Quick Guide: What It's Like to Travel to Sicily from the UK After Lockdown

I literally just got back to the UK from Sicily… and let me tell you… it was amazing! Since I’ve been back, I’ve been answering a lot of questions about what it’s like to travel to Sicily from the UK during the Coronavirus pandemic and after lockdown has been lifted.

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Was it safe? What was it like? What paperwork do I need to enter the country? Do they have a track and trace app that I need to download? Do I have to check into restaurants and bars? Are tourist attractions open? What documents do I need to re-enter the UK?

OK, OK… slow down. It’s a little overwhelming when you try to think about everything at once. Hopefully I can put your mind at ease, so you can relax and enjoy your holiday in Sicily.

*I can only comment on flying into Catania Airport, from what I have heard, it’s the same experience in Palermo. I’m also, not sure what mainland Italy airports are like, however, the same paperwork should be required. Just make sure you check for regional specific paperwork or apps to download.

Entry Paperwork for Italy When You Travel to Sicily From UK

This one is VERY touchy. I got an e-mail stating I needed to fill out this form when I travel to Sicily and then fill it out again when I departed Sicily (this was for EasyJet… not sure if it’s different for the other airlines).

I’m sure there’s some Italian airports that take your form, but Catania-Fontanarossa Airport did not.I would fill out the form JUST IN CASE, because they can refuse entry if you’re not following their new guidelines.

I actually didn’t need any paperwork at all when I was leaving Manchester or arriving in Catania.

There is a Sicilian “tracker” app (SiciliaSiCura) that you can download before your journey and check-in to the region once you arrive, and check-out of the region when you leave. It is now required.

**October 2020 UPDATE**

Now that Italy has tightened things up with Brits traveling to Italy, you’ll have to fill out this self-declaration and you will NEED TO HAVE A NEGATIVE COVID TEST within 72 hours of entering Italy. You can always fill out this questionnaire for the latest travel guidelines for entry into Italy.

You CANNOT use the NHS free test for travel and leisure purposes. You’ll have to get a private test, so make sure you plan ahead as private tests can be unpredictable with how many are in stock or how speedy your results are.

Private tests don’t come cheap, but at £119.00 the Lloyds Pharmacy Covid test is one of the cheapest options. If you live in central London then you can book a walk in test at one of the ten DocTap locations and get results as early as 70 hours.

Another option will be to take a free test at the airport on arrival, however, not every Italian airport will be doing tests so you’ll have to check the airport’s website.

If you opt for taking the free test at the airport, then you will have to quarantine until you get your results back.

manchester airport - travel to Sicily from UK

Flying with easyJet

To say I was nervous about taking my first flight since lockdown started easing, was to say the least. I kept asking myself if I was crazy… should I be traveling when most countries are still in lockdown? Should I just continue traveling within the UK so I don’t have to fly and I can take as much hand santizer and Dettol disinfectant spray as I want?

BUT, I hadn’t been on a plane in sooooo long and I really wanted to travel to see what it was like and how other countries are handling the pandemic.

Flying with easyJet was a great choice. The plane felt super clean, the air filters replace the cabin air every 3-4 minutes, and everyone was VERY good about wearing their face covering.

There is service on easyJet flights, however, currently it’s just cold drinks and light snacks. They offer a hummus snack box, Pringles, and a selection of chocolates. NO sandwiches, coffee or tea!

Flying into Catania–Fontanarossa Airport

Arriving at the airport in Catania was super easy! Just a quick temperature check as you come off the plane and then you head through customs.

I think I spent a total of 10 minutes in there.

When you walk outside though, it is a little hectic so I do recommend you keep your mask on if you are trying to navigate to the taxis or airport bus, because there is A LOT of congestion just before the taxi rank and bus stops.

Exploring Catania and What it’s Like After Lockdown

Catania is such a beautiful, baroque city in the shadow of the commanding Mount Etna, why wouldn’t you want to spend your holiday here?!

Catania is the perfect place to make your base on the east coast and explore the coast and south east area. (I don’t recommend making it your base for exploring the north… Sicily is a lot bigger than you think!). It’s also not known as the “holiday resort” of Sicily, so you have half a chance to socially distance yourself everywhere you go.

