Getting to Messina, Sicily: Messina does not have its own airport, but can be easily reached by the airports of Catania (CTA) or Reggio Calabria (REG). 1) Flying to Rome. There are many direct flights to Rome from the US. If you want to spend some time traveling in Italy, book your flight to and from here (it is also the most cost efficient). Once you are ready to come to Sicily, you have a few options in getting down there. - Fly to CTA or REG via a Domestic Flight provided by Alitalia - Take a Train to Messina via Rail Europe - Rent a car and drive to Messina 2) Flying to REG: You can book a flight from the US to Reggio Calabria. This will not be a direct flight. Most likely you will fly through Milan or Rome and then take an hour flight to Reggio Calabria. The Reggio Calabria "Tito Minniti" Airport is an airport near Reggio Calabria, on the Italian mainland. Getting from REG to Messina - Buses from Reggio Calabria (via a ferry-boat across the Straits) to Messina (Piazza Cavallotti, near the Railway Station) are operated by “FEDERICO BUS”. They leave from the Airport in connection with the flight arrival times and take about an hour to reach Messina (ticket: about €6 one way). For a timetable see http://www.sogas.it/en/find-us.asp - High speed national trains between Reggio Calabria and Messina are also available (http://www.sogas.it/en/find-us.asp ). At Villa San Giovanni, in Calabria, the train is separated and loaded onto a ferryboat to cross the strait to Messina. - If traveling by car, head towards the Villa San Giovanni from where you can take the car on a ferry to Messina. The best company for this crossing is the Caronte-Tourist company which has more frequent crossings. Schedules availble upon request from Christina or Dave. 3) Flying to CTA: You can book a flight from the US to Catania. This will not be a direct flight. Most likely you will fly through Milan or Rome and then take an hour flight to Catania. Catania's Aeroporto Fontanarossa is the main airport on Sicily's eastern side, and is 110 km from Messina. Getting from CTA to Messina - Buses from CTA (via motorway A18) to Messina are operated by "SAIS Buses". The SAIS buses leave from the Airport's exit (on the right side) about every hour on Monday-Friday and take about 1.5 – 2 hours. Tickets are sold on-board and at the newspaper shop, and cost about €8 one way. The SAIS buses arrive in Messina at the SAIS Terminus in Railway Station Square(Piazza Stazione). Take note that on Saturday and Sunday there are few buses on service from Messina to Catania Airport. For a timetable see http://www.saisautolinee.it/pdf/orari_16.04.2007.zip Note: After 8:15 PM, there is really no way to reach Messina from CTA except by taxi (which may be very expensive), or by renting a car. By car, this is by the A18 toll highway, in the direction of Messina.- Frequent trains are also available from Catania Railway Station to Messina Railway Station. For timetables see: http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html or http://www.italiarail.co.uk/tickets/IR/IR-Timetable.asp?AFF=ITR |
