Visit Etna Sicily: Explore Europe’s Most Active Volcano

Thinking about your next Sicilian escape? Visit Etna, it’s one of the island’s most jaw-dropping experiences. Towering over eastern Sicily, Mount Etna isn’t just Europe’s highest active volcano, it’s a living, breathing icon you can hike, drive, or toast a glass of wine to. Volcanic slopes, smoking craters, epic views of the Ionian Sea: It’s dramatic, it’s raw, and it’s pure Sicily. And if you’re into wine, this is prime territory. The fertile lava soil gives birth to some of Sicily’s most exciting reds and mineral-rich whites. Sicily wine tours & wineries around Etna are just as unmissable as the volcano itself. From cable cars to crater treks and vineyard lunches with a view, this guide helps you plan the perfect Etna day trip, or two.

Visit Etna Sicily: Head to the top things to do

Walk to the summit of Mount Etna

Ready to take things to the top? If you’re feeling bold and packed for adventure, you can hike all the way to the summit of Mount Etna with a licensed guide. It’s a demanding trek, but the payoff is next-level: steaming craters, alien-like lava fields, and the raw force of Europe’s most active volcano right under your feet. Visit Etna like a true explorer, just don’t show up in flip-flops. Even in summer, it gets chilly up there, so bring solid hiking boots and a few layers.

Take the cable car from Rifugio Sapienza

If you want to visit Etna without breaking too much of a sweat, hop on the cable car from Rifugio Sapienza. In just a few minutes, you’ll glide up to 2,500 meters, with jaw-dropping views over Etna’s dramatic slopes and black lava trails. From there, you can join a 4×4 ride or take a short hike to get even closer to the upper craters. It’s one of the easiest and most scenic ways to explore the volcano, ideal for a half-day adventure with a serious wow factor

Wander around Crateri Silvestri

Right next to the cable car station at Rifugio Sapienza, the Silvestri Craters are a must-see when you visit Etna. These dormant cones are easy to explore on foot and give you a front-row seat to Etna’s raw landscape without needing a guide. Think reddish-black lava soil, panoramic views, and a surreal, moonlike setting that feels worlds away from the coast. It’s also a great reminder of how this volcanic terrain has shaped some of the best wine and produce in Sicily.

Explore the Valle del Bove

The Valle del Bove is one of the most surreal spots to explore when you visit Etna. This vast volcanic depression on the eastern side of the mountain looks like something from another planet, carved by centuries of lava flows and framed by towering cliffs. It’s a dream for geology lovers and photographers chasing dramatic shots. Many guided hikes lead you to panoramic viewpoints overlooking this lunar-like landscape, where the raw force of Etna’s eruptions is etched into the rock.

Experience a 4×4 excursion on Etna’s slopes

Hop on a 4×4 guided excursion from Rifugio Sapienza or Piano Provenzana. These rugged tours take you deep into zones that hikers can’t reach, think fresh lava fields, hidden craters, and eerie volcanic caves. Many itineraries also include a stop at a traditional mountain refuge, where you can warm up with hearty Sicilian food and taste local wine grown in the mineral-rich slopes of Etna.

Discover Piano Provenzana

Piano Provenzana is Etna’s peaceful side, literally. Tucked away on the northern slope, it skips the crowds and gives you front-row seats to lava-sculpted trails, sweeping views, and crisp mountain air. Whether you’re lacing up for a guided hike, heading up to see high-altitude craters, or even planning a ski run in winter, this is where the real adventure starts. And the best part? It still feels wild.

Walk through lava fields and ancient trails

When you visit Etna, don’t overlook the lower slopes, they’re a world of their own. Covered in pine forests, fossilized lava flows, and ancient mule tracks, these trails are perfect for hikers of all levels. Walk through a living showcase of nature’s resilience, where every path tells the story of eruptions past and the slow, wild rebirth that follows. It’s one of the most scenic ways to explore the volcano’s raw beauty without needing to summit.

