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Hiking in Catania

Catania Hiking & Trekking Guide 2026

Where to walk in Catania — from easy half-days to serious treks, with honest difficulty grades.

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Catania has 10+ hiking trails covered in this guide, led by Silvestri Craters Circuit, Monti Rossi Nature Trails and Monti Sartorius Nature Trail. Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

Catania travel guide: where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Catania, Sicily, Italy.

Top trails

Routes worth lacing up your boots for.

  1. 1

    Silvestri Craters Circuit

    Short loop of roughly 2 to 3 km around the cratersAbout 1 to 1.5 hourseasyGentle; the craters sit at about 1,900 m, close to the car park

    The Silvestri craters are two extinct cones beside the Sapienza car park and are the easiest walk on Etna. A 2026 guide describes the route as free and not requiring a guide, but entry rules can change with the alert level.
  2. 2

    Monti Rossi Nature Trails

    Several short looped paths of 2 to 5 km around and over the cones1 to 3 hourseasyRoughly 100 to 200 m of climbing depending on the path chosen

    The Monti Rossi are twin cones formed in the 1669 eruption, whose lava reached Catania; pine woods now cover the slopes and the paths are well marked.
  3. 3

    Monti Sartorius Nature Trail

    About 4 km (2.5 miles) per Italian Wikivoyage; another listing gives about 3.4 kmAbout 2 hourseasyAbout 100 m of ascent

    Easy circuit among the two craters of the 1865 eruption, named after the German geologist Wolfgang Sartorius von Waltershausen. Listings differ slightly on length, so rely on trail markers and confirm with the Parco dell'Etna.
  4. 4

    Grotta del Gelo

    Long out-and-back route; operators describe it as demanding and do not publish a single fixed lengthFull day with a guidehardSustained climb above Piano Provenzana through beech woods past Rifugio Timpa Rossa and Passo dei Dammusi

    The cave holds an ice mass considered the southernmost perennial glacier in Europe. The route is marked by stone cairns and carvings on beech trunks, but operators advise excellent training and a local guide.
  5. 5

    Pizzi Deneri Observatory Route

    Not published as a single figure; the climb is about 1,100 m of ascent5 to 6 hours up and about 2 hours downhardAbout 1,100 m of ascent to the volcanological observatory at roughly 2,850 m

    Long mountain walk or 4x4 outing to the Pizzi Deneri observatory, with a view of the summit craters, the Valle del Bove and the Ionian coast. The objective is just under 2,900 m, but the route is cancelled when summit-zone ordinances apply.
  6. 6

    Monte Zoccolaro and the Valle del Bove Rim

    Varies with the route chosen; confirm with the Parco dell'EtnaHalf-day to full daymoderateModerate ascent to the rim of the Valle del Bove

    The Valle del Bove is a vast horseshoe caldera on the east flank of Etna, and Monte Zoccolaro on its rim gives one of the best views into it. The valley received lava flows in August 2026, so check the INGV bulletin.
  7. 7

    Rifugio Citelli and the Etna East Forest

    Waymarked forest tracks of several lengths; exact distances vary by route2 to 5 hours depending on the routemoderateModerate climb through chestnut and birch woods

    Rifugio Citelli is a mountain hut on the Mareneve road on the east slope of Etna, used as a trailhead for forest tracks; the Castagno dei Cento Cavalli chestnut tree grows nearby in Sant'Alfio.
  8. 8

    Etna Summit Craters (Guided Ascent Above 2,900 m)

    From 2,500 m at the top cable car station to the highest point open on the day (up to about 3,000 m)About 3 to 4 hours with the cable car; a full day from Sapienza on foothardUp to about 1,100 m of ascent on foot from Sapienza; about 500 m after the cable car and 4x4 stage

    Authorised alpine or volcanological guides are mandatory in the summit zone. Above roughly 2,900 m the summit zone is open only with authorised alpine or volcanological guides, and municipal ordinances (for example Belpasso ordinance no. 135 of 10 August 2026) suspend or ration access when the alert phase is ATTENZIONE, PREALLARME or ALLARME. Check the weekly bulletin at ct.ingv.it before travelling.
  9. 9

    Aci Castello to Aci Trezza Seafront Walk

    About 2 km (1.2 miles) one way along the lava coastAbout 1 hour one wayeasyFlat

    Flat coastal promenade from the Norman castle built on a basalt cliff to the fishing village of Aci Trezza and the Cyclops sea stacks, associated with the myth of Polyphemus.
  10. 10

    Oasi del Simeto Nature Reserve Walk

    Short waymarked paths; confirm lengths with the reserve1 to 2 hourseasyFlat

    Wetland and dune reserve at the mouth of the Simeto river, known for birdwatching. Access hours depend on the managing body, so confirm before travelling.

Trail difficulty levels

Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.

Easy

Short, mostly flat or gently climbing walks, suitable for a half-day.

Moderate

Sustained climbing on volcanic ground at 1,500 to 2,000 m.

Hard

High-altitude routes of 1,000 m ascent or more, in changeable weather and under volcanic ordinances; guides are required in the summit zone.

When to hike

Seasonal conditions in Catania.

Items

Local hazards

What to watch out for on the trail.

Medium

Hazard: Volcanic activity: Etna was in an eruptive phase in July to August 2026 (alert phase F2, lava fountains at Voragine) and INGV reported rising tremor in October 2026; check ct.ingv.it before any ascent

Medium

Hazard: Summit-zone access above roughly 2,900 m is guide-only and is suspended or rationed under municipal ordinances (for example Belpasso no. 135 of 10 August 2026) in ATTENZIONE, PREALLARME and ALLARME phases

Medium

Hazard: Ash falls can close Catania airport and the Etna roads at short notice

Medium

Hazard: Sudden weather change, strong wind and cold at altitude, even in summer; temperatures at 2,500 m are far lower than in Catania

Medium

Hazard: Loose lava gravel and sharp lava rock; ankle injuries are common

Medium

Hazard: Hot gases and ejected volcanic bombs near active vents; stay behind barriers and follow the guide

Medium

Hazard: Little shade and few water sources on the lower slopes in summer; carry at least 2 litres

Medium

Hazard: Wildfires in dry months in the Etna forests and at coastal reserves

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