Add dates

Province of Messina UNESCO sites

Our most recommended Province of Messina UNESCO sites

Taormina or Giardini Naxos: Off-Road ATV Tour of Mount Etna

1. Taormina or Giardini Naxos: Off-Road ATV Tour of Mount Etna

Enjoy the experience of riding on an ATV through the unique volcanic landscapes of Etna on this guided tour from Taormina or Giardini Naxos. Pass by some of the most stunning spots in the region like the Moio Alcantara crater and the alpine Piano Provenzana.   Meet your guide and get set up with your well-maintained ATV gear. Set off from the Alcantara Gorges, following dirt tracks in the direction of Castiglione di Sicilia, famous for its winemaking. Stop to admire the breathtaking views of the valley. Continue along the a bike trail to Linguaglossa, where you can see the little volcano of Moio Alcantara which is Etna's farthest crater from the epicenter. Pass by lava flows formed during numerous eruptions.  Climb to Piano Provenzana at an altitude of 1,850 meters for stunning views of the island. Return to your meeting point at the end of your ATV tour. 

Catania, Taormina, Messina: 3 Etna Wineries Tour & Tasting

2. Catania, Taormina, Messina: 3 Etna Wineries Tour & Tasting

Your personal guide will pick you up from your hotel/ port and you will start your wonderful tour around the top Etna wineries. Driving by comfortable, air-conditioned car or minivan through the small authentic mountain villages, you will admire unforgettable picturesque views of the Sicilian countryside full of oranges and lemon plantations, olives and almond trees, houses and churches built of lava stone. The Mount Etna eruptions feed the soil, and that is why this region is considered to be one of the best in the world for growing grapes and wine production. You will visit the three best wineries at the Etna slopes. Wines from these wineries are on the top lists of premium international wine associations.  The first venue will be a family-run winery, world-famous for its outstanding wines. Here, you will be welcomed by the owner with a glass of an awesome white wine aperitif. Sipping refreshing wine, you will have a guided tour around the estate, after which you will visit the cellars where the owner or your private sommelier will explain to you the wine production process. Finally, you will sit at a wonderful terrace with a breathtaking view of mountains and Ionian coastline, and with your personal sommelier, start your food and wine tasting. You will taste 4 excellent white, red and rose Etna D.O.C. wines with locally produced cheeses, salami, prosciutto, sausages, couscous, vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, domestic olive oil and fresh homemade bread. Enjoy the panoramic view and the unique atmosphere of the Sicilian countryside. You will be driven to the second venue – another outstanding Etna winery, where the owner will give you a tour around the estate. With a professional sommelier, you will taste 4 brilliant red, rose and white wines of the region.  You will continue the tour driving to the next venue, an ancient family run winery with authentic charm. After your guided visit to the cellars, you will taste 3 premium red and white wines accompanied by fresh domestic appetizers: locally produced cheeses, meat delicacies, olives, olive oil and fresh bread.  After the tour, your personal guide will bring you back to your accommodation.

Mount Etna and Taormina Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

3. Mount Etna and Taormina Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

Europe’s highest active volcano is studied extensively by scientists and is popular with trekkers and nature lovers as well. Visit Mount Etna and the clifftop village of Taormina on this 11-hour excursion from Palermo. From Crateri Silvestri you’ll take the funicular with a local mountain guide all the way up to 2,500 meters above sea level. From this point you’ll experience unforgettable panoramic views. Just south of Taormina is the nature reserve of Isola Bella, and further south you’ll see the popular seaside resort of Giardini Naxos. Visit the village of Taormina, a 45-minute drive from Mount Etna. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, the village features an ancient Greek theater, many old churches, antique shops, lively bars and fine restaurants.

From Taormina: Mount Etna upper craters and Alcantara Gorges

4. From Taormina: Mount Etna upper craters and Alcantara Gorges

Enjoy a full-day tour of the highest volcano in Europe, Mount Etna. Tour guests meet at the bus terminal in Taormina, Via Pirandello. The tour is led by a knowledgeable tour leader. You can enjoy exclusive information of the history of Mount Etna and the surrounding areas. An air-conditioned coach will transport you to the Alcantara Gorges (entry extra). This is an impressive natural sculpture. Thousands of years ago the riverbed was blocked by lava flow from Mount Etna, and as the lava cooled more quickly than the water it crystallized. Tall columns of lava have since stood here and as the river eroded through the lava it has created a series of impressive gorges. Don’t forget your camera. The trip continues on board the Circumetnea, a traditional train that winds around the foot of the volcano reaching up to Adrano in the south. Then. by coach, reach Rifugio Sapienza, at an altitude of 1.900 meters on the southern side. Then, ascend via cable car and jeep to the authorized crater zones, assisted by licensed guides of the CAI (Italian Alpine Club). Stop to admire the eventual activity of the summit craters in the area of security. At the end of the tour, you will be driven back to Taormina where the tour ends.

