Italy · TOURS IN TAORMINA
The 15 best tours in Taormina you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Enter Taormina’s Ancient Theater with a skip-the-line ticket and explore at your own pace. Your audio guide, available in English, French, Spanish, and German, explains the theater’s Greek origins, Roman changes, gladiator arena, and later use as a palace. The ticket is valid for one day, with one admission.
“It was really pretty and straightforward to go and visit.”
Meet Chef Mimmo Siciliano in Taormina, visit a small local producer, and transfer to Ahoy Bistrò Siciliano by the sea. With Mimmo, Mamma Francesca, and the family team, you will make caponata, fresh fish, six pasta shapes, and sauces before eating lunch with wine, cannoli, and Limoncello.
“A great way of learning about making pasta and sauces. A well structured day with great food and refreshments, plenty of wine.”
Spend 90 minutes at Taormina’s Nazarena Theater with international singers and a professional pianist performing familiar arias and duets by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Rossini, and others. You’ll enjoy a glass of Prosecco, water, and terrace views over the Bay of Taormina. It’s a concert-style introduction to Italian opera, not a full staged opera.
“A very professional performance in a small and beautiful intimate theater.”
Set out from Giardini Naxos on a two-hour Sicilian boat trip with an English or Italian-speaking skipper. See the Blue Grotto, Taormina’s bays, Isola Bella, and the coast from the water. You’ll have time to swim, possibly snorkel with your own gear, and enjoy fruit, almond paste, music, and an aperitif.
“Thank you it was an amazing experience with a very authentic sicilian boat driver.”
Travel from Taormina, Naxos, or Letojanni to Savoca and Forza d’Agrò with a live English or Italian guide. Visit Bar Vitelli and the Santa Lucia church area, see filming sites from all three Godfather films, and hear stories about Sicilian life, church, mafia history, and cinema. Marcello is often the guide, and hotel pickup is included.
“Fantastic tour visiting two lovely towns. and learning about typical Sicilian life. Marcello was knowledgeable and entertaining, not only about the films, but the Mafia in general and the history of the towns. I don't think you even need to be a fan of the films to be interested in this tour. We were picked up from our hotel and the transport was clean and smooth. Thoroughly recommend!”
Meet Chef Massimo at 9:30 am near Porta Messina in Taormina. Shop for seasonal produce, fish, and meat, then walk to his home for a hands-on Sicilian cooking class. You’ll prepare pasta, appetizers, and main courses, eat the results with local wine, and take home recipes and an apron.
“Far, far exceeded what we thought would have happened with a cooking class. Chef Massimo met us and brought us to a local market he taught us how to correctly pick fruits, vegetables and fish. We went to a meat market and we learned so much that we will be able to bring back home and use with our own family. Just in those few encounters we had learned so much. We took a walk from there across the little city to his home overlooking the water. Along the way he was teaching us everything he could about the area and what helps them make their decisions in cooking. My…”
Spend seven hours exploring Mount Etna with a multilingual guide such as Salvatore, Alessandro, or Giuseppe. Walk among extinct craters, enter Grotta dei Tre Livelli with helmet and headlamp, then sample Etna honey, olive oil, wine, and other local foods. Optional cable-car and 4x4 rides are available on site.
“Fabulous day! Angelo was the consummate host, accommodating all interests and needs. Caves, volcanoes and lava flows very cool! Honey tasting was yummy and charming. Small museum and beautiful garden.”
From Taormina, ride by coach to Mount Etna, then take the cable car to 2,500 meters and a 4x4 Jeep into the authorized upper crater zone. Alpine guides lead you across ash and volcanic rock, with views of summit craters and Sicily below. English, Italian, and German guiding is available.
“Very much enjoyed our Mt Etna tour. We took the cable car then the jeep to go to the highest point. Our guide Greta was very good. If u go to Sicily u need to go there, an unforgettable experience”
Walk around extinct craters at 2,000 meters, explore a lava cave, and learn about Etna from guides such as Tony, Roberto, Ricardo, or Ugo. Hiking boots, jackets, walking sticks, transport, lunch, wine, and almond wine are included. The pace is manageable, but loose volcanic rock, wind, and weather make proper clothing important.
