Top Sicily Cruises & Sailing

Syracuse's UNESCO-listed Neapolis Archaeological Park contains some of Italy's top ancient ruins, but interpreting the Greek and Roman remains on your own can be a challenge. With this private tour, enjoy insights into the history and architecture of highlights like the Greek Theater, Altar of Hieron, and Roman amphitheater while you explore the vast site on foot with your guide.

See why Taormina earned the nickname ‘the Pearl of the Ionian’ while exploring its picturesque coastline from the water. On this half-day boat tour, get the best perspective of dramatic sea caves, the Grotta Azurra and Capo Taormino as your captain navigates along the rocky shore and through spectacular bays. Splash into the crystal-clear waters for a swim, and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch with views of the Isola Bella island nature reserve.

Spend your afternoon sailing—and swimming—along the Coast of the Cyclops. The 10-passenger yacht offers a small-group experience, allowing for anyone to learn the basics of sailing. Help to steer the boat if you’d like, and dive in at Ulysses’ Grotto. Toast your Catania sailing trip with a glass of provided Prosecco and a Sicilian aperitif. Bonus: booking this tour supports a non-profit mission to promote sustainable life at sea.

Observe dolphins in the Gulf of Catania safely and sustainably with this low-impact tour. Set off with a crew of specialized skippers and marine biologists to learn about the local dolphin population and watch them frolicking in the open waters off Sicily. This tour abides by the international agreement for the conservation of cetaceans and is certified as eco-friendly, so you’ll get close enough to snap photos without disturbing the animals.

Explore Mount Etna, the world's most active stratovolcano, on this small-group hiking tour from Catania. Travel in a 4x4 vehicle or minivan to reach a departure point for a moderate hike through Mount Etna's moon-like landscape in the Valley del Bove depression, including a lava tube exploration, and the Silvestri craters. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Catania included.

Mt. Etna is the most striking sight in eastern Sicily, but visiting Europe’s largest active volcano on your own is challenging. With this tour, leave puzzling out the logistics to the experts and explore the volcanic peak via off-road vehicle. Cross lava fields and old-growth forests, stop to take in the views, and learn about the history of the volcano and its native flora and fauna from your guide.

Explore Mount Etna during the most dazzling time of day with this sunset Jeep tour. Set off in the afternoon to take in the Valle del Bove and lunar landscapes of the lava and ash fields on the slopes of Europe’s highest active volcano. Discover side craters and extinguished lava flows, don a helmet and headlamp to venture into a lava tube, and admire the bird's-eye view at sunset.

Discover the Aeolian Archipelago on this day trip to the islands of Stromboli and Panarea from Taormina. Journey to each island by motorboat, exploring the local shops at your leisure or taking a cool dip in the sea. Afterward, cruise around Stromboli to see the island’s volcano. Keep your eyes peeled for the crater of Sciara del Fuoco, known to light up the sky with its jet-like eruptions. After a full day of touring the UNESCO-listed islands, return to Taormina.

Explore Europe's highest active volcano with this Jeep tour on Mount Etna. Join a nature guide and head up to about 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) to discover lava flows and extinct craters, plus take in the views over the Caldera del Valle del Bove. Then don a helmet and headlamp and venture into a lava tube to better to learn how lava flows are formed and cool.

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.

Mount Etna is one of the most striking natural features in Sicily, and with this tour you can experience both its beauty and geology. Set off from Catania, stopping at an organic farm on the mountain slopes to sample honey, wine, olive oil, and other specialties. Afterwards, continue up to the Valle del Bove; explore the volcanic craters and a lava cave before ending at a scenic overlook to enjoy the sunset.

Marvel over the geological wonders of Mount Etna, then visit the elegant resort town of Taormina on this action-packed full-day tour from Catania. Soak up the dramatic scenery of Europe’s highest active volcano as you visit the hilltop resort of Rifugio Sapienza; ride the cable car to the 9,514-foot (2,900-meter) peak of Mount Etna (optional) and explore a natural lava cave. After exploring the lava cave, have a delicious tasting of the local products such as honey, oil and wine. On the way to Taormina, you will stop and see the beautiful "Isola Bella” from above. Then spend the afternoon enjoying your free time in Taormina, among medieval churches, ancient Greek theater, and lively shopping district.