From Taormina: Etna Wineries Small Group Tour

5. From Taormina: Etna Wineries Small Group Tour

Visit 2 traditional Italian wineries on this full-day group tour from Taormina. You’ll be picked up at around 9:00 AM from your accommodation in Taormina and head to Castiglione di Sicilia, a picturesque village that dates from the Medieval era. The wine produced in the Etnean region close to Castiglione is considered the finest in the area. You’ll be absolutely charmed by this town’s ancient architecture and quaint streets. Stop at your first winery, where you’ll taste locally-produced Etnean wines and an aperitif based on local products. You can also walk along the vineyards and see first-hand the wine grapes and learn about their production. At the second winery, taste 3 DOP (Protected Denomination of Origin) Etnean wines, paired with a complete lunch based on traditional products. Walk around the winery, see the barrels where the wine you’ve just tasted is stored, and learn more about the wine-making process. Finally, you’ll head home to Taormina at around 5:00 PM.

From Taormina: Sunset Experience on Mount Etna Upper Craters

6. From Taormina: Sunset Experience on Mount Etna Upper Craters

Begin your journey by boarding a bus with your knowledgeable tour leader. This will take you approximately 1,900 meters (about 6,233 feet) up Mount Etna, where you will then switch to jeeps in order to get within a safe distance of the main crater area at 3,000 meters (about 9,840 feet) elevation.  During your ascent, you’ll be escorted by licensed guides of the CAI - Italian Alpine Club. Mount Etna is an active volcano on the east coast of Sicily, and the tallest active volcano in Europe, standing at 3,350 meters (about 10,990 feet).  It’s also one of the most active volcanoes in the world and in an almost constant state of activity since its first eruption about half a million years ago. After reaching the highest authorized area, stop to experience a stunning sunset as the fading sun’s colors cover the volcano, the Valley of the Bove, and all of the expansive surroundings.  Following the sunset, return by jeep to 1,900 meters, at which point it will be time for dinner (cost not included) in a local restaurant to finish off the evening.

From Catania: Day Trip to Mount Etna and Taormina

7. From Catania: Day Trip to Mount Etna and Taormina

Hike to the highest active volcano in Europe, Mt Etna, and continue to the characteristic town of Taormina on a guided day trip from Catania with return hotel transfers. Visit old craters and lava flow caves and sit down for a picnic lunch in nature with a glass of wine. Start with a pickup from your accommodation in Catania and make your way to Etna. Get introduced to the fascinating world of volcanic phenomena by your guide. Gear up in hiking equipment and walk through ancient woods, extinct craters and past lava flows on Etna. Explore a volcanic cave and the surrounding landscape of Etna. After working up an appetite, enjoy a packed lunch with some typical street food products in an open area. In case of bad weather, go to a refuge to munch on sandwiches.  Next, head to the historical center of Taormina for a self-guided visit. Admire the Ionian coast on one side and Mount Etna on the other, immersed in a picturesque atmosphere. Visit the elegant avenue that separates the medieval city gates, Porta Catania and Porta Messina, walk down the alleys, and see the Greek theater. After your visit to Taormina, jump back on board for the return trip to Catania.

From Taormina: Mount Etna Sunset Tour

8. From Taormina: Mount Etna Sunset Tour

Go on a guided tour from Taormina to the top of Mount Etna on this day trip. See a lava cave, walk along mountain trails, indulge in local produce, and marvel at the breathtaking sunset from the mountain top. Benefit from pickup at your accommodation in Taormina. Taste local produce at an organic farm and savor the flavors of the local honey and wine. Continue to a lava cave created during the 1792 eruption of the volcano. Enter the stunning site to learn about the lava flow and forces that created them. Then, stroll along the mountain trails to reach the Sapienza Refuge on the slopes of Mount Etna. Walk around the different lava flows created by the latest eruptions and see the ancient Silvestri craters from the eruptions of 1892. Watch the sunset from the top of the mountain before returning to your hotel after dark.

