Mid-Range Travel Guide: Catania

Accommodation

$60-140 per night

Private rooms in mid-range hotels, boutique guesthouses, apartment rentals in city center

Food & Dining

$35-75 per day

Mix of local restaurants, tourist-area dining, occasional fine dining experiences

Transportation

$15-40 per day

Mix of public transport, taxis for convenience, day trip transfers

Activities

$30-80 per day

Guided tours, museum entries, wine tastings, organized Mount Etna excursions

Eat at neighborhood markets and local pizzerias instead of tourist-area restaurants (typically 40-60% cheaper)

Use public buses for city transport instead of taxis (usually 70-80% savings)

Visit Mount Etna independently using public transport rather than organized tours (can save 50-70%)

Book accommodation in residential areas rather than historic center (typically 30-50% lower rates)

Shop for groceries at local supermarkets and prepare some meals yourself (reduces food costs by 60-80%)

Take advantage of free museum days and public beach access instead of paid beach clubs

Book flights to Catania rather than Palermo to avoid additional transfer costs (usually $30-60 savings)

Eating exclusively in the historic center tourist zone (typically 100-150% markup over neighborhood spots)

Taking taxis for all transportation instead of learning the bus system (can triple transport costs)

Booking accommodation at the last minute during peak season (often 200-300% higher than advance booking)

Joining every organized tour instead of mixing in self-guided activities (can double activity expenses)