Messina, Sicily, Italy

Private Shore Excursions from the Port of Messina

Whether you want to visit Mount Etna, walk through the historic streets of Taormina, enjoy a Sicilian cooking class, taste local wines, or explore famous filming locations from The Godfather, these private Messina shore excursions can be customized around your cruise schedule and travel interests.

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Sicily Factories and Mount Etna Shore Excursion

Upon arrival at the Messina port, meet your private tour guide or driver and depart for a scenic excursion to the slopes of Mount Etna. This tour combines volcanic landscapes, Sicilian flavors, and local craftsmanship.

Your first stop is a honey factory located near Mount Etna, where you will taste a variety of local Etna honey flavors, including pistachio, strawberry, hazelnut, orange, and traditional honey. Continue through the fertile fruit and vegetable-growing areas on the slopes of Mount Etna before reaching an altitude of approximately 2,500 feet.

From this vantage point, enjoy views of the Silvestri Craters and the lava fields created by the 1983–1985 eruption. You will have time to walk around the crater area and take in the dramatic volcanic scenery.

After lunch on your own, begin the return toward Messina with a stop at a jewelry workshop. Receive a warm welcome and visit the small artisan studio, where jewelry makers create fine Italian gold pieces and unique designs inspired by Sicily. Some items may include Sicilian amber, shells, and lava stone from Mount Etna. Guests may also browse the exhibition room with the option to purchase.

Price Includes

• Private transportation
• English-speaking driver/guide
• Full-day tour
• Honey factory visit and tasting
• Jewelry factory visit

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Cooking Class and Ceramics Shore Excursion

This hands-on Messina shore excursion combines Sicilian cuisine, countryside charm, and traditional ceramics. After meeting your driver or guide at the Messina port, depart for Castroreale for a cooking class at a lovely manor house surrounded by greenery.

The manor is a charming historic property in the heart of Sicily, far from the rush of city life. Its ochre-colored walls, comfortable rooms, garden views, and peaceful setting create the perfect atmosphere for an authentic Sicilian culinary experience.

During the cooking class, Chef Mrs. Jannelli will teach you how to prepare treasured family recipes passed down from her grandmother. You will learn how Sicilian, French, and Dutch culinary influences come together to create a rich and flavorful cuisine that reflects Sicily’s layered history and baroque heritage.

After the cooking class, enjoy lunch featuring the dishes prepared during the experience. In the afternoon, continue to Santo Stefano di Camastra, a town known for its deep connection to ceramic art. This “town-museum” features traditional and modern ceramics, public decorations, paintings, sculptures, and architectural works. Guests will also enjoy a ceramic demonstration.

Price Includes

• Private transportation
• English-speaking driver/guide
• Full-day tour
• Cooking class
• Lunch
• Ceramics demonstration

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Giardini Naxos, Taormina and Castelmola Shore Excursion

This classic Messina shore excursion explores some of eastern Sicily’s most beautiful coastal and hilltop destinations. Meet your guide or driver at the Messina port and depart for Giardini Naxos, considered Sicily’s oldest Greek city.

Located only a few kilometers from Taormina near Cape Schisò, Giardini Naxos was founded in 735 BC as Sicily’s first Greek colony. Although only ruins, foundations, and ancient street paving remain today, the area was once a flourishing city larger than ancient Taormina.

After lunch on your own, continue to Taormina, one of Sicily’s most beloved towns. Walk through the historic center, admire charming streets and boutiques, and visit the famous Greek-Roman Amphitheatre with its breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. Known as the “Queen of Sicily,” Taormina has attracted aristocrats, artists, and travelers since the 19th century and remains famous for its elegant atmosphere and “dolce vita” lifestyle.

After exploring Taormina, continue to Castelmola, a picturesque village set above Taormina. Centered around the charming Piazzetta del Duomo, Castelmola offers panoramic views and a peaceful village atmosphere. Guests may also have the chance to taste the famous local almond wine.

Price Includes

• Private transportation
• English-speaking driver/guide
• Full-day tour

Optional Add-Ons

• Winery stop in Linguaglossa on Mount Etna
• Stop in Canola for renowned deli specialties and arancini tasting
• Cappuccino stop, depending on timing

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Etna Winery and Taormina Shore Excursion

Enjoy one of the most scenic and flavorful Messina Shore Excursions with a private day trip to Taormina and Mount Etna wine country. After pickup at the Port of Messina by private minivan and English-speaking driver, depart for Taormina.

Taormina sits approximately 200 meters above sea level, overlooking the Ionian Sea like a natural terrace. For centuries, its beauty has inspired poets, writers, painters, and travelers from around the world.

Visit the Greek-Roman Theatre, an extraordinary ancient site built into the mountainside with unforgettable views of the sea and Mount Etna. Afterward, enjoy free time in Taormina’s historic center, especially along Corso Umberto I, known for its shops, cafes, and elegant atmosphere.

