Two countries are better than one! Here’s why you should visit Sicily while in Malta
You're in Malta - great! But why not add another Mediterranean island to your travel itinerary, while you're here? Getting to Sicily from Malta is easier than you think. You can take a quick plane ride or cross the water on a catamaran to see Sicily’s top attractions, including Taormina and Mount Etna.
Flying to Sicily from Malta
This is perfect for a quick getaway that allows you to make the most of your available time. Local carrier Air Malta operates daily flights to Sicily returning on the same day, so you don’t even require an overnight stay. Flights from Malta depart early at 5:50am, and by 6:30am you are already at the Fontanarossa airport in Catania. The evening flight departs from Catania at around 11:20pm (times vary) and arrives in Malta 40 minutes later. These convenient flights allow you to really enjoy a nice long day on the island of Sicily! Car hire from the airport is also easy to arrange on arrival. Taormina and Etna are within easy reach from Catania.
Taking the ferry to Sicily from Malta
This option is great if you want to take your own car and the whole family, including your pet! Currently, Virtu Ferries offers to take two children for free when travelling with two adults! You can also take all kinds of camping and sports equipment with you at no extra charge. Virtu Ferries also operates several Sicily sightseeing tours. The trip from Malta to Pozzallo takes four hours and 15 minutes each way; view the Sicily ferry schedule and other useful information. The picturesque cities of Modica and Ragusa are within easy reach from Pozzallo.
What to do in Sicily
You’ll arrive in Catania or Pozzallo ... but of course, while these are worth seeing for themselves, you also have the rest of Sicily to explore. It will largely depend on your means of transport, how much time you'll spend and how much you want to see and do during that time. Excursions make getting around easy with a lot squeezed into a short time, but the downside is that you spend most of your time travelling between places and the time spent at the actual site might barely exceed an hour. Places of interest could include Modica, Ragusa, Marzamemi, Noto, Syracuse, Taormina and Etna. Or ditch the sightseeing and go on a quad bike adventure. It really is up to you!
Whichever way you choose to travel, here are a few musts, in our opinion!
Visit Taormina
Beautiful Taormina is not one of Sicily’s prime attractions without good reason. The picturesque panoramic resort is 206m above sea level and faces Etna and the blue Mediterranean. Despite being a popular tourist resort, Taormina retains a peaceful air of authenticity. While Corso Umberto, the elegant main street with its cafés, restaurants and boutiques is bustling with various nationalities, the Teatro Greco, the Greek amphitheatre dating from 4BC is still the venue of classical plays in summer. Taormina is just an hour's drive from Catania and a two hour drive from Pozzallo, with many beautiful stops on the way!
Experience Etna
It is actually possible to climb the largest and most active volcano in Europe and peek inside the crater! The trek takes you through picturesque villages with fertile orange and lemon groves, and vineyards at the lower slopes. Eventually, the landscape changes into forests of chestnut trees. Nearer the top, the slopes are covered in oak, beech, birch and pine. The views are fantastic.
Whichever way you do it, it’s easy, so why not?