Visiting Mt. Etna, Sicily: What You Need to Know

A major landmark when people think of Sicily is Mt. Etna, the towering volcano at over 11,000 feet/3,350 meters above sea level, located on the island’s eastern side. It’s Europe’s largest active volcano. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 because of its impact on the typography and history of the region. No wonder this is one of the most visited sites in Sicily.

A visit to Mt. Etna is like no other. What makes it convenient to visit is its proximity to popular towns on the east coast, like Catania and Taormina, which are each about an hour’s drive – and just about 40 minutes longer to Ortigia and Syracuse. If visiting, consider extending your outing by visiting one of the vineyards along Mt. Etna’s northern slope. That rich volcanic soil creates delicious wine.

My husband and I traveled to Mt. Etna with a group of friends. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the area, including walking in and around craters and hiking to catch some magnificent views. Note that the Mt. Etna craters you can easily visit today are locations of past eruptions. (Not all of Mt. Etna’s craters are at the summit.)

People walk along and in a crater at Mt. Etna in Sicily. — **People walk along the perimeter and in a crater at Rifugio Sapienza.**

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How to Experience Mt. Etna

There’s so much to learn about and experience at Mt. Etna. I suggest a guided tour of Mt. Etna because you’ll learn so much from the trained guide’s commentary. The guides help guests gain more background on and appreciation for the volcanic area’s history and science (including geology and botany).

However, you can still enjoy the experience on your own with a car. Having your car offers flexibility for stopping at interesting sites and/or wineries on your schedule.

People walk around craters in the distance at Mt. Etna in Sicily, Italy. — **There are plenty of walking and hiking options at Mt. Etna. (It’s hard to see the people, but they’re there!**

Touring Mt. Etna with A Guide

There are a variety of possible tours that can range from low-key experiences all the way to vigorous hikes up Mt. Etna. There are many guided tour options from Catania, Ortigia, Palermo, and Taormina. Tours can include:

lava fields and lava caves
taking the cable car to 8,250 feet/2,500 meters, followed by a 4×4 ride to 9,580 feet/2,920 – and even higher elevations
sunset outings to catch the stunning scene
tastings of wine (plus honey and olive oil) at nearby wineries
a visit to Alcantara Gorge (carved out by the actions of the Alcantara River through an old lava field)

How to Find a Mt. Etna Guided Tour

Search online (e.g., TripAdvisor or searching on “Mt Etna tours”) to find a tour that fits your schedule and interests. Make sure to check the online reviews before booking. If you find a tour from a general search (without using TripAdvisor, for example), your next step should be to search for reviews for that tour company. For instance, if you want to check on tours by the “ABC Company,” you could search “ABC Company reviews.”

Touring Mt. Etna On Your Own

Head to the base camp on Mt. Etna’s south side called Rifugio Sapienza. Once there, you can hike around the nearby craters, get a bite to eat, and/or go for it and head toward the summit.
1. To head up the volcano, take the 10-minute Funivia dell’Etna cable car ride (with amazing views) to about 8,250 feet/2,500 meters.
2. From there, you can hike up or get on a 4×4 bus that will take you further up toward the authorized mountaintop crater – about 9,580 feet/2,920 meters. Note: if hiking on your own, leave enough time to return to the cable car station before it stops its daily operation.
Hike some trails on your own, like Piano Provenzana trail (at about 5,905 feet/1,800 meters), a 4-mile/6.4-km loop trail rated moderately challenging. Check out AllTrails.com for more information on this and other hiking options.

People walk around the parking lot in Refugio Sapienza and up some nearby trails at Mt. Etna in Sicily, Italy. — **People leave their cars in the parking lot at Rifugio Sapienza and begin exploring the area.**

Tips for Your Visit to Mt. Etna

Start your adventure early so you have a few hours to explore. The sky tends to be clearer in the morning, too.
Take along water, snacks, a sun hat, and sunscreen.
Wear sturdy shoes with good traction or hiking boots.
Pack an extra layer – even a light jacket in the warm months – as it can get chilly at higher elevations.
Rifugio Sapienza is a level area (at 6,310 feet/1,923 meters) with large parking lots as well as restaurants and souvenir shops. This is the main area for walking on the nearby Crateri Silvestri (a few steps from the parking lot) and walking uphill to another crater for spectacular views on clear days.
Check to make sure there are no closures during your visit. The area is off-limits on days when there’s active volcanic action. For example, in August 2023, Mt. Etna and nearby Catania (including the airport) were closed for a few days due to an eruption that caused ash fallout. Eruptions can occur from craters but also from fissures and old craters. Rest assured that volcanic activity is closely monitored at various stations all around the mountain.
After visiting Mt. Etna, consider visiting one of the many wineries on Mt. Etna’s slopes, home to the DOC Etna (one of the country’s wine appellations). The volcanic soil has grown grapes that have produced lovely wines. Depending on how long the volcano visit takes, wine tasting might have to wait for another day. Do an online search for the type of winery or winery tour – that interests you most (“Mt. Etna wineries” or “Mt. Etna winery tours”). If visiting wineries on your own (and not on a tour), contact them ahead of your planned visit. Most require advance reservations.

A religious stone monument of the Virgin Mary stand on a grassy lawn near Mt. Etna in Sicily, Italy. — **A religious monument stands along a road near Mt. Etna, symbolizing a spot where lava stopped its journey down the mountain years ago.**

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An artist's tools and some of his creations formed from lava sit on a stone wall. — **An artist’s tools sit on a stone wall at Rigugio Sapienza, with some of his creations formed from lava.**

Final Thoughts

Our visit to Mt. Etna was indeed a great experience. We went on a guided tour, including visiting some lava fields off the main road as we drove up the mountainside. The tour guide was a wealth of knowledge about the volcano and explained how the eruptions occur, how they’re monitored, and so on. Either way, Mt. Etna is worth visiting — either by tour or in your own car.

Once at Rifugio Sapienza, we had the option of staying at the main level of the Rifugio Sapienza and walking around and in the crater there or going up the trail that led to another crater. There were wonderful views from both spots. We ended our visit with a visit to a restaurant there, enjoying some arancini (Sicilian rice balls) before heading back to Taormina.

We took a half-day tour. There’s always the option to take a tour that includes the cable car ride further up the mountain (and an additional several hours), but those extra hours steal time to enjoy other activities and places. Vacationing requires some hard choices, doesn’t it?!

A red-sided restaurant stands near an extensive black lava field with a large crater in the background at Mt. Etna in Sicily, Italy. — **The red-sided restaurant at Rifugio Sapienza (by the large parking lot) is one of several dining options. Lava fields dominate the foreground; a crater is in the background.**

Comments?

Feel free to share your experiences at Mt. Etna and/or suggestions for other places to visit in the area. Your ideas could be helpful to other travelers. Thanks! 🙂