When I visited (end of July 2020), there were not a lot of tourists in Catania, but more locals. I also noticed a lot of Italian couples vacationing in Catania, but not too many families. Via Etnea is the big shopping street and that was always busy by mid-day, however, the “tourist hotspot”, Piazza Duomo, only had a few people.

*Most* tourist attractions are open, however, there were still plenty of places that were closed. There’s really no way to check unless you physically go to the place, because I found several attractions that were temporary closed due to the pandemic, but it didn’t say anything about the closure on their website, TripAdvisor, or Google.

You can take some great day trips by train (or car, if you want to experience the rush of Italian driving) and public transport feels very safe and clean. Everyone has to wear a mask and the trains are air conditioned and feel well ventilated. I avoided bus travel because some of the buses looked a little too full for my liking.

Check out my ULTIMATE Guide to Catania for more tips, tricks and ideas!

If you go to the more “touristy” areas of Sicily though, be warned, there are far more people walking around and for some, social distancing goes out the window… like the beaches around Taormina or the main street area at the top of the cable car.

Leaving Catania

If you are flying from Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (I assume it’s a similar experience with the other airports in Italy) then you need to arrive about 2 1/2 hours before your flight!

I’m serious!

Leave yourself PLENTY OF TIME!

I arrived the usual 2 hours before an international flight and I was RUSHING! It would’ve been nicer to have that extra time.

*Morning traffic getting out of the city center of Catania is TERRIBLE!*

You will join the queue to enter the airport and they check your boarding pass and temperature as you enter. If you are checking a bag into the hold (like I was), then you’ll need to hussle over to the check-in desks!

Trust me, NOT GREAT!

It was a giant cluster at the easyJet desks, even with 3 desk agents working. One of the agents was yelling for the London flight which was boarding in 10 minutes time, on top of passengers already at the desks emptying out their suitcases because they were too heavy! The line wasn’t long, but it took forever!

Then you head to the security line… there were only two lanes open (and a lot of passengers to get through).

After security, you head to the next line for passport control, which took the longest.

All in all, it was bad. I enjoyed flying out of Manchester more. HOWEVER, I think I wouldn’t have been so “on edge” if I gave myself that extra 30 minutes.

Paperwork for LEAVING Italy and REENTERING the United Kingdom

Just a couple of more things to add to your stress list…

When you fly out of any Italian airport, you need to fill out THIS DECLARATION FORM.

It’s super simple… just your flight info, contact details, and signature saying you have not been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 and you have not shown any symptoms.

You can print a copy out before your trip and then just fill it out at the gate before you board. They did have copies for you to fill out in case you didn’t already have one, however, they were all in Italian.

For re-entering the UK, you need to FILL OUT THIS FORM.

Even though the website is poorly worded and makes you think you don’t need to fill out because Italy is currently on the 14 day isolation exemption list, you still need to completely fill it out!

Scroll down to the bottom and click the green “Start Now” button.

You can only fill this out 48 hours BEFORE you leave the country! I did mine the night before and it took about 10 minutes.

You can either print a copy (if you’re staying in a hotel with access to a printer), or save it on your phone. It was difficult for me to download and save to my iPhone, so I just screenshot every page, including the reference number page.

easyjet flight - travel to sicily from the uk

Arriving Back in the UK

When you arrive at Manchester, you get a temperature check and you have to show proof you have filled out and submitted your health form. I just showed the screenshot of the first page of the application and that was satisfactory for them.

Customs is the same as it normally is, you still go through the electronic gates.

Tips for When You Travel to Sicily from the UK

ALWAYS check what paperwork you need to enter/exit the country (it could be changing constantly)
Download your airline’s app so you can get any notifications if your flight status changes
A few days before your flight, check your e-mails! Most of the time the airline will send you links to all the forms you need!
Visit Sicily will be releasing a special voucher to encourage and increase tourism in Sicily. The tourism board will cover some of the cost of your plane ticket and hotel!! Details haven’t been released and there’s no set date on when the See Sicily voucher will start, but you can keep up to date on the Visit Sicily website.