Palermo Half Day Boat Tour with Palermo Experiences

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Palermo, Italy

Popular pick

Booked 10+ times last week!

4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.8

· JamesHsu ·

Sep 2025

Very nice boat, local Italian snacks, and freshly made cannoli. The staff were very friendly and speak good english. The equipments were abundant, and the boat ride itself was amazing, with plenty space for sunbathing. 10/10 would recommend, it’s worth the price.

· carol_r ·

Oct 2025

Awesome experience Luca and Angela made you feel like part of the family. Super relaxing. Great swimming options. The brunch was more than enough food. A must do experience.

Overview

Sample Menu

Starter

Panelle, croquettes, sfincione, ravazzatine, arancini

we will let you taste the typical products of Palermo.

What's Included

Brunch

Tour with Aperol Spritz for adults and Coca Cola for children. Sicilian aperitif, street food and unlimited fresh water included
Use of Snorkeling equipment

Use of Snorkelling equipment
The captain will choose between the two boats available based on the number of participants

Soda/Pop

Extra drinks such as wine and prosecco are not included but are available for purchase on board. Personalize your experience with your choices.
For a special occasion, give yourself an unforgettable moment: flowers and cake on request for you.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Palermo Experiences | Boat e Quad Tour a Palermo
via Filippo Patti, s.n.c, 90133 Palermo PA, Italy
Enter the trapezoidal Marina Yachting Pier in Palermo and wait in front of the Ciurma restaurant

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Grotta della regina

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Mondello

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
It is mandatory to carry identification documents with you during the entire journey.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Lisa_M

Best value for your money and Palermo. Great captain crew. Delicious lunch and Prosecco. I highly recommend everyone should do this.

Reviews

4.8

based on 227 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great day on the water

Warwick_E, Apr 2026

It was a wonderful experience. A fabulous way to see Palermo from the water. Staff and crew were kind abd considerate

Lovely boat trip

Susannah_B, Nov 2025

Excellent boat trip and lovely end to our trip to Palermo. On Viator it’s advertised at 3pm but as it gets dark earlier in November, they got in touch with a suggested earlier time and were very accommodating. Angela and her son were kind and friendly. First they took us to Mondello (beautiful spot) and docked so we could swim. Then they prepared a tasty Sicilian street food platter and Aperol Spritz. Then we sailed back towards Palermo and stopped at Queen’s Cave for a second swim and quick exploration. As the sun set, they provided us with cannoli, limoncello and fun music. Lovely time, thank you again :-)

Wonderful day on the water.

carol_r, Oct 2025

Awesome experience Luca and Angela made you feel like part of the family. Super relaxing. Great swimming options. The brunch was more than enough food. A must do experience.

Amazing Views!

Dalma_G, Sep 2025

The tour was great. It’s a beautiful way to see Palermo from the water. The hosts where fun, knowledgeable and kind!

Very kind people. I felt...

Rebecca_L, Sep 2025

Very kind people. I felt they gave plenty of time to swim and helpful with anything needed. I would recommend using them.

Very nice boat, local...

JamesHsu, Sep 2025

Great boat and swim trip

Mitch_W, Sep 2025

Great time - we got to go to several places around the Palermo coast, swim, eat and drink. Angela and her husband were wonderful hosts and very attentive

Wonderful crew, they make...

Lisa_L, Aug 2025

Wonderful crew, they make sure you have a wonderful time, food was delicious music amazing very kid friendly. An amazing experience.

Perfect summer experience

Taylor_C, Aug 2025

The half day boat tour was so much fun. Angela and Luca provide detailed instructions on how to get to the meeting area. Once aboard we enjoyed the ride to Mondello beach where we were able to swim. They provide snorkel masks, water scooters, floats, etc to have the ultimate fun. Once back aboard food and drinks are given which is a variety of Palermo street food. Everything was very good and the owners are kind and friendly. We then visited queens cave where you are able to swim again before heading back to shore with a cannoli. I would recommend this to anyone especially for a fun summer day.

Unforgettable Day Exploring Sicily by Boat

Paola_A, Aug 2025

My partner and I joined this tour, and we absolutely loved it! Angela and her husband are amazing — they provided us with delicious Sicilian food and drinks, and explained the dishes as well as the places we passed while on the boat. You get to see the beauty of Sicily from the water and relax with plenty of swimming gear, including floats and water scooters. This was the perfect way to spend the last day of our trip!

A perfect, relaxing day.

