Catania or Siracusa for 3 days

Hello,
We are trying to set our final itinerary in Sicily and I wanted to ask for some advice. We arrive at 10 on August 24 and have a transfer on August 27 to Milazzo from Catania Airport at 10am.
First option is to go staight to Siracusa for 2 and 1/2 days, then catch 8 am bus to Catania airport on 27. Second option is to stay in Catania and make a day trip to Siracusa and a day trip to Taormina. I am not sure if Catania is a nice destination in its own right- I think Taormina must be worth visiting, which is why I am thinking to stay in Catania, though in August not sure it is worth battling the crowds. There is only one AM bus from Siracusa to Catania airport, and I am a little anxious about making the connection, but it is due at 9:15 so think it should be plenty of time.

Thanks in advance for your opinion. Jessica

Personally I would stay in Catania, it is a nice city with lots of good places to go in the evening, of the 3 it is likely to be the quietest in August, both Siracusa and Taormina will be packed full of tourists. So staying in Catania you can do a day trip to Siracusa and one to Taormina, plus Etna of course. You can take the train to Siracusa, which is a nice journey.

Thanks Richiavo!
This is really helpful in our planning. I think we will spend the first night in Siracusa then the other two days in Catania. We have one night there before we depart Sicily, so I hope that is a good split.

i agree with rich. i liked the realness of Catania, and plenty of places to wander. for me a day trip was enough to Taormina and Siracusa - they are very touristy. I wouldn't have just 1 night elsewhere - the whole pack up and transfer thing burns time.

Siracusa is touristy because it, and Ortigia in particular are much more beautiful. Go there and eat at da Mario's above the fountain of Arethusa.

I did not stay in Catania. The bus ride through showed an interesting city, but not one to stay in overnight. I have stayed in Siracuse and love it very much. It has the romance of decay. We stayed in Hotel Gutkowski in a room water side and listened to the surf all night (once the auto traffic ended). Siracuse also has an intact Greek temple enclosed now as a church. While there I was enchanted, but did not even visit the Greek ruins outside of town.

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