Catania to Syracuse in 2026
The usual choice between train and bus has changed this autumn. The railway line between Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa and Syracuse has been closed since 30 September 2026 at 23:00 for engineering works. Trenitalia and RFI run replacement buses, and the replacement timetable covers services until 12 December 2026. You cannot count on an unbroken train journey in that period.
This is an independent guide, not a timetable or a ticket shop. Use it to understand the options, then check the live timetable for the day you travel. For the airport itself, see Catania Airport. For flights and transport across the island, see the Sicily airports guide.
Your options compared
Three ways to make the trip.
| Option | What to know | Check before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement bus (rail) | Runs until 12 December 2026. Mostly a change at Catania Centrale. Syracuse stop on Via On. Giuseppe Rubino | Your exact departure in the current timetable |
| Interbus coach | The Syracuse board at Corso Umberto 196 showed airport rides at 70 minutes and Catania at 80 minutes on 18 October 2026 | Timetable for your direction and day |
| Car | You arrive into a city with a restricted traffic zone on Ortigia | ZTL hours, parking, your host's advice |
Our pick: a day trip from Catania
Syracuse, Ortigia and Noto with pickup in central Catania.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Syracuse tours and transfers
Guided days out and excursions from Syracuse, with live prices and availability.
Rail replacement buses
What the works mean for you.
Trenitalia describes the closure of the line between Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa and Syracuse from 30 September 2026, with cancelled trains, changed timetables and replacement buses. For most services you change in Catania Centrale. For the regional train R 5381 the replacement bus leaves from the airport station. The replacement timetable published by RFI covers 1 October to 12 December 2026. The Syracuse end of the buses stops on Via On. Giuseppe Rubino.
The airport station and the airport terminal are not the same place, so check where your bus actually leaves. One example from the official table: bus PA543 leaves Catania Centrale at 16:50, calls at Catania Fontanarossa at 17:08 and reaches Syracuse at 18:41. That is 1 hour 51 minutes from Centrale or 1 hour 33 minutes from the airport stop. It is one timetable row, not a general journey time.
Check your exact trip
Look up your own departure in the current Trenitalia or RFI information on the day. Do not rely on a single remembered time.
After 12 December
The replacement timetable is planned to end on 12 December 2026. A planned end is not a confirmed reopening, so check the status if you travel later in December.
Which option suits you
A simple way to decide.
If you land at Catania Airport with luggage, first work out where your connection starts: at the airport station, at Catania Centrale, or at a coach stop. These are different places, and the replacement bus for one train leaves from the airport station while others leave from Centrale. If you want one fixed ride into Syracuse, the Interbus coach is the regular alternative to the rail replacement service. If you rent a car, you gain flexibility for day trips, such as Vendicari and Marzamemi, but you take on the ZTL and parking in the city.
Whichever you choose, leave time at both ends. Buses depend on road traffic, and a missed connection in Catania Centrale costs more than an early start.
Interbus between Syracuse and Catania
Interbus is the regular coach operator on this route. The departure board for the stop at Corso Umberto 196 in Syracuse showed airport services at 70 minutes and Catania at 80 minutes on 18 October 2026. That board lists departures from Syracuse only. It does not show the opposite direction, the first and last coach or how often they run.
Check the timetable for your direction and day. Check the current ticket price when you buy, because fares change.
Arriving by car
Driving in and parking.
If you go by car, the real question is where it sleeps. Since 1 April 2026 the ZTL (zona a traffico limitato, a restricted traffic zone) on Ortigia is active Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 15:30 and from 17:00 until 02:00 the next day, and on Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 02:00 the next day. A temporary hotel permit allows entry only, not parking.
Municipal car parks at Talete, Molo Sant'Antonio and Von Platen charge €1.50 per hour or €15 per 24 hours, day and night. Read the where to stay page for what to ask your host.
Catania to Syracuse: frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from Catania Airport to Syracuse?
Not at the moment. The line between Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa and Syracuse has been closed since 30 September 2026, 23:00, and replacement buses run until 12 December 2026.
Where does the replacement bus stop in Syracuse?
On Via On. Giuseppe Rubino. Check the current timetable for your bus.
How long does the replacement bus take?
One example, PA543, takes 1 hour 51 minutes from Catania Centrale and 1 hour 33 minutes from the airport stop. Other buses may differ.
How long is the Interbus from Syracuse?
The departure board at Corso Umberto 196 showed 70 minutes to the airport and 80 minutes to Catania on 18 October 2026. Check the timetable for your own direction and day.
Can I drive straight to my hotel on Ortigia?
Not freely. The ZTL has fixed hours, and a temporary permit covers entry, not parking. Ask your host before you arrive.