{"id":1665065,"date":"2026-10-28T19:42:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T18:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/?p=1665065"},"modified":"2026-10-28T19:49:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T18:49:01","slug":"harbours-catania-sicily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/segelmagazin\/haefen-catania-sizilien\/","title":{"rendered":"Ports in Catania (Sicily): arrival, harbour information and sailing destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Catania lies on the east coast of Sicily at the foot of Mount Etna. Yachts berth here in Catania's large harbour right in front of the old town, at floating pontoons in Porto Nuovo and Porto Vecchio. Here you can read how to reach the trip start at the ports in Catania, which berth is where, where you shop, what wind to expect, which sailing destinations are nearby and what skippers should know when entering.<\/p>\n<h2>The essentials at a glance<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Catania-Fontanarossa airport lies only around four kilometres as the crow flies south-west of the harbour. The Alibus bus service runs from the airport to the centre; with luggage, a taxi right to the pontoon is easiest.<\/li>\n<li>From Porto Vecchio you walk to the old town; from Porto Nuovo on the long harbour mole Molo di Levante it is better to take a taxi.<\/li>\n<li>Supermarkets are within walking distance from Porto Vecchio; fresh fish is available in the mornings at the old fish market Pescheria near the cathedral square.<\/li>\n<li>In summer, levante and grecale winds blow mostly from east to north-east. With scirocco from the south-east, swell enters the harbour.<\/li>\n<li>The Cyclops Islands off Aci Trezza lie around 5 nautical miles away, Giardini Naxos below Taormina around 23, and Siracusa around 29 nautical miles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Which ports are there in Catania?<\/h2>\n<p>In Catania, yachts berth at two locations in the large city harbour: at the pontoons in Porto Nuovo, the eastern basin on the inside of Molo di Levante, and at the pontoons in Porto Vecchio, the western basin next to the Capitaneria di porto. The pontoons in Porto Vecchio lie around one kilometre north-west of the pontoons in Porto Nuovo and are thus closer to the old town.<\/p>\n<p>The port of Catania is a commercial, ferry and cruise port combined. Between the two basins lies the Sporgente Centrale, a wide pier in the middle of the harbour, with the ferry basin adjoining to the south. Further north along the coast there are small boat harbours, such as Porto Rossi at Piazza Europa and the harbour of Ognina. They have only around two metres depth and are designed for smaller boats.<\/p>\n<h2>Arriving in Catania for your trip start<\/h2>\n<p>Airport and harbour are close together in Catania. For the last leg, what matters is whether your boat is in Porto Nuovo or Porto Vecchio.<\/p>\n<h3>From Catania airport to the harbour<\/h3>\n<p>Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) is on the south-western edge of the city, around four kilometres as the crow flies from the harbour. The most convenient option is a taxi straight to the berth.<\/p>\n<p>Cheaper is the bus: the Alibus line operated by the municipal transport company AMTS connects the airport with the centre. An alternative is the train. Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa station is not directly at the terminal; a shuttle bus run by AMTS takes you there. You buy the shuttle bus ticket together with the train ticket; it costs an additional euro (as of October 2026). Trains run from the airport station to Catania Centrale and directly to Siracusa, Taormina and Messina. The current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trenitalia.com\/en\/connections\/catania-fontanarossa-airport.html\">timetable for the airport trains<\/a> timetable can be found on the Italian railways website.<\/p>\n<h3>By car, train or bus<\/h3>\n<p>By car you reach Catania from the direction of Messina and Taormina via the A18 motorway, from the direction of Palermo via the A19 and from the direction of Siracusa via the Catania\u2013Siracusa motorway. The Tangenziale, Catania's ring road, connects these routes. By train you come to Catania Centrale via the coastal line from Messina or from Siracusa. The main station is near the harbour; from there a taxi with luggage is the simplest choice.<\/p>\n<h3>Which harbour is mine?<\/h3>\n<p>If you are joining as crew: which berth it is will be stated in your trip documents. What matters is the basin. Porto Vecchio is on the western side of the harbour next to the Capitaneria di porto, the harbour authority, and therefore closest to the old town. Porto Nuovo is on the eastern side on the inner side of the Molo di Levante, the long mole that protects the harbour from the open sea. In both basins several clubs and operators share the berths. So give the taxi driver \"Porto Vecchio\" or \"Molo di Levante\" and, if you know it, the name of the berth operator.<\/p>\n<h3>Parking<\/h3>\n<p>At Porto Vecchio there are two car parks nearby: one on Via Cristoforo Colombo, around 300 metres as the crow flies from the berths, and Parcheggio Borsellino on Via Ionica, around 400 metres. From the berths in Porto Nuovo the nearest car park, also on Via Cristoforo Colombo, is around 900 metres as the crow flies. On foot the route round the harbour basin to there is longer.