Top Taormina Half-day Tours

The best way to connect with any local culture is through food, and nowhere is this more true than Sicily. With this cooking class, shop for ingredients at the market in Taormina like a local before learning how to prepare a variety of traditional Sicilian dishes with Chef Massimo in his restaurant kitchen. Enjoy the fruits of our labors over lunch afterwards, served with two local wines.

Trek around Mount Etna on this tour with a small group and an expert trekking guide. Set off from Taormina to spend the day learning about the volcano's history, exploring craters and lava caves. Stop at a local chalet for an included snack and wine. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off can be arranged on request.

Indulge your love of food and wine on this all-day tour of the Etna countryside. After a convenient hotel pickup, learn about the region’s history and culture from a local guide as you cruise through scenic Sicilian villages. Stop at a family-run winery, a picturesque farmhouse with delicious food, and a pastry bar. Enjoy wine tastings and samples of local cheeses, salumi, and pastas included in the tour price.

Spend a day discovering Europe’s highest active volcano and lava caves on this Mt. Etna tour. As you travel from Taormina or Giardini Naxos, learn all about the infamous Sicilian volcano from a guide. Then, leave the vehicle to trek along the trails of Parco dell’Etna, and visit an intriguing lava cave back at ground level. On your return to Catania, you have time for one last stop at an organic farm where samples of wine and honey await.

Compare the unforgettable storyline of "The Godfather" saga with real-life Mafia history during this in-depth guided tour of two Sicilian villages. See filming locations, like the church where Micheal Corleone married his young bride, Apollonia. You’ll also hear true stories from Sicilian Mafia clans and learn about their grip on southern Italy. The small-group tour is limited to eight and concludes with a tasty pasta buffet at a typical trattoria.

The volcanic landscapes around Mt. Etna are widely considered among the most fascinating in Italy, but they’re not always easy to explore without a guide. This adventurous half-day bus and hiking tour from Taormina includes food-tastings in Zafferana Etnea and a visit to the Parco dell’Etna. Delve into a lava cave with a guide, follow winding trails to the Rifugio Sapienza at 6,200 feet (1,900 meters) above sea level, and watch the sunset over the Silvestri craters.

The Gole Alcantara is one of Sicily’s most popular attractions, and often has the crowds to match. On this private half-day tour, let a local guide help you sidestep the tourists and show you the park’s caverns and rock formations, gardens, and best swimming places. Later, explore the seaside town of Giardini Naxos on foot. Finish the tour with food and wine tasting at a local wine bar.

Learn to cook traditional Sicilian pasta and cannoli with an expert local chef in romantic ancient villa. Sip DOC wine and taste hand-made bruschetta as you get to know your chef and decide what type of paste to make. Lean local secrets to making perfect fresh pasta and authentic cannoli, and then celebrate your hard work by enjoying your hand-made meal on an outdoor terrace accompanied by Sicilian DOC wines.

Discover Taormina’s historic secrets and modern delights on a 3-hour walking tour of highlights like Palazzo Corvaja, Santa Caterina church and Vicolo Stretto — the narrowest street in town. Gain skip-the-line entry to the ancient Greek theater, which boasts magnificent views of Mt Etna and Giardini Naxos. In the main square of Piazza IX Aprile, rest your feet and refresh with a tasting of unique Mt Etna DOC wines and savory local products at an enoteca.

Explore the unique landscape of an enormous volcano at with this 6-hour small-group sunset walking tour of Mt Etna from Taormina. Hike through the forest to see extinct craters and other evidence of past eruptions. Visit one of the most dramatic of the mountain's lava caves. Enjoy a light meal with wine made on Mt Etna and watch the sun go down.

Experience the rugged, romantic beauty of Sicily’s eastern coastline with a private, 4-hour sailing excursion from Taormina. Let a professional skipper handle the navigation while you relax and soak up views of Mt Etna, Isloa Bella and coastal grottoes, bays and sea cliffs as they are bathed in the golden light of sunset. Go for a swim or learn basic sailing techniques if you like, and enjoy an onboard seafood appetizer with wine as the sun dips below the horizon.

Take part in an age-old Sicilian tradition with a fishing trip off the shores of Taormina’s idyllic Isola Bella nature reserve. Admire the coastline’s bays, grottoes and sea cliffs while traveling aboard a traditional wooden fishing boat, and get tips and techniques from your local fisherman guide. After reeling in some local swimmers, enjoy a waterfront lunch featuring your fresh catch of the day expertly prepared by a chef. Tour size is limited for a more intimate small-group experience.

