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 municipal 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.
To discover the extraordinary scenario of the Alcantara Gorge, Body Rafting is the best activity to go into the canyon and see the show of the columnar basalts up to the Venus waterfall.
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
To try for sure is the Alcantara Quad Tour, a naked and raw off-road trail among the paths of the Alcantara park. On board your quad you will try your hand on dirt tracks and passages in the water.
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.
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 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/
Another amazing tour is the Etna Alcantara Grand Tour by Quad bike, the only one that will allow you to see Etna starting from the Alcantara Gorge. A journey through beautiful landscapes and scenarios of great charm. It starts from the Gorges to reach an altitude of 2k meters crossing little volcanic deserts of Etna and breathtaking views of the sea.
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/
Not be missed is the Alcantara eBike Trail, you will jump on two weels to discover the iconic places of the Alcantara park: the Gorge, the Gurne, Byzantine Cuba, the lava stone pools and the small Gorges. 2 hours and 30 minutes of sport and entertainment.