Car Hire Terrasini

Car Hire

The charming old town of Terrasini is situated on the northern coast of Sicily, 20 miles from the capital, Palermo. Its main activities are fishing and tourism. Notable features are a number of 18th century churches and the civic museum, housed in Palazzo Aumale, a 19th century winery. Natural landmarks include the coastline, with lots of beautiful coves and beaches to explore by rental car, grottoes, historical sites such as watchtowers dating back to the 16th century and the natural reserve of Capo Rama.

Who to Book With
You can book a rental car at the closest international airport to Terrasini, Palermo’s Punta Raisi. Here, you’ll find representatives of most main car rental companies, such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, in addition representatives of some local agencies. Remember to book your vehicle online via our comparator site before travel since this is the best way to compare prices.

Best Time to Go
Terrasini enjoys an excellent climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The average daytime temperature throughout the year is around 18°C and nights are warm. From May to October, average highs range from the low 20s (°C) to 30°C. In the winter, expect temperatures to drop to 7°C.

Need to Know Essentials
To rent a vehicle, you are required to present the following documents:

- An International Driving Permit or a DVLA driving licence
- A passport or another valid form of identification with a photograph
- The same credit card that was used to make the reservation
- A print-out of the confirmed reservation

See our FAQ page here.

Driving
Driving is on the right in Sicily. Parking in Terrasini is easy to find although it is best to leave your car in the car park of your accommodation overnight. Caution should be exercised when driving on the region’s mountain roads.

Read our Guide to Italy for more info on driving here.

Transport

Terrasini is very small so you will find you can easily get around the town and see its sights on foot. There is no public transport. It is possible to reach the town by bus from Palermo, although not directly from the airport. Travellers coming from the airport must first travel to Palermo, in the opposite direction from Terrasini, then catch a bus westwards―a journey of 40 miles. For this reason, many visitors book a taxi from the airport, although this is not cheap. The best option is to hire a car directly at the airport and then drive to Terrasini, which is located 15 miles from Palermo on the A29 highway.

Trains
There is no train station in Terrasini, which shares a station with the neighbouring town of Cinisi. Cinisi-Terrasini Station is on the Palermo-Trapani line. Be aware that the train station is a couple of miles out of town. Trenitalia Trinacria Express trains depart from here for the capital several times a day, with the journey taking 40 to 50 minutes and costing around £5.

Buses
Several bus lines,including Segesta and Russoautoservizi, run from the airport to central Palermo. Running every 30 minutes, the Prestia e Commande buses are an inexpensive way to get into the city centre, with single fares just over £5. From central Palermo, you can take a bus to Terrasini. Several private companies operate services to the town. Most of them depart from close to the main train station. Single fares are in the range of £2.50 for the 50-minute trip.

Taxis
There are plenty of taxi firms operating out of Palermo, including Radio Taxi Trinacria. Transferring to Terrasini by taxi from Palermo Airport costs around £25 to £30.

Exploring

The area around Terrasini has a number of places of interest to travellers. These include the ancient city of Palermo, beaches and caves, as well as some great parks and nature reserves.

Recommended Drives

Palermo - The capital of Sicily, Palermo, is an ancient city which was founded by the Phoenicians. Most of its historical and cultural attractions are located downtown and can easily be seen on foot. Tourist attractions include the archaeological museum, the catacombs, various churches and the cathedral, and the glorious mosaics and Arabic decorations of the Cappella Palatina. Palermo also offers lots of restaurants serving delicious Sicilian cuisine and exciting nightlife. Take care to leave your car in a designated car park.

Bioparco, Carini - This purpose-made park consists of an extensive zoo, botanical gardens, an exhibition area known as Dinosaur Land, a tropical greenhouse, a reptile house and an aquarium with both freshwater and sea fish. There are additional exhibitions covering early man, fossils and minerals, and primates. Bioparco is situated halfway between Terrasini and Palermo, some miles inland. It can be reached by driving along the SS113 road, with the journey taking about half an hour.

Capo Rama - Located on the coast and overlooking the Gulf of Castellmare just three miles west of Terrasini, Capo Rama is a nature reserve. Covering an area of 57 hectares, the park is characterised by limestone rocks which are rich in fossils and a stunning coastal landscape with rocky strips, grassy vegetation and many species of flora, such as cacti, shrubs and dwarf fan palms. It is home to many native and migratory birds.