Hiking Mount Etna is the closest experience I’ve had to setting foot on another planet. It’s hard to summarize such a dynamic place – one that is as unpredictable and unforgiving as it is majestic and humbling.

Europe’s highest volcano also happens to be one of the most active volcanoes in the world – and a UNESCO World Heritage Site to boot – so you might say it has a lot going for it! Between its uniquely rugged landscapes, cavernous craters, and cinematic viewpoints, Etna is easily one of the top bucket-list destinations not only in Italy, but around the world.

So if you thought seeing the volcano’s majestic silhouette from one of the top boutique hotels in Taormina was a treat, just wait until you’re standing at the base humbled by her presence!

Whether you’re considering hiking Mount Etna on a self-guided exploration or on a vigorous guided expedition to the mighty summit, these tips will prepare you for the journey ahead.

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Although you can technically hike Mount Etna year-round, you’ll want to carefully consider the season when planning your trip. This is because the hike can ultimately be a very different experience depending on what time of year you go.

As always, there are pros and cons to each season. Here’s a rough guide of what you can expect:

Peak Season: June through August

Pro: Ideal and stable weather with the clearest conditions
Con: Busiest season and most crowded with tourists

Shoulder Season: April through May & September through October

Pro: Generally less crowded than peak season
Con: Weather will likely be on the colder side

Off Season: November through March

Pro: Least crowded & opportunity for skiing
Con: Bitter cold/snowy & will require mountaineering skills as well as additional equipment like crampons

To avoid bitter-cold conditions, you’ll ideally want to plan your hike sometime between April and September. My husband and I visited Mount Etna in April and overall I think this is a great time to go.

That said, although April is a spring month, it will not feel like spring as you ascend the volcano! As a general rule of thumb, you can expect Etna to be anywhere from 10 to 20 degrees colder than in the major cities.

In April, the volcano was still snow-capped and it was definitely still cold. You’ll want to dress appropriately, which I’ll get into a bit later.

*Please Note: While the seasonal breakdown above is best to follow in terms of weather/crowds, the “summer” season is often considered to be from April through November and the winter season is generally regarded as December through March.

While last-minute cancellations technically can happen if you’re part of a tour group, they’re exceptionally rare. One of the reasons for this is because the weather conditions are constantly evolving around Etna, so even if morning weather isn’t looking promising, things can turn around by afternoon (or vice versa).

Also, tour guides are highly experienced at navigating Etna’s challenging landscapes. Even if there’s some live volcanic activity going on, they’ll keep you at a safe distance so that it won’t disrupt the experience.

As I’m sure you can imagine, hiking Mount Etna isn’t like a typical hike you may be used to in the woods or even up the side of a mountain. There are a lot of different factors at play – wind, ash, weather conditions, potential eruptions, etc. – that you’ll have to reckon with if you decide to make the climb.

That said, the hike isn’t wildly challenging in the sense that it’s not highly technical. The challenges arise with the steepness as well as unfavorable weather conditions (such as strong winds).

Only you can really judge what you’re capable of, but there are certain physical conditions that would essentially preclude you from the hike, as they could put your health in jeopardy.

As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid hiking Mount Etna if you:

• Suffer from respiratory ailments like asthma
• Have high blood pressure/cardiovascular disease
• Are highly susceptible to altitude sickness/vertigo
• Are in your third trimester of pregnancy and/or face pregnancy complications

When planning your Etna itinerary, you’ll definitely want to give some thought to where to base yourself for convenience. You’ll want to stay close to the volcano – ideally within a one-hour drive or less – so that traveling back and forth won’t be a hassle.

This is especially important if you’ll be joining a tour where hotel pick-up is included (more on this later). Two of the most popular cities people tend to stay in for easy access to the hike are Taormina and Catania.

Taormina is located just over an hour away from Mount Etna by car and the journey is pretty straightforward. My husband and I stayed at Villa Angela and were very happy with our decision.

If you’re also considering basing yourself here, have a look at my recommendations for the best boutique hotels in Taormina.

Did I mention that a huge plus of staying in Taormina is that most of the hotels offer views over Mount Etna? Trust me when I say, waking up to a stunning view over Etna is a bucket-list experience in and of itself!

The large metropolitan city of Catania is located just over a 50-minute drive from Etna. If you’d prefer to be in a bigger city with more going on and a closer proximity to the airport, this will be your best bet.

Alternative home base options you might consider are the smaller towns of Nicolosi, Paternò, Ragalna, and Viagrande.

The starting point to visit Mount Etna is Rifugio Sapienza, where you’ll find souvenir shops, bars/eateries, and the cable car entrance. Before your visit, you’ll need to figure out if you’ll be traveling to Rifugio Sapienza with your own transportation or not.