Ride the “Circumetnea” train around the volcano

For a more offbeat way to visit Etna, hop aboard the Circumetnea train, an old-school railway that winds around the base of the volcano. This charming local line connects towns like Bronte (hello, pistachios), Adrano, and Randazzo, giving you a front-row seat to rural Sicilian life and ever-changing volcanic landscapes. It’s slow, scenic, and perfect if you want to soak in the atmosphere without a guide or a car.

Visit Etna Sicily: Enjoy the top things to do around

Where volcanic grit meets Italian soul

Serafica sits high on Etna’s southern slopes, where vineyards cling to steep, mineral-rich land kissed by sea breezes. The family’s wines, like the Versante Sud and Grotta series, are driven by native grapes like Carricante and Nerello Mascalese, bursting with volcanic energy and refined depth. Visit for a small-group tasting that pairs wines and olive oils with sweeping views and heartfelt Sicilian storytelling.

Explore Zafferana Etnea

Just a 30-minute drive from Mount Etna’s slopes, this picturesque town on the southeastern side is a sweet spot for travelers who want to visit Etna without skipping on charm. Known for its honey, olive oil, and laid-back vibe, it’s a great place to slow down after a hike. With easy access to Etna’s trails, sweeping views of the volcano, and plenty of local delicacies to sample, it’s an ideal base for combining food, culture, and trekking in one relaxing stop.

Savor organic elegance rooted in tradition

Terra Costantino stands out as Etna’s first organic estate. Perched on terraces that face the clear Sicilian sea, their wines are a testament to sustainable passion and deep-rooted heritage. Taste their Carricante or Nerello blends and you’ll sip centuries of love for the land, alive in every pour.

Discover Catania

Just 40 minutes down the road from Mount Etna’s summit station, Catania feels like the lava-powered heartbeat of eastern Sicily. This city has risen from the ashes of past eruptions more than once, and today it’s a bold mix of Baroque beauty, buzzing food markets, and stories carved in volcanic stone. After a full day exploring craters and lunar landscapes, make your way back to Catania for a laid-back evening of rich flavors and good wine. From vineyard visits on the outskirts to curated Catania wine tours, this is the perfect place to toast your Etna adventure.

If you plan to visit Catania Italy, don’t rush through it, this city deserves your time.

Walk through Bronte

About 45 minutes by car from Rifugio Sapienza, Bronte sits quietly on the western slope of Mount Etna, and it’s a pistachio lover’s paradise. Known as the home of Sicily’s famous “green gold,” this mountain town is packed with flavor. Stop here after your volcano adventure to refuel with creamy pistachio pasta or a slice of dessert that’ll ruin you for regular gelato. Bronte also serves as a jumping-off point for more rugged trails, including the path to Grotta del Gelo, a lava-formed cave where snow and ice linger all year.

Drive to the beautiful Taormina

Just an hour’s drive from Etna’s eastern side, visit Taormina Italy and you’ll instantly see why this clifftop town has been charming travelers for centuries. With postcard views over the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna rising in the distance, Taormina is the perfect way to wind down after a volcanic adventure. Wander past the ancient Greek Theater, browse the boutiques on Corso Umberto, then settle in for a glass of local vino with a view. Taormina wine tours are a great way to dive into the island’s volcanic terroir, pairing incredible wines with honey-drizzled cheeses and Sicilian olives.

Witness cousins turning Etna into a vineyard legacy

Set in the northeast slopes of Etna, Generazione Alessandro is the brainchild of three cousins with a family history in winemaking since the early 1900s. Their volcanic terroir-focused wines bring a vibrant identity to Etna’s wine scene. If you’re curious about modern expressions of ancient land, this one’s for you.

Meet the guardians of Etna’s grape heritage

At I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna, the vines come first, many over a century old, rooted in rich volcanic soil, shaped by extremes. The family sees themselves as custodians of Etna’s traditions, crafting wines that echo resilience, terroir, and quiet power. The Aetneus Etna Rosso? A velvety legend you’ll taste.

Feel the White Lotus stage with wine

Planeta Sciaranuova, nestled among lava flows and oak woods, is part vineyard, part movie set, literally. Featured on The White Lotus, it offers two-hour tastings that blend scenic walks, five wines, and local bites in the shadow of Etna. Think gourmet wine meets dramatic Sicilian cinema.

Good to know before visiting Mount Etna