Getting there
- Flights to Catania (CTA) 15 km from the start
Treks / Italy (Sicily)
Mount Etna
Italy (Sicily) · Nearest city: Catania
TypeDay hike
Days1
Distance≈ 10 km
Climbingvaries
Highest point2,900 m
A walk on Europe's most active volcano, across lava fields and craters from Rifugio Sapienza.
Fitness
Demanding
Best seasonMay to October
High pointUpper craters (access varies)
Watch out: Access limits change with volcanic activity. A licensed guide is required on the highest sections.
Why people choose it
It's a chance to walk on Europe's most active volcano, among fresh lava flows and steaming craters.
What makes it different
- Europe's most active volcano
- Lunar landscapes of black lava
- Sea views across Sicily
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Phone plans from the EU and EEA roam here at home prices. Coming from the US, UK or elsewhere? A Europe data eSIM is usually far cheaper than roaming.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
This trek reaches 2,900 m, and many policies stop covering hiking at 2,000 to 3,000 m unless you add an activity upgrade. World Nomads needs its Level 3 activities above 2,000 m, Heymondo its Adventure add-on above 3,000 m, and SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance covers trekking up to 4,500 m.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section, or join an Alpine club: membership of the Austrian Alpenverein (it has an English-speaking UK section) includes rescue cover of up to €25,000.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Rules vary by region and park. Bivouacs are often tolerated high in the mountains for one night; camping in valleys and parks is usually restricted.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Nicolosi → Mount Etna
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Book with a licensed operator. You can't do this trek independently.
- Best time to go: May to October.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Catania.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early and set a turnaround time. Be back down before the weather turns or daylight fades.
- Carry water, food, a warm layer and a rain jacket even on a sunny day.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: May to October
October to April
Cool months
Comfortable temperatures at the base, but cold, windy and sometimes snowy on the summit.
Bring
- Warm layers, hat and gloves
- Windproof jacket
- Check access and weather
May to September
Warm months
Hot at the start and cool on top, with very strong sun on dark volcanic rock.
Bring
- Lots of water
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Warm layer for the summit
All year
Any time
Volcanic activity or wind can close summit areas at short notice.
Bring
- Check official access updates
- Sturdy boots for loose rock
- A plan B
Be ready for
Strong wind
Exposed ridges and summits can be very windy and cold. A windproof layer and hat are worth carrying even on warm days.
Thinner air
You'll feel the altitude on the climbs. Spend a night or two in the mountains first if you can, and pace yourself.
What you'll see
6 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Mount Etna
Photo credits: Mt Etna and Catania by BenAveling, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Panorama Nicolosi by Giuseppe ME, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Etna Landscape by Radek Kucharski from Warsaw, Poland, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Etna Volcano Paroxysmal Eruption - Creative Commons by gnuckx - panoramio by gnuckx, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Cratere di Nord-Est - Etna by Foto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; July Etna central crater eruption meters - panoramio by gnuckx, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
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