Excursions mass, and you can choose not only by cost, but also by route. Theoretically, ascent to Etna is possible from any direction, in practice there are three main routes: southern, eastern and northern.

• Southern (Etna Sud) passes through Rifujo-Sapienza (1,900 m), where from the city of Catania through Nikolosi, a regular AST bus runs once a day (on the way 1 hour, the cost is about 4 EUR, departure at 8:15 am, back - at 16:45). From Rifugio Sapienza to La Montagnola (2,500 m high) there is a funicular railway (round-trip ticket 27 euros), that is, you can get there by yourself, without an excursion. And you can book excursions on specially equipped four-wheel drive off-road vehicles. Guided tour costs from 50 EUR.
• The eastern route lies through the village of Zafferana-Etnea and also leads to Rifujo-Sapienza to around 1,900 m.
• The northern route (Etna Nord) passes through the towns: Piedimonte-Etneo, Linguaglossa and leads to the base of Piano-Provencan. The cable car is not there.

Despite the fact that independent pedestrian climbing is possible, it is better to hire a guide after all - it will be safer and more interesting.