Getting Around Messina
Messina is a harbour city at the northeast corner of Sicily, sitting right on the Strait of Messina, and it serves as the island's main gateway to mainland Italy. For visitors, the good news is that the city is compact and easy to navigate on foot, with a public transport network that fills in the gaps when you need to cover more ground or reach the coast.
On Foot
The main sights of interest in Messina are clustered close to the port, and they are easily reached on foot. If your visit focuses on the city centre, you may not need public transport at all. Walking is the simplest way to get between the port area, the railway and bus stations, and the surrounding streets.
One important exception: some ferries from the mainland land not at the main port but at a northern terminal a few kilometres up the coast. If you arrive on foot at that terminal, you will need to take the tram or a local bus to reach the centre.
Tram and Metro
Messina has a tram line that runs through the city and connects the centre with the northern ferry terminal. Trams run frequently — roughly every 10 to 15 minutes — making this a convenient option if you need to move between central Messina and the northern terminal. The tram is operated by ATM (Azienda Trasporti di Messina), the city's bus and tram company.
Buses
ATM also runs the local bus network. Buses pass through Piazza della Repubblica, in front of Stazione Centrale (the main railway station), though the local bus hub itself is one block inland, under the multi-storey car park. Several buses and the railway also run south out of the city.
Bus 79 is a useful route: it runs north toward the ferry terminal area and continues to Ganzirri and Istituto Marino on the north-eastern tip of the island. It runs roughly every 30 minutes.
Long-distance and regional buses stop in Messina as well. Inter-city buses depart from Piazza della Repubblica, next to the railway station, where you'll also find several ticket offices and fast-food places. Long-distance services link Rome and Naples with Catania and Palermo (Sais Autolinee), while regional buses run to Taormina (Interbus) and to Milazzo (Giuntabus) for connections to the Aeolian Islands.
Tickets and Passes
ATM tickets and passes cover both buses and trams. A single fare costs €1.20, or €1.50 if you buy it on board. There is also a 90-minute pass for €1.25, a two-journey pass for €1.70, and a day pass for €2.60. Buying before you board is cheaper, so it's worth picking up tickets in advance where you can.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
The source material does not describe taxi or ride-hailing services in Messina, so it's best to rely on the tram, buses, and walking for getting around, or ask locally about taxi availability once you arrive.
Arriving by Train or Boat
Messina Centrale is the main railway station, located at Piazza della Repubblica. It's Sicily's link to the main Italian train network: long-distance trains from Rome and Naples cross the Strait of Messina by ferry and continue on to Palermo and Catania, while regular regional trains run to Milazzo, Cefalù, Taormina, and Syracuse. For left luggage, use the SAIS office outside the station.
Most travellers arriving from mainland Italy come by ferry from Villa San Giovanni — a short shuttle crossing that sails frequently around the clock. There are also sailings from Reggio di Calabria. Some ferries dock at Messina's main port, a short walk from the railway and bus stations, while others land at the northern terminal, where you'll need the tram or a local bus to reach the centre.
Getting from the Airport
The closest airport to Messina is Reggio di Calabria (REG), across the straits on the mainland. Catania Fontanarossa (CTA) lies to the south, and Palermo (PMO) to the west. Catania and Palermo both have flights to major European cities.
From Reggio di Calabria, you can cross the strait by ferry to reach Messina. From Catania or Palermo, you would typically continue by train or long-distance bus — both of which connect those cities to Messina.