Just 10 km from Catania, Aci Castello & Aci Trezza are an excellent first or last stop in eastern Sicily.

Our travel guide to the twinned towns has got you covered!

We didn't expect to return to Aci Castello and Aci Trezza.

These two little Sicilian towns on the east coast, linked together by the lungomare and still feeling like traditional fishing villages, aren't really on the itineraries of most visitors to the island. Instead, at just 10 kms from the second-largest city in Sicily, they're a favourite for any Catanese looking to get away on the weekend and have remained a local’s favourite rather than a tourist hotspot.

Looking forward to an authentic vibe and a few days by the sea, we got everything wrong on our first spontaneous stay.

One half of ADR (he shall remain unnamed...) pushed us toward a new-ish Airbnb which didn't look great, but the price was right and surely we didn't need more than that. Also, there was free parking included, which is a boon when on a road trip in Sicily.

Alas, across a busy road and set far from the sea, with a cupboard doubling as a kitchen and an electrifying shower, it really impacted our overall impressions of Aci Castello and Aci Trezza.

The fault was all ours though, not theirs.

Fast forward to the following summer and our return to Sicily following several weeks on the Italian mainland. Asking for recommendations from our Instagram followers, every single Sicilian put the two Acis over as their favourite on the east coast.

We were sceptical but, through a combination of choice and necessity, decided that we really should give them a second chance.

With a much better Airbnb choice with a balcony facing the sea, a one-minute walk to a gorgeous swimming spot and clinging on to late summer vibes, we left with a soft spot for the place of sea stacks in the Ionian, fantastic snorkelling, gossiping old men by peeling fishing boats, and pretty young things walking hand-in-hand along the front.

So, after our two starkly different experiences, should you visit Aci Castello and Aci Trezza whilst travelling eastern Sicily?

If you're based in Catania for more than a few days, then it's an essential day trip, especially if you're visiting in summer and want a slice of small-town Sicily at the coast. Both the Acis also offer up a smart, alternative base to Catania if you don't want to stay in the city, but want to drive to Mount Etna and take day trip to Catania or Taromina with your car / public transport.

However, both are also great for a few nights of relaxation and simple, uncomplicated holiday pleasures by a beautiful blue sea (they don't offer a traditional beach though, if that's what you're looking for).

As a visit to one Aci necessitates a visit to the other, we've written this guide in a slightly different way to usual. First up is an overview of Aci Castello and the best things to do there, then an overview of Aci Trezza, before giving combined advice on accommodation and transport there to/ from Catania.

ACI CASTELLO

Aci Castello's black 11th century Norman castle, brooding upon volcanic rock, offers a surprising historical aesthetic for Sicily. Its wonderful piazza, overlooking the coast and with two stairs down to the sea either side of the castle, comes alive on Sundays and in the early evenings with families, football games, and gossip.

Things to Do in Aci Castello and travel tips

| Head up the Castle. The castle for which Aci Castello was named, was built by the conquering Normans in 1076 upon Byzantine foundations, and the town developed around it. It now houses a small museum and gives lovely views along the coast, but opening hours are wonderfully Sicilian (9 am - 1pm, then 3 pm until either 5, 7, or 8.30 pm, depending upon the season). Entry is €4.50 for adult entry to the castle and the museum (which has slightly different hours…). It’s a good idea to have cash with you to pay for entry.

| Enjoy a late morning breakfast or an early evening spritz or two in Piazza Castello and watch the world go by.

| Enjoy a day down by the water. If you can get past the idea of a day at the beach without, well, a beach, you’ll love Aci Castello’s seaside offerings accessed via the slightly hidden away sea stairs here; there will be men and boys fishing from the rocks, couples sunbathing, and just a lovely relaxed atmosphere if you can find a good, non-jagged spot.

| Taste the town’s best ice cream at Slurp (maps).

| Eat at Al Tubo. Whilst technically a pizza restaurant (the two Acis really do have an abundance of pizza offerings versus the standard seaside seafood offerings), it was the pasta menu that drew us into this quaint little restaurant on a cliff. Their parmigiana di melanzane was a little lacking, but the remainder of our our meal was really quite wonderful, and the setting, excellent. Find it here on maps.

| Spend the day at a lido. Around a 5-10 minute walk south of the castle, you will find several fancier lidos on the rocks. Lido La Risacca (maps), Lido Esagono (maps) and Mama Sea (maps) all come very highly rated, with excellent facilities.

| Explore the town. Although it can be tempting to spend the warm days by the water, be sure to take a wander threw the town, a place full of pretty little corners, icons, and scenes.

| Aci Castello is best accessed on foot via one of two stairways up from the lungomare, or via the main road if arriving by bus or car.

| If staying in Aci Castello, on the traffic-heavy Via Re Martino you’ll find two banks, the Crai supermarket, as well as a couple of local delis and markets.

THE LUNGOMARE

Lungomare Scardamiano, the small strip of road which both links and separates the two villages is home to homes, holiday rentals, secret sunbathing spots on the rocks, a few restaurants and late-night spots, plus temporary and permanent lidos.

