Mt Etna

This is an absolute must see when in Sicily! We took the long drive from Cefalu to see Mount Etna (south side) and it was totally worth it! If you’re driving, just remember to add extra time as our last hour was spent driving on quite poor locals roads with lots of potholes. Once we reached the mountain, the roads became much better but then became extremely bendy with some hairpin bends which you must navigate together with all the tour buses and cyclists on the road. We spent 80 euros taking the cable car and a 4x4 bus and then walking with a guide to some craters. The experience took 2 and a half hours and we bought tickets online so we skipped the queue. We bought the tickets on the ‘funivia etna’ website. I’m slightly afraid of heights but I found the cable car to be extremely safe. Taking the bus and walking to the craters was thrilling and felt like entering a whole different world or being on a different planet! The guide didn’t give us much information but it was still an interesting experience. You reached 3000 meters but we didn’t have any issues with the altitude. It really is quite cold once you get off the cable car ( even in summer) but you can hire jackets and shoes if you need to alternatively bring your own jackets, wear/ bring lots of layers, comfortable hiking shoes/ trainers and I would suggest bringing a beanie as the wind can be quite cold. There is a cafe when you get off the cable car with great sandwiches and food but you can also eat at the car park where there are lots of restaurants, shops and clean bathrooms. If you don’t want to take the cable car or walk up the mountain, even just driving to the car park is quite an experience and although you won’t see any of the craters, you will see hardened lava which is quite something to see. Just remember that if you want to take the cable car, to ensure you enter ‘Funivia dell’Etna’ into the GPS to get to the south side parking area. You can also do amazing hikes/ walks on the mountain or even take quad bikes. So there is more than enough things to do on the mountain.

A very exciting and interesting walk with our guide Fabrizio. We climbed almost to the top, where it is allowed. It is mandatory to bring several layers of clothing, a waterproof jacket, a warm fleece and at least two T-shirts. Even a winter hat and gloves, because at about 2700 m above sea level, at the end of May, the air temperature was 2 degrees Celsius. Fabrizio was very comprehensive and told with interest at each stop about the history of the eruptions and the different geological stages of the formation of the rocks and hills. I highly recommend visiting Etna and especially starting from - Monte Gebel "Shop point"

Fantastic views and a great guided tour, from which you can always get a lot of information about the place so would recommend using a guide instead of going alone.

An amazing experience that far exceeded my expectations, especially since I initially had none. This place is an absolute must-visit when you're in Sicily. I highly recommend it to anyone exploring the island! 🌋

Mount Etna Adventure – A Journey Above the Clouds! If you're heading from Catania to Mount Etna, here's the experience as of April 2, 2025: Start by catching a bus near the Delhi restaurant in Catania — round-trip fare is just €6.60. The bus takes you up to 2000m. Once there, you can buy a ticket for the cable car (round-trip) that brings you up to 2500m. At 2500m, there’s a cozy café where you can rent gear if needed — jackets (€5), shoes (€5), and gloves (€3.50). From that point, special vehicles (round-trip) with guides will take you further up to 2850m for €45. From 2850m, the guided trekking begins — an unforgettable walk through volcanic landscapes and breathtaking views. Stay warm, follow the guide, and enjoy the adventure!

We went for a hike, it was amazing and bit dangerous at some parts. Had a lot of fun. In the beginning of February it was cold, bring gloves and a hat. We didn’t see much cause there was mist

So majestic! When we were there the weather was cloudy & rainy! But the beauty is still there!

Awesome experience would visit again, tourist shops around car park, well organised book shop pickets online to save the queue