|
|
|
|
Tours in Palermo |
Driving in Italy is not for the faint-hearted. However, if you want to see many of the smaller or more remote sights, hiring a car is by far the best option. Driving in Palermo is best avoided, if possible, but elsewhere a car will enable you to travel, stop and sightsee at your own pace. For car hire companies, see Getting Around.
Palermo, in the north west of the island, is connected to Catania via Enna by the A19. The A20 follows the northern coast of Sicily to the east via Cefalu and Capo d'Orlando, while the A29 goes west towards Trapani.
Drive on the right, overtake on the left. Driving licences should be carried at all times. Speed limits are as follows: 50 kph (31 mph) in built-up areas, 90 kph (56 mph) on secondary roads, 110 kph (68 mph) on main roads, and 130 kph (81 mph) on motorways. Motorways are known as autostrades and indicated by a green sign. Petrol (benzina) is expensive in Sicily.
Emergency breakdown services in Sicily are run by the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) (website: www.aci.it), Italy's equivalent of the AA. The service is not free, however, and the cost can be quite high, so renting a reliable car from a reputable firm is a must if you don't want to find yourself stranded, or faced with a very big bill to pay.
Emergency breakdown number:
ACI 116
Coach services: SAIS Autolinee (tel: (091) 616 6028; website: www.saisautolinee.it) has modern, comfortable coaches that serve most of the major cities and towns in Sicily, including Cefalu, Messina, Enna, Caltanissetta, Catania and Siracusa. Segesta (tel: (091) 616 9039; website: www.segesta.it) serves Trapani, and Cuffaro (tel: (091) 616 1510) serves Agrigento. Most services depart from Via P Balsamo. Call individual operators for more information.
Palermo, in the north west of the island, is connected to Catania via Enna by the A19. The A20 follows the northern coast of Sicily to the east via Cefalu and Capo d'Orlando, while the A29 goes west towards Trapani.
Drive on the right, overtake on the left. Driving licences should be carried at all times. Speed limits are as follows: 50 kph (31 mph) in built-up areas, 90 kph (56 mph) on secondary roads, 110 kph (68 mph) on main roads, and 130 kph (81 mph) on motorways. Motorways are known as autostrades and indicated by a green sign. Petrol (benzina) is expensive in Sicily.
Emergency breakdown services in Sicily are run by the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) (website: www.aci.it), Italy's equivalent of the AA. The service is not free, however, and the cost can be quite high, so renting a reliable car from a reputable firm is a must if you don't want to find yourself stranded, or faced with a very big bill to pay.
Emergency breakdown number:
ACI 116
Coach services: SAIS Autolinee (tel: (091) 616 6028; website: www.saisautolinee.it) has modern, comfortable coaches that serve most of the major cities and towns in Sicily, including Cefalu, Messina, Enna, Caltanissetta, Catania and Siracusa. Segesta (tel: (091) 616 9039; website: www.segesta.it) serves Trapani, and Cuffaro (tel: (091) 616 1510) serves Agrigento. Most services depart from Via P Balsamo. Call individual operators for more information.
