My Sicily itinerary- car needed?
Nov 1st, 2002, 04:55 AM
#1
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My Sicily itinerary- car needed?
This is for June 2003-<BR>2 nights Rome, Fly to Palermo-3 nights Palermo, 3 nights Lipari, 4 nights Taormina, fly to Rome- last night Rome, Fly back to NYC.<BR><BR>Should I rent a car during any of this? I would want to go to the archaeological sites from Palermo & Taormina. Should I take trains? I would like to be able to go off the beaten path if I rented a car, but then again is it going to be a major hassle and expense to Park in Palermo & Taormina? I'm not too worried about city driving as I drive in manhattan all the time. Just about the hassle. I have read also on the board that a car is not needed in Lipari. Maybe just rent one for the last few days in Taormina? Help!
Nov 1st, 2002, 05:08 AM
#2
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Palermo is not like other European cities. The traffic is frightening even for someone used to northern Italy. Lipari is a small island and there is no point in taking a car there - the most interesting excursions are by boat to Vulcano or Stromboli. Trains run from Palermo to Milazzo and Messina, and from Messina to Taormina, but buses may be more convenient and quicker for some journeys. In Milazzo, the new station is outside the town and you need to get a bus or taxi to the town for the ferries and hydrofoils to Lipari (www.siremar.it).
Nov 1st, 2002, 05:14 AM
#3
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The first time we went to Sicily we did it by train, although we ended up renting a car for a couple days from Siracusa to Palermo (to include Agrigento). I've also mentioned I wished we had a car in Palermo only to do Trapani and Erice which became a huge time-waster trying to do those by public transportatin.<BR><BR>This past summer we had a car as part of a longer trip. We paid to park it in Milazzo for four days while we went to Lipari -- wouldn't have wanted a car there. We then drove to Taormina, parked the car at the hotel (Villa Belvedere offered free parking, by the way) and never used it while we were there. So overall, I'd say you don't need or even want a car -- but I'm not sure about some of the "archaeological sites" you mention.
Nov 1st, 2002, 05:26 AM
#4
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It sounds to me like a car is not needed, in terms of the archaeological sites I am just speaking of Agrigento, Siracusa. My main goal is to relax by the sea. So all in all, these day trips and any other that I may choose to do are possible by public transit.
Nov 1st, 2002, 06:09 AM
#5
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In thinking about this a little further, and with the additional idea of Agrigento and Siracusa, I might suggest that you consider renting a car between Siracusa and Palermo so that you can do Agrigento, and Erice (a must-see, I think)by car. We rented a car one way from Siracusa to Agrigento from Avis for two days and it cost us very little.
Nov 1st, 2002, 07:12 AM
#6
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A car is really optional for your proposed itinerary. Here are some ideas of how the day trips could be planned WITHOUT use of a car:<BR><BR>Palermo: Car is a nuisance and a liability. Everything within the city should be seen on foot (bus no. 389 from Piazza Indipendenza will take you to Monreale). A car is useful only if you plan to visit the Roman ruins at Solunto (although I myself used the bus). There are half-hourly buses going to Trapani, and hourly buses from Trapani to Erice. There direct to Segesta, with a late morning direct return to Palermo, allowing about two hours to visit the Greek Temple and Theatre. To Agrigento, there are trains and buses hourly. There are half-hourly city buses from the Agrigento train station to the Valley of the Temples.<BR><BR>Lipari: You can go direct from Palermo by hydrofoil in 3.5 hours, avoiding the train ride to Milazzo, a taxi to the hydrofoil dock, and a hydrofoil to Lipari. On Lipari, you can rent a motorscooter or take the local buses around the island. Take the hydrofoil and/or ferry to the surrounding islands. Read my postings on Lipari. There is also bus service on Salina and Vulcano. To get to Taormina, go by hydrofoil direct to Messina (NOT Milazzo), then transfer to a BUS direct to Taormina town.<BR><BR>Taormina: everything can be seen on foot. A car is a major liability. You can visit Siracusa as a day trip by taking the BUS (there is a brief bus change in downtown Catania). The Taormina to Catania bus teminates at the Catania airport, so again you don't need a car. There are local buses to Castelmola and the beaches at Naxos.<BR><BR>A car would be very useful to see the Roman Villa of Casale near Piazza Armerina (although there are buses from both Palermo and Catania). A car would be particularly useful to see Selinunte, Mozia Island, Palazzolo Acreide, Tindari, Imera, Pantalica and Eraclea Minoa (and a few other minor archeological sites). However, given your limited time, I doubt you'd have much time to see these other sites.
Nov 1st, 2002, 07:23 AM
#7
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I should also mention that there are also organized bus day tours from both Palermo and Taormina to several important archeological sites. You can view these online at the site for Compagnia Siciliana Turismo (CST). The tours are more expensive than going on your own, but a bit less stressful and more time-efficient. <BR><BR>P.S. My previous posting has a clause left out unintentionally, so I repeat it here:<BR><BR>From Palermo to Segesta, there is an early morning (circa 7:50 a.m.) direct bus, with a late morning (circa 11:30 a.m.) direct return, allowing about two hours to see the Temple and Theatre there. There is also an organized bus day trip out of Palermo by CST which takes in both Segesta and Erice the same day.<BR>
