What to see on Etna in half a day?

A complete visit of Mount Etna would take several days. However, by organizing the time well, it is possible to visit some points of interest even in half a day. Here’s what we recommend you visit on Etna having little time …

What to see on Etna in half a day? Here are the tips to visit Etna independently or relying on organized excursion agencies.

Visit Etna by CAR

We recommend focusing on only one side of the volcano. The tourist resorts of Etna Sud or Etna Nord (about 2000 meters) are easily reachable by car. In these locations, in addition to the panorama, the eruptive theaters of 2001 and 2002 are of considerable interest. The southern side (Nicolosi), with the Etna cable car is the most touristy. On site it is easily accessible a walk on the Silvestri Craters, while a few kilometers by car you can reach the panoramic point of the Valle del Bove from Monte Pomiciaro. The north side (Linguaglossa) instead is less touristy but offers very fascinating landscapes, as well as the vision of the North East crater, the highest peak of the volcano.
Advantages: freedom of movement, times and times.
Disadvantages: the visit will be panoramic, but a volcano would have many interesting things to tell through the voice of its people: the guides.

Visit Etna by TREKKING

For those who love walking, this activity is absolutely recommended, to visit the less touristy places and come into direct contact with the nature of the Etna Park.
Several paths are accessible and easily visited. The most visited places in trekking on the volcano, for their ease to
reach them with the paved roads and related signs are those near the tourist resorts described in the previous point (visit Etna by car).

Among the most popular trails that can be visited independently with few risks and easy difficulty we point out:

Silvestri Craters – Visit of the craters originated from the eruption of 1892 and the eruptive theater 2001 on the south side a few hundred meters from the Sapienza refuge.
Sartorius Mountains – Seven aligned craters originating from the eruption of 1865 near the Citelli Refuge.
Eruptive mouths of 2002 – Ring tour of Monte Nero starting from Piano Provenzana.

You can take advantage of the recommended trails on our hiking map.

Visit Etna with an guided service

If you only have half a day, relying on a guide can be a great idea. He will be able to choose for you the most suitable places for your needs. Both trekking on the most unexplored slopes or tours with 4×4 vehicles are proposed, which also include 4/5 stages, with off-road routes on lava flows, the visit of extinct craters, the inevitable Valle del Bove, the visit of a volcanic cave, often associated with tastings of typical products.