My husband I will be in Sicily in early December and are wondering about the logistics of visiting Mt. Etna at that time of year. Our visit is focused on the West coast – arriving and departing from Catania but staying in Taormina and Siracusa – and we will be traveling by public transit. (Thank you to all the posters who helped us focus our trip thus far!)

We’d like to visit Mt. Etna and have read lots of posts about options in the summer, but aren’t sure the best way to do it in the winter. I understand that there are day-trip tours from Taormina, but my guidebook says they are available in the summer only. The Circumetnea train sounds interesting, but we’d really like to get closer to the volcano itself, if that’s an option in December.

Are day trips an option from Taormina or Siracusa at this type of year? Should we forget about going to the top and instead carve out a night to stay in one of the towns on the mountain (Randazzo?) and do a self-guided day-hike to see the area? (Possibly taking a bus from Taormina to Randazzo, hike for a few hours, spend the night, then take the Circumetnea train from to Catania and on to Siracusa?) Should we skip it entirely and just enjoy the views from Taormina?

My husband and I are in our mid-thirties, very active and used to walking everywhere (though we’re not backwoods hikers or campers), and enjoy traveling for the scenery and the food.

Thank you for your off-season advice!

Until the last eruption in 2002, there was a large ski area above Sapienza. However, it was destroyed and the last time, I was there in winter, there were just a few minor skilifts.

Thanks traveller1959. I'd forgotten that it's a ski area. Skiiing is actually an activity that we're not interested in. Would a town like Randazzo be low enough to be below the snow line?

Here are some transportation sites which may be of help:

www.compagniasicilianaturismo.it (day tours of Mt. Etna and elsewhere in Sicily out of Taormina)

www.circumetnea.it (Trains and buses around Mt. Etna)

www.interbus.it (Large regionale bus line)

www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it (Large regional bus line)

I think you mean east coast. There are tours from Taormina--not sure about Dec.

Forgot to mention that there are direct airporter buses to both Taormina and Siracusa from the Catania Airport, without needing to connect in downtown Catania. There is also direct airporter bus service to several other cities in eastern and southern Sicily, including Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Ragusa and Modica.

www.interbus.it (to Taormina, Siracusa, Ragusa,P.zza Armerina)
www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it (to Modica)
www.saistrasporti.it (to Agrigento)

I went to the top of Mt. Etna a few years ago. It was in May and the roads to the top had just been cleared with snowplows. There was still a great deal of snow and it was cold - and this was in May. The roads may very well be closed in December. If they are open, it will be very cold.

I enjoyed visiting Mt. Etna but doubt that it's feasible in December.

Thanks so much for all of the advice. (And good catch, bobthenavigator -- I did mean East coast!)

It sounds like staying lower makes more sense. Does anyone have experience with Randazzo in December? Would we be able to walk, or would the area be snow covered?

Hi jenmoore,
Although I don't have info on hiking conditions in Dec, I know an English-speaking guide from Catania who would have all the info for you. His name is Giambattista Patrillo and you can find his contact information at the bottom of this page: http://www.approachguides.com/travel-recs/
Giambattista is really an outstanding guide; we HIGHLY recommend him.