Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina

By Discover Messina Sicily
Recommended by 96% of travellers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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See more of Sicily when your cruise ship docks in Messina with a guided tour to Taormina and Castelmola. Benefit from traveling with a local guide with a stop at the village of Castelmola. Get great views of Mt Etna and Isola Bella, and take a guided tour of Taormina’s plazas and historical landmarks, with free time to explore further on your own before returning to Messina.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-90, max of 35 per group
Duration: 6h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Italian, French, Spanish
More

Highlights
  • Hear live commentary from your guide
  • Ride in a comfortable air-conditioned bus
  • Explore the main street of Taormina, Corso Umberto
  • Pickup and drop-off provided in Messina

  • Transport by air-conditioned bus
  • Professional guide
  • Live commentary on board
  • Entry/Admission - Sicily
  • Entry/Admission - Corso Umberto
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
  • Entrance ticket to the Greek Roman theatre


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
  • Option 1
    Terminal Crociere, 98122 Messina, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
    FOR THE CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS: Tour departure time is 30 minutes after ship arrival except for ships arriving at 7:00 AM. Ships arriving at 7:00 AM will always have a tour departure time of 8:30 AM Local Time The guide will meet you inside of the port, on the left side of the ship.
  • Option 2
    Via I Settembre, 110, 98122 Messina ME, Italy
    FOR THE GUESTS THAT ARE NOT CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS: The meeting point at our office DISCOVER MESSINA SICILY, located in Via I Settembre, 110.
  • Option 3
    Porto di Giardini Naxos, Via Schisò, 98035 Giardini Naxos ME, Italy
    The travellers will meet the guide in front of the small three columns temple, located in front of the port of Giardini Naxos.
Pickup details
  • THE PICKUP TIME IS SETTLED 30 MINUTES AFTER THE DISEMBARKATION. Example: if your ship arrives at 8:00 AM the pickup time will be 8:30 AM; if the ship arrives at 9:00 AM the pickup time will be 9:30 AM, and so on.
Port pickup offered
During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports.
  • MESSINA PORT
  • GIARDINI NAXOS PORT
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Infant seats available
    • Pushchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 23689P4

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • May be operated by a multilingual guide
    • Minimum number of 4 people per tour applies. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough total passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund’
    • Infant meals not included
    • Cellular number required
    • Departure times are set according to arrival of cruise ships
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 23689P4

