Ortygia (Ortigia) Tours and Tickets

Discover the charm of the coast with a boat tour in Syracuse, exploring the beauties of the Ionian Sea. You will walk along the seafront of Ortigia, admiring historical monuments such as the Duomo and the Maniace castle. You will be able to enter the sea caves, including the "AZURE CAVE", famous for its crystal-clear waters. You will also visit the Plemmirio nature reserve, with the possibility of spotting dolphins. The tour includes stops to swim in the clear waters.

DESCRIPTION: The following exclusive boat excursion of the entire island of Ortigia will allow you to admire the Duomo, the church of Santa Lucia, the Venetian Palace, the Umberto I Bridge, the small port, the former Bourbon prison, the Spanish Walls, the Lungomare di Levante, Fort Vigliena, the Maniace Castle, the Fonte Aretusa, the Lungomare Alfeo and the Porta Marina. We will continue with the exploration of the sea caves to admire the formations of coral, stalactites and stalagmites. This tour includes a welcoming of prosecco, followed by a toast with white and red wine, a stop for a swim in the crystal clear waters of this coast and an accurate guided tour pertaining to the different ethnicity of our guests

Discover Ortigia from an exclusive perspective among history, sea caves and crystal clear waters. The tour combines the symbolic places of Syracuse with hidden views accessible only by sea, with a relaxing bathing stop and an authentic experience guided by locals.

UNESCO–listed Syracuse, Ortigia Island, and Noto are three of eastern Sicily’s most beautiful coastal settlements, with a history dating back to the days of the ancient Greeks. This full-day tour takes you to all three sites in one day, with round-trip travel from Catania, Taormina, and surrounding areas included. Discover Roman ruins in Neapolis, and admire beautiful baroque architecture in Noto—with your guide on hand to bring Sicily’s history to life.

Looking for a relaxing alternative to a traditional boat tour? This small-group sightseeing cruise around Syracuse and the island of Ortigia is just the thing. Let your skipper handle all the hard parts while you kick back, soak up the sights, such as the Maniace Castle of Ortigia and the Porto Grande of Syracuse, and enjoy wine, fruit, and a freshly-prepared lunch.

Consiglio i viaggiatori di effettuare questa tipologia di tour ecologico perché, essendo un risciò concede l’accesso nella zona pedonale,un abirinto con vicoletti storici permette di visitare l’isola di ortigia a 360 gradi, sia interna che esterna con soste, spiegazione e foto scattate dai driver.

If you're wondering what to do in Syracuse, don't miss the opportunity to enjoy the Sicilian sea. You will observe Ortigia from a unique perspective: the sea; you will live an unforgettable experience exploring the sea caves; you can swim in the crystal clear waters of Syracuse.

Skip the large tour groups in Sicily, and opt for an intimate, private day trip instead. With a private driver whose focus is your personal group, see ancient Greek and Roman ruins at Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse, stroll through Ortigia's small streets to shop for Sicilian products, and discover UNESCO-listed baroque architecture in Noto. Even better: A hotel or port pickup and drop-off service is also covered.

A day to discover the treasures and beauties of the two most important cities in eastern Sicily: Syracuse (Ortigia) and Noto. Discover the Sicilian baroque to breathe the solemnity of timeless places.

See Syracuse’s historic heart from the water on a private boat tour around Ortigia. Cruise past seafront monuments as your guide shares their history, then follow the coast to a series of sea caves. Enjoy prosecco and fresh fruit along the way, with the option to stop for a swim, before returning through the narrow canal that separates Ortigia from the mainland, passing beneath its bridges.

Be enchanted by the charm of the island of Ortigia strolling through the maze of alleys that distinguishes it, relive ancient myths and legends still alive in every corner of the island and take in the power of the ancient Greek colony in front of the most beautiful square of Sicily, dominated by the stunning Cathedral in baroque style, once a temple dedicated to Athena.

Ortigia may be small, but it holds the heart of the Mediterranean. Every step on its ancient stones is a journey through time—through myths, conquests, and timeless wonders. Exploring it with an archaeologist turns your visit into a truly unique and unforgettable adventure. ⸻ Ortigia is a small island, but with an immense heart: that of the history of the Mediterranean. Each step among its ancient stones is a journey through time, between myths, conquests and millennial wonders. Discovering it together with an archaeologist means living a unique, intense and unforgettable adventure.

The coast of Syracuse is a real jewel of the Ionian Sea, characterized by a series of breathtaking landscapes. The following excursion will allow you to spend 2h and 30 min. admiring the entire maritime itinerary of our wonderful city. We will circumnavigate the island of Ortigia admiring the historical part that includes the former Bourbon prison, the Vigliena fort, the Spanish walls, the Maniace Castle, the Levante promenade, the Alfeo promenade, the Aretusa spring and the immense Porto Grande of Syracuse and then move to the Plemmirio nature reserve with its renowned Gulf of Pillirina. During the tour you will have fresh drinks, water, prosecco, white wine, red wine. This experience also includes several bathroom stops during the reconnaissance of the places where we will sail and an accurate guided tour.