Rebecca_R, Jul 2025

This was the most lovely half day spent on the med. The water was lovely, the crew was helpful, the food was great! A perfect summer day.

The trip was ok but the...

Michelle_G, Jul 2025

The trip was ok but the advertising was deceptive. We were not on one of the boats pictured and the appetizers were not as pictured. Don’t expect much from the snorkeling. The beach stop was relaxing but the queens cove we only have time to swim to it and back quickly. The captain and crew were good and tried their best to describe the sites along the shore.

Fire on boat

Kayla_G, Jul 2025

Boat went on fire. The host did not take any safety precautions. Did not tell us about life vest nor did they give them out. They were more worried about us posting videos instead of getting us back home safety. My grandpa also fell during this and really hurt his back. They didn’t even call an ambulance when we arrived. We know this was unexpected and not their fault. But we needed more safety precautions.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

During the excursion, one of the boat's four batteries suffered a short circuit, causing a slight emission of smoke. The situation was promptly resolved, and the excursion continued as planned. However, the guests became somewhat agitated and were transferred to another boat. Despite our efforts to reassure them, they remained visibly upset. I would like to point out that a young woman filmed the incident and posted it on TikTok. We contacted the customer, informing her that the video needed to be removed for image and privacy reasons. The customer stated that she had deleted the video, but threatened to post a negative review to prevent us from continuing our business. I consider this response inappropriate, as it amounts to blackmail. I have already reported the incident to the responsible parties, hoping for a resolution. It was not necessary to evacuate the vessel or use life jackets, as the conditions were not suitable. During the return trip, we monitored the guests' conditions, and none of them required medical assistance. Upon their return, the guests received a refund. I believe the customer's negative review is due to excessive alarmism, stemming from the initial fear and the partial interruption of the excursion due to a minor technical issue.

Average

Yara_F, Jul 2025

Overall, I found this boat tour to be pretty boring. The boat is nice and the food was ok, but no actual effort is made to “host” passengers. Boat moves very slowly up the coast. No music is played and the captain and crew don’t offer any interesting information about the area. Basically, we rode in silence. I’m sure there are better boat tours in Palermo.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Hello Yara, in 3 years of activity no one has ever been bored on our tours. It is the first that someone got bored on board with us with masks, noodles, floating carpet and underwater scooters, all the way away during the navigation you were sleeping so we could not even talk. There was also music throughout the tour. We thank you for your feedback, however, it is always useful to try to improve our service more and more! We appreciate his

Amazing Experience. Must do in Palermo!

Alfonso_P, Jun 2025

This was an amazing experience. We went with 2 kids aged 10 and 8 and it was literally the highlight of the trip for them - maybe even the highlight of their entire life so far. They had such much fun snorkeling and using the water scooters. Mondello beach is paradise with crystal clear blue water. The boat and the hosts were perfect. 5 stars all around. We booked the half day tour - perfect.

Fab boat ride

Lisa_M, May 2025

Best value for your money and Palermo. Great captain crew. Delicious lunch and Prosecco. I highly recommend everyone should do this.

Excellent

Irene_S, Oct 2024

Excellent boat excursion. The host were friendly and generous with gifts and memories. Would highly recommend.

Amazing boat trip! Must try

Jessica_B, Oct 2024

If you are traveling to Palermo this trip is a must!! Our host and crew were incredibly nice. We originally had booked for Sunday morning but due to winds it was postponed for a later day. Make sure you plan ahead for weather disruptions. Angela (host) was very kind to help us find another day. I’m so glad we did, there was no wind and clear skies. The boat takes you out near the beach area of Mondello to crystal blue water. Then they serve drinks and food before heading over to a local grotto. My kids had a blast! Next time we are in Palermo we are booking a full day.

Cancelled

Maggie_T, Sep 2024

Cancelled our tour for no reason. Clear beautiful day. It was supposed to be our highlight of scilly. Ended up walking around. Too late to grab another tour. Last minute cancellation. Would never book again

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear customer, we are sorry for the inconvenience. We warned one day before that it was necessary to update on the day of the tour due to possible wind conditions. The same morning, unfortunately, we had to cancel the boat tour to ensure your safety, due to dangerous weather conditions. We apologise for the situation and hope to see each other again in the future.

Amazing Trip

Michelle_B, Sep 2024

Awesome trip swimming in the Mediterranean and especially in the cave. Wonderful host and excellent food. Well worth the trip and your time!

The BEST in Palermo!