    From
    AU$150.88
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
    Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 1
    • 2
      Pass by
      Piazza Duomo
      Quattro Fontane di Taormina
      Palazzo Ciampoli di Taormina
    • 3
      Pass by
      Torre dell'Orologio
      Piazza IX Aprile
      Chiesa di San Giuseppe
    • 4
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Discover Messina Sicily
      948
      Messina, Italy
      Joined in August 2012
    • 389cheryllp
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Magical Day With Katia in Savoca/Taormina
      I simply LOVED EVERYTHING about this tour. We started the day being delayed coming into port, but a quick text to Discover Messina Sicily and they alleviated any concerns I had. They assured me that they would be waiting when we got to port and that they would not be late returning. When we did arrived in port, Discover Messina Sicily were so easy to find and our guide, Katia, welcomed us warmly. We boarded a comfortable coach and headed up to Savoca. Katia was so knowledgeable on all the history and traditions of Sicily and Savoca. Her English was impeccable and she made everyone feel at home in her beautiful country. She allowed us ample time to explore Savoca and enjoy Bar Vitelli before we re-boarded the bus to Taormina. Taormina was amazing and we certainly had ample time there as well. We were all in a very good mood when we loaded up for the short bus ride back to the port. Door to door service and with plenty of time to spare to allow us a few minutes in Messina. I would 100% recommend Discover Messina Sicily Tours to anyone arriving in Messina. This tour was one of the highlights of our entire cruise. Thank you Katia for your amazing hospitality.
      Written 13 February 2025
    • L1272AXsandyh
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic day seeing Taormina and Castelmola!
      We had the most enjoyable day seeing the spectacular sites of Taormina and Castelmola while in Sicily! While on a Viking cruise, we opted to use Discover Messina Sicily for the day and are so very glad we did. Our guide, Sara, was very knowledgeable, kind, and passionate about sharing so much interesting information about her homeland. She offered some choices as time permitted us to see even more than we initially expected! It was an exceptional experience and would highly recommend Discover Messina Sicily.
      Written 13 February 2025
    • timbo742
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A wonderful highlight of our vacation
      My wife and I spent a day in Taormina and Castelmola with Discover Messina Sicily while on a trip through a number of Mediterranean locations. Among the 6 or 7 tour groups we used in our trip, Discover Messina Sicily was by far the best. Our guide, Sara, was very knowledgeable, easy to spend a day with, and very kind and helpful. She and our driver suggested extra stops beyond our initial itinerary when it became clear time would allow. Best of all, it was clear that Sara loves her town and island. As she provided history, mythology, and other information about the region, we couldn’t help but love the place, too. Five stars and some! Thank you for a memorable day, Discover Messina Sicily!
      Written 2 February 2025
    • P9991FEjant
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful Italy and tour guide Katie!
      Our guide was outstanding! Katie was a delightful caring and informative tour guide as she took us on the Messina and Godfather tour, yesterday. She generously provided us with an almond cookie on the bus and shared with us all of the rich history of Messina. She was like family to us so rapidly that I even invited her to be a guest in my home if she ever wants to visit Michigan in the United States Hands-down she gets a 10 star review from me!
      Written 31 January 2025
    • ChrisC433-515
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Tour from Messina!
      This was an awesome tour. We were picked up right where we disembarked the ship (name on card). The bus driver was phenomenal! The Godfather Tour was really informational. Getting to walk the same path as in the movie was iconic. Having granitas and cannolis at Bar Vitelli was a great experience. Taormina was absolutely lovely. The views of Mount Etna were breathtaking! Our tour guide (Kate) couldn’t have done anything better. She was amazing!
      Written 30 January 2025
    • jillsV2502DA
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The best experience!
      This was a fantastic tour. The guides were amazing and so kind. We had such a small group that they added extra stops to see a few off the beaten path sites. We learned so much, saw amazing things and we are so grateful to the guides.
      Written 30 January 2025
    • tweti52
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful Tour and Tour Guide!
      We visited Mt Etna & Taormina. This was our favorite tour during our 10 Day cruise. Our guide, Carmelo made the day so enjoyable. He was informative, friendly and very personable. You could tell he loved this beautiful island of Sicily. We had plenty of time to explore the craters of Mt Etna, visited an olive tasting farm and the bustling town of Taormina. Our bus driver, Carmelo & our group made for a perfect visit to Sicily.
      Written 21 January 2025
    • victoriamL7172QM
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Brilliant tour - the most knowledgeable tour guide!
      We had such a great experience with Sara as our guide on this tour. Other reviews have said she exceeded expectations, and that was the case for us too. Sara's knowledge of Messina, Taormina and Sicily generally is incredible. She told us so much about the history and culture of the island, and there wasn't a question that she couldn't answer. I really appreciate that level of context when visiting a place, but she really impressed us. She also knew the best place in Taormina to get cannoli, which is valuable enough on its own!
      Written 28 December 2024
    • Colleen B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing!!
      I can’t say enough good things about this tour. Roberto was amazing!! This personalized tour was better than we ever expected to say the least. Thanks for a lifetime of good memories!
      Written 3 December 2024
    • Rick_W96
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Etna and Taormina
      The tour was good but sadly we had poor weather. It was very Foggy up on Mt Etna so we couldn't see the summit. In Taormina it rained quite a bit so we got soaked but that did not change our enthusiasm for Sicily and especially Taormina...It was a beautiful and colorful little city!
      Written 2 December 2024
    • R6416QKmandym
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Street Food Tour
      Our tour guide Roberto was amazing and the food was delish! It was a great balance of history and food. Thank you so much for an excellent day in Messina!
      Written 2 December 2024
    • DKstrvls
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect day in Sicily
      We spent a perfect day on our cruise's port stop in Sicily touring Taormina and the Blue Grotto. Giulia was a wonderful guide. She shared fascinating information about what we were seeing and wonderful stories of her life and family in Sicily. The stories about her grandma were both funny and heartwarming. Our boat ride was absolutely gorgeous and so relaxing. Our Captain was entertaining and very friendly. He showed us so many beautiful sites and our swim in the gorgeous blue waters was wonderful. Our free time in Taormina afterwards allowed us to explore its beauty at our own pace. We couldn't have asked for a better day. Thank you Giulia!
      Written 25 November 2024
    • L8941YIjennys
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun with Sara
      Such a wonderful day with Sara! This was the only day of our 15-day trip where the weather was rainy, but that didn't stop our adventure. We started exploring the town where Sara was very knowable about the history. We walked, and then she took us to the best place in town for a Cannoli ( drool) . Next it was off to the Mt Etna area to a wonderful winery , unfortunately the clouds and rain didn't allow us to see Mt Etna, but it didn't matter as our time at the winery was full of laughter and great wines. Before our trip the communication with Discover Messina was just amazing they answered my many questions and were very accommodating, would recommend highly. This was a private tour of 9 people.
      Written 23 November 2024
    • 177tamiw
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice stroll around Messina
      We enjoyed our Messina walking tour with our guide Claudio. He was knowledgeable and kept a good pace for our group. We had a nice break for that included a treat. Glad he got us to the square in time for the church bells! This tour was on mostly flat ground.
      Written 16 November 2024
    • Arlise
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful Tour
      This excursion was awesome. The transportation was waiting at the port for us as we arrived. We were greeted by several staff and introduced to our tour guide Peppe. Peppe, was very courteous, knowledgeable, detailed, and humorous. He melted us informed and provided entertainment on our ride into town. We could not have asked for a better guide. We also got a little shopping in and Cannolo (Singular).
      Written 13 November 2024
    See all 948 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles163 reviews
    Excellent
    151
    Very good
    6
    Average
    5
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    1

