Messina: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Messina is a city of 219,948 people in Italy (Sicily), 29 m (95 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), 91 km (57 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Messina runs from about 9 h 33 min a day in late December to 14 h 53 min in late June (computed for 38.19° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Messina is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), 91 km (57 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 7,989 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Lamezia Terme Sant'Eufemia International Airport (SUF, 100 km), Reggio Calabria Airport (REG, 16 km).
Flights to Messina: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Messina · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Naples, 315 km — flights · buses · car rental
- Palermo, 192 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Bari, 344 km — buses · car rental
- Catania, 89 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Taranto, 291 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Reggio Calabria, 13 km
- Foggia, 363 km — buses · car rental
- Salerno, 284 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Siracusa, 127 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Valletta, 271 km (Malta)
Common questions
Which airport serves Messina?
Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), 91 km (57 mi) from the centre, plus 2 other airports with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Messina?
About 219,948 people live in Messina (GeoNames).
What time zone is Messina in?
Europe/Rome, currently UTC+2.
What currency is used in Messina?
The Euro (EUR). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Messina?
Naples (315 km), Palermo (192 km), Bari (344 km), Catania (89 km), Taranto (291 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.