Milan to Catania by train

How to take the rail journey from northern Italy to Catania in south-east Sicily

Step on board for one of Europe's most epic journeys by train which has four distinct phases:

  1. travel through the night to south of Salerno and then,
  2. wake up to stunning coastal views before,
  3. riding the train in a boat across the waves, to arrive in Sicily in the early afternoon,
  4. before winding up the trip with a journey along Sicily's eastern shore.
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Routes

From northern Italy to Sicily by train

Journey Summary

Travel Time
18hr 22min
Frequency
Nightly
Travel Information

Final Destination: Siracusa

This train also calls at: Taormina-Giardini

This service, which is the only direct train from Milano to south-east Sicily, is typically scheduled to depart from Milano Centrale at 20:10 and arrive in Catania at 14:32 in the afternoon of the next day.

1 x train per night

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 3 - 4 months ahead of the travel date - usually

See the 'Train Guide' below for info on the type of accommodation available and the how tickets can be booked.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia *

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.

On this journey

Journey Features

NightScenic - YesCoastal views

Good to Know

To make the journey by day the optimum route involves taking these trains

  1. The 07:30 high speed Frecciariossa 1000 train from Milano Centrale to Roma Termini, with a 46min connection into
  2. The 11:26 IC train from Roma to Catania, which is due into Catania at 21:37.

An overnight journey that is also one of Europe's most scenic railway journeys? Well this rail journey along Italy's Mediterranean coastline is so long that by the time the sun has risen the train will be arriving in Ascea, it will be due there at 07:11: so the hour after hour of stunning coastal views to the south of there can be enjoyed year round.

These sea views can be seen on the right for most of the remainder journey until the train arrives at Villa San Giovanni, which is the port at which the train will be loaded on to a ferry for the sea crossing to Messina.

In the summer the air-conditioning is disconnected when the train arrives at Villa S. Giovanni, but once the train is on the board, it's possible to escape the heat of the train and head up to the deck on the boat; the journey across the water will take around 45 mins.

On departure from Messina Centrale, the air-conditioning/heating will be switched back on and then between there and Taormina, there are wonderful coastal views, but on this final stretch of the journey, they're over on the left.

...while between Messina and Taormina the sea views views are on the left.

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