The 11 Very Best Things to Do in Catania

Catania is a wonderful place, with a fascinating history and unique geology.

The city is situated in the shadow of Mount Etna, one of Europe’s largest and most active volcanoes, which has had a profound impact on the city over the years, from lava flows to destructive earthquakes.

Over the centuries, successive civilisations have also left their mark, enriching Catania’s culture and architecture.

Today, Catania appears a little rough around the edges; however, this only adds to its character and charm.

The city is a vibrant and friendly place with plenty of activities to keep you occupied for a few days.

Things to Do in Catania

We spent five nights in Catania, finding the very best things to do.

Five nights is too long in the city, but we hired a car to explore other parts of the island, like Syracuse in the south, and Taormina and Castelmola to the north, all of which are worthy of a visit if you have the time.

To prevent overloading this post with pictures, there’s another post with all the Catania pictures taken, which will give you a better flavour of the place.

1 | Sit in Piazza del Duomo

The Piazza del Duomo is a good place to start your adventures in Catania.

It’s considered the heart of the city, with its iconic and beloved Fontana dell’Elefante, which has become Catania’s most recognisable symbol.

The piazza is home to the cathedral, with the fish market located right next door, both of which are featured in this guide.

As the sun dips and the temperature starts to cool, Piazza del Duomo comes alive.

One moment that captured the square’s magic for us was a street musician playing the violin.

His renditions of timeless classics and contemporary music transformed the piazza into a truly special place.

The notes filled the piazza like we were on the set of Bridgerton (or the Italian equivalent!).

📍 95100 Catania, Metropolitan city of Catania, Italy

2 | Experience the Fish Market

Catania’s fish market is something else.

Undoubtedly, it’s one of Catania’s most fascinating places.

The market is so visually captivating that what happens there is almost a spectator sport.

You’ll notice people on the upper walkway watching the action beneath.

The fish market isn’t for the faint-hearted, so be warned.

The fishmongers take whole tunas and swordfish and butcher them, handing slabs of meat to the punters while standing in puddles of blood.

It’s gritty, vibrant, and real.

You’ll find live fish, squid, oysters, and everything in between.

It’s mesmerising and wild, in equal measure.

Head over to our Catania Fish Market post to see the market in finer detail.

📍 Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto, 95131, CT, Italy

3 | Catania Cathedral

Originally built between 1078 and 1093 atop Roman baths, earthquakes and fires have destroyed the cathedral, and it has subsequently been rebuilt.

Its current Baroque façade, designed by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of architecture.

What’s interesting about this place is the contrast between the interior and exterior.

The outside is hugely impressive, yet the interior lacks the grandeur one might expect from such a cathedral, especially given the exterior’s opulence.

Also, around the back, you can catch a glimpse of the old cathedral’s black volcanic rock apses, built by the Normans, which are almost 1,000 years old and survived the 1693 earthquake that destroyed a lot of the city.

Remarkably, this Norman cathedral was built at the same time as the Tower of London.

📍 Piazza del Duomo, 95100 Catania CT, Italy

4 | Find the Food Spots

There are lots of great places to eat in Catania, with two main areas standing out.

One is near the fish Market, and the other is near the Carlo Alberto Market, so take your pick.

The former is covered with colourful umbrellas, so you can’t miss it.

In both places, you’ll find tons of options, from street food to pizza, BBQ, and, of course, pasta.

You’ll also find great atmospheres and a place where you can sit and watch the world go by.

If you are after some cheap eats, look for the panificios around the city.

They are bakeries that sell all sorts of lovely goods, including arancini, which you can often pick up for a couple of Euros.

📍 Piazza Santa Maria dell’Indirizzo, CT, Italy (near Fish Market)

📍 Via Gemmellaro, 62, 95131 Catania CT, Italy (near Carlo Alberto market)

5 | Take a Walking Tour

We try to take a walking tour wherever we visit.

They offer a wealth of information you might not otherwise find, plus the tour guide usually provides some great spots for food and drink.

We took a walking tour through Get Your Guide, which was fun and informative.

We visited places we wouldn’t have otherwise gone and our guide told us about Catania’s connection to the elephant in Piazza del Duomo, the history of the city, and showed us some of the lava flow from the 1669 eruption, and told us the stories behind the Sicilian ceramic heads, also known as “Teste di Moro” or “Moor’s Heads”.

