Messina City Car Hire

Messina Tremestieri is the southern ferry terminal in Messina, located 5 km south of the city center and is an important gateway to Sicily for traffic from the south. With 2 rental agencies directly at or near the terminal, you can easily pick up a car right after the ferry crossing from Villa San Giovanni. Taormina is 40 km south via the A18 motorway.

The Tremestieri terminal primarily serves truck traffic and private cars arriving from Villa San Giovanni on the Calabrian coast. The A18 motorway connection south toward Catania and A20 west toward Palermo starts practically at the terminal. Messina center is 10 minutes north along the coast.

Pick up your car right at Tremestieri and drive south on the A18 toward Taormina (40 km) without having to pass through Messina's city traffic. Turn off at Roccalumera (35 km) for a quick break by the sea before continuing toward Etna. Plan your route via SS114 along the coast instead of the motorway for more picturesque driving toward Taormina.

What's the difference between Tremestieri terminal and Messina center for car rentals? Tremestieri primarily serves heavy traffic and cars from Villa San Giovanni, while the center terminal at Via della Libertà handles more passenger traffic and express ferries. How long does the ferry from Villa San Giovanni to Tremestieri take?

The ferry journey takes approximately 20–25 minutes and departs regularly around the clock. How far is it from Tremestieri to Taormina? It's about 40 km via the A18 motorway and takes approximately 35–40 minutes.

We compare prices from all major providers at Messina Tremestieri so you can see the total cost upfront — including insurance, fuel terms and any extras. Most bookings include free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup, giving you flexibility if your plans change.