See all three of Sicily’s active volcanoes from the air on a thrilling, 100-minute helicopter tour. Take in spectacular aerial views of mighty Mt Etna — the largest active volcano in Europe — and then soar above the UNESCO-listed Aeolian Islands, home to sputtering Stromboli and Vulcano. Learn about the ancient, seismic history of the volcanic archipelago while taking in an unforgettable, bird’s-eye perspective of the dramatic Sicilian landscape.

Soak up the Sicilian sun like a VIP with a private boat tour along the coast from Taormina. As a captain navigates the waters of the Ionian Sea, just relax and enjoy the island scenery from the deck of your own luxurious boat, which can accommodate up to 10 people. While you sunbathe and take in sights like Grotta Azzurra and Isola Bella, indulge in provided wine, beer, prosecco, soft drinks, juice, fruit, bread and cheese.

The tour will allow you to visit Savoca, Taormina and Messina without time limits you will decide the stops with your driver or hostess who will accompany you giving information on board the means of transport, plus at the end of the tour you can enjoy in a famous Pasticceria di Messina the real Sicilian cannolo made at the time sipping a glass of typical Sicilian almond wine.

Discover the ancient and natural wonders surrounding Taormina on a private sightseeing tour. Forget the stress of navigating Italian roads on your own and relax in end-to-end private transportation from your hotel. Begin with a leisurely guided tour along the streets of Taormina, known as the Pearl of the Mediterranean. After a picturesque drive past the Straits of Messina and Ionian Sea, explore Mount Etna.

Villa Romana del Casale is a stunning Unesco heritage site of exceptional historical and artistic value, featuring over 3,500-sqm of flooring covered in stunning mosaics. Located in a valley just outside the town of Piazza Armerina, the villa was built in the 4th century and belonged to a powerful Roman patrician. In the 12th century a mudslide completely covered its extensive network of rooms, which helped the natural preservation of these beautiful artworks. The mosaics depict scenes of everyday life back in the ancient Roman Empire, created with an exceptional attention to detail. Highlights include the famous "bikini girls” portrayed playing various sports and the huge 60-meter long corridor with hunting scenes.

Journey to one of the most active volcanoes on earth, and the highest volcano in Europe, during this outdoor trekking adventure to Mt. Etna. Get down and dirty in Etna National Park without skimping on comfort, enjoying VIP perks like hotel pickup and a comfortable, air-conditioned jeep. Walk by ancient eruptions as you learn about life under the shadow of the volcano. All hiking levels are welcome, and tours include a Sicilian lunch.

Founded by Greek colonists in 581 AD, Agrigento is a history-packed town in the southern coast of Sicily, and is home to one of the island’s major attractions: the Valley of the Temples. This vast archeological site includes some of the the finest and best-preserved Greek remnants in the world. The guide will take you on a fascinating stroll around the archeological ruins, including the eight pillars of the Temple of Hercules, the oldest complex dating from the 6th century BC, and the beautiful Temple of Concord, which is the best-preserved Greek temple currently in existence. Other notable shrines are the Temple of Juno, which offers stunning views over the valley, and the colossal Temple of Jupiter.

Located at the foot of mount Etna, Catania is a buzzing Sicilian city featuring fine baroque jewels and a unique culinary tradition. An expert local guide will take you on a fascinating tour around “A Piscaria”, the picturesque fish market snaking through the alleys right in the center of Catania, near the Dome. After passing by the Baroque Amenano Fountain, which marks the entrance to the market, you will descend into a whirlwind of scents, colors and folklore and will be guided through colorful stalls selling the catch of the day, with fishmongers haggling and yelling prices. The guide will take you to all the best secret spots in town and during the tour you will taste a refreshing granita, the quintessential Sicilian icy treat, as well as some of the best delicacies of the local gastronomy.

Spend an evening relaxing and enjoying the views with this 2.5-hour sunset cruise from Taormina, followed by dinner. Drift past some of Sicily's most beautiful coastline, and then dine on seafood on board.

Explore three charming cities on the east coast of Sicily - ancient Giardini Naxos, picturesque medieval village Castelmola and Taormina - Pearl of the Ionic sea. Churches and palaces, views of rocky mountains and azure sea, smells of orange blossom, oregano, and mint … Sicily is an inspiring island!

Enjoy the beauties of the most beautiful coast of Sicily, visiting 3 amazing sites: Taormina, Giardini Naxos and Isolabella, with a special stop to taste the famous sicilian Arancini, the rice ball well know to be the most delicious street food in Sicily. At the end of the tour we moreover offer a quick city tour of the town your ship docks.

Experience the beauty of eastern Sicily on a donkey ride through the medieval village of Savoca. Traverse pine forests atop your donkey and visit churches, catacombs, the set of ‘The Godfather’ film, and ancient ruins. Along the way, sample local treats like granita, pistachios, olive oil, and almond wine to get a taste of Sicily’s gourmet products.