This eruption changed the landscape of Catania and is quite remarkable to see amidst the urban landscape; without the tour, it’s unlikely we’d have noticed the lava flow.

6 | Explore Monastero dei Benedettini

Undoubtedly, our favourite building in Catania.

It’s a striking example of Sicilian Baroque architecture that’s truly unmissable.

Inside and out, it’s remarkable.

Founded in 1558, the Monastero dei Benedettini has survived volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Expanded over the centuries, it has grown to become one of Europe’s largest monastic complexes, housing Renaissance cloisters, Roman ruins, and academic spaces, as it’s home to the University of Catania’s Department of Humanities.

This is interesting and odd because, as you walk around, you may encounter students sitting around studying, and you may feel slightly out of place.

But don’t worry, you can wander around.

📍 Piazza Dante Alighieri, 32, 95124 Catania CT, Italy

7 | Villa Bellini Gardens

Villa Bellini, also known as Giardino Bellini, is Catania’s oldest public park, which opened to the public in 1883.

The park offers some fantastic views and has an interesting avenue at the top of the hill.

It features statues of Catania’s notable figures, called, rather originally, the Avenue of Famous Men, and offers a welcome bit of green space in the city.

📍 Via Etnea, 292, 95131 Catania CT, Italy

8 | Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens (officially known as Orto Botanico di Catania) is a gem amongst the urban sprawl of the city.

Founded in 1858 by botanist Francesco Tornabene, it spans 16,000 square meters.

The garden is divided into two main sections: one showcasing exotic species, such as towering palms and over 2,000 varieties of succulents, and another dedicated to native Sicilian flora.

Today, it’s managed by the University of Catania, where you will find a beautiful neoclassical building in the centre of the gardens that belongs to the university department responsible for the gardens.

It’s quiet, peaceful, and worth a visit, despite being slightly further out.

📍 Via Etnea, 397, 95128 Catania CT, Italy

9 | Visit the Graffiti Alley

We stumbled upon the graffiti alley one evening while wandering the city’s endless streets.

It sits in the San Berillo District of Catania, which was developed after Sicily’s worst earthquake, which struck in 1693.

The area was meant to be residential, but that was never properly realised.

Instead, it became known as Catania’s red light district.

Thankfully, you won’t find a trace of that today.

Instead, you will find a few streets of colourful graffiti art.

It’s not quite as vast as Leake Street in London, but it contains some vibrant work nonetheless and is worth a wander through.

📍 Piazza Gogliarda Sapienza, 95131 Catania CT, Italy

10 | Explore the Open Air Market

Known locally as Fera’ o Luni, this market is one of Catania’s most vibrant and eclectic experiences.

It’s a fascinating place.

And vast.

The central part of the market is located in Piazza Carlo Alberto, but it also extends to a few nearby streets.

It’s massive, bustling, colourful, and offers everything you could imagine.

From fish to snails, meat, fruit, vegetables, household goods, shoes, spices and perhaps even the odd bit of counterfeit clothing.

It’s a fun, busy and expansive market to explore.

The market is open Monday to Saturday, 6:00 am–2:30 pm, and closed on Sundays.

📍 Piazza Carlo Alberto, 18, 95131 Catania CT, Italy

11 | Visit Castello Ursino

What makes this place interesting is that it was once a coastal fortification.

Built between 1239 and 1250 by Emperor Frederick II, it survived the devastating earthquake of 1693 and a lava flow from Mount Etna that pushed the coastline a kilometre into the sea, leaving the castle landlocked.

We mentioned the lava flow in the walking tour section.

You can see some of it at Castello Ursino.

If you approach from the square, look into the moat on the left side, below the road, and you’ll see the volcanic rock.

There are other places where you can see it as well, including the well at the back of Bar dei Miracoli (which is also a cool bar) and just down the road, where Via Scuto meets Via Vela.

Back to the castle.

Today, it houses the Museo Civico, showcasing classical artefacts, Renaissance art, and temporary exhibitions.

📍 Piazza Federico di Svevia, 21, 95121 Catania CT, Italy

Things to do in Catania Map

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