Landing at Catania Fontanarossa after 22:00 or at dawn and need to reach Taormina? The real options are three — metered taxi, fixed-price chauffeur, night bus — and the price varies considerably. This guide compares everything, with updated 2026 prices and the actual night surcharges.
Taxi rates Catania → Taormina (night hours 22:00–06:00)
A traditional metered taxi applies higher rates during night hours. For the Catania Airport (CTA) — Taormina centre route, 52 km long, the average 2026 cost is:
- Night base rate: €120–150
- Airport surcharge: €4–7
- Luggage surcharge: €0.50–1 per item
- Waiting at the gate (if your flight is late): €25–35 every 30 minutes
Realistic total for a night ride with 2 suitcases and a delayed flight: €140–180, with no fixed quote. The meter keeps running even in summer traffic.
Chauffeur rates (private fixed-price transfer)
A chauffeur service like SAT applies a fixed rate decided at booking time, the same day and night. For Catania → Taormina:
- Sedan (Fiat Tipo, up to 3 pax): €120
- Mercedes E-Class (3 pax): €130
- Mercedes V-Class (6 pax): €150
No night surcharge, no airport surcharge, no extra for luggage. Even if you land at 03:00 with a 3-hour delay, the price does not change.
What's included in the SAT night transfer
- Professional uniformed chauffeur waiting at arrivals with a name board
- Real-time flight monitoring: the driver adjusts automatically if you arrive early or late
- Free waiting time up to 60 minutes after the declared landing time
- Complimentary water and Wi-Fi on board
- Child seats on request, free of charge
Night bus: does it really exist?
Etna Trasporti runs some night services between Catania Airport and Taormina, but: - The last ride leaves around 23:00, the first morning ride at 05:30 - The bus stops at Taormina-Giardini Naxos, from where you'll need another vehicle to reach the historic centre - Total typical time: 1h 30m – 2h - Cost: €8–12 per person
For two people with luggage, the cost approaches €25 but with 2 extra hours compared to the private transfer.
Which is really better?
If you land at night and want to arrive at your hotel relaxed, the fixed-price private transfer always beats the night taxi:
- Save €20–60 compared to the night taxi
- Avoid the meter surprise growing in traffic
- Know exactly what you'll pay before leaving
- Have a driver waiting even with a 3-hour flight delay
The taxi only makes sense if you haven't booked and accept paying blindly; the bus only fits a very tight budget, light luggage and no time pressure.
How much would you pay?
Calculate the exact price of your Catania → Taormina night transfer with our quote tool: guaranteed fixed rate, no surprises at check-in.