Top Messina Day Trips

Skip the hassle of navigating Sicily’s hill towns on your own and make the most of limited time in port. This tour connects two of the region’s most scenic spots, pairing Castelmola’s sweeping views of Mt. Etna with Taormina’s lively streets and coastal panoramas. Enjoy a smooth, guided experience that lets you explore, shop, and take in the highlights without the stress of planning.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

This tour is suitable for cruisers who have little time but who want to see the main attractions of Eastern Sicily. * 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 : 6 - 8 hours * Worry free shore excursion * Money back if your ship does not dock * Satisfaction Guaranteed!

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.

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.

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.

The first stop of the tour includes the arrival in Taormina where passengers will have about 3 hours to calmly explore one of the most characteristic cities of Sicily. In Taormina it will be possible to walk along the famous Corso Umberto, the main street of the city, full of shops for shopping and restaurants to taste our typical dishes. We will continue our tour starting towards Piedimonte Etneo and visiting the vineyard "La Gelsomina". The tour includes several packages not included in the price of the tour. At the end of the tour we will return to Messina and we will take a short tour of the city, we will go to see Cristo Re, a panoramic point of the city from which you can admire the splendid Strait of Messina. Finally we will go to admire the Cathedral of Messina with the largest astronomical clock in Europe. Always on request we can stop in a bar for a small tasting of typical Sicilian products. (The tasting is not included in the price)

Get ready to choose one of my tours, I am a driver who speaks English, Spanish French and Arabic. The seriousness, professionalism and that touch of Sicilianness that characterizes my activities and my tours will make your experience memorable and your memories unique.