slopes of Mount Etna. There is also a really nice organic winery called Cantina Etnella.
I would advise booking a winery tour because some of the staff at the wineries do not speak great English. When I went, we ended up with a tour guide who was a sommelier. It is a great thing to do as a couple, with family or with friends.
6. Try the local food in Catania
I actually got this tip from my family. We have family all over Italy, and they pointed me towards the food scene. Catania has some of the best restaurants in Sicily. It has Michelin rated ones and also really awesome street food.
Something you might want to try is the Cartocciata. It is like a small calzone but more of a pastry, filled with different ingredients like salami, eggplant, sausages and many other flavours. There is also street food like Cipollina, which is like a puff pastry with onions, tomato, ham and mozzarella. That was delicious.
You also have seafood and fish. There is a great entrance to the seafood market in Catania, and one of the dishes you might want to try is the swordfish. It is called involtini di pesce spada. It is a swordfish roll stuffed with herbs, nuts and cheese, and if you find somewhere that uses charcoal it adds an amazing smoky flavour. I would also recommend booking a food tour in Catania.
7. Go Shopping at the local Catania Markets
There are quite a few markets in Catania. The most popular is the fish market, which I mentioned above. It sits just behind the Piazza Duomo and is open Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to 2 PM. We got there at about 1 PM and everyone was already packing up, so I would advise getting there a lot earlier. The fish market has lots of music and many vendors. Even if you do not buy anything, it is just really nice to walk through.
If you are looking for a flea market, there is the Mercatino delle pulci. It is open on Sundays from 6 AM, so I would try and get there early morning to pick up a bargain.
If you just want some fresh fruit in the morning, maybe you have had enough of the hotel buffets, there is the Fera 'o Luni market. You can find fruit stores, vegetable stores and also clothing and other items. It closes at 1 PM, so do not get there too late. It is in the centre, so you can head to some of the restaurants in Catania afterwards.
8. Go to the yearly Festival of Santa Agatha
This only happens twice a year, in February and in August, so you do have to time your trip. It is a religious festival where Saint Agatha is celebrated. In February, it references her martyrdom. In August, they celebrate the return of her remains to Catania.
We went in August and it is like a three day procession. They have 11 large candles in bronze casings and they go from the church to the Cathedral of St. Agatha. What is really fun is that at around 3 PM there is a cross-country race around town, and the celebrations go on all through the night.
If you are looking at where to stay in Catania during August or February, I would advise staying away from the Cathedral of St. Agatha. It is just one of those once in a lifetime things, being part of the festival. Head down to the Piazza del Duomo and there are also fireworks, if that still goes on.
I hope you enjoy these best things to do in Catania. This was written in collaboration with a lot of my family because they are Italian, but also with locals, because we speak Italian, so we get to hear about all the kind of secret hidden things to do in Catania. If you have been to Catania before, please let us know any other things you would add. Drop a comment in the box below so I can share them with my readers. Enjoy tripping around Catania.
FAQs on things to do in Catania
What are the fun things to do in Catania?
If you get there in February or August, going to the festival of St. Agatha is a really fun thing to do. Climbing Mount Etna is such an experience. I have done it a couple of times now. And honestly, just walking around the streets and visiting all the historical sites is a great way to spend your time.
Is 3 days in Catania enough?
Absolutely. Catania is a very historic town and all the sites are fairly close to one another, except for Mount Etna if you want to go up. You can see a lot in 3 days. There are beaches, however the best beaches in Sicily are in Cefalu or San Vito lo Capo. You can go to the Catania ones, but I think 3 days is enough if you are not looking to go to the beach.
What not to miss in Catania?
You have to go to the Cathedral of St. Agatha. Check out the Roman amphitheatre. And then climbing Mount Etna. Those are the things you really do not want to miss.
What are the free things to do in Catania?
You can visit the Cathedral of St. Agatha. It is free, though I like to give a donation when I go. Visiting all the markets is also free as long as you do not buy anything. You can also see the Roman amphitheatre from the outside without paying. And the yearly festival of St. Agatha is a procession through the streets, so that is a free thing to do in Catania.
What are the best things to do in Catania at night?
A couple spring to mind. The first is Mount Etna. The first time I went, when I was younger, I went up in the early evening. That was incredible. When I came back down, it was actually erupting and you could see the lava coming down the volcano. The sunset tour is only available during the summer from 5.30-8.30.
The second is the Teatro Massimo Bellini. Going to the theatre at night is just an incredible thing to do and you can get dressed up. It is really nice.