From Taormina: Mount Etna Food and Wine Tasting Tour

9. From Taormina: Mount Etna Food and Wine Tasting Tour

Benefit from pick-up at your accommodation and journey with an authorized local guide through the typical villages of Sicily's west coast. Pass houses made from lava stone and marvel at groves of orange, olive and almond trees. Listen to tales of local traditions and learn about the food and wines produced in the volcanic landscape of Mount Etna. Stop at a family-run winery and get a glass of rosé Prosecco as a welcome.  Visit the cellars before a wine tasting with cold appetizers in a lava stone open-air amphitheater. Sample a glass of white and red wine with locally produced cheeses, salamis, artichokes and more. Continue to a farmhouse to savor more food and wine on an open-air terrace overlooking the vineyards. Try various dishes, including ricotta cheese with marmalade and 2 different pastas made with seasonal ingredients, such as black pork sauce.  Lastly, taste a homemade Limoncello and be dropped off at your accommodation.

Syracuse, Ortygia and Noto Full-Day Tour from Catania

10. Syracuse, Ortygia and Noto Full-Day Tour from Catania

Learn the ancient history of Sicily on a full-day sightseeing tour that takes you to the archaeological park of Neapolis where you can visit classical monuments of Greek and Roman Syracuse at your own pace on a self-guided tour. Following a pick-up from your accommodation in Catania, transfer to the ruins of Syracuse, now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your walk, discover many old Roman streets, as well as monuments such as the Greek Theatre, whose cavea is one of the largest ever built by the ancient Greeks. Near the Greek Theatre, you will see the latomie, including the limestone cave known as the “Ear of Dyonisius,” as well as the Christian Church of San Nicolò ai Cordari. Admire the Amphitheatre of the Roman imperial age, and more. Then, continue to Ortygia Island to experience the historic heart of Syracuse. Located at the park’s eastern end, and separated by a narrow channel, Ortygia is filled with Greek temples, Christian churches, and Arabian streets. Visit the Arethusa fountain and Piazza del Duomo, where the baroque palaces, such as Beneventano del Bosco Palace and Senate Palace are among the most beautiful in Sicily. After lunch (own expense), go to the small town of Noto, noted for its unique style of Sicilian Baroque architecture, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. Wander the open-air museum and beautiful Corso Vittorio Emanuele to admire the many palaces and churches that, grouped together, are known as the “Stone Garden.”

52 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 4

Frequently asked questions about Province of Messina

What top attractions are a must-see in Province of Messina?

Other Sightseeing Options in Province of Messina

Want to discover all there is to do in Province of Messina? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Province of Messina

If you want to enjoy Mount Etna and avoid tourist groups then you must book the Private Tour! Giovanni was an amazing guide who was so passionate. We arrived at Mount Etna before the buses and he took us through less traditional paths to walk us through the various craters and talk about the history of the eruptions. Perfect if you want explanations and a bit of adventure. The drive to the winery was a lot of fun full of stories, the food and wine there was excellent and my partner and I didn't feel one second this was a tourist trap. We finished at Taormina which was a lovely city full of lovely spots for pictures, maybe a bit touristic but we were lucky to visit off season to appreciate it.

Our excursion to Syracuse, Noto and Ortigia was with Salvatore. He is very knowledgeable and friendly and we all felt as though our tour was really personalised to our group. We asked if it was possible to make a detour and take an unplanned boat ride around Ortigia. He was very flexible and accommodating and managed to find us a boat company in the low season. Salvatore is clearly passionate about what he does and we had a terrific day! Highly recommended!

It was a great trip with 5 other travelers and our guide Floriana who was friendly, helpful and full of joy. We had a short walk to the refugio and the Silvestri craters followed by simple lunch with schiacciata and wine. Then we had off to Taormina where we had 2 hours to wonder around.

I recommend to everyone. Alessio tells interesting stories and it's hard to get bored with him. He picked us up from where we stayed and drove us back to the place after the tour. It's worth it.

Nando was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the beautiful towns and architecture we saw. And great lunch recommendation! We had a great day.