Admittedly not particularly photogenic at first glance - and easy to miss if you just stick to the main road - it is however the best route to take when walking between the two towns. It’s about 1 kilometre / 20 minutes each-way, and when heading south, offers lovely views of Aci Castello. Do note that Google Maps will often default to sending you along the main road, so don’t rely on it.

We actually stayed slap bang in the middle of the Lungomare during our second stay, meaning we were equidistant between the two Acis; the main positive being that we simply stepped out of the apartment entrance and crossed the road to access hidden away sunbathing and swimming spots - a wonderful way to spend a few hours each day. Find our favourite spot near here.

Should you crave something a little more active than lying in the sun, consider popping into Danielino Windsurf School which rents out windsurfs, canoes, and SUPs as well as offering lessons.

Muré Enjoy Food and Fornace41 are open in the evenings until late for food and cocktails.

During summer, the lungomare is also home to one or two temporary lidos / sunbathing decks over the rocks, such as Lido La Giunca (maps). For a lido here, expect to pay €10 to €20 per person in high season, and as little as €5 toward the end of season.

Don’t know what an Italian lido is? Read our post: The Art of the Italian Lido.

Note that the access point to the lungomare when walking from Aci Trezza is the narrow stairway on the left hand side, just after Lido dei Ciclopi (maps). This actually closes in the evenings, so you’ll have to stick to Via Livorno then - be aware that its pavement is very very narrow and in poor condition.

Plan | Our East Sicily Itinerary

ACI TREZZA

Aci Trezza opens out on to the water, rather than being situated on a promontory like Castello, which creates a different waterfront vibe and experience. Often full of done up pretty young things and couples from Catania visiting for the day or weekend, it’s slightly bigger and has more restaurants and nightlife, so this may be a preferred base for some. It isn’t raucous or anything like that though.

Things to Do in Aci Trezza and Travel Tips

| Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Giovanni Battista. The beautiful church is still a hub of the community, and in the early evenings it’s joy to just watch life play out in and around its steps and outdoors benches. Same goes for the old boys meeting in the evenings in and around the colourful upturned fishing boats - that’s what we like to see most.

| The Cyclopean Isles (Isole Ciclopi) lie just off Aci Trezza, represented most clearly by the Faraglioni sea stacks and columned rocks in front of the village. Shaped by the wind and the water over five hundred thousands years, these are a photogenic spot steeped in myth. The ninth book of Homer’s epic explains the formation of the curious rocks through Ulysses defeating Polyphemus, the giant man-eating one-eyed son of Poseidon, at the rocks as he tried to return to Ithaca from the Trojan War. According to this legend, the rocks were formed by being hurled in anger by the defeated cyclops at the ships upon which Ulysses escaped!

| Take a boat tour. A protected marine reserve area lies just off the Aci Trezza, and you can join one of several swimming & snorkelling trips or boat tours on offer at the harbour. Expect to pay around €15 per person. Alternatively, you can visit them on this tour from Catania.

| You’ve got quite a lot of choice for eating our here in the evening, but pizza is again a much more common option than we expected (we say this having spent six weeks in Sicily, across two visits twice). We can however highly recommend the excellent pizza at Tresca (maps), a cool spot catering to a younger crowd, washed down with beer and complimentary amaro (bitter orange sprit). It’s also got a great Aperitivo deal. Alternatively, for those looking for a more varied menu, head to the super popular two-storey Ristorante Pizzeria Lachea (maps); the pasta was delicious and they’re known for their seafood. For ambience and views, consider Le Muse Ristorante Pizzeria (maps), with its open-air rooftop offering lovely views and excellent reviews (particularly for seafood).

| Grab an evening aperitivo. There are a number of excellent spots to grab that sunset drink, but we quite enjoyed GoGo 43 (maps) a good hidden away option for cocktails, small plates, and music until midnight - it’s a bit pricey for some things though. Alternatively, check out Il Caffe Del Porto. It’s a little no frills but you can get two Aperol Spritz for €6.

| Chill and swim. A temporary lido (Ghenea Beach Club) sets up here during the summer months but it’s fairly basic. If you’d prefer to save some cash, opt instead to set up your towel on the rocks opposite the Faraglioni the or on the sliver of shore found here.

Where To Stay in Aci Castello and Aci Trezza

You will visit both during your stay, but just choose which one to stay in.

We felt that the larger Aci Castello was actually quainter and prettier, but Aci Trezza has more options in the evening and a more buzz at weekends. Staying slap bang in the middle of the two of them on the lungomare is a great option too so you can straddle both - and that's actually what we did on our second visit

The main thing is to stay in accommodation that you'll like, which is easy walking distance to the sea or one of the towns. We've selected our pick of the bunch to help you out:

Hotels & Guesthouses

President Park Hotel | If you’re looking for a typical hotel experience, this 4* resort is a great shout. Swimming pool, gym, and restaurant. Find out more here.

Alternatively, consider Ciclope Resort, a comfortable hotel in the centre of Aci Trezza.

La Castellese | This B&B offers simple but comfortable rooms with a large communal terrace, great host and an excellent breakfast. Well located in the heart of Aci Castello. Find out more here.

