From Philosopher's Tower there is some kind of chair-lift/ 4 wheeled vehicle combo that takes you up to near the crater - easy to do on your own - there are two separate approach routes - one on the northeast side of the volcano the other, via Philosopher's Tower on the south side - this I believe is by far the more popular route - vews may be different from the two routes and of course volcanic activity makes views better if intense.

Eruptions have wiped out the aerial cable car in recent years but I assume they are back up and running.

I took a bus to the parking lot/staging area. I didn't think the mountain was pretty up to that point and after that it's all lava - black cinders. I've never been on a volcano before so I have no comparison but you could certainly find much prettier places to hike just about anywhere.

You can drive to the parking lot and then take the cable car to the top. I don't know the rules on hiking up to the summit.

If you had a very clear day the views would be great but it wasn't clear when I was there so there wasn't anything to see. I can't imagine that there would be many really clear days when you're surrounded by water.

I have not been to Mt. Etna in many years but 10 years ago they would not let you within 800 feet of the summit. And unless they have built condos on the side of the volcano they view can be spectacular.

In terms of hiking, you will pass through great temperature changes and near the summit the lava can melt rubber soles while the air temperature requires a winter jacket.

Instead of hiking on the barren, hot and unattractive side of
Etna why not hike from Taormina up to Castelmola. That way
you have a fairly difficult hike that ends up in a sweet
little village and you have the view of Etna while you climb?

I've been there in September and it was HOT!!

Thanks! I'll look into the Taormina/Castelmola hike. Is there anywhere else in Sicily to do some hiking? I just discovered some posts about the Madonie Mountains? Anyone know if it is worth making a trip to the northern coast for that? Thanks!

I visited Mt. Etna as part of a day tour from Taormina. It entailed a combination of bus, train, cable car, 4x4 or some such thing, and foot, which took us to an area just below the final peak. Some people climbed that final peak; I stayed with the main group and guide for an exploration of that area. Etna had been smoking in the days before my visit, some of the fumaroles were venting while I was there, and there was some relatively new lava (just a month or so old). I found it fascinating, in part because there was still extensive snow / ice cover (I was there in May), and the contrasts of black lava and white snow against some spectacular scenery in the background (I was lucky with that!) made for some striking images. And the experience of heat through my very thick-soled shoes while needing earmuffs to protect from bitterly cold winds made for a bizarre and interesting experience. Without snow cover or if the views were blocked (as I'm told they often are late in the day), I'm not sure I'd find it so interesting.

I took a bus from Taormina to Castelmola and then walked down through Taormina to Isola Bella. The downward hike was very easy and didn't take all that long. I caught a few lovely glimpses of Mt. Etna from Castelmola before a cloud cover completely obscured it. The path I took down would not have afforded views of Mt. Etna - it was on the wrong side of the hill for that - but it did give me some lovely views of the coast and even across the sea to the the coast of mainland Italy.

Hope that helps!