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Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport
Logistics · Destination Guide
Volcanic walls, protected Mediterranean life, and island-scale adventure
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Most visitors fly to Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport, transfer by train, scheduled coach, taxi, or private car to central Palermo, and continue from the port by sea. Liberty Lines operates the faster passenger craft, commonly around 1 hour 30 minutes, while the conventional Siremar or Caronte and Tourist ferry is closer to 3 hours and can suit heavier luggage or vehicles when scheduled. Timetables and fares vary by date, and poor sea conditions can delay or cancel either service. Avoid a tight same-day international connection after the return sailing. A first or final night in Palermo is the safest structure. Check the official ItaliaMeteo sea forecast as well as the ferry operator on the day before departure; the operator remains the final source for whether a sailing runs.
Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport
PMO • LICJ
About 35 km by road to central Palermo and its port, followed by the sea crossing • About 35 to 60 minutesutes to Palermo port, then roughly 1 hour 30 minutesutes to 3 hourss by sea
The primary gateway for Ustica. Trenitalia links the airport rail station with Palermo, while coaches, taxis, and private transfers offer alternatives when a ferry connection is time-sensitive.
Transport: Train to Palermo followed by taxi or local connection to the port, Scheduled airport coach to central Palermo, Taxi or pre-booked private transfer direct to the port
The harbor and central village are walkable, but the volcanic island is hilly and some coastal objectives are spread out. Local buses, taxis, scooters, bicycles, e-bikes, and operator pickups can bridge the gaps, with availability and frequency changing by season. Confirm helmet, license, insurance, parking, and any seasonal vehicle restrictions before renting. Dive centers normally move cylinders and group equipment by van or boat, so most visitors do not need a vehicle solely for diving.
Ustica has no separate immigration regime from Italy. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens should travel with a valid passport or national identity card accepted for Italy. Other travelers should use the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Visa for Italy tool for nationality-specific passport and visa requirements. Schengen rules, carrier document checks, and future border-system changes can affect the answer, so verify again before departure. Accommodation providers will normally register guests under Italian law; this is not a marine-park permit and does not authorize diving.
Check the ferry operator's current baggage rules before arriving with a large roller, camera case, or freedive fins. Pack regulators, computers, lights, prescription masks, and essential medication as cabin or hand luggage where carrier rules permit. Soft labeled dive bags are easier on ramps and small boats. Local rental reduces airline and ferry burden, but reserve unusual sizes, DIN regulators, drysuits, technical cylinders, rebreather support, and camera gear well ahead. Protect batteries and lights according to airline dangerous-goods rules, and preserve the training-agency no-fly interval after the final dive.
Euro (EUR)
Cards are common at established accommodation, restaurants, and dive centers, but small purchases, local transport, or a temporary terminal outage can still require cash. Confirm whether operators charge a card fee or request a bank transfer for deposits.
Use an ATM in Palermo before sailing and carry a reasonable reserve. Island ATM availability, cash limits, and replenishment can be constrained during busy periods or technical interruptions.
230V • 50Hz • C, F, L
Bring a Type C, F, or L adaptor as needed and ensure chargers are dual-voltage. Camera users should pack a compact power strip that the accommodation permits, avoid overloading old sockets, and keep lithium batteries within airline rules.
Communications
Italian mobile networks generally cover the village and much of the island, but cliffs, caves, offshore sites, and remote coves can reduce signal. Download ferry tickets, maps, operator contacts, certification cards, and insurance documents before leaving Palermo. Ask the accommodation about Wi-Fi speed if remote work matters, and do not rely on a phone signal as the only surface emergency plan.
Language
Italian is the working language, with Sicilian forms common in local life. Established dive operators often handle English and sometimes other European languages, but medical, transport, and small-business interactions may be Italian-first. Save key medical and equipment terms offline and disclose allergies, medications, certifications, and emergency contacts in writing.
Insurance
Carry travel insurance that explicitly covers scuba or freediving to the planned depth and training level, including chamber treatment, search and rescue, island evacuation, missed connections, and weather-related ferry disruption. A European Health Insurance Card can help eligible visitors access state care but is not a replacement for rescue, repatriation, or specialist dive coverage. Confirm whether cave, technical, rebreather, or instructor activities need an endorsement.
Packing list
For water time, pack a 5mm to 7mm suit according to month and cold tolerance, computer, SMB and spool, mask, boots, torch for approved low-light routes, and personal exposure accessories. Cold-sensitive May divers may prefer a drysuit if trained. Add grippy walking shoes, sun hat, high-protection sunscreen, refillable bottle, light rain and wind layer, motion-sickness medication, dry bags, and photocopies or offline copies of identity, certification, insurance, prescriptions, ferry bookings, and operator confirmations.