On this tour you'll cross the Strait of Messina by ferry and explore the island that's virtually a country in itself – Sicily. And while the drive is long, some trips are worth it. This trip gives you the perfect introduction to Taormina, with around four hours of free time to explore.

It all begins with a journey through some spectacular scenery. Travelling along untouched areas of the Calabrian countryside, you'll take in wow-factor panoramas between mountain and sea before crossing the strait to Sicily. Hit dry land and we'll head to Taormina where there's free time to explore the historic monuments and hilltop vistas.

A must-see is the ancient Greek theatre – perched atop cliffs over the Med, you can see Mount Etna lurking on the horizon. You'll also have a chance to shop on the quaint high-street and do some exploring on your own.

Would have liked to hear some of the history of Sicily by the guide on the bus . All she talked about was the Godfather films ,shopping ,restaurants and bars.

Guide spoke mainly German and didn’t say anywhere near as much in English. Could have done with more time in Taormina. Enjoyed the ferry and free time in Taormina

To little time in Taormina, said four hours free time in the booking, but in reality we got max three hours, since the buss parked outside then shuttle buss up, the. We was supposed to take a shuttle buss down again, and in order to not miss the buss, al were forced to take the shuttle buss 30 min before buss departed. Guide was great.

Was worried about time spent driving, but it was fine, well worth the visit. Taormina and mount Etna well worth the visit.

Well organised, guides helpful and knowlegable

Der Transfer vom Hotel nach Sizilien dauerte deutlich zu lange. Es wurden unnötig viele Gäste aus anderen Hotels abgeholt, die nicht auf der Strecke lagen. Zudem funktionierte die Klimaanlage im Bus erneut nicht, obwohl es derselbe Bus wie beim vorherigen Ausflug war. Die letzten Meter nach Taormina mussten wir dann auch noch in einem überfüllten, heißen Stadtbus zurücklegen. Unter diesen Umständen kann ich die Tour nicht empfehlen.

Why you’ll love this…

See northeast Sicily
Free time in Taormina
Enjoy stunning Sicilian vistas

Important to know

Just so you know, this tour may last up to 12 hours due to the travel distance. Please expect a long day.
Admissions not included
Food and drinks not included
Bring suitable footwear
Subject to weather conditions
Please note that all times are approximate and subject to change

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 2 days before the experience begins.

What’s included

Transport
Ferry ticket
Guide

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Pickup points

To see which pickup points are available, check under availability & prices.

Provider

TUI ITALIA S.R.L.

What people say about this experience

4.1/5

All reviews are verified

Based on 116 reviews

Review categories

Safety

4.2/5

Service

3.4/5

Staff

3.4/5

Value for money

3.4/5

All ratings (116)

5 stars (50)

43%

4 stars (39)

34%

3 stars (19)

16%

2 stars (7)

1 star (1)

D
Disappointed
Traveled as a couple
August 22, 2026
3.8
United Kingdom
Would have liked to hear some of the history of Sicily by the guide on the bus . All she talked about was the Godfather films ,shopping ,restaurants and bars.
H
Helen
Traveled with family
July 26, 2026
4.2
United Kingdom
Guide spoke mainly German and didn’t say anywhere near as much in English. Could have done with more time in Taormina. Enjoyed the ferry and free time in Taormina
A
Andreas
Traveled with family
July 3, 2026
3.8
United Kingdom
To little time in Taormina, said four hours free time in the booking, but in reality we got max three hours, since the buss parked outside then shuttle buss up, the. We was supposed to take a shuttle buss down again, and in order to not miss the buss, al were forced to take the shuttle buss 30 min before buss departed. Guide was great.
M
Mr Robinson
Traveled as a couple
May 18, 2026
4.2
United Kingdom
Was worried about time spent driving, but it was fine, well worth the visit. Taormina and mount Etna well worth the visit.
T
TUI Musement Traveler
May 23, 2026
5
United Kingdom
Well organised, guides helpful and knowlegable
T
Torsten
Traveled as a couple
August 8, 2026
2.2
Germany
Der Transfer vom Hotel nach Sizilien dauerte deutlich zu lange. Es wurden unnötig viele Gäste aus anderen Hotels abgeholt, die nicht auf der Strecke lagen. Zudem funktionierte die Klimaanlage im Bus erneut nicht, obwohl es derselbe Bus wie beim vorherigen Ausflug war. Die letzten Meter nach Taormina mussten wir dann auch noch in einem überfüllten, heißen Stadtbus zurücklegen. Unter diesen Umständen kann ich die Tour nicht empfehlen.