    KV
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Honestly, hands down one of the BEST tour agencies from beginning to end! We got off a cruise ship and all their people were in bright fun orange shirts directing their guests to the right bus 🧡

    Mariarita, our guide, was charming, funny and very knowledgeable! This agency was well-prepared, and competitively priced, but after visiting with others once back on board our ship, I assure you, we received a MUCH BETTER experience than others who chose a different excursion tour agency. A tour guide can make or break a tour or even your whole in-country experience, and Mariarita made Sicily shine bright! Loved the food, drinks and especially the people!

    Do yourself a favor and go with Discover Messina, you will not regret it! 😊

    I even got to join the fun orange 🧡 shirt team in the end! Joy! 🙌
    Written 23 August 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Ciao bella!!!! what a pleasure reading your words! these are real satisfaction for our job! I wish you all the best and I really hope to meet you again in the future!!! Lots of kisses, Mariarita
    Written 26 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jim W
    Clarkston, MI12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Andrea picked us up at the ferry terminal.
    He was waiting for us with a sign!

    Andrea was very personable and knowledgeable.
    He pointed out places of interest along the way to the first stop, and between stops.
    Andrea was also very amenable to answering any questions we had.

    We met another guide, Claudia, at our first stop - Comune di Castelmola.
    She was also very nice, and thoroughly explained the history behind the landmarks.

    Our second stop was Taormina.
    We chose to visit the Ancient Theatre of Taormina.
    It was about a 15 to 20 minute walk, down the main street.
    Entry to the theatre was 12€ per person, but was well worth the price.
    Claudia purchased the tickets to save us the time of waiting in line.
    Bring cash if you plan on going to the theatre.
    That’s the only way the guide can purchase the tickets for you.

    After touring the theatre, we walked back down the main thoroughfare, lines with stores and restaurants.

