Craters Silvestri of Mount Etna
Craters Silvestri of Mount Etna
4.5
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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9 within 3 miles
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28 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
222 reviews
Excellent
143
Very good
66
Average
12
Poor
1
Terrible
0
David M
Halifax, Canada45 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Fascinating place. As a geologist, this was on my bucket list. Had an opportunity to explore during a cruise excursion. Didn't have a lot of time, but it was very enjoyable. Our guide was quite a fun and interesting guy. Playing Pink Floyd tunes as we ascended and descended to and from the crater. It's chilly and windy. Dress appropriately!
Written August 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anuj_Mithani
Mumbai, India4,517 contributions
Sep 2022
This is an easy walk/hike not far from Rifugio Sapienza, where we were staying. It's possible to descend into the first crater, and also enjoy the views around. Getting to the second crater seemed more arduous and we gave that a pass.
Written November 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry G
Des Plaines, IL309 contributions
Oct 2019
Our tour included a bus ride up to view the Mount Etna area. The road was full of curves and turns, glad my motion sickness did not kick in. The landscape is volcanic rock, a little vegetation now and then. Viewed an abandoned residence that had been run over by a lava flow. Our bus left us off near the upper and lower Silvestri crater. If you feel ambitious climb the upper Silvestri trail for a great view of the area. The lower crater trail also provides nice views.
Restrooms are nearby.
There are a lot of tours for Mount Etna, so read what they cover and where they take you.
Be careful, It's easy to slip and fall so wear hiking shoes, bring suntan lotion and water.
If the honey truck is there, try some of the samples. The small jars of honey (various flavors) for sale make great gifts for those at home.
Restrooms are nearby.
There are a lot of tours for Mount Etna, so read what they cover and where they take you.
Be careful, It's easy to slip and fall so wear hiking shoes, bring suntan lotion and water.
If the honey truck is there, try some of the samples. The small jars of honey (various flavors) for sale make great gifts for those at home.
Written November 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
theFulhamFoxes
London, UK55 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
we decided to drive up to these craters as it was a simple 45 minute drive from where we were staying in Giarre and had been looking at Etna for three days...and wanted to get closer! and it was awesome...some beautiful scenery as your drive up and the way the lush vegetation slowly changes into lava fields...and then this barren-mars-like terrain.... is wonderful. What is exciting is that this volcano is alive...and erupted as recently as May this year with stunning videos of raging lava flowing down the mountain.
It is a different world up there and there are some simple small hikes to do around small craters....and some more challenging ones the further up you go. I would really like to go back and get a proper geological guide to take me as high as you can get...but with my three kids this was not the time. But it has whetted my appetite!
It is a different world up there and there are some simple small hikes to do around small craters....and some more challenging ones the further up you go. I would really like to go back and get a proper geological guide to take me as high as you can get...but with my three kids this was not the time. But it has whetted my appetite!
Written July 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristian Kos Grabar Broz
Varazdin, Croatia267 contributions
Aug 2013 • Solo
I have made an excursion to Etna Volcano, but I just had time to go up to the Silvestri Craters. After a 30 minutes drive up the mountin ( with a stop on the way to make pictures of Etna Volcano ) we arrived at the craters. We spent there some time walking around, its a nice place to visit and to enjoy the lanscape. Wish I had the time to get up to the top with the cable car. If you are planing to visit Etna take enough time and do the cabel car ride up to the top ! Its one of the must do if you stay on Sicily and if you have enough time !
Written September 4, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura Vardy
Grand Falls Windsor, Canada738 contributions
Oct 2019
Visited here during a tour from the Messina cruise port with Discover Messina Siciliy. The drive was over an hour long but it was worth it to see this unique and scenic landscape! Driving up the volcano was interesting; we even saw smoke coming from the volcano!
The craters of Silvestri are two inactive craters formed as a result of the Mount Etna eruption of 1892. They are about 1900 meters above sea level, but you could reach a higher elevation if you want. We were satisfied to spend an hour or so here walking around the craters. The climb was not difficult and this site is suitable for all ages. There is also a restaurant and store that sells souvenirs near by. We were told it would be very cold on the volcano but I was comfortable in my Capri pants and t-shirt in October month.
