How to get to Alcantara Gorge without a car from anywhere in Sicily
- Marco Zagami
- Feb 3, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 18
Green mobility, how to reach the Alcantara Gorge with public transport.
The Alcantara Gorge is one of the destinations that you cannot miss if you are traveling in Sicily. It's a natural wonder visited by many people every day and one of the most famous in North-Eastern Sicily. The Alcantara Gorge is a spectacular volcanic canyon, made of columnar basalts that you will be able to see in a few places in the world. For those who haven't a car or prefer green mobility, the way to reach the Alcantara Gorges is public transport, that connects this attraction with the main cities of Sicily. Reaching the Alcantara Gorges will not be a problem if you are travelling without a car, and it will be easier for you by following our advices.
Where are located Alcantara Gorge
The Alcantara Gorge is located in the province of Messina a few kilometers away from Francavilla di Sicilia and Motta Camastra. To visit it there are two accesses:
The public entrance, which requires the use of stairs (approximately 80 steps). If you opt for this solution, you can buy the ticket for €1.50 per person at the ticket shop in front of the entrance;
The private entrance, which we recommend only for those with mobility problems and for those who not able to go up or down the 80 steps of the municipal entrance. The cost of the ticket in this case is €8 per person and simply includes the use of the lift.
But let's get to the important part of this guide, How to reach the Alcantara Gorge.
Body Rafting
Rafting
Discovering the lava canyon and columnar basalts up to the wonderful Venus waterfall with Body Rafting Alcantara Gorges.
🕒 2h30min 📍 Motta Camastra
€ 45,00
How to get to Alcantara Gorge from Taormina and Giardini-Naxos
If you are spending your holiday in Taormina or Giardini Naxos, you have to know they are located about 20 km away from the Gorge. From here you will be able to reach it thanks to the Interbus bus service, from Piazza Pirandello in Taormina, and from the various bus stops on the Giardini Naxos seafront, will take you directly to the Alcantara Gorges entrance. The ride takes about 50 minutes and the cost is €3.20.
With Interbus bus service you can reach the Alcantara Gorges from the following locations too: Gaggi, Messina, Letojanni, Castelmola, Francavilla di Sicilia, Cesarò, Randazzo, Mojo Alcantara, Maletto, Castiglione di Sicilia, Roccella Valdemone, Malvagna
Book or view Bus timetables: https://www.interbus.it/
Look at all the stops and timetables: https://www.interbus.it/travel-plan/fermata.php?id_vettore=2
How to get to Alcantara from Catania
To reach the Alcantara Gorge from Catania you will have to use the train and then the bus. At the moment there is no direct line that connects these two locations. From Catania, we advise you to take the train at the Central Station to Taormina-Giardini station. The cost is €5.20 and the duration is approximately 50 minutes. Outside the Taormina-Giardini station you will find the bus stop where you can take the bus that will take you in front of the entrance of the Gorge. To view the timetables and book a ticket just:
go to the interbus.it website,
insert in the search bar "Giardini" as departure and "Gole Alcantara" as arrival,
click search
select the departure station Giardini Stazione FS from the options at the top left.
You will be able to view the timetables and costs. The journey takes about 40 minutes and costs €2.70.
Book or view train timetables: https://www.trenitalia.com/
Book or view bus timetables: https://www.interbus.it/
How to get to Alcantara from Messina
From the Piazzale della Repubblica station in Messina you can use the interbus service to the Alcantara Gorges. The ride will take you to the entrance of the Gorge. The duration of the journey is 1 hour and 15 minutes, while the cost is €5.80.
Book or view Bus timetables: https://www.interbus.it/
Look at all the stops and timetables: https://www.interbus.it/travel-plan/fermata.php?id_vettore=2
Alcantara Quad Tour
Off-road
The Alcantara Quad Tour is an off-road excursion along dirt tracks and water crossings along the paths of the Alcantara river park.
🕒 3 durations 📍 Motta Camastra
from € 50,00
How to reach th Alcantara Gorge from Siracusa
To reach the Gorge from Siracusa we recommend that you take the train to the Taormina-Giardini station. The cost per person is €10.90, and the duration is approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. Outside the Taormina-Giardini station you will find the bus stop where you can take the bus that will take you in front of the entrance of the Gorge. To view the timetables and book a ticket just:
go to the interbus.it website,
insert in the search bar "Giardini" as departure and "Gole Alcantara" as arrival,
click search
select the departure station Giardini Stazione FS from the options at the top left.
Book or view train timetables: https://www.trenitalia.com/
Book or view bus timetables: https://www.interbus.it/
How to get to Alcantara Gorge from Cefalù
To reach the Gorge from Cefalù, we recommend that you take the train to the Taormina-Giardini station. This journey provides, in the fastest solution, a change in Messina, has a duration of 2 hours and 50 minutes, and a variable cost between €14 and €20. You can view the various solutions, timetables and journeys on the trenitalia.com website.
Once you reach the Taormina-Giardini station, outside you will find the bus stop where you will take the bus that will take you to the entrance of the Gorge following the same instructions described in "How to reach the Gorges from Catania".
Book or view train timetables: https://www.trenitalia.com/
Book or view bus timetables: https://www.interbus.it/
Il Grand Tour
Off-road
Etna Quad Tour from the Alcantara Gorge up to 2k meters among the volcanic deserts of mount Etna with breathtaking views of the sea.
🕒 5-hours 📍 Motta Camastra
€ 150,00
How to arrive at the Alcantara Gorge from Palermo
To reach the Gorge from Palermo it will take 2 bus rides and 1 train ride. From Palermo, Sais Autolinee will take you to Catania Central Station in about 2 hours and 30 minutes at a cost of €14.00. From here you can follow the instructions: "How to reach the Gorges from Catania"
Book or view train timetables: https://www.trenitalia.com/
Book or view Sais Autolinee timetables: https://www.saisautolinee.it/
Book or view Interbus timetables: https://www.interbus.it/
How to reach the Alcantara Gorge from Enna or Caltanissetta
If you want to reach the Gorges from Enna or Caltanissetta, the journey becomes a little harder, you will take 2 train rides and 2 bus rides.
The first journey is by train which from the respective stations of Enna or Caltanissetta will take you to Dittaino.
From Dittaino a bus service will take you to Catania central station. (You can book and view the timetables of the entire journey Enna/Caltanissetta > Dittaino > Catania Central Station on the Trenitalia.com website)
From Catania station you can follow the instructions "How to reach the Alcantara Gorge from Catania".
Book or view train timetables: https://www.trenitalia.com/
Book or view Bus timetables: https://www.interbus.it/
Alcantara Horse Ride
Horse Riding
Not to be missed is the Alcantara Horse Ride to discover the iconic places of the river park.
🕒 1h30min 📍 Castiglione di Sicilia
€ 35,00
This guide has for information purposes only and may contain errors due to changes of the service by the provider. We always recommend checking timetables, itineraries and stops which may be changed or permanently suspended without notice from the supplier.
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