Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To make an international telephone call from Sicily, dial 00, then the relevant country and area codes followed by the
telephone number.
Directory enquiries
local
1254, international
89 24 12
International access code
00
International direct-dial code
39
International operator
170
Time
Sicily is one hour ahead of GMT. Daylight-saving time starts on the last Sunday in March, when clocks are put forward
one hour. Clocks go back an hour on the last Sunday in October. Italy operates on the 24-hour clock, so you will see
18.30 rather than 6.30pm on transport timetables.
Toilets
Public toilets are rare in Sicily except at major tourist sites and archaeological parks. Most people use the facilities in
bars and cafes - although you might need to buy a coffee first. In many places public loos are pretty grim; try to go
armed with some tissues.
Tourist Information
You'll find tourist offices located throughout Sicily. Some are more helpful than others but most are able to provide ac-
commodation lists, rudimentary maps and information on local tourist attractions. Most will also respond to written and
telephone requests for information.
Opening hours vary but as a general rule are 8.30am to 12.30pm or 1pm and from 3pm to 7pm Monday to Friday.
Hours are usually extended in summer, when some offices also open on Saturday or Sunday. Information booths at ma-
jor train stations tend to keep similar hours, but in some cases operate only in summer.
Offices in popular destinations such as Palermo, Catania, Taormina, Syracuse and the Aeolian Islands are usually well
stocked and staffed by employees with a working knowledge of at least one other language, usually English but also
French or German.
Officially, Sicilian tourist offices are known as
Servizi Turistici Regionali
(Regional Tourist Services) but for the sake
of simplicity we refer to them as 'tourist offices'. For a full list and other regionwide information, contact Sicily's
Re-
gional Tourist Board
(
091 707 82 01;
www.regione.sicilia.it/turismo
; Via Notarbartolo 9, Palermo) .
