Taormina and Castelmola from Messina Shared Group Tour
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Sicily, Italy
- 5 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
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.
- Visit Taormina, Castelmola, and Messina, in the space of just half a day
- Round-trip transit from the port makes getting around simple
- Discover Taormina and Messina’s key historical landmarks
- See panoramic views of Taormina, Mt. Etna and beyond from Castelmola
What's Included
- Port pickup and drop-off
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Driver/guide
- Transport by air-conditioned coach/bus, minivan
- This is a shared tour. According the number of bookings the group can be of 28 people
- Food and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 04/01/2017 - 12/31/2029
Monday - Sunday : 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Itinerary
Sicily4you (Pass By)
Porta Catania di Taormina (Pass By)
1
Taormina
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Castelmola
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Messina (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 5 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Infant seats available
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- At time of booking, Hotel guests must provide the name of Hotel
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative tour or full refund.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 28 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 157 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Michael was very informative and with lots of humour thrown in.
Highly recommend doing this with Michael. Thank you Michael
The experience felt more like an expensive minibus ride than a guided tour, with limited guidance, organisation, and engagement from our guide.
The perfect excursion from a cruise ship. Easy to book and easy to connect with tour guide. We had an air conditioned van and our group was small which I liked. Cristiano our tour guide was great! He delighted us with the rich history of the area and made sure we enjoyed all the key sights to see! Rally enjoyed the day and would definitely recommend if you want an efficient and enjoyable tour.
This was an amazing tour to do while in Messina especially since we arrived on a Sunday and the majority of the shops and restaurants around the port were closed. Our driver, Mike was super! He was born and raised in Messina so he was able to give us historical information as well as cultural about his hometown and some useful tips along the way. He filled the driving time between the cities with stories and fun facts. The van was spotless and well air conditioned. He was punctual and so very easy going. Would highly recommend this tour and Mike. Arrivederci!
Gino and Erika were great. The trip to Castelmola was comfortable, and Erika offered an interesting background and history on the way. We arrived early before the crowds, which was great. Gino was courteous and friendly, opening doors for us and the kids. We were able to have extra/less time as we wished.
It was a bonus that I think they had an expressway pass so our trip was very efficient. (We're on another tour today and this one is not taking the toll lanes and it's definitely adding to our time in the van.)
It was a beautiful, scenic drive up the mountain. Our driver Bruno was the best, and very knowledgeable about the area. He pointed out all the important landmarks, and recommended several places to visit while we were on our own.
This was a grear tour. We loved Castelmola with the view of Mt Etna and Chris our tour guide was excellent and gave us a great history lesson of Sicily
I would recommend this tour
Great tour guide! Very knowledgeable of the area and history. Also did a quick tour of the Cathedral in Messina. Pick up was near the port!
Both of these villages are incredibly beautiful, and our guide Sam (Samuel) made the experience over the top. Gino our driver also was amazing! Sam is extremely intelligent and passionate about these cities and their culture and history. He was extraordinary in the explanations and history he gave us and our time spent in Sicily was so incredible because he was our tour guide! Definitely worth taking this tour! We had the best time!!!!!
This tour was a great find in Messina and the surrounding areas! Chris was a fantastic tour guide and delivered so much information during our rides between Taormina, Castelmora, and the Basilica Cattedrale Santa Maria Asdunta. I have no idea Halle someone can have so much information! You have a great amount of free time in these spots and he provides a walking tour of the Basilica! We had a great ride in a new Mercedes tour van! Give this tour your time! You’ll love it.
Michele our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. We learned a lot of culture and history in a short period of time with him. I would recommend Michele for your tour guide.
Excellent trip excellent tour guide I mean it with every sense of the word will not be disappointed Michele (Mike) you were awesome . Till we meet again my friend Thank you for all the culture and beauty you made us see on this trip . Bravo
Chris and Peter K.
Mike was an outstanding guide. He made us feel like family and had so many fun facts and stories to pass on. Amazing to up to see these cities built on the peaks
Very easy to find guide off ship. Nice van.we had a great time walking the little streets. Very clean with restrooms.
