We love traveling through Italy by train and bus and have found it very manageable on the mainland. Not always fast or convenient , but we're never in a hurry to get anywhere and would prefer not having to drive.

We're considering spending 3 weeks in Sicily and are wondering if train/bus travel is doable in all or in certain areas of the island. Thanks for your advice.

There are trains and/or buses to all touristy places, resp. ferries and hydrofoils to all Islands around Sicily.
For links to timetables, please define the exact itineraries.

Certainly do-able, and there are some trip reports about just that, for example:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...sportation.cfm

The Rough Guide was by far the most helpful of the 1/2 dozen guidebooks I used when planning my time in Sicily, and it also had the best information about transportation. You might want to invest in one!

Hi, we were in Sicily 2 years ago and travelled only on public transport: buses are more efficient in most cases, they will take you into the central areas in towns, where the train station can be a bit of a walk and it can be hilly.
We used cabs as well and found them very good.
There are some places off the beaten track that are hard to get to, so you may have to compromise there, but there is so much to see and do, this shouldn't be a problem. Have a great time.

Mille grazie for the encouragement and great information. The link is a fountain of information and I will get the Rough Guide. Sounds exactly like what I need to start planning.

I too easily took trains (only trains) around Sicily and went to Celafu - fine fine old seaside town that could be a base for nearby Palermo - a more relaxed less threatening base for some - and Segesta Temples west of Palermo (though bus would have been better going there as the train station is a good poke away and the bus lets you off right out front.

And to Agrigento and to Taormina - from there by train to Catana and Syracuse and the CircumEtnea narrow-gauge train that circles the base of Mt Etna.

Trains are kind of old but nice - I believe there may be a Sicily rail and bus or just railpass available locally but not sure.

For lots on Italian trains and Sicilian ones too check www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

You might check out Marija's report of her trip to Sicily using public transportation.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-november.cfm

Wonderful information and delightful reading.

Hi Florida couple,
I used everything on my 3 abd ahalf week trip. If you are willing to drive onthe parts where it makes sense,driving inSicily is easy. Idid 9 days f the tripdriving solo with no problems.
Buon viaggio!

Last year we travelled the eastern part of Sicily using only trains and buses. It's easy, great fun, relatively cheap but you can't get to everywhere easily. I recommend it.