There are many ways to visit the island of Ortigia, but if you are looking for an alternative, fun and fast way to discover the historic centre, the small streets and all the hidden corners, then get on board our Ape Calessino. You will start your tour from the folkloristic market of Ortigia and from here you will head to discover the most famous sites and attractions of the island. Among many, you will be able to admire the beautiful Piazza Duomo, where if you want you can independently visit the Cathedral, and also Fonte Aretusa, Porta Marina, Il Castello Maniace, the Jewish quarter and the Arab quarter. Your driver will tell you stories and secrets of the city and will give you the opportunity to make stops at the most important monuments and the best panoramic points to immortalize these moments and relive the memories whenever you want. What are you waiting for? Get on board and come and discover the island of Ortigia!

The island of Ortigia is the historic heart of Syracuse. Discover it in style on this private boat tour that takes in sea caves with spectacular rock formations and a long history. Your skipper also navigates around the historic center of Ortigia to see churches, the cathedral, bridges, and more. There’s time for a swim stop should you wish to indulge.

Are you in Sicily and do you want to discover the delicacies that this wonderful area can offer you? This experience will not only give you the opportunity to savor the unique flavors of our land but will lead you to the heart of the culinary tradition through the smells of the folk market and will provide you with all the useful notions for cooking Sicilian dishes. In the company of our local cook, you will enter the streets of the Old Market of the island of Ortigia, where you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the thousand smells and various colors of the stalls and among the folkloric cries of the merchants who vie for customers. Only after having purchased everything you need and having chosen the best products, the chef will open the doors of his kitchen to you: here, with your help, he will prepare some of the typical dishes of the Sicilian tradition that you can later taste.

Although very small, Ortigia preserves all the history of the Mediterranean. It is a place where small adventures take you through the adventurous events of Sicily and beyond. Traveling accompanied by an archaeologist will make this experience exciting and rich.

Departure from Taormina or Catania with private transfer and English-speaking driver-guide, to start the day in maximum comfort. The first stop will be the Archaeological Park of Syracuse, where you can immerse yourself in history among the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheater, and the Latomie del Paradiso, accompanied by an audio guide. We will then proceed to Ortigia, the fascinating heart of Syracuse, with its colorful and fragrant Point of Sale, Piazza Duomo, elegant alleys, and views of the sea. To make the experience even more special, a boat trip around the island of Ortigia, to go for a swim, admire the coast, the sea caves, the city from a unique and evocative perspective. At the end of the day, I return to the starting point in total relaxation, after having experienced a perfect balance between history, sea, and authentic Sicilian atmosphere.

Thanks to its ancient history, the magic of Ortigia island and the charm of its coast, Syracuse is one of the most popular destinations in Sicily. Our driver will pick you up from your accommodation at your most preferred time and drive you to the beautiful city of Syracuse. The first stop will be at the Neapolis, the archeological area of the city. Here you will have free time to admire the roman amphitheater and the impressive and solemn Greek Theatre, the biggest in the island and one of the biggest in the world, entirely carved into the rock. You can also visit the Ear of Dionysius, an artificial cave placed right under the Theatre. It is called this way for its ear shape and also for its acoustic properties. Afterwards, the driver will drop you off in Ortigia Island, the ancient historical centre of Syracuse. Here you will have free time to stroll in the characteristic streets and see the most important monuments such as Aretusa Fontain, the Cathedral and Maniace castle.

Immerse yourself in a unique experience that will lead you to discover the wonders of Syracuse and Ortigia in a single tour! Your adventure will begin with a look at the Archaeological Area of Neapolis, an open-air museum that holds thousand-year-old secrets of Syracuse.

Discover two historic Sicilian cities on this full-day small-group tour from Taormina or Catania to Syracuse and Noto. Visit the archeological sites of Syracuse such as the Greek Theater and the Ear of Dionysius before exploring the historical center of Ortigia Island. Then head to the UNESCO-listed city of Noto which is also dubbed the “Baroque Capital” due to its beautiful aristocratic buildings like Ducezio Palace and Palazzo Nicolaci.

The tour in Syracuse-Ortigia-Noto is a comfortable tour suitable for those who like to relax in the name of culture. Organized for small groups, it gives the possibility to see more locations on the same day.

Enjoy an overview of the top sights in Syracuse in just a few hours without the hassle of following a map or guidebook with this private walking tour. Join your guide for a visit to the Neapolis Archaeological Park to learn about its history that stretches back to ancient Greece. Afterwards, continue on to the Ortigia area of the city to visit the oldest temple in Sicily, a Caravaggio masterpiece, and other treasures.