American Express Via E. Amari 40 (Mon-Fri 9am-1pm & 4-7pm, Sat 9am-1pm; Tel: 091.587.144).

Bookshops Large selection of English books from Feltrinelli, Via Maqueda 395, opposite Teatro Mássimo.

Car rental Avis, Via Enrico Amari 91 (Tel: 091.586.940); Hertz, Via Messina 7e (Tel: 091.331.668); Maggiore, Viale Alcide de Gásperi 79 (Tel: 091.517.305); Sicily By Car, Via M. Stábile 6 (Tel: 091.581.045). All of these also have desks at Punta Raisi airport.

Consulates Netherlands, Via Roma 489 (Tel: 091.581.521); UK, Via Cavour 117 (Tel: 091.326.412); US, Via Vaccarini 1 (Tel: 091.305.857). For nationals of most other countries, the nearest consulates are in Naples or Rome.

Exchange There are exchange offices open outside normal banking hours at Punta Raisi airport (daily 7.50am-1.20pm & 2.35-8pm) and Stazione Centrale (daily 8am-12.30pm & 3-7pm).

Ferry and hydrofoil companies Grandi Navi Veloci, services to Genova and Livorno (at the port at Calata Marinai d'Italia; Tel: 091.587.404); Siremar, to Ústica (Via Crispi 120; Tel: 091.582.403); SNAV, to Naples and the Aeolian Islands (Via Principe di Belmonte 55; Tel: 091.333.333); Tirrenia, to Naples, Genoa and Cágliari (at the port on Via Molo; Tel: 091.602.1111).

Gay information ARCI Gay, Via Genova 7 (Tel: 091.335.688).

Hospital Civico Regionale Generale, Via Carmelo Lazzaro (Tel: 091.666.1111). For emergency first aid Tel: 091.288.141.

Internet Access Accademia Internet, Via Cala 64 (Tel: 091.611.8483); Internet Café, Via Candelai (Tues-Sun from 7pm; Tel: 091.327.151).

Left luggage Stazione Centrale (daily 6am-10pm); Stazione Maríttima (daily 7am-7pm).

Newspapers English newspapers and magazines from the newsagents at the southern corner of Via Ruggero Séttimo and Piazza Castelnuovo.

Pharmacist All-night service at Via Roma 1, Via Roma 207 and Via Mariano Stábile 177.

Police Central city station at Piazza Vittoria (Tel: 091.210.111).

Post office Main post office is the Palazzo delle Poste on Via Roma (Mon-Fri 8.10am-7.30pm, Sat 8.10am-1.30pm). Poste Restante closes at 1.15pm daily.

Telephones Offices on Piazza Giulio Césare, opposite the train station (daily 9am-10pm); and Via Príncipe di Belmonte 92 (Mon 4-7.30pm, Tues-Sat 9am-1pm & 4-7.30pm).

Travel agents CTS, Via Garzilli 28 (Mon-Fri 9am-1pm & 4-7.30pm; Tel: 091.611.0713).

Women's movement ARCI Donna, Via di Giovanni 14 (Tel: 091.345.799).