There are three main ways to reach Etna’s starting point (Rifugio Sapienza):

• By car
• By bus
• On a guided tour

If you’re not planning on joining a tour, traveling by car is the most straightforward option and my personal preference.

Once you arrive, there are two lots where you can park your car (more on that in the next point).

If you’d prefer to travel by public transportation, you’ll need to catch a bus from the AST (Azienda Siciliana Transport) Company at the Stazione Centrale Station in Catania. The direct ride to Etna departs at 8:15AM daily and takes about two hours to reach Rifugio Sapienza.

The return bus leaves at 4:30PM, so keep an eye on the time if you’re planning to travel this way.

The final option is to join a guided tour, but this will only be relevant in the case that your tour offers hotel pick-up (or otherwise arranges transportation to the starting point for you).

If you’ll be traveling by car, you’ll have the option of two separate lots – one that offers free parking and a paid lot. The free lot is located at Piazzale Rifugio Sapienza, whereas the paid lot is at located at Parcheggio.

While the free lot is typically the preference for most visitors, it will really depend on available spaces, which is why it’s key to arrive early.

To easily navigate to the parking area, here is the best GPS address to follow: Etna Sud, Rifugio Sapienza, Piazzale Rifugio Sapienza, 95030 Nicolosi CT, Italy.

Regardless of which season you choose to visit Etna, aim to arrive in the morning. Not only does the morning typically have the fewest crowds, but this is also when the sky tends to be at its clearest.

Generally, the sky will get progressively hazier as the day goes on, which can affect your experience (and your photos)!

An early arrival also means that you can score a better parking spot if you’re arriving with your own car in tow.

The Etna Cable Car is open daily from 9AM to 4PM. From April through November, the last departure is at 4:30.

To hire or not to hire a guide? That is the question!

…At least it was for me back when I was initially planning our Etna adventure. And let me just say, finding an answer online was not as straightforward as I was hoping. Some sources say you absolutely need a guide while others say you can hike alone.

So…what gives?

As it turns out, it completely depends on how high you wish to climb. I’m breaking down the most common guide-related questions FAQ-style to help you make the most informed decision.

Barring physical limitations/challenges from the second point on this list, anyone can technically hike Mount Etna.

That said, solo hiking is not advised, as it can be risky. You’re best off going with at least one other person if you’re sticking to the 2,800-meter limit.

Beyond that, solo hiking isn’t an option anyway, as you’ll need a guide and will therefore be part of a tour group.

It completely depends on the distance you plan on hiking.

Legally, you can only hike Mount Etna without a guide up to 2,800 meters (9900 feet). (Some sources state the maximum as 2,900 meters.) Above that, you’re required by law to go with a guide. The cost of a guide will be included in the total tour price.

So if you’re planning to have the full adventure and climb all the way up to the summit, you’ll need a guide.

There are four main options you can choose between for your Etna experience:

Self-Guided Tour Options:

1. Self-guided tour without the cable car (Silvestri Craters) – If you just want to do some hiking without hopping aboard the (pricey) cable car, this will be the best option. This self-guided experience will take you on the Silvestri Craters walk, which can typically be completed between one hour and 90 minutes.
2. Self-guided tour with the cable car (to 2500 meters) – This tour includes a ride in the cable car, which travels 2500 meters up Etna. From the cable car station, you can enjoy a self-guided experience, provided you do not exceed 2,800 meters.

Tour Options with a Guide:

3. Barbagallo Craters guided tour – This two-hour guided experience includes a cable car ride, a one-hour walking tour to the Barbagallo Craters, and an adventurous 4X4 experience.
4. Guided tour to the summit – For those seeking the full Etna experience, this physically demanding tour is the ultimate one you can take. Keep in mind that you’ll need to purchase tickets for the summit tour with one of many tour operators. You won’t be able to purchase them directly at the cable car as you would with the other options.

Given that I was nearly eight weeks pregnant when my husband and I visited Etna, we opted for the second option, the self-guided tour with the cable car. I chose this one because I wanted to ride the cable car as well as enjoy the freedom of hiking Mount Etna without a guide.

Plus, I was unsure how my body would react to the relatively high altitude while pregnant, so I didn’t want to potentially slow down a tour group if things went south. This ended up being the best choice for us; I was grossly unprepared to go beyond the cut-off point for a self-guided hike.

Beyond these four main options, there are oodles of Mount Etna tours you can choose to join, from Jeep adventures to Etna tours from Taormina that include city sightseeing. 

Fun Jeep/4X4/Quad Bike Tours to Consider:

Etna Combo Tours with City Sightseeing to Consider:

 Fun Cycling/E-bike Tours to Consider:

One of the things I wish we had done before hiking Mount Etna is get a feel for the different routes. There are numerous pathways and courses you can follow, but I didn’t look into this in advance, so we ended up randomly stumbling around.

