Taormina & Castelmola: Private Shore Excursion From Messina Port
Description
The tour departs from the port terminal of Messina. Your driver will pick you up at your ship's gate. In 45 minutes, we'll arrive in Castelmola, a picturesque town located in Sicily, just a few kilometers from Taormina. Perched on a hill at about 530 meters above sea level, it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Ionian coast and Mount Etna. After a stop of about an hour to explore its beauty, we'll depart for Taormina, where you'll have 2-3 hours of free time to explore one of Sicily's most beautiful cities. We'll then make a short stop at one of Taormina's most beautiful viewpoints, where you'll have the opportunity to take memorable photos. On the way back to Messina, we'll stop to visit the cathedral, famous for its bell tower, which houses the largest and most complex mechanical and astronomical clock in the world.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Castelmola is a picturesque village located in the Sicilian region, just a few kilometers from Taormina. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, it offers breathtaking views of Mount Etna and the coastline. You will stroll through its charming narrow streets and can taste the famous local almond wine.
Taormina is a stunning Sicilian town situated on the east coast of the island, world-famous for its natural beauty, historic architecture, and the iconic Ancient Greek Theater. Known as the 'Pearl of the Ionian Sea,' it offers a unique blend of history, luxury shopping, and unforgettable seaside views.
Messina is a gateway to Sicily, located on the north-eastern tip of the island. It is renowned for its historic monuments, such as the Cathedral (Duomo) with its spectacular astronomical clock—the largest in the world—and its beautiful fountains. It is the perfect starting point for your Sicilian adventure
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Upon your arrival, your driver will be waiting for you directly at Gate of the Port of Messina. Look for a sign with your name on it for easy identification. We are located just a few steps from the cruise ship disembarkation area
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(80)
We already knew this company; we relied on them for our first excursion in Sicily years ago. We returned and relied on them again for our stop in Sicily. Everything top-notch as always, impeccable service, precision, and punctuality. Thanks once again for hosting us in your magnificent land.
È stato nuovamente un piacere per noi accogliervi nella nostra bellissima isola. Vi ringraziamo per la fiducia che riponete nella nostra compagnia. Speriamo di rivedervi presto
We arrived to Messina on an NCL cruise stop and Francesco was there waiting for our family of 4 right off the cruise ship! First stop was Castelmola , where Francesco accompanied us through this small beautiful town. We visited a cafe with an interesting theme and had some delicious cannoli and almond wine. It was early in the morning so the town was pretty quiet before the crowds and the views were really spectacular. Car ride has a lot of winding roads , beautiful views but keep in mind if suffer from carsickness. After Francesco dropped us off in Taormina where we had free time to explore. We visited the greek theater which you can purchase tickets there. Then Francesco ultimately returned us back to our cruise ship in timely manner. Door to door service and overall great day.! If you are looking for a private excursion with a personable driver/guide for your family I would definitely recommend .
What a day! Amazing! Thank you for choosing us. See you soon in Sicily
Oleksandra our guide & Pepe our driver were outstanding!!! They went above & beyond on our tour. Very informative, took us to wonderful sites, took photos of our family. Every minute of our time with them was outstanding! Would definitely book another tour with them.
Thank you so much for choosing us for your experience in Sicily. Hope to see you soon
The Highlight of Our Trip to Sicily! If you are looking for an authentic and unforgettable experience in Taormina and Castelmola, look no further! We had the most incredible day, all thanks to our amazing guides, Francesco and Yli. From start to finish, their warmth, enthusiasm, and extensive knowledge of Sicily shone through. They shared fascinating insights into the culture and history of the area, making every stop memorable and engaging. As cruise ship passengers, punctuality was top priority for us—and Francesco and Yli managed the timing flawlessly. We enjoyed every single minute without ever feeling rushed, and they got us back to the port right on schedule with complete peace of mind. The cherry on top was the local tasting: the Sicilian wine and delicious, fresh cannoli were absolutely outstanding! We couldn't have asked for a better day or a better company. Thank you so much, Francesco and Yli, for making our visit so special. We truly hope to come back very soon and tour with you again! 10/10 highly recommended!
Wonderful! Thank you so much.
We had an absolutely incredible private shore excursion from Messina Port to Taormina and Castelmola, all thanks to our amazing guide, Francesco! From the very beginning at the cruise dock, Francesco was warm, welcoming, and highly professional. His knowledge of the local history and culture made the drive incredibly engaging. What truly made this tour exceptional was that Francesco went above and beyond—he took us to some of his favorite secret/hidden spots with breathtaking views that we never would have found on our own. The entire day was perfectly paced, and we returned to our cruise ship with wonderful memories and fantastic photos. If you are stopping at Messina Port, booking this tour with Francesco is an absolute must! Thank you, Francesco, for such a memorable day in Sicily!
It's really exciting for us to read your reviews! Thank you for choosing us.
Francisco was amazing and so accommodating! he gave us so much knowledge and told us a ton about Sicily. Highly recommend and loved touring around with him! He even had water when we needed it the most!
You are amazing! Thank you for choosing us! Thank you for choosing Get in Sicily
If you have very limited time in Sicily (cruise ship port Messina), THIS is the way to spend your day. Francesco was prompt, friendly, professional, flexible and the love for his island was evident. We were a family of 7 ranging from 20-82 years old. Vehicle was clean and comfortable. This was a private tour and when we mentioned we would love to get close enough to the water's edge, he made that happen! Our stops to Castelmola & Taormina were AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, MEMORABLE! The establishment we stopped at for almond wine and cannoli had a "interesting" theme and not for everyone's comfort level, however, the food/drink was delish! The crowds of tourists is no joke, insane. You have to go with the flow and appreciate/experience regardless. My husband is Sicilian so this was a special cruise stop for us. Book with this company, you will have an awesome time!
You are a wonderful family, it was a real pleasure for me to let you discover the history and traditions of my land, I hope to see you again soon, thank you for choosing us
Castelmola had beautiful views and great little shops and cafes. Taormina had even more shopping and restaurants and was nice to walk around. Francesco was an amazing guide. He shared a lot about his country as we drove comfortably in the AC on a very hot day. Duomo di Messina is breathtaking! Our only regret was missing the noon show at the astronomical clock tower at the church. Highly recommend!!
It was a real pleasure for us to let you discover the history and traditions of my land, thank you for choosing us
Everything was perfect; Francesco planned everything down to the smallest details, starting from the pickup at the port of Messina, with maximum punctuality and availability. We spent a wonderful day in Taormina and Castelmola. He introduced us to the history and culture of his country. Highly recommended
è sempre un piacere per noi lasciare un bel ricordo della vostra vacanza in Sicilia. grazie a voi
Francesco is an excellent guide, friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable! He showed us the wonders of his land, stopping at Castelmola, amidst breathtaking views, typical corners, and tastings of cannoli and local wines! Next, we reached Taormina, where we walked along the main street, filled with shops and local artisan souvenirs. Following our guide's recommendation, we had lunch at a seaside restaurant with excellent food. Finally, Francesco took us to a panoramic terrace right above Isola Bella! A natural spectacle that we were able to see and appreciate thanks to our guide! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
È stato un immenso piacere conoscervi e averci dato modo di regalarvi questa esperienza indimenticabile. Spero di rivedervi presto in Sicilia
