Mount Etna has become an almost obligatory tourist stop among the various historical and cultural attractions in Sicily. The mountain offers many different possibilities as there are numerous agencies that offer activities on the volcano: from tour operators with their all-inclusive packages to local agencies where you can book on time. It is also possible to visit Mount Etna independently, but the advantages of a guided excursion are very numerous.
Mount Etna is on of the highest volcano in Europe and on of the most active in the world. The volcano shaped the Sicilian history and landscape and still affects the island today. It is an UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013 and the smoking volcano craters
and the old and new lava flows are always an impressive experience for visitors.
Located near the east coast of the island of Sicily, Mount Etna (named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013) is 3,343 meters tall with a base circumference of about 150 kilometers.
The starting point to visit Mount Etna is Rifugio Sapienza
The best access point to Mount Etna is on the southern side, where Rifugio Sapienza is located. That’s also where the cable car station is located. Rifugio Sapienza is at around 1900 meters above sea level. There, you will find a series of souvenir shops, coffee shops and a couple of restaurants.
There are three ways to get to Rifugio Sapienza
By car
You can get to Rifugio Sapienza by car (the easiest option – you can rent it in Catania or at the airport). You can park the car for free at the large parking lot, but keep in mind there may be parking guards demanding a small fee (a euro or so) to look after your car.
By bus
Alternatively, you can get there by bus from Stazione Centrale in Catania. The only direct bus leaves at 8:15 am, so you really should book in advance (at least a day before) if this is what you are opting for. It takes about two hours to get to Rifugio Sapienza, as the bus stops in Nicolosi. This means you only get to Rifugio Sapienza at 10:15 or so – making public transportation not a viable option if you have a booked a tour that departs at 9:00 am, like most ones.
The bus back to Catania leaves at 4:30 pm – so you have plenty of time to explore Mount Etna on your own.
By guided tour
If you don’t have a car and don’t want to juggle public transportation, your best way of getting to Rifugio Sapienza and visit Mount Etna is on an organized tour departing from Catania. These are the best options:
Mount Etna excursion from Catania
Etna at sunset – half day tour from Catania
Etna in the morning – half day excursion from Catania
Visiting Mount Etna is not exactly cheap
The cheapest (and most difficult) way to visit Mount Etna is to walk all the way up via the path that follows the cable car.
A cable car ride costs €33 for the round trip. I know what you are thinking – this is a lot of money! But keep in mind that the maintenance costs for a cable car on the slopes of a volcano that erupts regularly are very high, and the maintenance is indeed ongoing.
A combined ticket that includes a cable car ride, a 4×4 ride to the Torre del Filosofo, and a guided tour around the calderas costs around €63.
Guided treks to the peak craters start from Rifugio Sapienza and cost around €85. The meeting time is normally 9:00 or 9:30 am. The excursion starts with the cable car ride to 2500 meters, and is then followed by a guided hike all the way to the peak craters and back.
Please remember it is not recommended to hike Mount Etna alone. Check out my post on why I don’t go hiking alone.
But you can visit Mount Etna independently to save a bit

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