<\/p>\n<h3>Showers and sanitary facilities<\/h3>\n<p>Berth facilities in both basins have showers and toilets.<\/p>\n<h3>Shopping for the trip<\/h3>\n<p>From Porto Vecchio you can reach several supermarkets on foot: a Eurospin in Via Luigi Sturzo around 800 metres as the crow flies, Lidl and Dec\u00f2 on Corso Sicilia around 850 to 900 metres, and a Penny on Corso Sicilia around 950 metres. From Porto Nuovo the route round the harbour basin is long. For a large shop you are better driving from there by car or taxi, for example to the Lidl in Via Acquicella Porto, around 1.4 kilometres as the crow flies.<\/p>\n<p>For fresh fish the old fish market Pescheria is the first choice. It is near Piazza del Duomo; you reach it via a stairway made of lava stone. The market is loud and lively and takes place in the mornings. From Porto Vecchio you can walk there in a few minutes.<\/p>\n<h3>Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services<\/h3>\n<p>The nearest pharmacy to Porto Vecchio is Antica Farmacia Bellomo in Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, around 600 metres as the crow flies. From the berths in Porto Nuovo, Farmacia Coffa at Via Cristoforo Colombo 25 is closest, around 1.3 kilometres as the crow flies. The nearest hospital is Ospedale Garibaldi Centro, around 1.9 kilometres as the crow flies from Porto Vecchio.<\/p>\n<p>These numbers apply in Catania and at sea:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>112: single European emergency number for ambulance, police and fire brigade<\/li>\n<li>1530: coastguard emergency number for emergencies at sea, free of charge and available around the clock<\/li>\n<li>At sea: VHF channel 16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What do the berths in Porto Nuovo and Porto Vecchio offer?<\/h2>\n<p>Both basins have floating berths belonging to several clubs and operators with water and electricity, where visiting yachts can moor. Porto Vecchio is closer to the city; in Porto Nuovo one facility has a fuelling service. The key details in comparison:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Feature<\/th>\n<th>Berths in Porto Nuovo<\/th>\n<th>Berths in Porto Vecchio<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Location<\/td>\n<td>Eastern side of the harbour, inner side of Molo di Levante<\/td>\n<td>Western side of the harbour, next to the Capitaneria di porto<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pontoons<\/td>\n<td>Floating berths belonging to several clubs and operators<\/td>\n<td>Floating pontoons of several clubs, one directly next to the Capitaneria<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Boat length<\/td>\n<td>up to 20 m (individual facility)<\/td>\n<td>up to 35 m (facility next to the Capitaneria)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Water depth<\/td>\n<td>3 to 10 m throughout the harbour, mud bottom<\/td>\n<td>5 to 10 m at the facility next to the Capitaneria, mud bottom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>VHF channel<\/td>\n<td>9 (individual facility)<\/td>\n<td>72 (facility next to the Capitaneria)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Electricity and water<\/td>\n<td>yes<\/td>\n<td>yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Refuelling<\/td>\n<td>Fuel service at one facility<\/td>\n<td>\u2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Way to the old town<\/td>\n<td>Taxi or longer walk<\/td>\n<td>on foot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Where are the pontoons in the Porto Nuovo?<\/h2>\n<p>The Porto Nuovo is the eastern basin between the Sporgente Centrale and the Molo di Levante, the harbour's nearly two-kilometre main mole. On its inside lie the floating pontoons of several watersports clubs and operators, so the facilities differ from pontoon to pontoon.<\/p>\n<h3>Facilities at the pontoons in the Porto Nuovo<\/h3>\n<p>One facility has water and electricity at posts, showers and changing rooms, help with berthing and casting off, a night service and a fuel service. It takes boats up to 20 metres in length.<\/p>\n<h2>Where are the pontoons in the Porto Vecchio?<\/h2>\n<p>The Porto Vecchio is the older, western basin of the harbour. Here lie the pontoons of several clubs. From here you walk into the old town; car parks, supermarkets and a pharmacy are nearby.<\/p>\n<h3>Facilities at the pontoons in the Porto Vecchio<\/h3>\n<p>The pontoon directly next to the Capitaneria di porto has 35 berths for yachts up to 35 metres and takes visiting yachts for single nights and for longer stays. At each berth a mooring line is ready. There is water, electricity, showers, toilets and Wi-Fi, and the office is staffed around the clock.<\/p>\n<h2>What is the weather like in Catania for sailing?<\/h2>\n<p>Off Catania the wind in autumn and winter comes mostly from north via east to south. In spring and summer the Levante from the east and Grecale from the northeast blow mainly, and in spring wind from the northwest joins in too.<\/p>\n<p>The harbour is well sheltered against wind from west to northwest, as it comes over land from there. It is open to the southeast: the Scirocco pushes swell towards the entrance, and inside the harbour there is then noticeable surge.