If you’d like to make sure you’re covering the most ground – and enjoying some of the most spectacular views along the way – here are some popular hiking routes to check out.

Something I wasn’t aware of before our visit was that there are two main sides to Etna: Etna South and Etna North. Each side offers a different experience, so the choice ultimately depends on the experience you’d prefer to have.

Etna South is easily the more popular side with tourists. This is the side where you’ll find Rifugio Sapienza and have access to the cable car and easy access to the Silvestri Craters. Hiking this side isn’t crazy difficult; the main challenge lies in the sloping landscape (and the wind that often feels like it’s working against you).

Etna North, on the other hand, is the more rugged and quieter side of the volcano. There are definitely less tourists on this side as well as a notable lack of a cable car. The route up Etna North typically begins with a Jeep excursion and a guide is advised, due to more challenging terrain.

To help plan your Mount Etna hiking excursion, it’s useful to have a sense of how long it will take. This is especially important if you need to catch a bus at a specific time (such as the one that departs from the volcano at 4:30 to take passengers back to Catania).

Typically, half-day excursions run for about four to five hours. This is a reasonable amount of time to allot to Etna if you’re planning to do a self-guided hike.

Alternatively, many of the guided experiences run for a minimum of five to six hours, with many combined tour options taking eight hours or more.

One of the aspects of hiking Mount Etna that I was least prepared for was the insane amount of wind! This was easily one of the windiest experiences I’ve had to date, and I’ve visited several Greek islands as well as the lesser-known island of Gozo on Malta. The wind atop Etna is truly ruthless and non-stop, so it’s something you’ll need to adjust to quickly.

Plus, the higher you climb, the more intense the wind tends to be, so do keep that in mind.

To be totally honest, there were multiple times that I considered calling it quits and going back inside the Mountain Hut. Thankfully, I eventually acclimated and caught my breath a bit, but I was definitely shielding myself by turning my head away from the oncoming gusts.

This tip may sound a bit strange (particularly if you’re traveling during one of the colder/cloudier months), but sunglasses are one of your best defenses against the wind.

Once that wind starts kicking up clouds of volcanic ash, you’ll be happy your eyes are protected!

Plus, in addition to protecting your eyes from the wind, sunglasses can be just as useful on wintry days as on sunny ones due to the glare from the snow.

In addition to bringing sunglasses, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to dress appropriately when hiking Mount Etna. This is not the place for taking cute Instagram photos in dresses/shorts/flip-flops, etc.

In addition, regardless of the season, prepare for it to be significantly colder up the volcano versus on ground level.

Here are some must-have clothing items for hiking Mount Etna:

• Insulated jacket – From keeping your core temperature warm to breaking up some of the intense wind, an insulated jacket like this one I wore from Columbia is key.
• Supportive sneakers/hiking shoes – Walking up a volcano comes with plenty of challenges for your feet, from loose grave to steep and unpredictable terrain. Your best bet is to bring along a pair of comfortable and supportive sneakers with good traction. Pro tip: If you’re planning to bring new sneakers, I’d highly recommend breaking them in first.
• Comfortable hiking leggings/pants – Personally, I wouldn’t suggest jeans for this particular adventure. You’re better off wearing comfortable pants or leggings like mine that will easily move with you and not feel too rough/cold against your skin.
• Winter beanie/ headband – Considering that you lose the majority of heat through your head, you’ll definitely want to bring along a beanie or ear-warming headband. The style isn’t important so much as that it’s something that covers your ears. They’ll definitely get cold when you’re climbing Etna!
• Layering shirt – Layering up is one of the best ways to trap heat and keep yourself warm. Base layers will do the job.

Additional clothing/accessories to consider:

• Gloves – Although I didn’t have gloves, I wish I’d brought something like these North face gloves with me.
• Hand/toe warmers – If you’re one of those people (like me) who suffers from cold hands/feet even when wearing gloves/shoes, you can’t go wrong with these hand warmers and toe warmers.
• Hiking poles – For additional stability while climbing, you may wish to bring along some hiking poles. Keep in mind that if you join a tour this will likely be part of what’s required (in addition to a helmet).

Personally, I’m thrilled that my husband and I traveled with a backpack. This allowed us to carry a water bottle, snacks, and additional clothing/accessories. It was also a place to stow away our camera when we weren’t busy snapping dozens of shots (and when the wind starting kicking up like crazy)!

This all said, you’ll want to consider how long you’ll be hiking for and whether a backpack will truly support your journey or weigh you down.

I think the best compromise would be to bring a lightweight backpack and avoid overstuffing it. This way you can at least bring along water and snacks without a ton of added weight.

If you’re planning to do a full day at Mount Etna, I recommend packing a lunch (or at least arriving with snacks in tow) for when hunger strikes.

