Hiking holidays to Mount Etna: are you brave enough?

What are the best hiking trails around Mount Etna?

There are a number of different options available to hikers who want to climb Mount Etna. If you're looking for easy, family-friendly hiking on Mount Etna, try the Torre del Filosofo to Crateri Barbagallo route. This gentle trail is a great way to ease into the world of hiking; it's only about 1 kilometre long, and gives you the chance to wander around one of the volcano's less active craters. For something a little more challenging, you can reach Crateri Barbagallo from Rifugio Sapienza. This intermediate, 5-km route may not sound too intense, but it will take about 6 to 8 hours to finish, with an elevation gain of 1,000 m. For a challenging hike up Mount Etna, start at Rifugio Sapienza and follow the trail to the summit. This route is around 9 km long, but it's very tough. At one point, you'll gain 600 m of elevation in just 2.5 km, which may leave you gasping for breath. Depending on the volcano's current conditions, the summit might be closed, in which case you should stop at Torre del Filosofo - or, alternatively, continue to Crateri Barbagallo to end your day.

Where should I stay if I want to hike Mount Etna?

There are two good choices for holiday lettings near Mount Etna. Hikers tend to stay in either Catania or Taormina, both of which are convenient for trekking around Mount Etna. The main benefit of staying in Catania is that it's a much larger city, with lots of amenities for a comfortable stay. Taormina, on the other hand, is a delightful resort town. If you want to relax on the beach after hiking Mount Etna, this is the best choice. When you're choosing your accommodation, be sure to think about how you want to spend the rest of your holiday. Are you just planning on doing some hiking on Mount Etna, or would you like to see more of Sicily? Do you want to include some cultural visits - in which case Catania is a good choice - or would you rather chill out on the beach to soothe your tired legs?