Melissa_C, Sep 2024

The experience was amazing, food was excellent, tour operators were attentive and friendly and the tour was the highlight of my trip! I would recommend this excursion to everyone visiting Palermo! Absolutely wonderful and I would do it again!

Fun on the Mediterranean!

Lynn_W, Sep 2024

Both Andrea and Luca were wonderful hosts! It was a beautiful relaxing day on the Mediterranean! The “snack” they served was more like a meal…very traditional and yummy! Glad we did it!

Great day!!!

Faina_S, Aug 2024

Angela and her son were both great and very friendly!!! We really enjoyed an excellent time on there boat and we had a very nice group of people!!!

Swimming in emerald water

Ghislain_P, Aug 2024

We had a great time. We were eight adults and the boat was comfortable. Superb swimming in emerald water (beach and cave). Excellent snack, good music, no stress. Very nice hosts who wanted us to have a good time. Scuba diving equipment at disposal. Highlight: use of manta pro sea scooters free of charge.

Beautiful boat ride from Palermo marina

Jada_C, Aug 2024

Booked for me and my boyfriend. Ended up being a group of 6, 3 couples. We took the smaller boat but it was comfortable for the 6 of us. The ride to Mondello beach was beautiful. Once there you get a chance to swim. Boat has a lot of equipment you can use; noodles, googles, water scooters, life vests. Food and drinks were good. I loved the cave stop, another opportunity to swim. Captain was very nice, engaged, and helpful. Would book again.

Excellent experience

Victoria_K, Jul 2024

The boat is not only clean but also meticulously maintained, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all passengers. With its pristine condition, guests can embark on unforgettable journeys and create lasting memories. Highly recommended for those seeking a top-notch maritime adventure. Besides food and drinks, there's a water scoter on the boat that'll make you have even more fun.

Be a part of a beautiful family business!

Kent_S, Jul 2024

The story of how the pandemic turned a former travel agent and Palermo-native into a boat tour operator is only eclipsed by the fact that she is joined by her husband and son to run Palermo By Sea (Palermoinboat dot com direct link for savings). It is easy to enjoy the beautiful scenery and savor the crystal waters when you are taken by guides who are clearly living their best lives getting to share this with you. If you are a family or small travel group I recommend booking as a charter, but we were joined by one other travelor and enjoyed the space to move about the boat and get the optimal views along the way. The meals and snacks were filling and water floats and toys ample to make swimming both relaxing and fun.

Fun at Sea!!!

Michelle_D, Jul 2024

We spent the most wonderful afternoon on Angela and Luca’s boat. We were a party of 13 and then were able to secure the larger boat. Swimming in Mondello inlet was a delight!! The kids as well as the adults enjoyed the “toys”. They even had a few underwater scooters!! Everyone had a blast. The authentic Sicilian snacks were delicious and the presentation was beautiful!! Drinks were also provided. We truly enjoyed every minute!

Perfect day of sun and fun

Debra_S, Jun 2024

Fantastic half day tour. Plenty of opportunity for swimming, snorkelling and using the underwater scooters was a hoot!! Angela and her husband were so warm and welcoming and ensured everyone had a fabulous day ☺️

Wasted afternoon due to lazy communications and lack of respect.

phatbamma, Jun 2024

oday I was booked to do a half day boat cruise, departing at 3pm. I arrived at the meeting point early and ready to go. However, when the time came, no one was there to meet me. I contacted the office, after which they informed me that they weren’t running the cruise due to “technical issues”. This was extremely frustrating, as not only did I loose my afternoon/evening, but it was only after I reached out after our departure time did they bother to let me know that the tour wasn’t going ahead. It was very lazy. I also don’t believe that it wasn’t technical issues that the boat cruise went ahead, but rather there were not enough attendees, as they were quick to offer me other cruise options in lieu of a refund. I now have to wait a week for my AUD$230 to be refunded.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration you faced with your booking. We understand how disappointing it must have been to arrive early and ready for your half-day boat cruise only to find out it was canceled. We regret that you were not informed about the cancellation in a timely manner. This oversight is not in line with our commitment to providing excellent service, and we are taking steps to ensure better communication in the future. Regarding your concerns about the reason for the cancellation, we assure you that technical issues were the genuine cause. However, we acknowledge that our handling of the situation was inadequate, and we should have proactively informed you and offered immediate alternatives or a refund without delay. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the wait for your refund. Please be assured that we are expediting the process to ensure you receive your AUD$230 as soon as possible. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our services. We hope you might consider giving us another chance to provide you with a better experience in the future. Alberto, Angela e Luca - Palermo in Boat

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