“We had a great time on this excursion! Our guide, Ricardo, was wonderful - very knowledgeable, friendly, and a joy to spend the day with. The group size was perfect, with just eight of us total. The hike itself was fascinating, especially seeing the craters from the lateral eruptions. We went in early September and didn’t end up needing jackets, but we were very thankful for the hiking boot rentals and walking sticks. The surface had a lot of loose rock, so it could be a little slippery at times, and the wind on the day we went was so strong it felt like you might be blown off the…”
Join Enzo, Tindaro, or another local captain at Giardini Naxos for a two-hour cruise along Taormina’s coast. You’ll see White Lotus filming spots, Isola Bella, Blue Grotto, Baia delle Sirene, and other caves, with time to swim or snorkel. Fruit, snacks, drinks, music, and a party atmosphere are included.
“Fun boat crew on a scenic ride with plenty of prosecco. The 5pm time has a chance to see dolphins which we did.”
Travel from Palermo to Mount Etna and Taormina in an air-conditioned minivan with an Italian, English, or Spanish-speaking driver-guide. Walk around the Silvestri craters, add the optional cable car and mountain transport, then explore Taormina’s Greek theater, churches, cafés, and shops. Expect about six hours on the road and two hours at each main stop.
“All was great. Both guid and driver, extremely professional.”
Join Graziella and Captain Saro aboard the small Blue Diamond for a 2.5-hour sunset cruise from Giardini Naxos. You’ll view Taormina’s caves and bays, look for wild bottlenose dolphins, swim or snorkel near Isola Bella, and enjoy fruit, snacks, and drinks. The boat carries no more than 10 people.
“Graziella and her husband are a total VIBE! That was an experience of a lifetime!! If you are visiting Taormina, be sure to book this boat tour. They were amazing hosts. They do a boat tour, the right way! From the delicious aperativo, to the dolphins, to the music. Overall a fantastic time. They treated our group like family, and it’s something I’ll never forget ❤️”
Join Antonio and Mariella for a three-hour shared boat trip from Giardini Naxos along Taormina’s coast. You’ll see Isola Bella, bays, caves, and Etna, stop to swim, enjoy pizza or arancini with prosecco, then head offshore in search of dolphins. Sightings are possible but never guaranteed.
“We had an amazing time! The captain gave a lot of information during the trip. We saw a lot of dolphins, had amazing pizza and prosecco. The staff was so friendly and fun. I would highly recommend this tour!”
Travel by coach and motorboat from Taormina to Panarea and Stromboli with an English, German, or Italian-speaking tour leader. You get free time for swimming, shopping, and walking, then watch Stromboli’s eruptions from the sea after sunset. It is a 14-hour day, with a bar and toilets on board, but rough seas and crowded seating can be a concern.
“Not for the faint of heart. Once we arrived at the boat and boarded. The cruise to Panarea was ok , took about one hour and a half. Disembarked and walked about a bit got a drink and it was time to board. Now this is when things got interesting. It was like a rugby scrum, everyone pushing to be first on board. The crew were shouting get back but no one paid any attention. Once on board we choose to sit out side. Good choice. Cruise to Stromboli again was fine. Disembarked walked around got a drink and yes same thing. Everyone pushing to get seats inside. We cruised…”
Spend 10 hours with Etna People exploring Mount Etna at 2,000 meters, including a two-hour hike around extinct craters and a lava cave. Guides such as Riccardo, Daniele, Tony, Roberto, and Nicola are praised for their warmth and volcano expertise. Lunch, wine tasting, gear, transport, and Alcantara Canyon views are included.
“Nicola was a really good guide. I felt a little gutted when I first realised that this trip doesn't include going to the top of the mountain. however I realise hiking on a windy condition in that condition is not that enjoyable. the pace was just about right. the quality of food was above my expectation”
Pick a ruin, a gallery, a kitchen or a coastline.
