Palermo to Catania: Valley of Temples Stop & Private Transfer
Driving Across Sicily: From Palermo's Coast to Catania via Ancient Temples
You get picked up at your Palermo hotel and driven to Catania with a two-hour stop at the Valley of Temples in Agrigento, where you explore the Greek ruins at your own pace before the driver collects you at the exit. Hotel drop-off in Catania is included, and you can add Villa Romana del Casale or adjust your final destination for a modified fee.
7h–8h
Step-by-step itinerary
Transfer Palermo to Catania with stops
- Pick up from Palermo accommodation
- Drive to Agrigento Valley of the Temples
- Overview drive outside Archaeological Park
- Visit main entrance ticket office
- Tour Valley of the Temples
- Exit opposite side and pick up
- Visit Turkish Steps
- Drive to Catania accommodation
- Drop off at Catania accommodation
The Experience
You're leaving Palermo, heading southeast toward Catania, and the driver picks you up at your hotel — no negotiating at the curb, no waiting for a shared shuttle. The route cuts through the middle of Sicily, which means you're not hugging the coast but moving inland, and that's where the stop happens. About two hours into the drive, you pull into Agrigento and get your first look at the Valley of Temples from the road itself — the driver takes you on an overview pass so you see how the site sits in the landscape before you actually walk it. Then you're dropped at the main entrance, and you've got roughly two hours to move through the archaeological park on your own pace.
The Valley of Temples is not small. You're walking among Greek temples that are still standing — some nearly complete, others just columns and stone — and the scale of it hits different when you're there without a group moving in lockstep. The driver will pick you up at the opposite exit when you're done, which means you don't backtrack. If you want a guided tour of the site itself, that's available for an extra charge and needs to be arranged after you book; otherwise you're moving through it with a map and your own curiosity. Some people add the Turkish Steps to their stop here — it's a different kind of geology, dramatic and strange, and it's on the way if you want it.
After Agrigento, you're back in the car for the second half of the drive to Catania. The whole journey from Palermo to Catania with the temple stop takes most of a day, and the driver handles all of it — no transfers, no timing your own connections. The vehicle fits up to seven passengers, so if you're traveling as a small group or family, the cost splits across everyone. If you want to add Villa Romana del Casale, the Roman mosaics site near Piazza Armerina, that's possible for an extra fee and adds time to the route; you'd arrange that detail when you confirm the booking.
Drop-off is at your accommodation in Catania, wherever that is. If you'd rather be left somewhere else in Sicily — a different town, a port, a specific address — the operator can customize that too, though the price adjusts based on distance from Catania. The whole thing is private, so the route and timing flex around what you need, not around other passengers' schedules.
What’s included
- Your transfer includes hotel pickup in the Palermo area, the private driver for the entire journey, a two-hour stop at the Valley of Temples in Agrigento with drop-off at the main entrance and pickup at the exit, local taxes, and hotel drop-off in Catania.
- Professional guided tours of the Valley of Temples or Villa Romana del Casale can be added for an extra charge if arranged in advance.
- You can also customize your final destination or add a stop at Villa Romana del Casale for an additional fee.
Operated by Going Sicily
Is this one for you?Book this if you're moving between Palermo and Catania and want to see the Valley of Temples without arranging your own transport, timing the stop, or buying separate tickets — the driver handles the route and you control the pace at the site.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
How long is the drive from Palermo to Catania with the temple stop?
Most of a full day. The drive itself is roughly four to five hours total, plus two hours at the Valley of Temples.
Do I need a guide at the Valley of Temples?
No, you explore on your own. A professional guided tour is available for an extra charge if you request it after booking.
Can I add another stop on the way?
Yes. Villa Romana del Casale near Piazza Armerina can be added for an extra fee. Arrange it when you confirm your booking.
What if I want to be dropped off somewhere other than Catania?
The driver can drop you anywhere in Sicily. The price adjusts based on distance and number of passengers.
How many people can travel?
Up to seven passengers per booking.
Is the vehicle wheelchair accessible?
The vehicle is wheelchair accessible, but it does not have a ramp and cannot transport wheelchairs on board. Passengers with disabilities can travel if they can transfer to the vehicle seat independently or with assistance.
Can I customize the route?
Yes. The itinerary is flexible — you can adjust stops, timing, and drop-off location. Contact the operator after booking to arrange changes.
Are infant seats available?
Yes, specialized infant seats are available upon request.
Palermo to Catania: Valley of Temples Stop & Private Transfer
7h–8h · at your hotel
from € 550 per group
★★★★★★★★★★4.8437 reviews