Continue to Mount Etna and arrive at Murgo Winery at Tenuta San Michele, an ancient estate located on the slopes of the volcano. The winery, owned by the noble family of Baron Scammacca del Murgo, is surrounded by vineyards and offers panoramic views of both Mount Etna and the sea.

During your visit, enjoy a winery tour and tasting featuring Etna Rosso, Etna Bianco, and Murgo Brut, served with lunch. After lunch, admire Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano and one of the world’s oldest recorded active volcanoes. Depending on timing and interest, explore the Silvestri Craters or visit the 2001–2002 crater area by cable car at an additional cost.

Return to Messina at the end of the tour.

Price Includes

• Private transportation
• English-speaking driver
• Lunch
• Wine tasting
• Visit to Murgo Winery

Optional Add-Ons

• Local guide in Taormina
• Local guide at Mount Etna
• Entrance fees for the Greek Theatre

The Godfather Tour: Savoca and Taormina Shore Excursion

This memorable Messina shore excursion is ideal for film lovers and travelers who want to experience some of Sicily’s most iconic villages and views. After meeting your guide or driver at the Messina port, depart for Savoca, one of the filming locations used for the Corleone scenes in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather films.

In Savoca, visit the famous Bar Vitelli, where Michael Corleone asked the padrone for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Enjoy time in the village square and a refreshing local granita, a traditional Sicilian drink made with crushed ice.

After exploring Savoca, continue to Taormina. Lunch is on your own. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided visit through Taormina’s historic center, famous for its Greek-Roman Amphitheatre, elegant streets, boutique shopping, and spectacular views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna.

Taormina has been one of Sicily’s most exclusive destinations since the 19th century, attracting noble families, artists, and travelers seeking beauty, culture, and a mild Mediterranean climate. After the walking tour, visit the Greek-Roman Amphitheatre and enjoy free time for shopping or relaxing near the beach.

Price Includes

• Private transportation
• English-speaking driver/guide
• Full-day tour

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Pizza Cooking Class and Taormina Shore Excursion

This fun and interactive Messina shore excursion combines Sicilian food, hands-on cooking, and a visit to beautiful Taormina. After meeting your driver or guide at the Messina port, depart for a traditional pizzeria where a local pizzaiolo chef will welcome you.

During the pizza cooking class, guests will learn how to prepare authentic pizza. Participants may be divided into teams to create their own pizzas, with the chef judging the final results. This hands-on cooking lesson is a lively and enjoyable experience for groups, families, and travelers who want to connect with local food traditions.

After lunch, continue to Taormina for a guided visit through the historic center. Known for its Greek-Roman Amphitheatre, charming streets, scenic overlooks, and views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, Taormina is one of the highlights of eastern Sicily.

Following the walking tour, visit the Greek-Roman Amphitheatre and enjoy free time for shopping along Taormina’s elegant streets.

Price Includes

• Private transportation
• English-speaking driver/guide
• Full-day tour
• Pizza cooking class
• Lunch

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Tindari and Messina Shore Excursion

This cultural Messina shore excursion explores ancient history, coastal legends, religious landmarks, and the city of Messina itself. After arriving in Messina, meet your guide or driver and depart for Tindari, founded as the Greek colony of Tyndaris in 396 BC.

Tindari is set high above the Tyrrhenian Sea overlooking the Gulf of Patti. The area is known for its ancient history, beautiful views, famous sanctuary, and its connection to the poem Vento a Tindari by Salvatore Quasimodo.

According to local legend, the lagoon below Tindari was created after a pilgrim refused to pray to the Madonna and accidentally dropped her baby into the sea. The Madonna caused the land to rise and save the child, and the sands of Marinello are said to have taken the shape of the Madonna’s profile.

After lunch on your own, return to Messina for a city visit. Messina is the third-largest city in Sicily and the capital of the province of the same name. Founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century BC, it was originally called Zancle because of the sickle-like shape of its natural harbor.

During your Messina city drive, see Piazza Municipio, Via Garibaldi, Piazza Cairoli, Via Cannizzaro, and Corso Cavour. A stop will be made at Cathedral Square, where you can admire the Norman-style Cathedral and its impressive bell tower. The bell tower is home to an unusual astronomical clock that performs a 15-minute cycle of evangelical scenes at midday.

Price Includes

• Private transportation
• English-speaking driver/guide
• Full-day tour

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Customize Your Messina Shore Excursion

These private Messina Shore Excursions can be tailored to match your cruise schedule, sightseeing preferences, activity level, and interests. Whether you want to focus on Mount Etna, Taormina, Sicilian wine, local cuisine, historic villages, ceramics, or coastal scenery, a private shore excursion from Messina offers a flexible and comfortable way to experience eastern Sicily in one day.

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