Top Messina Day Trips

While your ship is in port, see more of Sicily on a full-day to Taormina. Take a guided tour of this historical city, including a stroll along Corso Umberto, once an ancient Roman street, and a visit to the Greco-Roman Theater. Plus, admire views of Mt. Etna and Giardini-Naxos bay from Castelmola. Pickup and drop-off from the ports of Messina and Giardini Naxos are included.

Make the most of your time in Sicily on this immersive, small-group shore excursion. Over the course of just half a day, you’ll venture to Taormina (and will discover top landmarks like its Greek amphitheater), will visit the hilltop village of Castelmola (renowned for its impeccable scenery), and will finish with a walking tour of Messina’s historical city center. Port pickup and drop-off, and round-trip minivan transit, make logistics seamless and stress-free.

Sicily is known for its postcard-worthy coastal scenery, but it can be difficult to check off must-see sights without spending days touring the island. Ideal for travelers with limited time to spare (including cruise ship passengers), this customizable private day tour takes in the highlights of Castemola and Taormina by chauffeured vehicle, handling all the logistics so you can focus on the sights.

Exciting tour by Jeep and walking on lava flows in search of hornito and lava flow caves until reaching the wonderful fracture that discovers the ancient flows that followed one another over the centuries to discover the origins of the volcano Etna. The emotion that our excursion provokes is unique. You'll feel like you're walking on the moon and going all the way to the center of the Earth. Walking along the perimeter of the great fracture you can admire the incredible succession of lava basalts. The pleasant excursion will take you to discover magical places where ETNA DOC WINES are produced where the nature of the volcanic soil mixes with the Sicilian sun. The best wineries are waiting for you to visit the vineyards grown on volcanic sand and taste the volcano wines unique in the world. Finally, a pleasant and relaxing lunch at an altitude of 6,561 ft. based on typical Sicilian products will be the right reward for a unique and unrepeatable experience.

Don't waste time with the usual tourist traps! Join us by choosing one of our tours and we will overwhelm you with a whirlwind of emotions, legends, traditions and culture. You will feel part of the family, but with an extra touch of Sicilian charm.

Etna and Wine is a combination that is more than just an excursion, it is a journey through the most authentic flavors and volcanic landscapes of Sicily. What makes Lady Etna tour unique is the multisensory experience it offers. You will walk through lava flows and silent craters, hear millennial stories of fire and earth, and at the end you will toast with fine wines born right from the volcano. Our tour combines the strength of Etna's nature with the warmth of local wine traditions, with visits to selected wineries and tastings guided by experts. It is an authentic, intense experience, designed for those who want to experience Etna with all their senses. Our guides, are ready to make you live a unique experience. During the tasting at the winery, alcohol will be served exclusively to participants aged 21 and over. In case of presence of children, a tasting experience will be proposed with a special non-alcoholic menu.

Visit two of Sicily’s most popular destinations without thinking about driving and parking on this guided tour from Messina. You’ll get driven almost all of the way up Mount Etna, stop for views, and then take an excursion the rest of the way to the summit if you choose. Next, explore Taormina, where you’ll shop near Corso Umberto I (own expense) and see the Greek Theater (Teatro Greco). Plus, finish this tour with a cannoli tasting for an extra treat.

Instead of crowded bus tours, explore Sicily in style with a private adventure in an air-conditioned vehicle. To help you get the most out of the day, the driver-guide takes you on a special route to tick off the highlights and hidden gems of Savoca, Taormina, and Castelmola. Along the way, enjoy in-depth insights about Sicilian history and culture to ensure you don’t waste a moment.

Make the most of your shore excursion with this 4-hour tour of the historic seaside resort of Taormina from Messina. See the beautiful cathedral and spectacular Greek Theater. Enjoy views over the Ionian Sea and Giardini Naxos Bay. Admire Mt. Etna looming over everything. Get a brief tour of Messina before returning to your drop-off location.

Maximize your time in Sicily by checking off multiple dispersed highlights on one trip—including Savoca, Castelmola, Taormina, and Messina. Rather than organizing a rental car, you can benefit from the luxury of having a private driver. Along the way, stop to take photos and explore notable places on foot, including Bar Vitelli from the movie "The Godfather" and the Greek Theater Taormina.

The tour departs from the cruise terminal in the direction of Savoca (approximately 40 minutes by road). Savoca is the town where the film The Godfather was filmed. We will see all the most iconic places such as the Vitelli bar and the cathedral where Michael Corleone got married. After about an hour we leave to go to Castelmola (about 30 minutes from Savoca). Castelmola is a small village on the top of Taormina with a wonderful view of Mount Etna. After about an hour we move to Taormina, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, reachable only on foot and full of shops and restaurants. After about 2 or 3 hours we return to Messina, but not before a nice panoramic tour of Isola Bella. As a last stop, we will visit the Sanctuary of Christ the King, a panoramic point over the Strait of Messina, and the Duomo cathedral, where you can admire the largest astronomical clock in Europe. The timetable is designed to make the most of your time in Sicily and to be perfectly on time with the cruise ship.

Tour suitable for cruise passengers arriving at the ports of the Ionian coast, allows you to visit the most interesting places from a landscape and cultural point of view, you will be picked up at the place of departure indicated by you and brought back within the time you set, you can ask your driver the possibility of a longer stop in one of the places you visited for a possible lunch in a restaurant, our staff will be happy to advise you and satisfy your every need.

