The Mount Etna cable car (Funivia dell’Etna): tickets, hours & is it worth it
What is the Funivia dell’Etna?
It’s the gondola lift on Etna’s south side, starting at the Rifugio Sapienza car park where the road ends. The cabins climb the lava slope to a top station at around 2,500m, where specially adapted 4x4 buses continue toward the summit craters with an authorised guide. The lower Silvestri Craters next to Sapienza are free to walk, so the cable car is only needed to go high.
How much does the Etna cable car cost?
A cable-car-only return runs about €50. The popular combined ticket — cable car, 4x4 minibus and a guided walk near the summit craters — is around €76. Prices change by season, and queues at the Sapienza ticket window can be long in summer, which is why many visitors take a guided summit tour that includes the cable car and handles the booking.
Opening hours and how long the ride takes
The Funivia generally runs from about 9am to 4pm, with longer hours in summer and reduced service (or closures) in bad weather and high winter winds. The gondola ride itself is roughly 15 minutes each way; budget half a day once you add the 4x4 leg and time at the top.
What works
- Fast way to reach 2,500m without a long hike
- Big views over the Valle del Bove on the way up
- Bundled into most summit tours — no queue
Worth knowing
- Pricey for the cable-car-only ticket
- Can close in wind, cloud or snow
- Doesn’t reach the summit craters on its own
If reaching the high craters matters to you, book a guided summit tour rather than a cable-car ticket alone — only authorised guides can take you to the top zone, and the tour price often works out close once the 4x4 and guide are added.
Cable car or guided tour?
Buy a cable car ticket if you simply want the ride and the view from 2,500m. Book a guided summit tour if you want to actually reach the live craters — it includes the cable car, the 4x4 and the guide you’re required to have up top. Compare every option on the tours page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Mount Etna cable car?
About €50 for a cable-car-only return from Rifugio Sapienza. The combined ticket with the 4x4 buses and a guide to the high craters is around €76. Seasonal prices vary.
How long is the Etna cable car ride?
Roughly 15 minutes each way, climbing from about 1,900m to 2,500m. Allow half a day in total if you add the 4x4 leg and time at the top.
Is the Etna cable car worth it?
If you want height and views without a long hike, yes. But it doesn’t reach the summit craters alone — for those you need the 4x4 and an authorised guide, which a summit tour bundles in.
Is the Etna cable car open?
It usually runs about 9am–4pm year-round, but high wind, cloud or snow can suspend it. In winter, check before travelling up.