SICILY · 1-DAY TOURS
Every itinerary has one free day too few. These 15 1-day tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part of planning.
Small-group Mount Etna day trip from Catania with hotel pickup, guided crater walk near 2,000m, lava cave visit, and cantucci wine tasting.
“We had a really nice trip with a great guide. The tour was perfectly planned and we had some really nice views.”
A half-day escape from Palermo to Monreale’s jaw-dropping Duomo mosaics and the seaside charm of Cefalù, with scenic coastal driving.
“Our guide Sergio was warm and friendly! He was one of the best!”
Day trip by boat from Milazzo to Lipari and Vulcano, with town time, black-sand swimming, and volcanic scenery for about $60.
“Amazing trip, we had the opportunity to look around lipari and swim on the black sand beach at vulcano. Bring snorkels if you have them!”
Cruise from Milazzo to Lipari and Vulcano for Lipari old-town wandering, sea cliff views, and sulphur-warm bathing in a timed 9-hour day trip.
“This was not exactly at guide, but was excellent transportation! The boats run like clockwork so be sure to get there 10 minutes early.”
Palermo to Agrigento in one day, with Valley of the Temples time and a short stop for Scala dei Turchi cliff photos.
“It would have been better if we were allowed more time at the Valley of the Temples. We were allowed 2 hours, which included standing in line to get tickets to go inside. Maybe modify the trip to include tickets.”
A 5-hour Mount Etna half-day with door-to-door pickup, crater walks, photo stops, and a honey-focused tasting, with optional cable car.
“A wonderful trip, Orazio is a wonderful person, he explains everything, you listen to him with great interest, I highly recommend it!!!”
Mount Etna from Taormina by coach. Visit Rifugio Sapienza trails, choose cable car and jeep to upper craters, enjoy views and guidance.
“Excellent trip with a lovely guide. Worth going up the cable car & jeep to 2900m to do the walk as it was very interesting.”
Guided Mount Etna hike plus Taormina walk from Catania, with a lava cave visit, vineyard lunch, and wine, in 6 to 8 hours.
“The trip was wonderful. Giovanni was a very knowledgeable mountain guide. He drove us smoothly to the winery, the lava tube grotto, walking spot on the etna and Taormina. The lunch and accompanying wines were very nice (better than what you usually get). You have about 2-2.5 hours to roam Taormina which is just about enough to visit the ancient theatre and have a stroll through the city center. 10/10 would recommend.”
One-day motorboat hop from Taormina to Panarea and Stromboli, with free island time and a dusk cruise for Sciara del Fuoco lava views.
“The bus and boat were long but we expected that. Stopping to the two towns ( sort of off-season) was disappointing. They were not as charming as described. The tour was very crowded and almost stampeded onto the boat. My husband had to grab a young child before he fell in the water. I feel the tour guide should have managed the crowd better. The volcano was a little under active so that was disappointing ( but not controllable) The scenery on the boat ride was beautiful though. I would suggest 2 tour guides for that large a group. Also, shorten to a sunset cruise by Stromboli in the off…”
From Palermo to Erice, Trapani salt pans, and Segesta, see hilltop towns and a Doric temple, plus real salt-farm traditions. 8.5 hours.
“Nicolo was wonderfully enthusiastic, charming, helpful, knowledgeable and entertaining. Our driver competent and I felt safe. I think the Sugesta section was too rushed and the salt pans were not special and could easily have been dropped. We would then have had more time for the other activities.”
Palermo to Erice and Marsala for hilltop views, salt pans with working windmills, and a winery lunch with wine and olive oil tasting.
“Excellent day with Renato who went out of his way to accommodate us and tell us stories. Great stop in Erice to try a local snack. The vineyard was very picturesque and had very tasty food. Wine was special and very reasonably priced (after the included tasting).”
Palermo to Erice and Segesta in one day. Hilltop lanes, Tyrrhenian Sea views, and Segesta’s Doric temple, with easy transit.
“Way overpriced for what you get. On the post it shows that this is an English tour only.however tour guide had to speak on Spanish and Italian in addition to English Federico was good. Would have liked more time in Erice.”
From Catania, visit Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples and Piazza Armerina’s Villa del Casale mosaics on a small-group day trip.
“The two sites visited on this tour are very different but each is enthralling. Alessio is an excellent driver: we felt safe at all times. Despite oppressive heat, we enjoyed the Agrigento experience, when we were left to take the temples at our own pace. At the Roman Villa, Alessio came into his own, pointing out various details in the mosaics and giving helpful historical background.”
Palermo to Agrigento day trip with UNESCO Valley of the Temples, expert orientation, and self-guided time at the ruins and museum.
“The Valley of the Temples is such a wonderful place to immerse yourself in the ancient world. The Scala dei Turchi is a break from old world but what nature can bring to you with refreshing vibes. Marco is also a very kind driver and guide who is flexible on time and easy going. Two 👍👍 up”
A long but smart Taormina day trip to Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples and Piazza Armerina’s Villa Romana del Casale mosaics.
“Good tour, good guide. A little confusion about redemption of tout voucher. The instructions said we have to redeem the voucher at the bus station prior to departure. But when we got there, the ticket office told us to go to SAT agency. Then at SAT agency, we were told there was no need to redeem anything because their records showed that we have paid, so the voucher was “the tour ticket””
Every kind of day out on the island, and the best of each.