<\/p>\n<p>The Italian weather service issues strong wind and gale warnings from force 7 onwards, that is from 28 knots mean wind.<\/p>\n<h2>Which destinations lie near Catania?<\/h2>\n<p>From Catania you sail north along the coast of Mount Etna towards Taormina or south across the Gulf of Catania to Siracusa. You can reach the first destinations with a short leg.<\/p>\n<p>The distances are rounded sea distances on the usual course from the harbour entrance; for precise planning the chart applies.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aci Trezza and the Cyclops Islands: around 5 nm. The islands and the sea around them are a marine reserve: directly around the islands navigation is prohibited, and in the rest of the protected zone you may only anchor or make fast to buoys at designated spots.<\/li>\n<li>Riposto: around 17 nm, along the lava coast at the foot of Mount Etna.<\/li>\n<li>Giardini Naxos: around 23 nm, round Capo Schis\u00f2. Taormina lies above the bay on the slope.<\/li>\n<li>Siracusa: around 29 nm to the south, across the Gulf of Catania and past Augusta.<\/li>\n<li>Vulcano in the Aeolian Islands: around 90 nm, through the Strait of Messina and along Sicily's north coast.<\/li>\n<li>Malta: around 110 nm, past Siracusa and round Capo Passero.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In the Strait of Messina, the tidal streams reverse several times a day. The Italian Navy publishes tables with the daily current times, which you use to plan your passage. How to continue along the north coast afterwards, you can read in the portrait of the <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-magazine\/capo-dorlando-marina-sicily\/\">Capo d'Orlando Marina<\/a>, which lies close to the Aeolian Islands. For a passage south, you'll find everything about arriving at the neighbouring island in our article about the <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-magazine\/marinas-msida-birgu-malta\/\">Marinas in Valletta<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What can you do on a harbour day in Catania?<\/h2>\n<p>From the Porto Vecchio you can reach the old town with its cathedral, fish market and theatre in just a few minutes on foot; from the Porto Nuovo it's best to take a taxi. Catania was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake in the Sicilian Baroque style. Parts of the city have been a <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/1024\">UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a> of the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto since 2002.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1664950\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-cat17-yhV1RqI4K50-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Baroque church in the old town of Catania\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-cat17-yhV1RqI4K50-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-cat17-yhV1RqI4K50-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-cat17-yhV1RqI4K50-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-cat17-yhV1RqI4K50-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-cat17-yhV1RqI4K50-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-cat17-yhV1RqI4K50.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Piazza del Duomo: The cathedral square features the Elephant Fountain, \"'O Liotru\", the city's landmark, alongside the cathedral. Typical of Catania are the fa\u00e7ades of black lava stone and white marble. From the Porto Vecchio it's around 500 metres.<\/li>\n<li>Via Etnea: The city's main street is roughly three kilometres long.<\/li>\n<li>Castello Ursino: Emperor Frederick II had the castle built in the 13th century. Today it houses the civic museum with a picture gallery and finds from Greek and Roman times, open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. From the Porto Vecchio it's just under a kilometre.<\/li>\n<li>Teatro Massimo Bellini: The opera house opened in 1890 and bears the name of the composer Vincenzo Bellini. It's about half a kilometre from the Porto Vecchio.<\/li>\n<li>Mount Etna: The highest mountain on any Mediterranean island is considered the world's most active stratovolcano and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. For an excursion to its slopes you'll need a hire car or a guided tour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>For skippers: Berthing and sea weather in Catania<\/h2>\n<p>The harbour of Catania is accessible around the clock on VHF channels 16 and 12. You call the pontoon next to the Capitaneria before entering on channel 72, the other pontoon operators in both basins on their own channels. Channel 16 is the distress and calling channel.<\/p>\n<h3>Registration and Berthing<\/h3>\n<p>At the pontoon next to the Capitaneria you register upon arrival via channel 72; the staff help with mooring. You make fast with the mooring line provided at each berth. You can arrive from 14:30; departure is by 12:00.<\/p>\n<p>In the Porto Nuovo, the individual pontoon operators allocate berths. At one facility for boats up to 20 metres, you call on channel 9 when entering; help with mooring and casting off is also available there.