Siracusa -- day trip?
Apr 2nd, 2003, 12:24 PM
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Siracusa -- day trip?
Thinking of a day trip to Siracusa from base in Taormina. Is this enough time to see Siracusa? I know, you can always find more to enjoy, but is it a huge mistake to go only for the day? Also, is it fairly accessible by train or public bus from Taormina? Thanks.
Apr 2nd, 2003, 02:18 PM
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Siracusa makes for an excellent, albeit tiring, day trip from Taormina. If you travel by through train, you will need to take a local city bus down the hill to the Taormina-Giardini train station, and get off the train at the Siracusa train station, which is a 15 minute walk to Ortigya Island. Better still, take the intercity bus ("Interbus" Company) from Via Pirandello in Taormina proper, CONNECT in downtown Catania to a second bus (also Interbus Lines), and proceed to the bus terminus on Ortigya Island itself. Both the train and the bus take about 2 hrs 20 minutes, one way (plus short connection time in Catania if travelling by bus). By carefully consulting the train and bus schedules, you can spend as much as 7 hours in Siracusa. You could even take the bus in one direction, and the train in the other direction. If the train schedules are not convenient, take the bus in both directions.
As an alternative, Compagnia Siciliana Turismo ("CST") offers an organized day trip to Siracusa by bus once a week from Taormina. This is more expensive than going on your own, but more time-efficient and somewhat less tiring. However, the tour is subject to cancellation for lack of bookings.
As an alternative, Compagnia Siciliana Turismo ("CST") offers an organized day trip to Siracusa by bus once a week from Taormina. This is more expensive than going on your own, but more time-efficient and somewhat less tiring. However, the tour is subject to cancellation for lack of bookings.
Apr 3rd, 2003, 07:29 AM
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Here is an example of how you could organize an independent day trip to Siracusa using inexpensive public transportation:
Leave Taormina Bus Station (Via Pirandello) Interbus Bus Lines at 8:00 a.m.
Arrive Catania Via d'Amico 9:10 a.m
(Transfer to second bus)
Leave Catania Via d'Amico 9:30 a.m. Interbus Bus Lines
Arrive Siracusa Ortygia Island 10:45 a.m
Cost for bus transfer: approx. 8 Euros
RETURN:
Intercity Night Train "Conca d'Oro" leaving Siracusa 18:10, arriving
Taormina-Giardini Station 20:08.
Cost for train: 8.80 Euros in second class; 11.90 Euros in first class
From the Taormina-Giardini train station up the hill to Taormina proper there is a local city bus every 30 minutes. Cost: under 1 Euro.
By taking the bus in one direction, and the train on the return, you could organize the day as follows:
Late morning/early afternoon: Ortygia Island, including Cathedral and Palazzo Bellomo Museum.
Mid to late afternoon: Siracusa Mainland, including Archeological Museum, Greek Theatre and adjacent archeological zone. You can walk (20 mins.) or take a taxi to the train station. The train originates in Siracusa, so I doubt you need seat reservations, particularly in first class.
All schedules should be verified prior to departure.
Leave Taormina Bus Station (Via Pirandello) Interbus Bus Lines at 8:00 a.m.
Arrive Catania Via d'Amico 9:10 a.m
(Transfer to second bus)
Leave Catania Via d'Amico 9:30 a.m. Interbus Bus Lines
Arrive Siracusa Ortygia Island 10:45 a.m
Cost for bus transfer: approx. 8 Euros
RETURN:
Intercity Night Train "Conca d'Oro" leaving Siracusa 18:10, arriving
Taormina-Giardini Station 20:08.
Cost for train: 8.80 Euros in second class; 11.90 Euros in first class
From the Taormina-Giardini train station up the hill to Taormina proper there is a local city bus every 30 minutes. Cost: under 1 Euro.
By taking the bus in one direction, and the train on the return, you could organize the day as follows:
Late morning/early afternoon: Ortygia Island, including Cathedral and Palazzo Bellomo Museum.
Mid to late afternoon: Siracusa Mainland, including Archeological Museum, Greek Theatre and adjacent archeological zone. You can walk (20 mins.) or take a taxi to the train station. The train originates in Siracusa, so I doubt you need seat reservations, particularly in first class.
All schedules should be verified prior to departure.
Apr 3rd, 2003, 07:39 AM
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The CST organized full-day bus tour from Taormina to Siracusa and return operates during the summer on Wednesdays and Fridays only and costs 38 Euros per person (not a bad deal at all). The tour also takes in a short drive-by of Catania's Cathedral and immediate surroundings. In winter, the tour operates only on Thursdays.
www.compagniasicilianaturismo.it
There may also be tours to Siracusa by other operators on different days, but you would need to check with your hotel or the Taormina touris office.
The organized tour is less stressful than the independent program, but also less flexible.
www.compagniasicilianaturismo.it
There may also be tours to Siracusa by other operators on different days, but you would need to check with your hotel or the Taormina touris office.
The organized tour is less stressful than the independent program, but also less flexible.