We will definitely use this service again. Booking via Viator was very easy and easy to reach when I had a question, and the tour manager patiently explained all the possibilities, which reassured us before the trip. The arrangements and coordination were excellent, the drivers were great, and the tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We truly enjoyed the trip.
10/13/25 - This tour was fabulous! Castelmola and Taormina were incredibly beautiful! Our tour guide, Sam, was fun and knowledgeable. He even stayed around after returning to Messina to take those of us that wanted to go to the main square and told us all about the astronomical clock and cathedral. I would definitely go back and would do this tour again! Thank you for an incredible day on the island of Sicily!
Communication prior to the tour was excellent. Mike was a very good driver/guide. We found his claim to be the worst driver in the company unbelievable, hahaha. The Mercedes van was comfortable, and Mike filled the driving time with interesting history and insights into life in Sicily. Our visits to Castelmola and Taormina were very relaxing and featured beautiful views. People looking to book should know that your time in these towns is “free time” rather than guided touring. It was a perfect day for us, and Mike even pointed out a perfect spot to get a cannoli when he dropped us off back in Messina.
I loved the tour and the time in the little towns. They made the trip for me because it totally felt like Italy. The streets, shops, people and oh the food!! And let’s not forget the views!!
This was a great tour to the beautiful hilltop village / town Castelmola and Taormina. Some spectacular views in Castelmola and some great shopping in Taormina. Sam our guide and Orazio our driver looked after us very well and we would highly recommend this excursion when in Messina.
Our guide was extremely kind and knowledgeable.. she gave good suggestions but allowed us free time to explore.
The time spent in each location was perfect. The van was comfortable as well. Michael was very knowledgeable of Sicily.
This was a perfect day tour in Sicily! Our guide Salvo was very knowledgeable and shared information about the history of Sicily, foods to eat, and of course, information about each of the sites we visited. He fielded all of our random questions as well. It was nice to get to Taormina ahead of the cruise ship excursions to enjoy the town before 100s of people descended on it. It was also nice to have free time at both locations to enjoy some food and take pictures. On the way back to Messina, I managed to catch a quick nap. A perfect day in Sicily!
Everything as expected; Italian. Torrential rains, part of the tour had to be cancelled. Great tour guides and clear instructions. Highly recommend the tour and Sam the tour guide
Great tour. This area is soooo beautiful! Highly recommend this tour!
Good trip and beautiful location.
Michael, our guide was amazing - Friendly, perfect balance of tour guide and humour… made for a comfortable and easy ride to see 2 beautiful historic cities…. Recommend!!!
My wife and I had a great time with Sam who was a fantastic tour guide. He was very professional, and knowledgeable. He shared detailed information about the history of Messina and the surrounding cities. He was truly great. Would highly recommend for any cruise passengers who wish to do a lot in a short amount of time. After the tour, Sam took us to one of the oldest church’s in Italy right near the port.
Excellent trip. Beautiful towns to visit with excellent shops, cafes, restaurants and stunning views. Michael, our guide, was brilliant - really informative with a great blend of facts and humour! Would highly recommend 👌
Wow!!! We were on the cruise ship Celebrity constellation and choose to book this tour through Viator and we were thrilled we did. We were personally met by our guide and driver Michael at the dock and his knowledge of the area was exceptional. He took us directly to Taormina so we could eat the tour buses which gave us the opportunity to take photos without the crowd crush. This is a much better way to tour these 2 beautiful villages in a personable way. Thank you mixhaely
Our tour guide was a wealth of information. He knew so much about Siciliy and the history. The town of Toarmina is absolutely gorgeous. The theater is beautiful, but I could have skipped it and spent more time in boutiques and cafes. The town of Castle Mola is beautiful, but again, I could have spent more time just wandering around Toarmina. What a beautiful area.
Bring your best camera, your hand sanitizer and wipes. Walking amount is reasonable and self-directed. If you have issues with high altitudes, this may not be advisable.
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$158.60
per personWas $170.54
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Taormina and Castelmola from Messina Shared Group Tour
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