<\/p>\n<h3>Harbour rules<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>You may not moor at the commercial shipping quays.<\/li>\n<li>A speed limit of 5 knots applies in the harbour.<\/li>\n<li>Pilot boats, tugs and mooring boats accompanying merchant vessels have priority. Keep clear of them.<\/li>\n<li>Fishing, swimming and diving are prohibited in the harbour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Approach<\/h3>\n<p>The harbour entrance lies at 37\u00b0 28.9\u2032 N, 15\u00b0 06.0\u2032 E and is around 280 metres wide. It lies between the head of the Molo di Levante with a green light and the head of the southern mole with a red light. Further west along the coast stands the Sciara Biscari lighthouse with a range of 22 nautical miles.<\/p>\n<p>In winds from east to south the entrance is dangerous, as heavy swell then enters the harbour. Ferries, cruise ships and cargo vessels regularly enter and leave here. Keep out of their fairway on your way into the Porto Nuovo and the Porto Vecchio.<\/p>\n<h3>Which sea weather forecast applies in Catania?<\/h3>\n<p>For Italian waters the weather service of the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) issues the official marine weather forecast. It is updated every six hours and broadcast by the Coastguard over the radio.<\/p>\n<p>The warnings (Avviso di burrasca) appear every three hours in Italian and English, and also in between if necessary. Catania lies in the coastal section Sicilia Orientale between Capo Passero and Punta del Faro; for passages north, the sea area Stretto di Messina is also important. You'll find warnings and the sea state chart on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meteoam.it\/it\/avviso-burrasca\">Weather service page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Trips from Catania on T\u00f6rnfinder<\/h2>\n<p>In October 2026 there are 10 trip dates on T\u00f6rnfinder over the next twelve months starting or finishing in Catania. Most start in October, March and December; 8 days is typical.<\/p>\n<p>Offers along the Italian coasts and on the islands can be found under <a href=\"\/en\/cabin-charter-italy\/\">Sailing in Italy<\/a>, trips throughout the Mediterranean under <a href=\"\/en\/cabin-charter-mediterranean\/\">Sailing in the Mediterranean<\/a>. All current dates are listed in the <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-trips\/\">trip overview<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>How do I get from Catania airport to the harbour?<\/h3>\n<p>Easiest by taxi; the harbour is close to the airport. The Alibus bus service to the centre is cheaper; there are also trains from the airport station to Catania Centrale near the harbour.<\/p>\n<h3>Where can I park at trip start in Catania?<\/h3>\n<p>Best near the Porto Vecchio: a car park on Via Cristoforo Colombo is around 300 metres as the crow flies from the pontoons; Parcheggio Borsellino on Via Ionica is around 400 metres. From the pontoons in the Porto Nuovo the nearest car park is around 900 metres away.<\/p>\n<h3>Which part of the harbour is closest to the old town?<\/h3>\n<p>Porto Vecchio. From the pontoons there you can walk to the cathedral square and the fish market, from Porto Nuovo at Molo di Levante the walk is considerably longer.<\/p>\n<h3>Are there showers in the harbour of Catania?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, the pontoon facilities in Porto Vecchio and Porto Nuovo have showers and toilets.<\/p>\n<h3>Where can I buy fresh fish in Catania for the trip?<\/h3>\n<p>At the old fish market Pescheria near the cathedral square, it takes place in the mornings. From Porto Vecchio you can walk there in a few minutes.<\/p>\n<h3>What wind can I expect off Catania?<\/h3>\n<p>In summer usually Levante and Grecale from east to northeast. In autumn and winter the wind comes mainly from north through east to south, then the Scirocco brings swell into the harbour.<\/p>\n<h3>How far is it from Catania to Taormina and Siracusa?<\/h3>\n<p>To Giardini Naxos below Taormina it's about 23 nautical miles by water, to Siracusa about 29 nautical miles. Closer are the Cyclops Islands off Aci Trezza at about 5 nautical miles.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ports in Catania: from the airport to the berths at Porto Nuovo and Porto Vecchio, shopping at the fish market, wind and sailing destinations from Taormina to Syracuse.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":1664948,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[536],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1665065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reviere-haefen","category-536","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1665065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1665065"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1665065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1665788,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1665065\/revisions\/1665788"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1664948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1665065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1665065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1665065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}