If you’re planning a trip to Sicily, you’ll need to decide what airport you want to fly into. Lucky for you, there are a handful of options, but the most suitable choice will depend on your plans for when you get here.
Growing up in Sicily and having explored Italy and other European countries extensively, I’ve had my fair share of trips through the island’s airports. They can be tricky to navigate and super stressful at the best of times. However, I’m here to tell the tale.
But fear not, I’ll help you determine which airport is best for your holiday plans with this guide. We’ll break down some of the most popular airports and answer all the questions you might have before you book your tickets.
How Many Airports Are There in Sicily?
Sicily has four airports serving foreign and domestic destinations.
There are two international airports: Catania International Airport (Fontanarossa – Vincenzo Bellini) and Palermo International Airport (Falcone e Borsellino).
Along with that, the island also has two smaller airports: Trapani-Birgi Airport (Vincenzo Florio) and Comiso Airport (Pio La Torre).
Most likely, you’ll fly into one of the international airports because they serve the most foreign routes compared to the smaller airports. But it depends on where you’re coming from and your budget.
A Look at Sicily’s Most Popular Airports
Catania International Airport (Fontanarossa – Vincenzo Bellini)
Location: Catania
Airport code: CTA
Number of destinations: 91
Number of airlines serving the airport: 40
Catania International Airport is Sicily’s biggest and busiest airport, with over 10 million passengers passing through in 2023. It’s located in the eastern part of the island and is the closest of the four to popular destinations like Catania, Syracuse, and Taormina, all within driving distance.
Some of the world’s best-known airlines fly into Catania Airport, including Aegean, TAP Air, Delta Airlines, KLM, Ryanair, Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air, and many more.
I’ve always been a big fan of how smooth the process is at Catania Airport. I would say it’s a medium-sized airport with two terminals, Terminal A and Terminal C, both of which have some brilliant facilities like restaurants, cafes, bars, ATMs, shops and parking zones.
The drive into Catania city center takes around 30 minutes from the airport. Taxis are available outside the ranks and operate around the clock, so you don’t need to worry about booking in advance. I’ve never paid more than €20 for the trip, so don’t let the drivers overcharge you.
If you don’t want to take a taxi, you can hop on the train or bus. The train takes 10 minutes and costs €1, whereas the bus journey is around 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how busy the roads are, and tickets are priced at €4.
Palermo International Airport (Falcone e Borsellino)
Location: Palermo
Airport code: PMO
Number of destinations: 84
Number of airlines serving the airport: 26
Palermo International Airport serves Sicily’s capital city, Palermo, which is northwest of the island. It’s Italy’s 9th busiest airport, seeing just under 7 million passengers annually. So, if you’re flying from there, you should arrive early because the crowds there can cause a lot of delays.
While Palermo Airport may only have one passenger terminal for international and domestic flights, it still offers many amenities for flyers, like free Wi-Fi, a pharmacy, currency exchange offices, and charging points. I like to pop up to the second floor before my flight; it’s where all the restaurants and bars are, and it’s a great location if you’re trying to get some work done.
I’ve flown to Palermo Airport with some of Europe’s most well-known airlines like Ryanair, Lufthansa, and EasyJet before, giving you a few options when booking flights here.
The city center is around 35 km from Palermo Airport and can be accessed by taxi, train, or bus. If you’re going to take a cab, the journey will take 35 minutes and will cost between €50 and €65, based on the time of day. Expensive, right?
I’d recommend using one of the buses or trains instead, as they are much cheaper. The bus only costs €6 and takes around an hour. If you’d prefer to take the train, ticket prices are the same as the bus, €6, and the journey is around 50 minutes.
Trapani-Birgi Airport (Vincenzo Florio)
Location: Trapani
Airport code: TPS
Number of destinations: 25
Number of airlines serving the airport: 3
Trapani-Birgi Airport is located along the western shores of Sicily in the city of Trapani and handles around 450,000 passengers every year. I was amazed to learn how many passengers they get since it’s such a small airport.
Compared to the other two international airports I’ve mentioned already, Trapani-Birgi Airport is quite small. Only three airlines operate flights there: Ryanair, Corendon, and DAT.
The airport itself only has one terminal. However, when I first flew out of there, I was very surprised by the number of amenities available, like a Briciole bakery, free Wi-Fi access, and a place to charge your phone. Sure, it’s nothing on the scale of Catania, but some people I know who went through recently made out like there’s literally nothing there.
When you fly into Trapani-Birgi Airport, taxis and buses will be available to take you into the city center. The 30-minute drive costs around €30, which isn’t too bad if you split it with a couple of people. But, if you’re traveling alone, the bus might be a better option as tickets only cost €5 and the journey is only 35 minutes.
Comiso Airport (Pio La Torre)
Location: Comiso
Airport code: CIY
Number of destinations: 11
Number of airlines serving the airport: 5
Comiso Airport in south-eastern Sicily offers direct flights to 11 destinations and gets just below 500,000 passengers every year.
Most of the routes at Comiso Airport are seasonal, with a lot of the traffic coming in during Sicily’s high tourism season, the summer months, between June and August. I have flown here during October before, but there’s nowhere the number of crowds you’d find at Palermo Airport, which has its benefits.
Personally, I think Comiso Airport has the least to offer passengers, with only a small terminal and barely any facilities other than free Wi-Fi and a couple of bars and vending machines. The last time I was there, the bars weren’t even open, so you best come prepared before your departure.
When it comes to getting from Comiso Airport, you’ll be able to take the bus for around €3.70 or a taxi, which should only cost you €15 for a four-seater. Regardless of the mode of transport you use, the journey should only take between 15 and 20 minutes.
What’s the Best Airport to Fly Into in Sicily?
While there’s no right or wrong airport to fly into in Sicily, I think that Catania Airport is the best in terms of convenience, accessibility and fare affordability.
The airport is only a 30-minute drive from Catania’s city center and well-connected with many public transport options. Many airlines fly into Catania Airport, too; you’d be surprised at the destinations you can fly direct from, like Dubai in the UAE and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
With so many airlines operating routes to Catania Airport, this means more competition and lower fares for consumers. You’ll have more of a chance to find a cheap ticket to Catania than most of the other airports on this list. However, always check them all before booking anything.
Catania itself is a great base for exploring the beautiful parts of east Sicily, like Taormina and Syracuse. Plus, if you want to go further northwest to Palermo afterward, it’s only a 2-and-a-half-hour drive.
Which Airport Is the Largest in Sicily?
Catania International Airport is Sicily’s largest airport, with two passenger terminals and an area of 48,260 square meters. Due to its size, it’s the most developed, too, offering 55 check-in counters, 12 security gates, a lounge, a flight ticket office, and three ATMs. And that’s only in Terminal A.
On the other hand, Terminal C has an area of only 3800 square meters, six check-in desks, and 4 security gates. Both terminals have places to eat and shop while you wait for your flight, so you’ll always have something to do if there’s a delay.
Book Your Flights to Sicily!
Sicily has a great variety of airports for passengers to fly into. I hope my breakdown of each one will aid you in your decision-making when you’re planning your trip to my home island.
It’s good to note that Sicily isn’t overly big, so if you come across a flight deal you can’t turn down and want to go somewhere else, you can always take a cheap local bus to your desired destination when you arrive.
If you have any questions that I haven’t answered about the airports in Sicily, be sure to leave them in the comments section or send an email directly to me, the Sicilian Traveler. I’m always here to help.