When to visit Etna: the best time for a hike
You can climb Etna almost all year round, but every season shows a different volcano. Here is what to expect on the northern slope.
Practical guides
Before you climb Etna
When to go, how to get there, which side to choose: the answers we give every day to those who write to us, gathered in a few pages.
How to get to Piano Provenzana, Etna North
Piano Provenzana, at 1,800 metres in the municipality of Linguaglossa, is the gateway to Etna's northern slope and the meeting point for all our tours.
Etna North or Etna South? Which side to choose for your tour
Etna has two tourist gateways: the southern side, with Rifugio Sapienza and the cable car, and the northern side, with Piano Provenzana. They are not the same mountain.
What to bring on Etna: clothing and gear for the hike
On Etna you go from coastal heat to summit wind in a few hours. Dressing right is not a detail: it is what separates a great day from one to forget.
Etna with kids: which tour to choose and how to prepare
An active volcano is the most exciting science lesson a child can have. With the right route and a few precautions, Etna is a perfect family outing.
The 2002 craters: the story of the eruption that changed Etna North
On the night of 26–27 October 2002 Etna's north-east flank split open above Piano Provenzana. Within hours lava wiped out the tourist station. The cones born that night are now the destination of one of our favourite hikes.