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Mount Etna & Taormina Excursion in Sicily
3.3
8 Ratings
Marsa
Explore Sicily’s diverse landscapes, visit Mount Etna, and discover charming Taormina on an unforgettable excursion from Malta.
Explore Sicily’s diverse landscapes, visit Mount Etna, and discover charming Taormina on an unforgettable excursion from Malta.
Duration:
16 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Taormina - Sicily’s premier tourist destination was first discovered by British aristocrats in the mid-1800s. Overlooking Mount Etna and the azure Mediterranean, this serene and scenic resort, situated 206 meters above sea level, was originally settled by the Greeks who constructed a theater during the Hellenic period – 4th century B.C. The…
- Taormina - Sicily’s premier tourist destination was first discovered by British aristocrats in the mid-1800s. Overlooking Mount Etna and the azure Mediterranean, this serene and scenic resort, situated 206 meters above sea level, was originally settled by the Greeks who constructed a theater during the Hellenic period – 4th century B.C. The current Teatro Greco, modified by the Romans, hosts classical plays every summer.
The main thoroughfare, the sophisticated Corso Umberto, is lively with its array of cafés, restaurants, and boutiques, attracting a diverse mix of visitors.
NOTE: The total tour duration includes check-in time and travel on the ferry to/from Malta.
- Sicily - En route to Mount Etna, there is a stop to taste some traditional Sicilian treats, including wines, almond sweets, and honey; these local specialties are available for purchase (with no obligation to buy).
- Mount Etna - Known as the largest and most active volcano in Europe, the ascent to the crater passes through charming villages and a constantly changing landscape. The lower slopes of the volcano are highly fertile, featuring groves of oranges, lemons, and other Mediterranean plants, as well as vineyards producing Sicily’s finest wines. The journey continues through forests of chestnut trees, which gradually transition to oak, beech, birch, and pine.
- Malta - NOTE: The total tour duration includes check-in time and travel on the ferry to/from Malta.
What's Included
- Ferry to Sicily (round trip)
- Coach transfers in Sicily
- Local English-speaking guide
- Ferry to Sicily (round trip)
- Coach transfers in Sicily
- Local English-speaking guide
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Local transport to the Virtu Passenger Terminal
- Lunch
- Local transport to the Virtu Passenger Terminal
Additional Information
Sicily is a land of diversity; you cannot do it justice in a short period of time. It is easy to forget that the island, with a population of 5 million, only became part of the Italian state in 1860. We suggest you look out for the ever-changing landscape, a feature even on a short trip, and it is not every day that you will visit a volcano, Etna, the…
Sicily is a land of diversity; you cannot do it justice in a short period of time. It is easy to forget that the island, with a population of 5 million, only became part of the Italian state in 1860. We suggest you look out for the ever-changing landscape, a feature even on a short trip, and it is not every day that you will visit a volcano, Etna, the characteristic hilltop towns rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1693, and the affluence of picturesque Taormina. There is only one thing we are certain of you will enjoy Sicily!
- NOTE: Total tour duration includes check-in time and the travelling on the ferry to/from Malta.
Location
Virtu Ferries Passenger Terminal
You will need to make your own way to the port of departure. Check-in needs to be made 1 hour prior departure time. Please bring a valid travel document.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
3.3
(8 Ratings)
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Shellhead
Oct 7, 2025
Skip Taormina - The tour leaves very early in the morning, which was fine with us. We bought the upgraded seats both ways, and it was worth it --- a nearly empty seating area and priority boarding (going).
Once you get to Sicily, you meet the guide near the bus. The woman guide was extremely good (originally from Brooklyn!) and the driver was just as good.
You get a nice amount of time at Mt. Etna and it's a cool place to visit. Taormina, on the other hand, is a real waste of time, at least for us. We toured on Sunday, and it was PACKED. I'll compare it to Santorini on a busy day (which is every day). The bus parks off-site and you're transferred by another bus, which you have to take back to the tour bus. The wait for the return bus was ridiculous. People pushing and shoving their way to the front of the line and no one to stop them. It was utter chaos.
It was a nice day, but the best part was Etna.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anna_s
Sep 23, 2024
Lovely 😍 - Definitely Taormina but you have to realize this excursion is not for everyone it may be very difficult to for some people because it is a lot of driving and one more thing please take a warm clothes because on the top off Mount Etna wether may surprise you it was very cold and windy on September 19th
Review provided by Viator
Andrea_m
Jul 12, 2024
A taste of Sicily - It was a great day just a long day. Be prepared to spend a few hours at each stop. Frank our guide was kind and informative.
Review provided by Viator
Chris9010
Jun 23, 2024
Excellent if you want a quick visit to Sicily - A really good day out if you want to have a quick visit to Sicily, it is a very long day as you would expect. Well worth it if you don’t have much time. Mount Etna was fab a bit chilly as I researched before hand so take a coat. You will spend a lot of the day travelling on the coach to get to these areas, they tell you this before you go so if you don’t want to sit on a coach for 2 and half hours in one go then the tours probably not for you. Made some very interesting stops on the way and had ample time at mount Etna and Taormina. The ferry crossing was very good, seats very comfy and staff extremely friendly
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mark_h
Jul 21, 2023
Fully on excursion day not for the lighthearted. - Very interesting and informative days excursion to Sicily with a beautiful stop over at Taormina. The Amphitheater is a must visit although an admission fee is required.
You get 3hrs to do what you want to do here. In the afternoon you head to Mount Etna which takes around 2hrs from Taormina with a stop on the way for some local tasting of produce.
At Mount Etna you get around 2hrs to explore craters around the baseline or take the cable car up further, which comes at a cost of €50 euros per adult.
After which its the same 2.5hour trip back to the port you did in the morning, to catch the ferry back to Malta.
Ferry takes about 1hr 45mins to arrive back into Malta.
A very long day with excursions and travelling on ferry and bus.
Review provided by Viator
Derek_h
Sep 22, 2025
Long Day - We found the tour too long, 4:00 am to 12 midnight. Mt Etna was nice to see but to tour it properly you have to be in good shape and need a full day. Taormina was a beautiful little town and would have liked to spend more time there, crowds reminded me of arriving after 3 cruise ships had just tripped of their passengers. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and very pleasant to talk to.
Review provided by Viator
Kays299
May 16, 2024
Very long day -19 hours with only 6 hours visiting Etna and Taermino. Wouldn’t go again. - A very long day with lots of travelling for just a few hours free time, we left home at 5am and returned just before midnight. Out of the 19 hours away we spent only 6 hours visiting Etna and Taormina.
Not suitable for kids or elderly with mobility issues
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hmbselby
Jun 1, 2024
Total Waste of Money - The best thing about this trip was the virtue ferry which was very comfortable and the staff very helpful and friendly. Then we boarded a coach for 2 hours 20 minutes nobody told us we needed warm clothing for Mount Etna nearly everyone on the coach had to buy a fleece to keep warm. Cable car we were told not to go up as there were no views and at 50 euros per person it would be a waste of money the tour guide told us. So went and had coffee and food inside cafe's to keep warm. Then onto 10 minute stop to taste olive oil honey and very poor wine, Then Taormina where we were told there was lots of places to visit our tour guide just left us in the middle of Taormina and told us to get the shadow bus back to the main bus while we saw her just wandering around on her own. Other tour guides were taking their groups around Taormina with flags probably visiting the places we were supposed to be shown. Then back to the bus for 2 hour 20 minute journey back to the ferry. A very expensive experience one we would never repeat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
