Top Messina Private Sightseeing Tours

Meet your private driver right at the port of Messina and begin a scenic journey south along the coast toward the enchanting hilltop town of Taormina. Upon arrival, spend the morning exploring on your own its charming cobblestone streets, elegant boutiques, and stunning views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. Don’t miss a visit to the ancient Greek Theatre, one of Sicily’s most iconic landmarks. Around lunchtime, enjoy a leisurely meal at a traditional trattoria with a terrace overlooking the sea, savoring local specialties like pasta alla norma and fresh seafood. After lunch, your driver will take you further uphill to the picturesque village of Castelmola, perched even higher above Taormina, where you can wander quiet lanes, sip a glass of almond wine, and take in breathtaking panoramic views. You'll have time to relax, explore at your own pace, and soak in the Sicilian charm before your return drive to Messina in the late afternoon.

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.

We offer an excursion service from our beloved Sicily. In particular, in these tours we propose a visit to our hometown, Messina, going to visit the Sanctuary of Christ the King, one of the most beautiful panoramic points of the city from where you can see the Strait of Messina. Subsequently it will also be possible to visit the Cathedral of Messina with the largest astronomical clock in the world while also tasting Sicilian sweets and specialties. Another stage of the tour includes the arrival in Taormina, the most famous city in Sicily, with a walk along Corso Umberto, characterized by Gothic and Baroque influences. You will also go to see the "balcony", a panoramic place of the city of Taormina from where you can see the wonderful Isola Bella. The last stop of the tour, however, includes a visit to the village of Castelmola, one of the most evocative villages in Sicily, also influenced by Arab and Norman traditions and styles.

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 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.

Explore the historic city of Messina on a walking tour with a local guide that’s a great overview and orientation for first-time visitors. Learn about Sicily’s Arab-Norman heritage as you make your way from Cathedral Square to a series of churches, landmarks, and artwork, and hear stories from Messina’s fascinating past. Multiple departures are available throughout the day.

The day will conquer you with a private tour through Savoca, Taormina, Castelmola, and Isola Bella—a journey through breathtaking Mediterranean landscapes and timeless Sicilian charm. This isn’t your typical rushed, touristy group tour…it’s a private, fully customizable experience, led by true Sicilian passion and heartfelt stories. Travel aboard a brand-new Mercedes minivan, with an English-speaking Sicilian driver who knows every corner’s story. Stroll ancient alleys of Savoca and taste authentic Sicilian delights that leave crumbs (muddiche). As we say: Cu mancia fa muddichi, ma cu camina si godi u viaggiu! (“He who eats makes crumbs, but he who walks enjoys the journey.”) Admire panoramic views from Castelmola, soak up Taormina’s vibrant atmosphere, and relax by crystal-clear waters of Isola Bella. This tour is perfectly timed for cruise passengers, giving you freedom to customize your day—change the schedule, add stops, and organize your day at your own pace. With love from Sicily

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.

With its Roman amphitheater and views over Mt. Etna, Taormina is a highlight of eastern Sicily. On this full-day tour, enjoy round-trip transportation from Messina to visit both Taormina and the picturesque village of Castelmola overlooking the Bay of Giardini Naxos. Take in Messina’s top sights, including the cathedral and astronomical clock, before drop-off.

Departure from the Hotel We will start our Godfather tour with a pick up from your hotel, this is a private tour just for you. Arrival in Savoca After a short journey we will reach the picturesque village of Savoca, famous for being one of the main locations of the film "The Godfather". During the visit to Savoca we will explore the locations linked to the film, such as the Bar Vitelli and the Church of Santa Lucia. Transfer to the Schiavi Castle After Savoca we will head to Castello Schiavi in Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, another iconic location from the film. Visit to the Slave Castle At Castello Schiavi you can explore the rooms and gardens used in the film. You will discover the unique atmosphere of this historic residence and admire the panoramic view of the Sicilian coast. End of the tour, optional lunch and return to the hotel After the visit to the Schiavi Castle, we will head to a local restaurant (optional) where you can enjoy a typical Sicilian lunch. Return transfer to your hotel.

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.

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.

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.

Private tour by a comfortable car with a personal tour leader to the must-see Sicilian hill towns world-known thanks to F.F. Coppola, who filmed his legendary "The Godfather" here. Get the friendly and informative insight into the filming process and interesting trivia, learn the real Sicilian Mafia story, its structure, rise and development. Discover the history and culture of the movie locations and feel the romantically rustic atmosphere of old Sicily. Walk along the authentic streets of Savoca and Forza d’Agro remained unchanged since the movie was made, visit ancient churches, Bar Vitelli where Michael spoke to Apollonia’s father, and other locations. At the end of the tour you will have lunch in traditional restaurant with an authentic Pizza. You can choose your favourite type of pizza prepared with organic, local ingredients. Along with the pizza you will have a chance to try local wine or beer.

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.

The tour will be a private tour, so you will decide the customization of the tour, such as the possibility of having lunch at a restaurant without any problem of time, which will make your experience unique. In fact, the driver will wait for you if you want to extend the time for some stops programmed. You will also receive information about the places you visit on board the minivan. You will see 2 of the most beautiful locations in Sicily not as tourists but as locals.

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.

This tour allows you to quickly reach two very popular destinations in Sicily, namely Mount Etna and Taormina, to combine the spectacle of nature with history and monuments.

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.

Estimated arrival in Savoca, the famous village where the film "The Godfather" was filmed. In Savoca we will visit the Bar Vitelli, present in various scenes of the film, and the ancient cathedral where the wedding scene between Michael Corleone (played by Al Pacino) and Apollonia was filmed. Subsequently we reach the ancient village of Castelmola. During the tour of Castelmola you can visit the famous Turrisi bar, characterized by the presence of phallic shapes, where it will be possible to taste the famous almond wine. You can also taste excellent Sicilian cannoli or other typical products, offered by Zancle Sicily tour. The third stage of the tour is the arrival in Taormina, with a stop at "Porta Catania". Once in Taormina it will be possible to visit the Greco-Roman amphitheater and the beautiful Corso Umberto, the ancient street of Taormina. After visiting the city of Taormina we move to admire the famous panorama of Isola Bella from one of the most characteristic panoramic points of our land.

We offer an excursion service of our beloved Sicily. In particular, in these tours we propose a visit to our hometown, Messina, going to visit the Sanctuary of Christ the King, one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the city from where you can see the Strait of Messina. Afterwards you can also visit the Cathedral of Messina with the largest astronomical clock in the world while tasting Sicilian desserts and specialties. Taormina, the most famous city in Sicily, with a walk on Corso Umberto, characterized by Gothic and Baroque influences. You will also see the "balcony" panoramic place of the city of Taormina from where you can see the wonderful Isola Bella. Finally on the beach of Taormina the beautiful island

Experience the ultimate 'Godfather' film-buff's dream come true with a private 'Godfather' movie tour from Messina. Visit the town of Savoca to see the 1971 filming location for the wedding, as well as the bar where Michael Corleone asked for Apollonia's hand. Continue to Forza d'Agrò to see the square that served as the main square of Corleone during the Francis Ford Coppola movie. Head for Taormina to enjoy some sightseeing and shopping before returning to Messina.

Explore Mt. Etna on a private tour with round-trip transport from your Messina port or accommodations. See the best views of the Sicilian countryside and visit secluded natural spots often missed by visitors. Enjoy a meal prepared with locally sourced ingredients paired with wines at a Messina vineyard for an authentic Italian experience.