Travelers are constantly asking what is the best way to get from here to there in Italy.
After experiencing all modes of transportation, I have learned a lot and hope these facts help you make your own decisions as to what’s best for you.
Here is an example of what it would cost and the best way to travel from Rome to Sicily.
DRIVING
If you prefer to drive the one-way trip from Rome’s main airport to Catania takes 9 hours and 13 minutes. It is 823 km or 511 miles. Petrol costs €1.60 per liter, and at the dollar conversion rate today, that is $1.85 per liter and translates to $7 per gallon. Estimating gas mileage to be approximately 30 miles per gallon, this one-way trip would require 16.6 gallons of petrol. Petrol costs would be at least $116 plus the $67 cost for the car ferry from Reggio Calabria to Messina. You also must add in the cost of the tolls, plus the cost of renting the car. The total cost for 2 adults to drive would be $183 plus tolls plus the rental car cost.
TRAIN TRAVEL
Train travel may be your preference, and the least expensive nonstop train from Rome’s main train station to Catania Centrale takes 10 hours and costs $46 per adult. The total cost for 2 adults to travel by train is $98.
AIR TRAVEL
If you’re hoping to fly, then read on. I just did a quick Google search and one-way nonstop airfares between Rome and Catania cost between $19 and $63 today, and the trip only takes 1hour and 20 minutes. The total trip cost for 2 adults to fly is between $38 and $126.
If you do the math, it’s a no-brainer to fly from Rome to Sicily rather than drive or take a train. Any choice other than flying just doesn’t make any sense to me.
Although some train travel may be slightly less expensive, it takes eight times as long to arrive. Not only is flying generally more economical but, it also saves time.
What do you think?
If you haven’t already read my Sicily travel memoir, it’s available in paperback, kindle, and audiobook. You can listen to a sample, narrated in my own voice here. Open this link and click on preview. My Love Affair with Sicily audiobook
You know that I love feedback, so please leave a comment.
Grazie and Ciao.
simonjkyte
The best way is to take as long as possible and do it in stages. Calabria and Basilicata are 2 or the 3 italian regions I haven’t visited so I would focus on this.
margieinitaly
Thanks for commenting. A great idea if you have the time!!!
polkaladysjourneys
As airlines are limiting flights, traveling by train across Italy sounds like the best option today 🙂
margieinitaly
I think you’re right, with how much has changed recently
margieinitaly
I think you’re right, especially with how much has changed recently. Thanks for leaving the comment.
Un po' di pepe
Flying sounds like the best alternative—-except if you have anything bigger than a small carry on. I think the price budget airlines charge for a suitcase probably makes the price a lot less attractive. I did fly from Napoli to Santorini on Ryanair a few years ago and definitely recommend it-but I had left all my stuff in Puglia and just brought a small duffle bag. Buon Viaggio, Cristina
julie D richman
About 20 yrs ago when I was living in Lucca, my mom & I took train from Rome to Palermo, then stayed in Taormina. We snuck food, wine, & my little Shih Tzu Peeps onto the train. We spilled the wine & couldn’t stop giggling, then in middle of night, the security guys w/ their German Shephard woke us up & demanded money for Peeps. I pretended not to have a credit card—why I don’t know—must have been the wine 🍷! So, by the time we arrived in Sicily it was breakfast time so & I ran off train & brought 2 almond croissants back for our breakfast—they were wonderful! My mom is gone now but wish she was here to laugh about our Sicily train ride.🥰
margieinitaly
Hi Julie,
Thank you for this great story with a humorous touch! It’s wonderful you have these memories of traveling with your Mom! Sounds like you had an adventurous train ride that turned out ok! Sometimes these travel snafus make for good stories later. If you haven’t seen it, you might like my recent post, Laughing Through Italy:The Most Amusing Travel Snafu
Anonymous
Always a great help, thank you..!
margieinitaly
Thank you so much!
Karen Neary
Great information, Margie! I would definitely fly.
margieinitaly
Thank you, Karen!