Take a break from the heat and crowds of the mainland and see Taormina and Mount Etna from the sea on this small-group boat tour. Depart Giardini Naxos to follow the coast, as you admire attractions such as the Grotta dell'Amore, Capo Taormina, the Grotta delle Sirene and the Scoglio dell'Elefante. Dive into the crystal clear waters off Isola Bella for a refreshing swim and relax on board while savoring Sicilian sweets and Prosecco.

Taste your way through the bustling markets and piazzas of Catania on a mouth-watering, half-day culinary tour. Visit fish markets, bakeries, bars and stalls to sample the best Sicilian street food with a local guide. Try regional specialties like ‘arancini’ (stuffed fried rice balls), fizzy drinks, ‘cipollata’ (bacon-wrapped onions), ‘zibibbio’ wine and decadent cannoli. Learn what makes Sicilian cuisine unique from the rest of Italy while discovering some of Catania’s cultural treasures.

See the stunning Aeolian Archipelago on this day trip to the islands of Vulcano and Lipari from Taormina. Take a motorboat across the turquoise waters to the UNESCO-listed chain of volcanic islands. Enjoy free time to explore, kicking back with a mud bath in Vulcano, cooling off with a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea or checking out the Lipari Archaeological Museum for a bit of island history. Your day concludes with transportation back to Taormina.

While your ship is in Messina, see more of Sicily on a half-day trip to Taormina. Take a guided tour of this historical city, including a stroll along Corso Umberto, once an ancient Roman street, and a visit to the Greco-Roman Theater. Plus, sample Sicilian delicacies, admire views of Mt. Etna and Giardini-Naxos bay from Castelmola, and on return to Messina, check out this ancient port’s highlights. Port and Taormina pickup and drop-off included.

The only way to fully experience the beauty of Sicly’s Egadi Islands is by sea. Set sail from Trapani with this sailboat tour and skirt the coastlines of these idyllic isles to explore their hidden coves and caves. Take in the famous bays on the island of Levanzo, stopping to swim and snorkel in the turquoise waters. Continue on to Favignana to enjoy time on land to sightsee and have lunch.

Beat the heat and the crowds with a morning tour of Mount Etna. Cover more ground by exploring on board a sturdy Jeep and stop to admire extinct lava flows and caves, views over the lunar landscapes in the Valle del Bove, and the flora and fauna of the thick woods blanketing the lower slopes. Cap off your tour with a tasting of local specialties including honey, wine, and liqueurs.

Make pizza like a pro during a cooking class in Taormina. Under the expert tuition of a local ‘pizzaiolo,’ you’ll make a versatile dough from scratch and top it with a fresh sauce. Hear tips, learn about the ingredients, then sit down to savor your hard-earned Sicilian feast. Bruschetta, wine, and soft drinks are also included.

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.

Finding the best cannoli bakeries—pasticcerie—in Taormina can be a fun challenge, but it can also turn into fruitless trips between neighborhoods. With this tour, take the guesswork out and let a chef help you prepare cannoli from scratch, using traditional recipes starting with the crusty shell and ending with sweet ricotta cream. When you’re done, taste your creations and receive a “cannoli expert” certificate.

Enhance your sightseeing experience of Sicily on an enriching full-day excursion to Erice and Segesta from Palermo. Delight in the medieval majesty of Erice, a walled town that reigns over the picturesque harbor of Trapani. Delve into historical wonders of Segesta at the archeological site, marveling at the unfinished temple and absorbing sweeping vistas of Sicily’s sun-drenched valleys and undulating hills.

Enjoy a physical perspective of Sicily on a tour to Mt. Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe. Do a little trekking, check out an old crater and lava flow caves, and admire gorgeous views of the mountain and surrounding landscape at sunset. Plus, stop by a farm to taste local products like honey and wine. Hotel pickup in Catania is included.

Located on the island of Sicily, Mt Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe. Explore its different aspects on this active tour from Catania that includes hiking up the volcano along a trail to the inner crater. See ancient lava flows, learn about the geological history of the volcano, admire panoramic views and hike into a lava cave.

Snack your way through the streets of Palermo on this Sicilian food tour. Explore backstreet markets and food stalls specializing in local delicacies like stuffed rice balls and chickpea fritters as your guide fills you in on local history, culture. Plus, this small-group tour has a limited number of participants for a more personalized experience.