    We stopped for pizza and a refreshment on the way back to our meeting point.
    Cover charge of 4€ per person applies, along with an automatically applied 10% gratuity.
    Lunch was a little expensive, but expected on a busy, tourist filled street.

    Once we met back up with Andrea, he took us to a nice overlook to take photos, then to a church near the port.

    A wonderful day, overall. Definitely worth the money. A lot of it due to Andrea and Claudia.
    Written 13 September 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Karen W
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2024 • Friends
    Today was fantastic! The tour operators communicated in advance, wore brightly colored shirts and carried signs. This helped us quickly identify "our" guides. Sophia was knowledgeable about the scenic History and our bus driver was skilled driving in the close mountain roads. 5 stars all the way!
    Written 25 October 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jim D
    29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Booked a shore excursion tour of Taormina and Castelmina through Discover Sicily. The collection from the port was seamless and the directions given were easy to follow. Claudis was the guide and was very knowledgeable and explained things in a clear and easy to understand way. The driver, (sorry but forgot her name) was very careful and was always on time to collect us. Overall a very enjoyable trip which I would thoroughly recommend.
    Written 18 October 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Dan M
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We appreciated and enjoyed every element of this tour. The tour support staff greeted us as we left the ship and directed us to our pickup location a short walk away. From there we met our guide Gabriella, boarded the bus and were set up with our communication gear. And then the fun began.

    Our driver did a wonderful job skillfully ascending the winding roads while our guide Gabriella entertained all us with colorful stories about the area’s history. Upon arrival we strolled through Castelmola and Taormina with Gabriella’s guidance, met some of the local restauranteurs, and enjoyed plenty of free time for lunch and photos.

    From beginning to end, this was one of the best tours I have taken.

    Thanks Gabriella and Discover Messina.
    Written 22 October 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Brandon V
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We booked the Castelmola & Taormina trip and were very impressed with whole experience. It started off with a wonderful drive through the hills and tunnels following the coastline which had spectacular views. We visited Castelmola first where we took a walk through the small village and made our way to the top where we had magnificent views of the mountainside and coast. We then visited Taormina where we received an excellent walking tour from Gabrielle who highlighted all the significant historical landmarks as well as gave us some restaurant recommendations that were fantastic.
    Written 30 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Ann F
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The bus tour was excellent! The bus was clean and comfortable. The tour guide was amazing and the bus driver was highly skilled- as one needs to be to be able to drive a bus on the twisty, narrow roads.
    The scenery was incredible and the shops and food were great too!
    We had a truly spectacular day!
    Written 7 October 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    nick m
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2024 • Family
    This trip was amazing the guide was so awesome and explained everything we wanted to know. She was very clear on when to meet back and she even gave us the option to free roam or follow her while she shows us things and talks about them all. She also made everybody laugh a little and feel safe also. Driver was very very good the roads are a little narrow and I was very impressed with the skills of the driver
    Written 12 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Nick Thank you very much for your precious feedback. It was a pleasure meeting you all and I hope I will be able to share more about my island and its beauty. Have a wonderful holiday in France and please send my greetings to Mia!
    Written 13 March 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    LaraP326
    Washington DC, DC31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2024 • Couples
    Our favorite tour of our Mediterranean Cruise thus far. Sara did an absolutely wonderful job narrating and guiding our group from Catania (port changed from Messina) to Castelmola and Taormina. She shared traditional Italian wedding cookies, almond wine and provided great recommendations for arancini and cannolis while in Taormina. I absolutely fell in love with Sicily. Sara’s kind demeanor, mindful pace and knowledge made this tour exceptional. We will be back!!
    Written 13 September 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    M0Maze
    Toronto, Canada7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    June 2024 • Couples
    Sara met us at the cruise ship and the rest is history. We had the best time with her as she took us through Messina and Taormina...she is very knowledgeable, her English is fabulous and she went above and beyond expectations. She even provided our group with her favourite spots for pizza, street food, a restaurant with a terrace view of the sea and of course, the best place for Cannolo on the planet! She has a passionate love of her job/career.
    Written 19 June 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina provided by Discover Messina Sicily

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