SICILY · FULL-DAY
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 full-day tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
8-hour shared-van trip from Palermo to Segesta, Nubia, Trapani salt pans, and Erice. Greek ruins, medieval town, sea views.
“Great day trip but for me I’d happily sacrifice the time travelling to and looking at the salt pans for more time in Erice. A bit of a pointless part of a great trip.”
Full-day Etna and Alcantara Gorges tour with an easy crater hike, a lava cave visit, included lunch, and time to swim in the canyon.
“Our guide Maya was very knowledgable, the organisation was first class and the lunch was delicious - I would not hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone wanting to learn more about Mount Etna and visit the Alcantara Gorges”
Mt Etna hike and lava cave plus Taormina village time from Catania. Small group, cave gear and tastings included, cable car extra.
“Exhilarating trip up mountain Etna. We chose the e-bike option as this was quite unique. We had a lovely lunch with wine tasting followed by a Taormina visit. Here we had 2 hours which was just about enough time to gain a taster for the town. We recommend visiting the Amphitheater- lovely views. Our tour guide Salvo, was amazing. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Great tour!”
Full-day Mount Etna hike, lava caves, Etna honey tasting, then Taormina free time with sea views, all from Catania in a small group.
“The tour was very nice and we enjoyed a lot. Our guide Carmelo made the Etna tour really fun and pleasant. He’s funny and very knowledgeable, he explained everything clearly, which made the experience even more interesting. I also felt I could trust him with my eyes closed—he knows exactly what he’s doing and takes great care of the group.”
Full-day trip from Palermo to Mount Etna and Taormina, with Etna’s funicular access to 2,500m and a timed stroll in town.
“Etna was natural and beautiful and a bit of a challenge scaling, but well worth the effort . Toarmina was beautiful and the Amphitheatre is a real treasure. However the was made really great due to our guide and driver, Michael. He was very friendly, informative and gave good advice and tips about both parts of the trip. He was very punctual and gave us plenty of time and notice st Rach stop. Nothing was too much trouble and his conversation was also a nice distraction . Can’t give more praise fora great experience, Thanks Michael. From the Liverpool family”
Full-day Etna craters, lava cave, Sicilian lunch and wine tasting, then Alcantara Canyons from Taormina. Small group, guided hike.
“We had the best time and probably the best guide we could ask for. Riccardo was amazing, very passionate about his guidance and when somebody is enjoying in what they are doing immediately gives you the ultimate experience. We were small group of four which we absolutely loved. Etna was amazing, we saw the caves and hiked on inactive craters, Riccardo was telling us about the stones, plants and the history. He gave us hiking boots so no need to pack any extra for the summer. The winery was top of the notch, we didn’t expect to be that good. Alcantara is nice to see but crowded plus it is…”
Small-group 8-hour RIB cruise from San Vito Lo Capo to Castellammare del Golfo, with free snorkeling gear and multiple swimming stops.
“Very nice ! We recommend +++ The staff is very polite and friendly and helpful. Beautiful views. Drinks all along the trip and music.”
Messina shore excursion to Castelmola and Taormina with Greek-Roman Theatre ticket, guided walks, and free time for shopping and views.
“The cannolis at Laboratorio Pasticceria Roberto Chemi were very delicious, the Greek-Roman amphitheater was very cool. Sofia was very good and kept good track of her group. If they spent less time in Taormina this tour would be better.”
Marine biologist-led full-day Palermo snorkeling by boat with wetsuits, lunch, wine, and swim stops from Addaura to Capo Gallo.
“An excellent excursion and highly recommend. I thought I was just going on a boat ride but it was so much more. The guides got in the water with us and showed us all the wildlife and areas to explore. Lunch was excellent and having a small group experience made the day so much more enjoyable. I looked at several options and am really happy I booked this one.”
Palermo boat tour to Mondello and Capo Gallo with snorkeling gear, included Sicilian aperitif, lunch, and captain-filled cannoli.
“We had a great day out - well organized and friendly people. A fun way to see more of the coast, have a swim and relax.”
Full-day Etna and wine tour from Catania with a small-group hike, lava cave walk, and a generous winery tasting featuring four still wines.
“Fantastic day out. I would definitely recommend doing it, and the extra money for the cable car and hike is well worth it. I wouldn't call it 'easy' but you can choose how much of it you want to do. The wine and food tasting was the real highlight for me. Enrico was lovely and informative and I would love to go there again. As for our tour guide Lorenzo, he was an absolute joy! So knowledgeable and enthusiastic, but great fun too. Made our day really special. We met some lovely people and had a fabulous time!”
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.”
Full-day trip from Palermo to Segesta, medieval Erice, and Trapani salt pans, with timed visits, air-conditioned transport, and English help.
“This is a great, very varied tour: the ride allows you to discover some beautiful costal and hilly landscapes. The sites are worth to visit. The tour is great for individual travelers, who do not want to rent a car to access remote sites. Driver ( Salvatore) and guide ( Michael) were great companions”
Private Mt. Etna hike from Siracusa with early hotel pickup, small group pacing, and guide-led walks on ancient crater rims and lava terrain.
“Giuseppe was a first class guide - so knowledgeable about Etna and what we were seeing and took the 5km hike to Valle del Bove at a gentle pace. The weather was a bit changeable - wind, mist, rain then sun so a light waterproof and/or fleece and strong walking shoes or boots are essential as the terrain is quite rocky and uneven in parts. These can be hired from Refuguio Sapienza but wish we’d known about this beforehand as we could have brought our own. That said a really unique experience and one to treasure.”
Full-day guided coach trip from Taormina to Syracuse’s Greek Theatre, Dionysius’ Ear, and Ortygia’s historic streets and Arethusa Fountain.
“the tour guide was great, and I had a good time. I can't say much about transport, as I joined the group in Syracuse.”
Every kind of day out on the island, and the best of each.
