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Messina
Private tours

Private tours

Our most recommended Messina Private tours

Taormina: Boat Tour with Aperitif on Isola Bella

1. Taormina: Boat Tour with Aperitif on Isola Bella

Boat excursion to Taormina aboard a typical Sicilian boat guided by expert skippers. We will take you on a boat trip to Taormina to visit one of the most beautiful bays in all of Sicily that will make you fall in love. Boat excursions in Taormina include the Blue Grotto of Taormina and all the bays of the marine reserve. We will sail along the entire bay of Giardini Naxos to try to meet the dolphins that have always populated this stretch of sea. You can admire the Taormina coast from the Bay of Naxos and then off towards the tip of Capo Taormina, to head to the bay of Mazzaró inside the protected marine park. During this journey we will stop in the bay of the sirens. You will enter the blue grotto of Taormina with the whole boat, famous for the seabed illuminated by the sun's rays that manage to penetrate through spaces in the submerged rock, giving an intense fluorescent blue backdrop. To round off our boat tour in Taormina, we will stop at the beautiful island. Famous rocky islet close to the coast with a piece of beach characterized by unique views in the world. Here you can dive and refresh yourself in these crystal clear waters among seabeds full of local colors and corals. This fantastic boat ride in Taormina will be framed by an aperitif and enriched by typical local fruit and drinks. Our goal will be to capture the time spent in these heavenly places in your memories.

From Taormina: Sunset Coastline Boat Tour & Dolphin Watching

2. From Taormina: Sunset Coastline Boat Tour & Dolphin Watching

Take this 2-hour boat tour to explore Taormina coastline. The tour will depart from the Giardini Naxos port and will give you the opportunity to explore the beautiful coast between Giardini Naxos and Taormina. During the trip you will visit also some spectacular caves: Grotta del Giorno, Grotta delle Sirene, Grotta Azzurra and Grotta del Corallo. With this tour you will admire some beautiful places, like Cape Schisò, Cape Taormina, Scoglio della croce, Scoglio dei fichi d’india, Isola bella, Mazzaro bay, San Nicola bay and Scoglio dello “Ziu Innaru”. Sail in search of a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat where the sighting probability is approximately 80 percent. The tour includes a stop for a dip or snorkelling in the crystal clear waters of Taormina bay, followed by a refreshment of fruit, snacks and drinks.

Giardini Naxos: Semi-Submarine Tour to Isola Bella

3. Giardini Naxos: Semi-Submarine Tour to Isola Bella

Discover the rich underwater world of Giardini Naxos, Taormina, and Isola Bella on this guided tour aboard an air-conditioned submarine. Have the chance to spot sea creatures like dolphins, barracudas, octopuses, big groupers, and stingrays. Hop aboard a comfortable, bright-red submarine in Giardini Naxos and plunge down to the seabed. Have the option to go below or head up to the above deck area. Look for moray eels and schools of juvenile barracudas as you cruise through the vast meadow of oceanic posidonia grass in Isola Bella.  Feel the romance as you pass by the Cave of Lovers and experience the Blue Grotto from below. Take a look under the waves at the Bay of Sirens and venture into the protected waters of a nature reserve.   Upon returning to your meeting point, if the weather and sea conditions allow it, there is the possibility of spotting playful dolphins which populated this stretch of sea in eastern Sicily.

Mount Etna and Taormina Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

4. Mount Etna and Taormina Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

Europe’s highest active volcano is studied extensively by scientists and is popular with trekkers and nature lovers as well. Visit Mount Etna and the clifftop village of Taormina on this 11-hour excursion from Palermo. From Crateri Silvestri you’ll take the funicular (ticket not included) with a local mountain guide all the way up to 2,500 meters above sea level. From this point you’ll experience unforgettable panoramic views. Just south of Taormina is the nature reserve of Isola Bella, and further south you’ll see the popular seaside resort of Giardini Naxos. Visit the village of Taormina, a 45-minute drive from Mount Etna. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, the village features an ancient Greek theater, many old churches, antique shops, lively bars and fine restaurants.

Giardini Naxos: Boat Trip Isola Bella with Snorkeling

5. Giardini Naxos: Boat Trip Isola Bella with Snorkeling

Leaving the port of Giardini Naxos, navigation along the Bay of Naxos, Capo Taormina and the Faraglioni. It will be possible to admire the scenic coast of Giardini Naxos, Taormina and Castelmola and the Etna volcano which forms the backdrop to this wonderful naturalistic setting. After about 30 minutes of navigation, arrival at the Marine Reserve of Isola Bella and stop for about an hour, with possibility of guided snorkeling, sunbathing on the solarium and enjoying soft drinks and snacks. The itinerary may vary according to the marine weather conditions and the decisions of the skipper.

Taormina: Godfather v/s Mafia Tour with Lunch

6. Taormina: Godfather v/s Mafia Tour with Lunch

Compare the plot of The Godfather saga with the history of real-life Sicilian Mafia during this guided day trip from Taormina to the villages of Savoca and Forza D'Agro. Travel in comfort on a minivan with hotel pickup and drop-off. Enjoy an authentic Sicilian lunch with a glass of wine. Begin the tour with a drive to Savoca and take a guided walk through the old town. Visit locations where The Godfather movie was filmed. See the Bar Vitelli where Michael Corleone met the father of his future wife Apollonia, and St. Lucy’s Church, where they were married. Learn about the history of the Sicilian Mafia and how it spread throughout Italy. Hear about the Mafia clan wars for control of the territory. Then, head to your second stop, Forza D'Agro, another small village where the movie was filmed. After a walking tour, stop for lunch in a charming restaurant. Enjoy a plate of fresh pasta with wine from the Etna region on a terrace overlooking the Sicilian coast.

