Sending Parcels to Sicily: a comprehensive guide for every province
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and the Italian region with the most complex logistics for shipments. There are no bridges or tunnels connecting it to the mainland: all parcels arrive by ferry across the Strait of Messina or by air at the airports in Palermo, Catania and Trapani. This adds 24–48 hours to standard delivery times but does not prevent parcels from being received from across Italy and from abroad.
Contents: Sending Parcels to Sicily
💶 How much does it cost to post to Sicily?
| Weight | Approximate price | Standard times |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kg | from €9.46 | 24–48 working hours |
| 2 kg | from €10.80 | 24–48 working hours |
| 5 kg | from €13.50 | 24–48 working hours |
| 10 kg | from €18.00 | 24–48 working hours |
| 20 kg | from €27.00 | 24–48 working hours |
| 30 kg | from €35.00 | 48–72 working hours |
Guide prices, excluding the fuel surcharge. Use the calculator to get an exact quote.
🗺️ Provinces of Sicily: delivery times by area
| Province | Capital | Peninsular delivery times (express) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palermo | Palermo | 48 hours | Direct ferry from Genoa/Naples/Civitavecchia or a flight |
| Catania | Catania | 48 hours | By ferry from Via Messina (20 mins) or by flight to Fontanarossa |
| Messina | Messina | 48 hours | The first town after the ferry — the quickest |
| Syracuse | Syracuse | 48–72 hours | Via the A18 from Messina or the Catania hub |
| Ragusa | Ragusa | 48–72 hours | Via the Catania hub — the most remote area |
| Trapani | Trapani | 48–72 hours | Birgi Airport (seasonal) or via Palermo |
| Agrigento | Agrigento | 48–72 hours | Via Palermo hub — inland area |
| Caltanissetta | Caltanissetta | 48–72 hours | Inland area — Catania or Palermo hub |
| Enna | Enna | 72 hours | The innermost part of Sicily — fewer services |
Express delivery with DHL/UPS/FedEx. Please allow an extra 24–48 hours during the summer and at public holidays.
🚢 How does the parcel get to Sicily?
By ferry — Strait of Messina (the main route)
The standard route for road freight is the ferry across the Strait of Messina, between Villa San Giovanni (Calabria) and Messina (Sicily). The crossing takes about 20 minutes, but courier vans have to wait their turn to board — during peak season or on public holidays, the wait can be several hours.
By air — Sicilian airports
For urgent parcels, express couriers use direct air routes to Sicily’s three cargo airports: Palermo Punta Raisi, Catania Fontanarossa and Trapani Birgi. The air route completely bypasses the Strait and ensures more predictable delivery times.
Direct ferry service (Palermo and Catania)
Passenger and freight ferries depart from Naples, Genoa and Civitavecchia bound for Palermo and Catania. Couriers mainly use this route for heavier, less urgent consignments.
⚠️ In summer (July–August) and during holiday periods (Ferragosto, Christmas, Easter), always add 24–48 hours to the standard estimates for any destination in Sicily.
🔗 Ferries across the Strait of Messina are mainly operated by Caronte & Tourist, with departures every few minutes from the Villa San Giovanni terminal: Caronte & Tourist — ferries across the Strait of Messina
🪜 How to send a parcel to Sicily in 5 steps
- Enter the weight, dimensions and destination into the calculator on SpedizioneComoda.com
- Compare quotes from DHL, UPS and FedEx/TNT in real time
- Choose the service and pay online — the system generates the label automatically
- Print the label and stick it onto the correctly packed parcel
- The courier will collect from your home on the date you choose — track your parcel using the tracking number
💡 To pack correctly: A guide to packaging errors
🚚 Courier services for deliveries to Sicily
SpedizioneComoda compares DHL Express, UPS e FedEx/TNT. See also all the express courier services available.
⚠️ Please check that your item is not subject to any restrictions: List of prohibited items
❓ FAQs — Deliveries to Sicily
With express delivery: 48 working hours for the main cities (Palermo, Catania, Messina). For more inland provinces (Enna, Agrigento, Caltanissetta), add 24 hours. Delivery times by air are more reliable than by road.
There is a small surcharge for island destinations compared to those on the mainland — it’s not significant, but it does apply. The final price depends on the weight, dimensions and specific delivery area. Use the calculator to get an exact quote with all surcharges included.
Only if both the sender and the recipient are in Sicily (e.g. Palermo→Catania). From the mainland, the most realistic delivery time with an express service is 48 working hours.
The smaller Sicilian islands (Stromboli, Pantelleria, Lampedusa) have their own specific logistics arrangements involving local ferries. Express couriers do not guarantee direct delivery to the island — the parcel arrives at the nearest Sicilian town and is then forwarded by local operators. Please contact us to check whether this is feasible.
Yes, there are no customs formalities for intra-EU shipments. Sicily is an Italian region in every sense of the word.
→ For delivery issues: A comprehensive guide on what to do if a delivery is not made
→ Do you need to send a parcel abroad? Guide to international shipping · Shipping to Europe
📍 Main cities
Sending parcels to Milan · Rome · Naples · Turin · Florence · Venice · Bologna · Bari · Catania · Palermo · Sardinia
→ All destinations in Italy: send parcels to Italy