Hello B&B | Basic but in a great location, this B&B is a fantastic budget choice.

Villa Ortensia | Situated around a mile south of Aci Castello, this eco-friendly guest house offers charming rooms, a shared kitchen and garden. Has excellent reviews. Find out more here.

B&B Sea Terrace | A few hundred metres north of Aci Trezza, Sea Terrace offers clean, light and bright rooms and access to a private beach. Find out more here.

Airbnbs & Apartments

Chic Apartment | If you’re looking for a high-spec, beautifully designed one bed (with a fabulous terrace to boot), you need to check out this stunning apartment on the lungomare. Find out more here.

Prua Sul Mare | This is the Airbnb we stayed in the second time we visited, and we can highly recommend it. A studio located on the lungomare between the two Acis, it has a seafront balcony and although small has all you need for a good stay. Find out more here.

Beautiful Sicilian Apartment | Sensitively combining contemporary style with old school Sicilian charm, this large one bedroom apartment split across two floors comes with a large terrace overlooking the sea. Find out more here.

Lachea Seaview Penthouse | The priciest option in our selection, this three bed penthouse is simply glorious. Contemporary design throughout, it is light-filled as has a huge terrace with stunning views. Find out more here.

If the above is not available (or you like the idea of a panoramic terrace but don’t need three bedrooms), be sure to check out this apartment instead.

House Teo | A large one bedroom house in Aci Trezza with generous private garden, indoor parking and high-quality features. It has exceptional reviews. Find out more here.

La terrazza dei Normanni | An excellent choice in Aci Castello, full of old school charm and with three bedrooms and a well sized terrace it’s an excellent choice for a family. Find out more here.

Other to consider include:

House by the Sea | Casa Valastro | Galatea apartment | Chibedda Lia

As for the Airbnb from that first trip? Thankfully it's no longer available...

How To Get To Aci Castello and Aci Trezza

They're both easily accessible by bus or rental car from Catania, and public transport is actually the more convenient option. Note that you may sometimes see them spelled as Acitrezza and Acicastello.

Buses

The 534 AMT bus leaves from several stops in the city, but your best bet is to wait for it at the train station and the bus station. Costing €1.30 per person, it has many stops and does get full, with travel time of 45-60 minutes.

See schedules here.

We think the AST bus service is the better option though, as it's got fewer stops along the way. It departs from the bus station opposite Catania train station (maps), but it's best to check the schedule beforehand as the times are a bit irregular and intermittent. You can buy tickets from the cafe opposite, and it's €1.90 per person.

See schedules here.

Whichever you take, just let the driver know in advance which town you're aiming on getting off at. Choosing the right stop to alight at can be a little confusing, so we recommend following the blue dot on your phone as you approach, but you'll like have to walk a little bit from the stop to your accommodation

Hoping to travel from Catania Airport to Aci Castello or Trezza? As far as we’re aware, there’s isn’t a direct service. Therefore, you’re best bet is to take a taxi or just hop on the regular shuttle bus from the airport to Catania train station, and connect or get a taxi from there. If you know of a direct bus, let us know in the comments!

Tours & Taxis

We were quoted €50 for a taxi back to Catania, but you can probably find something for a bit less if you ask around.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to visit by boat from Catania as part of a swimming and snorkelling day-trip, this full-day boat trip tour to Acitrezza sounds great.

Parking

Whichever town you pick, it's likely that paid parking will be the only option. If you’ve got accommodation booked, then we highly recommend messaging them in advance of your arrival to confirm where’s most convenient or if they offer free parking.

We've included several we spotted, with the best bet being in Aci Trezza. On-street parking is often reserved for residents or limited to a brief time, so double-check if that ‘free’ space seems to good to be true. If driving here on a weekend, try to arrive early:

Two large car parks by the harbour in Aci Trezza here and here.
There’s also medium-sized one a little round the corner on the walk back toward Castello.
A large private car park on the left hand side as you drive into Trezza from Catania, just after the pink hotel on the left (maps)
You can park on the lungomare (maps).
Road-side parking in Aci Castello here is the best bet from what we saw, but limited spaces.
This is an option in Aci Castello, free but very small.

If you find a better option for Aci Castello, then please do let us know in the comments!

Renting a car? Read 15 Essential Things To Know Before Driving in Sicily + Our East Sicily Itinerary.

Etna & Taormina Day Trips From Aci Catello And Aci Trezza

During our first stay in Aci Trezza, we used the town as a base to discover more of eastern Sicily with our rental car - this is a sensible option if you don’t wish to base yourself in Catania.

Mount Etna - Europe’s most active volcano - is an enjoyably winding hour’s drive away. We booked and joined this tour to hike around the summit, meeting them at the site.

For more advice, read our post: Visiting Mount Etna | Everything You Really Need To Know

The beautiful but very popular hilltop town of Taormina is about a 90-minute drive away, so ideally situated for a day trip from Aci Castello or Aci Trezza.

To plan your time there, read our guide: How To Spend A Day or More in Taormina