The craters of Silvestri are two inactive craters formed as a result of the Mount Etna eruption of 1892. They are about 1900 meters above sea level, but you could reach a higher elevation if you want. We were satisfied to spend an hour or so here walking around the craters. The climb was not difficult and this site is suitable for all ages. There is also a restaurant and store that sells souvenirs near by. We were told it would be very cold on the volcano but I was comfortable in my Capri pants and t-shirt in October month.
Written November 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LTaylor73
Gold Coast, Australia68 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
What a wonderful place to visit. Felt just like being on an alien planet with the black soil and black rocks everywhere. We just about needed a coat it does get quite cold up the top. Plenty of awesome shops to buys treats as well like honey pistachio paste and nuts and all other jams. I loved them bought some goodies back with me.
Written July 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
flaneur40
New York City, NY1,694 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
There is a funicular (ski lift) kind of thing that will take you, for 50 euros, higher up, but I opted to hike down to the lower craters. It is challenging going down (be prepared for dirt in your trainers) but true murder coming back up. Truly steep returning to the road and the bus, but it is ethereal down there, moon-like or otherworldly (if only for the people). The other option is that you can climb the tall peak on the other side of street from the craters (not the bit you take the funicular to). With a limited bus stop however you cannot do both the climb up the peak and the climb down to the crater. It's a matter of whether you want to have a view of the craters and parts beyond, or actually go down to the craters.
Written July 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarrotMiku
Irvine, CA91 contributions
Sep 2017 • Solo
I came here as part of a Celebrity Cruises ground excursion and it was by far the highlight of my trip. There's a large parking lot nearby, along with café and souvenir shops, but the craters themselves are located a little ways away.
The hike around the craters is quite doable, but the weather was extremely cold and windy and in the end, I was really glad I brought my thicker jacket for this hike. While I would have like more time to explore, I'm glad I signed up for this as it was worth every Euro.
The hike around the craters is quite doable, but the weather was extremely cold and windy and in the end, I was really glad I brought my thicker jacket for this hike. While I would have like more time to explore, I'm glad I signed up for this as it was worth every Euro.
Written September 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CoralReef
Washington2,564 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Really amazing landscape, unlike anything I've ever seen. On the drive up to the craters, we passed several caves that can be explored, and had an opportunity to see how lava flows had shaped the landscape.
There is an extensive cafe/restaurant/gift shop at the first crater stop, with free WCs. The crater in my picture is an easy walk, about 100 yards from the road. The views are great. You can spend anywhere from 15 minutes to more than an hour at this stop, depending on whether you eat, shop, or walk/climb to further craters. You can also take a funicular even higher up.
If you do want to walk to some of the further craters, make sure you have good footwear and maybe even hiking poles, since the footing is mostly loose rocks. You might also want a light jacket. It was about 15° F cooler at the craters than at sea level.
There is an extensive cafe/restaurant/gift shop at the first crater stop, with free WCs. The crater in my picture is an easy walk, about 100 yards from the road. The views are great. You can spend anywhere from 15 minutes to more than an hour at this stop, depending on whether you eat, shop, or walk/climb to further craters. You can also take a funicular even higher up.
If you do want to walk to some of the further craters, make sure you have good footwear and maybe even hiking poles, since the footing is mostly loose rocks. You might also want a light jacket. It was about 15° F cooler at the craters than at sea level.
Written June 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bonjour, le parking du cratere silvestri est il payant?
Est il sécurisé, puis je laisser mes bagages dans le coffre sans risque pendant la visite du cratére?
Peut on aller plus haut et que voit on sans guide? Faut il des chaussures speciales, y fait il frais à cette hauteur?
Voit on ou sent on des fumerolles?
Merci beaucoup pour votre aide
Written June 1, 2023
Salve a tutti, vorrei sapere se oggi, la zona è aperta per visitare i crateri Silvestri cn l'auto, Grazie mille.
Written September 28, 2019
Cable car is not needed to walk up and around Silvestri Craters.
Cable car is needed to go to higher craters, not sure about price but be aware that the service ends around 4pm
Written June 23, 2019
We would like to know if you can hire 'slittini' near Silvester Craters
Written December 20, 2018
Panagiotis I
Skiathos, Greece
Is there a bus from Katania please?Or is there a tour from somewhere to visit Etna?
Written November 10, 2018
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