Catania travel guide: where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Catania, Sicily, Italy.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Lava stone items and Etna jewellery
Where: Maninterra Ceramiche (Via San Vito 16/18) and souvenir shops around Piazza Duomo
Hand-painted Sicilian ceramics
Where: Maninterra Ceramiche, Wine & Charme and Mizzica Souvenir; ask whether a piece is hand-painted before paying artisan prices
Etna wines and Sicilian food products
Where: Wine & Charme (Via Vittorio Emanuele II 143); shop staff can advise on bottles that suit airline luggage
Pistachio, almond and prickly-pear sweets
Where: Pastry shops along Via Etnea and the delis around Piazza Duomo
Catanian volcano and Sant'Agata souvenirs
Where: Souvenir shops around Piazza Duomo, especially around the early February festival
Spices, dried tomatoes and capers
Where: Stalls in the Piazza Carlo Alberto market and the Pescheria lanes; ask for vacuum packing for flights
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
La Pescheria (Catania fish market)
Catania's famous open-air fish market beside the cathedral, busiest in the early morning, with fishmongers, butchers and fruit and vegetable stalls in the lanes around it.
Where: Behind Piazza Duomo, old centre
Hours: Mon–Sat about 8AM–2PM, closed Sunday (reported by listings; confirm before going)
Mercato di Piazza Carlo Alberto (Fera o Luni)
Street market held in and around Piazza Carlo Alberto. Despite the name Fera o Luni (the Monday fair), it now runs most days except Sunday.
Where: Piazza Carlo Alberto, San Berillo
Hours: Mon–Sat, busiest in the morning and quiet after about 1PM–2PM; closed Sunday (reported by listings; confirm before going)
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Via Etnea and the Duomo area
Pescheria and Piazza Carlo Alberto markets
Corso Italia
Via Vittorio Emanuele II, Via Garibaldi and Via San Vito
Out-of-town malls
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Etnapolis
Large out-of-town shopping centre in Belpasso, reached by car or taxi. Weekends are busiest.
Hours: Daily about 9:30AM–9PM (reported by listings; confirm before going)
Centro Sicilia
Shopping centre in Misterbianco, about 10 km from the centre, reached by car or taxi.
Hours: Daily about 9:30AM–9PM (reported by listings; confirm before going)
Le Ciminiere
Former industrial complex with its four brick chimneys, near the railway station. A fire damaged the auditorium roof area in November 2025, so some spaces may be closed.
Hours: Hours depend on events; check before going
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is not customary in shops, delis or boutiques; prices are fixed
At the Piazza Carlo Alberto market, a polite request for a small discount on clothing or several items is accepted; fresh food prices are fixed
Check weights on the scale at fish and produce stalls and ask for the price per kilo before ordering
Cash is preferred at market stalls; carry small notes and keep bags zipped in the crowds
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Items:
- Custom
- Tax-free shopping (VAT refund)
- Detail
- Non-EU residents can claim VAT back on qualifying purchases above €70.01 (~$80.51) in a single shop displaying a Tax Free sign. Ask for the tax-free form at the till and have it validated at the customs desk before leaving the EU.
- Custom
- Shop opening hours
- Detail
- Smaller shops usually close from about 1PM to 4PM or 4:30PM and on Sunday, while Via Etnea chain stores and the malls stay open through the day. Many shops close on Monday morning.
- Custom
- Greeting in shops
- Detail
- Say 'Buongiorno' or 'Buonasera' on entering and 'Grazie, arrivederci' on leaving; a greeting is expected before asking for anything.
- Custom
- Market etiquette
- Detail
- At the Pescheria and Piazza Carlo Alberto markets, ask before photographing a stall, do not handle produce unless invited, and expect vendors to call out prices in loud Sicilian.
- Custom
- Sales seasons
- Detail
- Italy's winter sales (saldi) start in early January and summer sales in early July, with marked-down prices on clothing and shoes.