The 5 Messina Shore Excursions That Earn Their Price

1.Full Day Taormina and Castelmola Tour with Messina Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 237 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $145Our pick

Travel from Messina or Giardini Naxos port to hilltop Castelmola and Taormina with an English-speaking guide. Expect scenic roads, a guided walk along Corso Umberto, the Greek-Roman Theater, and free time for Sicilian food and shopping. Guides such as Sabrina, Mariarita, Katia, and Sara are praised for clear storytelling and careful timing.

“The tour was great and Sabrina was wonderful; however, we should have been notified that it’s raining in the area of Taormina and we would have brought our raincoats. Messina had sunny weather but as soon as we arrived in Castelmola instead of sightseeing we had to search for umbrellas (outrageously expensive of course) and ended up spending free time in a coffee shop since it was raining too hard. Communication about the weather would have been a no brainer and made the overall experience much more pleasant.”

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2.Best Shore Excursion Etna, Taormina, Messina With Tasting Of Sicilian Products

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $227Top rated

You’ll ride in an air-conditioned private vehicle from Messina to Mount Etna, Taormina, and central Messina. The six-hour route includes crater views, free time in Taormina, a panoramic stop, the cathedral square, and tastings of honey, olives, wine, liqueurs, and olive oil. Entrance fees are extra.

“The tour we received did not cover most of the items from the tour description on Viator website (see below for summary), so this misrepresentation is very disappointing. We contacted Viator to no avail. We will be disputing this charge with our credit card company immediately. From Tour Description on Website: Mount Etna Walk on the sylvan craters with a breathtaking view of the Ionian coast of Sicily. 1 hour • Admission Ticket Free 2 Tempio Votivo di Cristo Re Short stop for souvenir photos from the panoramic balcony of Messina 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free NOT PROVIDED 3 Duomo di Messina Stop to visit the famous Piazza del…”

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3.Taormina Private Tour from Hotel or Cruise Terminal of Messina

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $156

Travel privately from Messina’s cruise port or hotel to Taormina in an air-conditioned van, with about two hours to explore Corso Umberto, Piazza IX Aprile, Palazzo Corvaja, and the Greek Theater area. You’ll also stop at Isola Bella, the Votive Temple of Christ the King, and Messina Cathedral. Filippo is named as an excellent driver and guide by one customer.

“Excellent tour and well worth the expense! Filippo was an excellent tour guide and driver. He told us so many interesting facts along the way while pointing out unique things in and around the cities of Messina and Taormina. Would definitely recommend!”

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4.From Messina Cruise Terminal: Private Godfather tour + Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 5 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $355

From Messina port, your private English-speaking guide drives you to Savoca and Forza d’Agro, where you’ll see Bar Vitelli, Michael and Apollonia’s wedding church, medieval streets, Norman castle remains, and movie locations from The Godfather. A traditional Sicilian lunch, local wine, sea views, and flexible time with guides such as Maurizio, Marco, or Bruno round out the day.

“Maurizio was our driver very kind professional and knowledgeable of Sicily. The towns the Godfather was filmed in were so rustic and breathtaking!! We took our time to walk around and take in the history and beauty of these places. The movie history and sites just add to the experience!! Loved everything! Maurizio also setup a private lunch at an authentic Sicilian restaurant SIKANAI, the owner cooked and served us a delicious (the best!) beautiful meal and the view was spectacular. We’re still in awe of this tour.. just ask for Maurizio he’s the best! Just go, see what the Coppola vision was you won’t regret it!”

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5.Deluxe SicilyTaormina and Savoca Tour from Messina Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $83Best value

From Messina Cruise Port, visit film-famous Savoca and elegant Taormina in about six hours. An English-speaking guide such as Anna, Rosa, Giovanna, or Lily may lead the day, with free time for food and shopping, plus port pickup and a ship-friendly return.

“Our first time in Sicily and we were not sure what to do. Friends suggested taking a tour outside of the city to truly see all that Sicily had to offer. We were glad we did. The small bus easily took us to Savoca and then onto Taormina. Our tour guide was very personable and offered a lot of information about both of our sites. It really helped us to learn about the rich history that Sicily has. In Taormina, he offered some really good suggestions for things to see and places to eat. The tour was a good mix of free time and guided time where we learned about…”

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