Campervan Hire in Catania

Catania is a beautiful city in Sicily. It is located on the east coast of the island, a few kilometres from Mount Etna and has a lot of nice shopping facilities, great churches and once there was even a nostalgic tram here. You can see the volcano Etna from the city of Catania, which has a large harbour. The surrounding area is also beautiful, with unique sandy beaches stretching all around the island of Sicily. With a campervan you can make numerous tours and get an overall impression of the landscape and the nature that prevails here. Renting a campervan in Catania is the best thing you can do in Sicily, because the city in the east is very central and from here you can travel to Palermo, the capital, inland to Mount Etna and to the Lipari Islands, which can only be reached by ferry. You can park your campervan at numerous campsites on the island and occasionally use a public bus. Renting a scooter is also worthwhile in Sicily, as the hinterland is very hilly. You won't get far with bicycles, unless you take a tour along the coast.

If you want to see the city of Catania, you should definitely park your campervan outside and either rent a bike or take public transport. A visit to Castello Ursino is recommended, the famous 13th century castle. The most famous church in the town is the Cathedral of Sant'Agata with its baroque façade, which is also very luxuriously decorated inside. The monastery of San Nikola with its beautiful cloister is a highlight, as is Giardino Bellini, a garden and park in Via Eetna. There are many shopping opportunities in Catania, the second largest city in Sicily. From here, there are many beautiful places you can visit with your campervan. The Elephant Fountain and the beautiful Massimo Bellini Theatre are two other sights the city has to offer. Climbing one of the church towers can also offer a wonderful view over the city. Especially on sunny days, Catania shines in a unique splendour. In summer, however, it can get very hot here, when the asphalt shimmers and you can relax in a street café.

Etna, just a stone's throw from Catania

But it's not just Catania that has all kinds of sights to offer by campervan. It's just the starting point for a long and adventurous trip. You can visit the Etna Valley and take a train ride with the Ferrovia Circumetnea around the mountain. Here you will see gigantic expanses, beautiful valleys and enchanting little towns. The narrow-gauge railway is 950 millimetres wide. From Riposto it goes via Randazzo and Bronte to Paterno and then to Catania. The entire route is 110 kilometres long and the trains travel at up to 60 km/h. Nostalgic locomotives and railcars travel once around the mountain and offer the most gigantic view you've ever had. You can leave your camper van in Catania and head to lofty heights in search of untouched nature. Etna is the only volcano that still erupts regularly. In 2021, it once again spat fire and terrified people. The Silvestri craters are smaller vents that can be visited further down. You can take a cable car to the top and get a view of the island.

A little further north are beautiful seaside resorts such as Giardini-Naxos or Taormina, high up on a cliff rises the old town with its ancient amphitheatre. From here, the view all the way to the sea is gigantic. Far down in the bay there is a blue grotto, if you want to rent a boat you can take it there and stop for a swim on the way. If you rent a camper van, you can park outside the town and see the place on foot. The beautiful tourist shopping street has colourful houses, numerous shops and boutiques, as well as pubs. Isola Bella is a rocky island just off the coast. When renting a campervan, you are flexible and can find a parking space here immediately, book a boat and drive to the islands or to the grottos. That is exactly the advantage of a campervan trip. You can sleep and go where you want, just rent the campervan, park it and visit the places you have chosen beforehand. You have a rental car and a hotel in one and can find the most enchanting beaches, enchanted bays and quaint villages that you would struggle to reach on an all inclusive tour. A campervan holiday is flexible and unique.

Rent a campervan and explore the Lipari Islands

From northern Sicily, you can quickly reach the Lipari Islands, which could not be more special, by campervan. Lipari is the main island, but Stromboli with its active volcano is also worth a visit. From Catania it's about 100 kilometres to the ferry. Vulcano is an island with sulphur baths and a volcano that is no longer active. You can leave your camper van at the harbour and explore everything on foot. The hike up Vulcano is strenuous, but is rewarded with a wonderful view.