Cheap flights from Milan to Catania

Flying in from Milan, you'll land at Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), situated approximately 7 kilometres south of the city centre. The airport is well connected to downtown Catania via several efficient transport options that make reaching your accommodation straightforward and affordable.

The most economical choice is the AMT bus service, which departs regularly and costs around €4–5 for a journey taking 20–25 minutes into the heart of the city. For a more direct route, the Alibus train service connects the airport to Catania Centrale railway station in roughly 30 minutes for approximately €5. Taxis are available at the airport rank and typically charge €25–35 for the journey to central locations, though journey times vary between 15–20 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

Car rental desks are also present at the airport if you plan to explore Mount Etna or the surrounding coastline. However, central Catania's compact historic core is best navigated on foot once you've arrived.

Arriving from Milan, you'll discover Catania's striking Baroque architecture and UNESCO-listed historic centre, rebuilt magnificently after the catastrophic 1693 earthquake. The city blends ornate 18th-century palaces with lively piazzas, vibrant street markets, and commanding views of Mount Etna looming dramatically to the north.

Catania's compact centro storico rewards exploration on foot. Start in the elegant Piazza del Duomo, dominated by the Catania Cathedral and the iconic Fontana dell'Elefante, before wandering Via Crociferi's stunning street of convents and palaces. The Monastery of San Benedetto houses important religious art, whilst the atmospheric Vucciria fish market captures authentic Sicilian daily life. Just beyond the city, Mount Etna—Europe's most active volcano—offers hiking trails and scenic cable car rides for the adventurous.

For culture, the Teatro Bellini showcases opera and theatre productions, whilst numerous galleries and churches display works spanning centuries of Sicilian artistry and heritage.

• Piazza del Duomo and Catania Cathedral
• Via Crociferi
• Monastery of San Benedetto
• Vucciria Fish Market
• Mount Etna
• Teatro Bellini

From Milan you've travelled to the heart of Sicily, where cuisine celebrates the island's rich maritime and agricultural heritage. Catania's food culture emphasises fresh seafood, aubergine, tomatoes, and bold flavours that define Southern Italian cooking at its most authentic and vibrant.

Street food is integral to Catania's identity—you'll find warm arancini (golden rice balls) and panelle (chickpea fritters) at every corner, best enjoyed standing at a humble street stall. Pasta alla Norma, combining fresh pasta with aubergine, tomato sauce, and ricotta salata, is the city's signature dish and served in virtually every trattoria. Caponata, a sweet-savoury aubergine and tomato stew, appears as both starter and side dish, whilst fresh pesce spada (swordfish) features prominently on seafood-focused menus. For breakfast or dessert, locals enjoy granita con brioche—creamy frozen granita served with a soft, sweet brioche roll—and the iconic Sicilian cannoli, crispy pastry tubes filled with sweet ricotta and chocolate.

• Arancini – golden rice and ragù balls
• Pasta alla Norma – aubergine, tomato, ricotta salata
• Caponata – sweet-savoury aubergine stew
• Pesce spada – fresh swordfish speciality
• Granita con brioche – frozen granita with brioche
• Cannoli – ricotta-filled pastry tubes