Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at Catania Airport. Etna ash closures, the road up to Rifugio Sapienza, cash-only toll booths and camera zones in the old towns.
Etna’s ash closed Catania Airport for hours more than once in 2026, with flights diverted as far as Palermo and Lamezia. If your flight lands elsewhere, ring the hire desk at once, because your car is waiting at Catania.
Catania Airport handled 12,362,395 passengers in 2025, the fifth highest total in Italy. London Gatwick was its third busiest international route, with about 233,000 passengers (LiveUniversity). In the first half of 2026, traffic rose a further 2.7% to 5,924,508 passengers (LiveUniversity).
Taormina is about 65 km from the airport, a drive of 50 to 60 minutes (Taormina Hotel Association) on the A18 towards Messina, leaving at the Taormina exit (Taobuk). For a family of seven, one car beats a coach transfer with cases piled in the aisle.
When Etna closes the airport
Ash from Etna can shut the airport at short notice. On 15 September 2026, all flights were suspended until 2.30pm, with diversions to Palermo, Trapani, Comiso and Lamezia (SicurAUTO). Two weeks later, on 29 September, it closed again until 3pm (La Sicilia).
GOV.UK says eruptions can affect the airspace, and advises checking with your travel provider or the airport (GOV.UK). Book a rate with free cancellation and give your flight number, so the hire firm can see a delay coming.
Driving up the volcano
Rifugio Sapienza, at 1,910 metres on the southern side, is the highest point on Etna you can reach by car or bus. A cable car carries on up to about 2,500 metres (Italia.it).
During eruptions, the rules change fast. From 14 August 2026, walking above about 2,500 metres was suspended, with barriers on the access roads (Parco dell’Etna). The day before, the road to Rifugio Citelli from Fornazzo was closed to cars after thousands of people drove up to watch the lava (La Sicilia).
Check the news on the morning you plan to go up, and expect a long queue down if a crowd has had the same idea.
Tolls and motorway works
The A18 between Catania and Messina is a toll road, and its tolls rose by 1.5% on 1 January 2026 (LiveUniversity). Since autumn 2025, the automatic booths on the A18 and A20 have not taken credit or debit cards, so cards work only at staffed booths (La Sicilia). Otherwise pay in cash, or use a Telepass lane on the A18 (Telepass). Keep some euro coins and notes in the car.
Heading south, the motorway from Siracusa to Modica is currently free, with tolls not expected until 2028 (Quotidiano di Ragusa). The A19 to Palermo is a long work in progress, with viaducts being rebuilt and single-lane sections (La Sicilia).
Catania 7 Seaters at a glance
See the 7 seaters at Catania Airport side by side, with the deposit and fuel policy for each.
Camera zones in Catania and Ortigia
Catania’s historic centre has camera-enforced ZTL zones around the Teatro Massimo Bellini (LiveUniversity). Camera gates also guard pedestrian areas, including Piazza Duomo and Via Etnea (LiveSicilia). Under Italy’s highway code, entering a ZTL without a permit costs about £71 to £282 (€83 to €332) (Brocardi).
The city’s park and ride car parks at Obelischi and Nesima avoid the problem (LiveUniversity).
In Taormina, the Lumbi and Porta Catania car parks are set up for longer stays (La Sicilia). In Siracusa, the Ortigia ZTL runs on weekdays from 11am to 3.30pm and from 5pm to 2am, all year round since October 2025 (La Sicilia). Park on the mainland side and walk over the bridge.
Summer fires
GOV.UK warns that wildfires are a risk through the extended summer, and says to follow local advice (GOV.UK). On 22 July 2026, fire closed a stretch of the SS114 coast road near Catania (La Sicilia). Keep a full tank and a few litres of water in the car on hot days.
Italian rules on Sicilian roads
A UK photocard licence is accepted in Italy, and GOV.UK notes hire firms often ask for at least a year of driving experience (GOV.UK). The drink-drive limit is 0.5 g per litre, and zero for new drivers. Outside built-up areas, wear a reflective vest if you step out of the car at night or in poor visibility (ROADPOL).
Dipped headlights, or daytime running lights, are required outside built-up areas, with a fine of about £35 to £144 (€41 to €169) (Brocardi). Children under 1.50 metres need a child restraint, and in cars registered in Italy, children under four need an anti-abandonment alarm too (Brocardi). Ask for one when you book child seats.
Italy is in the Schengen area, so the EU Entry/Exit System applies on arrival. Check the entry rules on GOV.UK before you fly.
Seven seats against seven suitcases
A large suitcase holds 80 to 110 litres (Markenkoffer). With all seven seats in use, the roomiest common 7 seaters keep about 340 to 350 litres of boot (Auto Express).
If everyone brings a big case, look for the ACRISS FV class, meaning seven or more seats with more space, or move up to an 8 or 9 seater.
Picking up at Catania Airport
When the P4 multistorey opened in 2019, 560 of its ground floor spaces were set aside for hire cars. It is about 100 metres from Terminal C (Teleborsa). If your firm is not based there, follow the directions on your voucher.
Road works around the terminal closed the P3 car park from 1 October 2026, after a one-day closure of P1 on 30 September (QdS), so allow extra time at drop-off.
Combining Sicily with Malta? Malta was Catania’s busiest international route in 2025 (LiveUniversity), and our Malta Airport guide covers the island. Our Naples Airport guide covers Campania, and the Italy guide has the national rules.
Fancy another island? Our Olbia Airport guide covers Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda.
Keeping a Catania 7 Seater cheap
- Carry cash for tolls. Card-free automatic booths on the A18 can mean a long wait for a staffed lane.
- Use park and ride. A ZTL camera fine can cost more than the parking you saved.
- Weigh the whole deal. Set the excess and deposit against the fuel policy and second driver fees, not just the daily price.
- Book a cancellable rate. If Etna diverts your flight, flexible terms let you change the booking without a penalty.
Price a Catania Airport 7 Seater
Add your flight times to compare low-cost 7 seater rates in Sicily.
Catania questions answered
Does Etna close Catania Airport?
Sometimes. Ash closed it for several hours on more than one day in 2026, and flights diverted to other Sicilian and mainland airports.
Can I drive up Mount Etna?
Yes, to Rifugio Sapienza at 1,910 metres. During eruptions, roads and upper areas can close at short notice.
Do Sicilian toll booths take cards?
Not the automatic booths on the A18 and A20. Pay in cash, or by card at a staffed booth. On the A18 you can also use a Telepass lane.
How far is Taormina from Catania Airport?
About 65 km, or 50 to 60 minutes on the A18.
How do I compare cheap 7 Seater deals at Catania Airport?
Use one search across several hire firms. Ours shows the 7 seaters at Catania Airport with the total price for each, so you can pick on value.