Take advantage of your cruise stop in Messina to explore the seaside resort town of Taormina and the highlights of Messina in this half-day tour. Visit the sunny beaches or charming shopping streets of Taormina before marveling at its ancient Greek Theater. Stop at the Messina Cathedral and a particularly stunning viewpoint over the port city. Immerse yourself in two beautiful Sicilian towns in one combination tour.

Follow in the footsteps of “The White Lotus” cast—and discover the Taormina locations where the series was filmed—on this full-day, private tour. Pick from several convenient start times, and set off directly from your area hotel. You can look forward to seeing the San Domenico Palace Four Seasons Hotel (which doubled as The White Lotus), admiring Taormina’s ancient amphitheater, embarking on a boat trip near Isola Bella, and finishing with an Aperol spritz.

Starting from Messina we will visit one of the most beautiful villages in Italy (Savoca), famous for the film The Godfather (Frank Coppola), where you can visit for 2 hours, the catacombs, the mother church and the historic Vitelli bar. Afterwards we will set off to discover one of the most suggestive and panoramic villages of our beloved land. There you can visit the village with its characteristic architecture and visit some of the places featured in the famous film "The Godfather". After the tour, if you want, you can stop for lunch in one of the typical restaurants of the village called "The Godfather", where you can taste some fresh fish. (Lunch is not included in the price of the tour) Upon returning to the city of Messina, there will be a small tour of the city of the Strait of Messina.

This tour will allow you to discover the beauties of the city of Taormina and Messina and taste the flavors of Sicilian confectionery tradition through the tasting of the famous Sicilian cannolo. All accompanied by one of our drivers or hostess who will give you information on board the vehicle on what you visit, without invading your free time in Taormina where you can independently dedicate yourself to do what you like most shopping, photographs, visits to historical and cultural attractions.

Visit with us the largest active volcano in Europe recognized Unesco heritage, and taste typical Sicilian products in one of the most famous farms on the slopes of Etna. You will also have the opportunity to see the main attractions of the historic center of Messina and the pearl of the Ionian Coast Taormina in full autonomy for 2 hours. * Personal pick-up from next to your ship * Personal drop-off at the end of the tour – 100% on time * Touring in a mini-van for minimal walking and access to sites * Touring with an English speaking driver-guide * Guiding services in one language only * High quality and personal experience * Tour duration : 4 - 8 hours * Worry free shore excursion * Money back if your ship does not dock * Satisfaction Guaranteed!

From the port of Messina we will reach Giardini Naxos in about 50 minutes, where a boat will await us for a wonderful excursion along the coast. The boat tour lasts about 2 hours and includes a visit to Isola Bella and its caves: Grotta delle Sirene, Grotta dell’Amore and Grotta Azzurra, with a stop for a swim in the crystal clear waters. During navigation will be offered almond pastries and prosecco. At the end we will arrive at Porta Catania with about 2 hours of free time to walk on Corso Umberto, visit the Greek Theatre, Shopping or taste local products. During the return there will be panoramic stops at the Belvedere of Isola Bella and Christ the King, overlooking the Strait of Messina. In Messina, if desired, we will offer a typical tasting before ending the tour at the Duomo with the famous astronomical clock. Mini-fridge with water included. Total duration: about 6.5–7 hours.

Mt. Etna is the most striking sight on Sicily’s Ionian coast, but climbing its volcanic peak can be a logistical hassle. With this tour, save hours with port or hotel pickup and transportation directly to the base camp. Set off with your guide through the lava fields, taking in sweeping views over the Sicilian countryside along the way. After your hike, relax at an alpine eatery to sample local gourmet specialties.

The Castelmola and Taormina tour takes place in modern Mercedes-Benz 8 pax minivans, ensuring comfort, safety and quality of service. Professionalism, punctuality, courtesy, flexibility and knowledge of the territory characterize the experience. The departure is from the Port of Messina. After about 45 minutes you reach Castelmola, a charming village above Taormina, from which you can admire beautiful views of the historic center, the Ionian coast and Mount Etna. Here it will be possible to walk through the characteristic streets and taste the famous almond wine in the iconic Bar Turrisi. The tour continues towards Taormina, after a brief explanatory introduction you will have about three hours free to visit the historic center and its main attractions: Greek-Roman Theater, panoramic squares, Villa Comunale, craft shops and boutiques. Before returning to the Port of Messina there is a short panoramic stop for a souvenir photo. An experience between culture, landscapes and Sicilian traditions.

Don't waste time with the usual tourist traps! Join us by choosing one of our tours and we will overwhelm you with a whirlwind of emotions, legends, traditions and culture. You will feel part of the family, but with an extra touch of Sicilian charm.

This tour is the ideal way to check off multiple dispersed Sicilian highlights in a day. Rather than traveling by local bus, enjoy the upgraded option of having a private driver to take you around. During the trip, visit the hilltop village of Castelmola, stop at the Greek Theater of Taormina, and have a chance to discover the ancient astronomical clock at Messina Cathedral.

Take the guesswork out of visiting Taormina while docked at Messina's cruise ship port with this hassle-free shore excursion. Enjoy free time in Taormina to visit its famed Greek theater and other sights in the old town at your own pace. Stop for photos at Isola Bella and Messina's most famous scenic overlook, plus take in the Messina cathedral and astronomical clock before returning to port.