The city is compact and most everything lies in the center, which makes it easy and best to get around on foot. If you need to go further, ATM buses (tel. 090-22851; www.atmmessina.it) is the bus and tram company that departs from the transportation hub, Piazza della Repubblica. Bus tickets can be purchased at tabacchi (tobacco shops) or news kiosks throughout the city; the cost is about €1.20 for a ticket valid for 1 1/2 hours or about €2.60 for an all-day ticket.

You`re only likely to use the bus or tram to get between central Messina and the northern ferry terminal 2.5 miles up the coast, these run every 10-15 mins. Bus 79 runs this way (every 30 mins) and continues north to Ganzirri and Istituto Marino on the north-eastern tip of the island. Many buses and the railway run south.

We do not recommend driving while in Messina. The city`s traffic is chaotic, even by Sicilian standards. Once you arrive there are local buses and a tram to get you around. If you do have a car, leave it by the parking lot near the central station or Hotel Liberty.

Taxis are found mainly at the Stazione Centrale, at Piazza Cairoli, and along Via Calabria. For a 24-hour radio taxi, call tel. 090-2934880.

Messina is a safe place to visit. Nevertheless, you should always take precautions when traveling, ie., keep your passport in your hotel safe if you can, don`t carry a great deal of cash, be vigilant about your own safety and beware of pickpockets. It is always recommended to avoid walking alone at night and in remote areas. Use the same street smarts that you would use in any large city worldwide.

The currency used in Messina (and the rest of Italy) is the Euro (€), US dollars are not accepted. We suggest to exchange some money before the trip and have some Euros on you since the rate will be a lot higher on the spot and no currency other than Euro is accepted.

It is also useful to remind your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling to make sure your cards will work while in Italy. We recommend you record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.

Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.

Rates fluctuate, so before departing consult a currency exchange website such as www.xe.com to check up-to-the-minute rates.

For more information about tipping visit: Tipping in Italy

Average temperatures in Catania vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel very nice much of the year, but hot in the summer and cold in the winter with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is somewhat temperate compared to tourist destinations worldwide. The best time to visit Messina is from May to June or September to October. These late spring and early fall months offer the best temperatures in the 70`s, which are ideal for temple gazing, beach lazing or hiking. These months are also the most popular times to visit, as well as the most expensive.

The official language spoken in Messina is Italian. If you don`t speak Italian we suggest learning at least a few Italian words and phrases before you arrive. This will come in handy in more remote parts of Sicily. In Messina, there aren`t many people who speak English, but enough of the folks in airports, hotels and restaurants understand it well enough to make basic transactions go smoothly. Even if you do speak Italian, you might not understand everything the Sicilians are saying to each other, since they may be speaking the local dialect (actually a distinct language), but they all speak Italian. We suggest you get a good English-Italian and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

In Messina, you will not have any difficulties to locate good eating at affordable prices. This city serves up fantastic seafood and offers a very savory local cuisine. Best places in town for a good pizza and local food are around Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Cairoli, Montalto and Cristo Re.

The typical Messina breakfast, especially during the summer months, is a cup of coffee or strawberry `granite` accompanied by a soft brioche.

At lunch, you can start with `la pasta caciata` (pasta, meat and melted cheese with boiled eggs) alternatively, try swordfish or in the poorer but equally tasty version `la ghiotta di piscistoccu` (stockfish) fillets of fish slowly baked in a rich sauce of tomatoes, potatoes, capers and herbs.

Fried Costardelle (saury), spatola (angler fish) and shell-fish are less sophisticated alternatives to swordfish, the king of the Straits, this delicious fish may be served as a main course in the form of delicate rolls stuffed with breadcrumbs. The meat version of the dish is called braciole, and usually comes served with a large helping of green salad.

Vegetable dishes include those based on eggplants, such as caponatina and fritters.

Messina is especially known for their famous pastries and unbeatable ice cream. Any visit to this city always leads to one of these undeniably delicious treats. You will also find many of the classics such as cannoli (pastry tubes filled with ricotta and candied fruit) and pignolata (a cake made with lard, eggs, sugar, lemon and chocolate).

The old town center of Messina offers a wide variety of venues for a wonderful night out with many amazing restaurants, lovely bars and pubs with outdoor seating, as well as a nightclub. The Cathedral of Messina, home of one of the city`s most impressive architectural and historical monuments, hosts numerous free classical and jazz concerts in its square throughout the summer months attracting many tourists from Italy and Europe. Also, the hotel bars are typically open until late providing an interesting variety of events in summer.

Shopper`s will find a shopping paradise around Piazza Cairoli, about a 10 minute walk from the central station. Wander the main streets Viale Europa and iale San Martino, to browse the side streets and alleys, stroll designer shops and small boutiques. In this area you will find everything from bargains to designer clothes (and much cheaper than some other neighbor cities).

Note: Value-added tax (VAT) rate is currently 22% in Italy for standard goods. Travelers outside the EU can claim back sales tax on purchases over €155 if they have bought from shops displaying the `tax free` shopping sign.