Arrival, information and accommodation

The train station is on the mainland, about a twenty-minute walk from either Ortygia or Neapolis. If you're not staying, dump your bags in the left luggage office in the station (6am-9.30pm; L5000/a?Ź2.58 for 12hr) and strike off for one or the other. AST buses arrive either in Piazza della Poste, just over the bridge on Ortygia (where there's also an office doling out timetables for regional and city bus services), or else in Piazzale Marconi, in the modern town; SAIS buses stop in Via Trieste, close by Piazza della Poste.

The main city bus stops are in Piazza Archimede and Largo XXV Luglio on Ortygia, and along Corso Umberto on the mainland; tickets cost L1500/a?Ź0.78, valid for 90 minutes. For maps, accommodation listings, details of performances in the Greek theatre, and other information , visit the tourist office at Via Maestranza 33 (Mon-Fri 8.30am-2pm & 2.30-5.30pm, Sat 8.30am-2pm; tel 0931.464.255, fax 0931.60.204), or at Via San Sebastiano 43 (daily 8.30am-1.30pm & 3.30-6.30pm, closed Sun in winter; tel 0931.481.200, fax 0931.67.803). The main post office is in Piazza della Poste; telephones (8am-10pm) are at Via Teracati 46 close to the Parco Archeologico.

Accommodation choices aren't spectacular and in high season you must make an advance reservation. For staying on Ortygia the Gran Bretagna is a popular lodging at Via Savoia 21 (tel 0931.68.765; L60,000-90,000/a?Ź30.99-46.48), or you could try the elegant Domus Mariae , Via Vittorio Veneto 76 (tel 0931.24.858; L150,000-200,000/a?Ź77.47-103.29), which has luxury facilities and views to the sea. Most stylish of all is the Grand Hotel (tel 0931.464.600; L300,000-400,000/a?Ź154.94-206.58), a veteran haunt of the rich and famous in a prime position overlooking the Porto Grande, at Viale Mazzini 12. The cheaper hotels are all on the mainland, for example the Milano , Corso Umberto 10 (tel 0931.66.981; up to L60,000/a?Ź30.99), a rather cramped choice, and around the train station you'll find the Aretusa , at Via Francesco Crispi 75 (tel & fax 0931.24.211; L60,000-90,000/a?Ź30.99-46.48), and the Centrale , at Corso Umberto 141 (tel 0931.60.528; up to L60,000/a?Ź30.99), both plain and functional. The private youth hostel out at Belvedere, Viale Epipoli 45 (tel 0931.711.118), is currently closed and there are doubts about its reopening. The nearest campsite , Agriturist Rinaura (tel 0931.721.224), is 5km away - take bus #21, #22 or #23 from Corso Umberto or Piazza delle Poste.

Other useful information for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections):

Italy,Siracusa

Italy,
Siracusa