Otherwise, you can purchase (overpriced) food at the Mountain Hut, which is the “ski-style” lodge where the cable car ends. Personally, I found the food choices to be limited and unnecessarily pricey. It reminded me of many ski lodges I’ve been to on the East Coast (but not in a good way).

Here, you can expect to find pizza, chips, and snacks, but nothing looks particularly nutritious/ wholesome/filling. That said, they do serve hot beverages, which did seem appealing. I was actually itching for a hot cocoa while we were here, but I resisted.

In addition, there’s also another concession area near the parking lot on the ground level at Rifugio Sapienza. Here, you’ll find salads, sandwiches, and a few hot options as well. Just keep in mind that you won’t have access to this spot until you’re on your way out (once you’ve already taken the cable car down).

Perhaps it’s just a “fun” side effect of being pregnant, but I’m constantly planning and coordinating my next trip to the bathroom. I’d advise using the bathroom before you board the cable car (or hike up to the Mountain Hut, if you’re not planning to ride the cable car).

There’s a bathroom at the start of the cable car which you can use before you board. There are also additional facilities within the Mountain Hut that you can use once you disembark the cable car.

Regardless of which you use, I wouldn’t wait. Once you get started hiking and the wind whips through you, you’re not going to want to deal with the hassle of hiking back (at least I didn’t).

While riding the cable car is a popular option, some people forego this experience altogether and hike up to the Mountain Hut (the cable car drop-off point) from Rifugio Sapienza instead.

Just bear in mind that this is definitely the more strenuous option. You’ll need to climb up to the cable car drop-off point which essentially “begins” the hike. (However, you’ll already have expended a lot of your energy just to get to this point.)

Also, keep in mind that the hike up to the Mountain Hut is about a 90-minute walk on loose volcanic gravel.

Riding the Mount Etna cable car was definitely one of my favorite parts of the whole experience.

That said, it doesn’t come cheap!

Here’s the cable car pricing info (as of 2023) to spare you potential sticker shock:

Adult Round Trip Ticket: The online price is listed as 30EUR, but my husband and I paid 50EUR each when we visited in April 2023, as you can see in the photo.

Child Round Trip Ticket (Ages 5 – 10): 23EUR

Children ages four and under can ride the cable car for free.

Keep in mind that sometimes the cable car will not be running due to poor weather conditions/timing.

In our experience, my husband and I rode the cable car up, but at the end of the day it had stopped running, so we were shuttled back down Etna in an off-roading bus. It was a pretty wild experience to check out the landscapes from this new perspective!

The Mount Etna Cable Car is located at Parco dell’Etna, Nicolosi, Piazzale Rifugio Sapienza, 95030 Nicolosi.

I was initially unsure what kind of cable car we would have (open or closed) and how many people would fit within it, so here’s what you can expect.

Each cable car is enclosed, which I quickly understood the need for as we made our way up the volcano and the wind began to pick up.

There are two rows of seating (one on each side of the cable car). If you’re traveling as a twosome, be prepared to share space with another duo who you’ll be paired with at the departure line.

Again, I cannot overemphasize the wind factor here. Our car was rocking and swaying pretty much the entire way up to the 2500-meter point, so if you struggle with a fear of heights, this is definitely something to consider.

Did you know that Etna boasts a whopping 180 wineries?! The volcano’s mineral-rich soil provides a special harvesting ground for some of the most unique wines in Italy.

So it’s no surprise that adding a winery tour to your Etna experience is the perfect way to round out your adventure – and to treat yourself after some serious exertion! I would have loved to enjoy some wine post-hike if I wasn’t, you know, eight weeks pregnant at the time! Frankly, I think it’s the perfect excuse to go back…

There are many, many wine tours to choose from, but here are a few to get you started.

As a content creator, this tip goes without saying for me, but I would’ve felt like we missed out without our camera here. Yes, it can be tough to shoot on Etna (especially when it gets windy), but the landscape is just too spectacular not to capture.

If you’re interested to know what we shoot with, you can check out all of my camera gear.

That said, a photo can only capture so much – Mount Etna is truly one of those places you need to experience firsthand!

I hope these tips have given you a good idea of what to expect when hiking Mount Etna. While there’s a lot to consider, this is truly such a bucket-list experience and something you won’t want to miss when you visit Sicily.

If you’re considering making the hike, do you think you’ll opt for a self-guided journey or are you feeling brave enough to tackle the summit with a guide? Let me know in the comments below!

Ready to embark on more adventures in Sicily? Check out my other guides:

• 15 Dreamy Boutique Hotels in Taormina with Breathtaking Views
• Taormina or Positano: Which Italian Hot Spot Is Right for You?
• Where to Stay in Ragusa, Sicily: Essential Neighborhood Guide (Plus Accommodations)
• 15 Fun Things to Do in Ragusa, Sicily (Including Free Activities & Day Trip Ideas)