Mount Etna: Cable Car Entry Ticket + 4x4 Bus Transfer

About this experience

Book Mount Etna cable car and 4x4 bus tickets on VervTrip to go higher on Europe's tallest active volcano than the cable car alone can take you. This ticket combines a round-trip cable car ride from the Funivia dell'Etna base station above Nicolosi to the upper station at about 2,500 metres (8,200 ft), then a round-trip 4x4 bus ride with an alpine and volcanological guide up to about 2,900 metres (9,500 ft), the highest point visitors are allowed to reach on this route. Plan on about 2 hours 30 minutes from boarding to your return at the base. What your Mount Etna cable car and 4x4 bus ticket includes Entry ticket for the Funivia dell'Etna Round-trip cable car ride from about 1,923 metres to the upper station at about 2,500 metres Round-trip 4x4 bus ride from the upper station to about 2,900 metres Alpine and volcanological guide on the 4x4 stage, in English or Italian Not included: transport to the base station, food and drinks, and the snowcat supplement if heavy snow means the route has to be run with tracked snow vehicles. In that case the difference is paid on site, so contact our support team if it applies to your visit. How the trip works, from the base station to 2,900 metres You start at Piazzale Funivia Etna Sud, the large car park beside the Rifugio Sapienza hotel on the southern side of the volcano, about 30 minutes' drive uphill from Nicolosi. The cable car cabins climb over old craters and lava fields to the upper station. On windy days the cable car may not run, and 4x4 buses take you up to the same altitude instead. The 4x4 stage with a volcanological guide From the upper station, special 4x4 buses drive along a private mountain road that only the operator's vehicles use. At about 2,900 metres the guide leads a short walk across the volcanic ground, explains recent eruptions and points out craters, lava flows and fumaroles. On clear days you can see across eastern Sicily and down to the Ionian coast. The top of the volcano and its summit craters lie above this point and are not part of this ticket; for a guided hike higher up, see the Mount Etna summit crater trek. Weather and volcanic activity The cable car and 4x4 service depend on weather and volcanic conditions and can be changed or stopped during the day for safety. Staff at the station will tell you about any changes on the day. Opening times, meeting point and how to use your ticket Departures start at 8:30 am. The last departure is in the early afternoon and moves earlier in winter, and the last admission is 30 minutes before closing, so arriving by late morning is the safest plan. The trip itself takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. When you arrive, go to the dedicated office at the entrance of the Funivia dell'Etna station and show the QR code on your voucher. Staff exchange it for physical tickets, and this desk is reserved for people who booked online. Residents of Sicily may get local discounts that are only sold at the station ticket office. What to wear and who this trip suits It is much colder and windier at 2,900 metres than in Catania, even in summer, and there can be snow from late autumn to spring. Bring a warm windproof jacket, long trousers, closed shoes with a good grip, sunglasses, sun cream and water. The volcanic ground at the top is loose and uneven. The trip suits families, first-time visitors and anyone who wants to stand high on Etna without a long hike. Wheelchair access is not confirmed for the 4x4 bus or the walk at the top, so contact us before you book if you need step-free access. If you only want the cable car ride, the Mount Etna round-trip cable car ticket is the simpler option, and the Etna sunset jeep tour is a good evening alternative. Cancellation and booking tips It is possible to cancel this booking free of charge up to 48 hours before your visit date and get a full refund. You can also change the date up to 48 hours before your visit. Within 48 hours the booking cannot be cancelled or changed. Book early for summer weekends and holidays, when the base station is busiest, and pick a morning slot for clearer views before afternoon cloud builds up. After your visit, find more things to do in Catania, the closest city and airport to the volcano.

Highlights

• Ride the cable car to about 2,500 metres on Europe's tallest active volcano
• Continue by 4x4 bus to about 2,900 metres, the highest point allowed on this route
• Walk the volcanic ground with an alpine and volcanological guide
• See craters, lava fields and, on clear days, the Ionian coast

What is included

• Entry ticket
• Round-trip cable car ride
• Round-trip 4x4 bus ride
• Alpine and volcanological guide (English or Italian)

Not included

• Transport to the base station
• Snowcat supplement in case of heavy snow (paid on site)
• Food and drinks

Before you go

Show the QR code on your voucher at the dedicated office at the entrance of the Funivia dell'Etna station to get your physical tickets Departures start at 8:30 am; the last departure is in the early afternoon and earlier in winter Last admission is 30 minutes before closing It is cold and windy at 2,900 metres, so bring a warm windproof jacket and closed shoes with a good grip In strong wind, 4x4 buses replace the cable car; in heavy snow, tracked snow vehicles may be used and the extra cost is paid on site The service can change or stop during the day because of weather or volcanic activity Wheelchair access is not confirmed for the 4x4 bus or the walk at the top

Cancellation terms

It is possible to cancel this booking free of charge up to 48 hours before your visit date and get a full refund. Rescheduling is possible up to 48 hours before your visit date. Within 48 hours the booking cannot be cancelled or changed.