Sicily is easily reachable by plane, car or boat. On this page you will find several traveling options. If you want to take your pet to Sicily, please read the tips mentioned under "traveling with your pet."
If you have a travel tip you'd like to share with other fans of Sicily, please let us know. Useful tips will be posted on this page. You can contact us by clicking here.
As you will see, Sicily is easily reachable by plane. There are several direct flights from airports all over Europe, but you can also choose an indirect flight through many major European airports. You can fly into both Palermo and Trapani, and from both airports you can quickly reach Balestrate or Castellammare del Golfo.
The direct flights from Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, England, Ireland, France, Spain, Sweden and Norway are:
| Departure | Arrival | Company (*) | ||
| Germany | ||||
| Weeze | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Frankfurt | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Bremen | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Münster | Palermo | Air Berlin | ||
| Düsseldorf | Palermo | Air Berlin | ||
| Cologne / Bonn | Palermo | Air Berlin | ||
| Munich | Palermo | Air Berlin | ||
| Stuttgart | Palermo | Air Berlin | ||
| Memmingen | Palermo | Air Berlin | ||
| Hamburg | Palermo | Air Berlin | ||
| Hannover | Palermo | Air Berlin | ||
| Berlin | Palermo | Air Berlin | ||
| Belgium | ||||
| Brussels | Palermo | Jetairfly | ||
| The Netherlands | ||||
| Amsterdam | Palermo | Transavia | ||
| Amsterdam | Palermo | KLM | ||
| England | ||||
| London STN | Palermo | Ryanair | ||
| London LGW | Palermo | Easyjet | ||
| Birmingham | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Luton | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Ireland | ||||
| Dublin | Palermo | Ryanair | ||
| France | ||||
| Paris | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Paris CDG | Palermo | Meridiana | ||
| Spain | ||||
| Girona | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Sweden | ||||
| Stockholm | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Stockholm | Palermo | Norwegian | ||
| Norway | ||||
| Oslo | Trapani | Ryanair |
(*) Click on the company names to visit their websites.
If you choose an indirect flight, you can add another destination city to your Sicilian holiday by spending a day in Pisa (visit the leaning tower), Milan (visit the beautiful cathedral), or Rome (among other things, the Vatican, Colosseum, and Forum Romanum)!
Some examples of indirect flights from airports in Europe:
| Departure | Layover | Arrival | Company (*) | ||
| Eindhoven | Milan / Pisa | Palermo | Ryanair | ||
| Eindhoven | Milan / Pisa | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Brussels | Milan / Pisa | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Brussels | Milan / Pisa | Palermo | Ryanair | ||
| Frankfurt | Milan / Pisa | Trapani | Ryanair | ||
| Frankfurt | Milan / Pisa | Palermo | Ryanair | ||
| Amsterdam | Milan | Palermo | Easyjet |
(*) Click on the company names to visit their websites.
If you are coming from outside of Europe you might have the possibility to fly directly to Palermo. If not, you can fly via Rome or Milan.
A lot of low cost airlines don't (just) fly in the weekend to Sicily. This is no problem whatsoever because we don’t use fixed check-in or check-out days. This allows you to create the perfect holiday to fit your schedule and travel needs!
If your holiday is two weeks or longer, you could consider traveling by car and/or boat to Sicily. Please keep in mind that from many European countries it will take two days by car to arrive at the harbor from where you can take the ferry to Sicily.
By car:
There are several good routes that will take you to Italy. There's no particular route better than another, it all depends on what you prefer. For example: Do you prefer to enjoy the countryside and take it slow, or do you want the fastest way of getting there? Do you want to avoid toll roads or does it not matter?
Some helpful hints and things to consider: Should you pass through Switzerland or Austria, you will need a sticker. In Switserland, it is called Autobahnvignette, and can be ordered here and most likely via the tourist information centers in your country. The Autobahnvignette is valid for a year and one month.
In Austria, the sticker is called Mautvignette, which can be ordered most likely via the tourist information centers in your country. Austria has a slightly different system where you can buy stickers that are valid for 10 days, 2 months or one year (and one month).
If you have not placed the Autobahnvignette or Mautvignette on the inside of your windshield, you can purchase one at the border. This however, can take a lot of time, so it would be more convenient to purchase one in advance.
By boat:
From the harbors of Genova, Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Naples you can take a ferry (nave) to Sicily. Once in the harbor, you will have to check in at the company's office. Here you will be directed to the location of the company where you've booked by several signs in the harbor area.
The time it takes to arrive in Sicily depends on the harbor you've chosen. We prefer the port of Civitavecchia, where you embark in the evening and arrive in Palermo the next morning.
These are the options if you want to travel by boat:
| Harbor | Departure time | Traveling time | Company (*) |
| Genova | 22:00 uur | 20 hours | GNV |
| Livorno | 23:00 uur | 17 hours | GNV |
| Civitavecchia | 20:00 uur | 12 hours | GNV |
| Naples | 20:00 uur | 10,5 hours | SNAV / Tirrenia |
(*) Click on the company names to visit their websites.
If you'd like to bring your pet on your holiday, please consider the following:
Before you leave:
Your pet needs a (European) passport, which is provided by your Vet. He or she can also tell you which vaccinations your pet needs. Your dog, for instance, has to be vaccinated against rabies. In addition, an identification chip or tattoo is obligatory.
In the car:
In Italy, if you transport your dog, you are allowed to keep him/her in the back seat. If you are traveling with two or more dogs however, they have to be kept behind a gate or in a pet carrier. Do think about the general safety as this gate will prevent the dog from flying through the car should you need to brake quickly. Therefore, also consider using one, if you are travelling with just one dog. Keep in mind that the rules for transporting animals will be different in other countries, so please check the rules for the countries you will be passing through before your departure.
The temperature in Italy and especially in Sicily, is clearly warmer than in the north of Europe. So never leave your pet in the car when you are parked in the sun, not even for a couple of minutes! Besides this, make sure your dog or cat always has enough water to drink.
Hotels:
Pets are welcome in several hotels close to the highway. Check for instance the website of Accor hotels.
On the ferry:
Once on board, your dog or cat is not allowed in your cabin, which is why the ferries have special dog and cat cabins with several cages containing padlocks. You have to go to the reception to ask for a key to one of these locks. After paying a deposit of 5-10 Euros, you can take your pet to the upper deck where the cages are located.
Unfortunately, pets are not welcome in every accommodation on our website, so please contact us if you are considering bringing your pet.