Sicily: The Godfather Filming Locations Tour

7. Sicily: The Godfather Filming Locations Tour

On this informative tour, follow in the footsteps of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. Discover the beautiful medieval villages of Savoca and Forza d’Agrò nestled on 2 beautiful hills where Francis Ford Coppola shot the famous movies. Explore the splendid hidden corners of Sicily as you go off the beaten path. Visit St. Lucy Church where Michael married Apollonia and the Cathedral of Forza d'Agrò where another wedding scene was shot. Enjoy a drink or lemon granita at Bar Vitelli where Michael Corleone asked Mr. Vitelli if he could marry his daughter. Then, explore the beautiful Castello Degli Schiavi (subject to availability).

Taormina: Kayak Coastal Tour to Isola Bella and Blue Grotto

8. Taormina: Kayak Coastal Tour to Isola Bella and Blue Grotto

Then don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in this original excursion aboard a Kayak and discover the Marine Park of Taormina's Isola Bella. You will be provided with the necessary equipment to carry out the excursion and throughout the trip you will be accompanied by one of our qualified instructors. Starting from the beach of Giardini naxos, you will kick off your tour of about 2 hours; you will reach Isola Bella, the beautiful Blue Grotto, the Grotta degli Innamorati and the Fico rock. On hot days, you may be lucky enough to even spot dolphins swimming just a few meters away from you.

Sicily: Catania Airport Bus Transfer to Giardini Naxos

9. Sicily: Catania Airport Bus Transfer to Giardini Naxos

Enjoy our comfortable buses between Catania Fontanarossa Airport and Giardini Naxos City Center. Ride in a regularly-maintained, air-conditioned bus. Avoid the hassle of navigating the public transportation system before or after a long journey, instead, relax and enjoy the views of Italy from the comfort of your seat. Board a modern bus to leave your worries behind, and arrive on time at your destination at the airport, or in the city. Enjoy comfort on board with the cooling ventilation and accessible area for wheelchairs. Moreover, pets are allowed as long as they are in boxes or cages of appropriate sizes and that do not bother other passengers. Blind and deaf people can travel with their guide dogs.

From Taormina/Giardini Naxos: Etna Immersive Trek & Tasting

10. From Taormina/Giardini Naxos: Etna Immersive Trek & Tasting

Enjoy a full day trip departing from Taormina or Giardini Naxos for a guided hike on Mount Etna, including a delicious lunch. You’ll trek on one of Europe’s most active volcanoes departing comfortably from Taormina or Giardini Naxos and watch the landscape change as you ascend, preparing to live an unforgettable experience into the nature of Mount Etna. At your arrival at the slopes of Mount Etna, you will meet your guide who will take you to the trekking path on the volcano. Start climbing towards the top of some of the 7 so called lateral craters which were formed during the 1865 eruption, creating an amazing “buttons shapes” effect: several cones in succession aligned on the eruptive axis as if they were buttons. Dip into the special atmosphere that marks out the area, between pyroclastic materials produced from the volcano during the explosive phase of the eruption such as scoria, lapilli and volcanic "bombs" and exciting natural: you will have the chance to admire splendid tree species such as the betula aetnensis, a kind of birch usually growing in North Europe which is found in Sicily only on the North side of the Mount Etna. Along the hiking route, if you will be lucky enough to have a sunny clear day, you will be blessed with incredible panoramas, from Calabria to Taormina: sometimes it is even possible to see Stromboli island! Then, after this pleasant hike, it will be time for a refreshing lunch with typical Sicilian products on the Etna which will make this experience even more special. The lunch will include 3 courses and beverages, the perfect way to compensate your hiking effort of the day! There will also be the chance to spend about 1 hour of free time on your own around the area, before going back to Taormina or Giardini Naxos.

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What people are saying about Messina

Overall rating

5.0 / 5

based on 1 reviews

The trip was excellent and exceeded our expectations. Our guide Gianfranco picked us up at our hotel right on schedule and stopped at several great viewing locations on the way to and from Mt. Etna. He was very knowledgeable about Mt. Etna and also gave us a lot of great information about Sicily and other things to see and do in the area. I would highly recommend this excursion and Gianfranco as a guide.

Had a lovely trip! We were picked up in Central Taormina and stopped on the way at a wonderful viewpoint. Very knowledgeable guide who showed us around a cave and many other places on our way up to Etna. Then we walked around on the volcano and saw huge craters and old lava flows. It was wonderful! :)

Marco was our guide and I cannot say enough good things about him. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoyed our day very much and he made sure we had a wonderful time. I highly recommend this tour and if Marco is your guide, you will learn a lot about his beautiful country. Just ask.

Maria was excellent! Her personality was engaging and warm. Her home was beautiful and welcoming. We enjoyed the market tour and the food she made was delicious! We were so full but a nice walk back to the cruise ship was perfect! Thank you Maria!!

Our time with Gianfranco was fabulous! He is a lovely man, so knowledgeable, friendly and articulate. He explained everything so well and made it all so easy. An amazing day!