Car Hire: Take advantage of the special easyJet inflight rates. Visit the Europcar desk on arrival or call +39 (0)95 348 125. Open from 8am-midnight seven days a week.

Airport Transfer: Pre-book your door-to-door transfer with easyJet’s transfer partner, Holiday Taxis—from home to the airport, then city or resort (easyjet.holidaytaxis.com).

Taxi: A journey to the centre costs about €20 and takes 15 minutes

Bus: Bus 457 leaves every 20 minutes from 5am-8pm, stopping in the centre, including the central train station. Tickets: €0.80 (ticket machine); €1.30 (on board).

Bar Desíreé
( 137 Viale Libertà. Tel. 095 535 960 )
Sandwiches, arancini (rice balls), slices of pizza and gelato ice-cream are among the tasty traditional Sicilian food served at this restaurant.

Kebab Hallal
( 27 Via Monserrato. Tel. 095 093 1008 )
This Middle Eastern restaurant dishes up the best kebabs in the city—for carnivores and vegetarians. Sit back and relax among the tropical furnishings.

Le Tre Brocche
( 7 Via Sangiorgi. Tel. 095 538 738 )
Intimate restaurant just outside the city centre. The helpful waiters will guide you through the menu which features good Sicilian cuisine, with an emphasis on seafood dishes.

Ambasciata del Mar
( 6 Piazza Duomo. Tel. 095 341 003 )
Classically elegant and right in the heart of Catania—in front of the main city square—this restaurant offers fine seafood and excellent service in a serene atmosphere. Book ahead. Closed on Monday.

Mida Cafe
( 20 Piazza Federico di Svevia. )
Alternative-style café that's perfect for a cup of tea or espresso as you admire the fantastic views of Ursino Castle. Come nightfall, it morphs into a buzzing cocktail bar with live music.

Heaven, Drink Club Catania
( 39 Piazza Teatro Massimo. )
Catania’s coolest bar attracts a young crowd and boasts fantastic live disco music. Open every day, it has fun weekend specials, with music-themed cocktails and a DJ sommelier!

Le Torce
( 50 Via Landolina. )
This small disco-pub has a sophisticated feel—it serves fantastic cocktails—with live rock and techno music. Free entry before 9pm and open until late

Smoke! is an unusual shop. If you like to puff, you can buy everything from tribal pipes to Sicilian cigarettes and Persian narghile. It also boasts the longest list of rolling papers in Europe (83A Via Giuffrida. www.smokebox.it).

For a peek at local life, head to the flea market in Piazza Carlo Alberto. Held every Sunday morning, be sure to arrive bright and early—it's where Catanians come for bargains.

Parco Gioeni is the city's biggest and best green space. With an English garden, fountains and lots of space to for sports activities, walking, reading or picnics under a tree, it has something for everyone. The entrance is at the end of Via Etnea, in Piazza Gioeni.

Head to Misterbianco for the celebrations to mark the feast day of Sant' Antonio Abate. Thousands of people from across Sicily arrive to watch the traditional blessing of bread and animals, followed by a huge street procession (17 January).

Modica – On the south-east coast, Modica is a small but vibrant city of 50,000 people. Destroyed by an earthquake in 1693, today it is known for its baroque-style architecture and delicious chilli chocolate. About 90 minutes south of Catania.

Mount Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe—it's also one of its most active volcanoes.

Compiled by Alessandro Di Maio/www.laspecula.com