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Taormina Tour: Explore History and Nature
3.4
8 Ratings
Taormina
Immerse yourself in the history, culture, and natural beauty of Taormina on a private tour. Explore the charming historic center, visit the Cathedral, and take a boat ride to the stunning Isola Bella. Discover the Sicilian coast with Mount Etna as a backdrop. A unique and memorable experience awaits!
Immerse yourself in the history, culture, and natural beauty of Taormina on a private tour. Explore the charming historic center, visit the Cathedral, and take a boat ride to the stunning Isola Bella. Discover the Sicilian coast with Mount Etna as a backdrop. A unique and memorable experience awaits!
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
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Taormina - The Ancient Theater is a remarkable site dating back to the 3rd century BC. Perched on a hill, it provides breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. (Entrance ticket not included, payable on site)
Corso Umberto I serves as the main street in Taormina’s historic center and is a vibrant pedestrian area filled with shops,…
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Taormina - The Ancient Theater is a remarkable site dating back to the 3rd century BC. Perched on a hill, it provides breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. (Entrance ticket not included, payable on site)
Corso Umberto I serves as the main street in Taormina’s historic center and is a vibrant pedestrian area filled with shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and ice cream parlors. Visitors can admire the historic buildings, churches, and squares.
The Taormina Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of San Nicola, features a baroque facade and sacred artwork, making it a significant place of worship.
Palazzo Corvaja is an ancient Norman palace that houses the Museum of Art and Popular Traditions.
The Gardens of the Villa Comunale offer a stunning panoramic view.
Greek Theater of Taormina requires a separate entrance fee of 12 euros.
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Giardini Naxos - A boat excursion from Taormina to Isola Bella and Giardini Naxos promises an unforgettable experience along Sicily’s beautiful coast.
Departing from Taormina, guests will board a comfortable boat and head towards Isola Bella, a small, breathtaking island just off the coast. Known as the “Pearl of the Ionian Sea,” Isola Bella is a protected nature reserve with a variety of unique flora and fauna. Visitors will have the chance to admire its rocky coast, crystal-clear waters, and picturesque beaches up close.
Afterwards, the boat will proceed to Giardini Naxos, one of the area’s most popular seaside resorts. Here, guests can enjoy the view over the bay, with its sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
During the excursion, guests will be treated to spectacular views with the majestic volcano Etna as a scenic backdrop.
Note: Remaining time is for the round-trip ride and time between attractions. - Isola Bella - Isola Bella Taormina
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Shared Boat Ride
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Private transportation
- Shared Boat Ride
- In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- On-board WiFi
- Lunch
- Guide
- Gratuities
- On-board WiFi
- Lunch
- Guide
Additional Information
Taormina is a city abundant in history, culture, and natural splendor. The tour provides an opportunity to explore its captivating old town, stroll along Corso Umberto I, and admire the majestic architecture of Taormina Cathedral.
The boat journey to Isola Bella transports you to a genuine natural paradise. This small island, often referred to as the…
Taormina is a city abundant in history, culture, and natural splendor. The tour provides an opportunity to explore its captivating old town, stroll along Corso Umberto I, and admire the majestic architecture of Taormina Cathedral.
The boat journey to Isola Bella transports you to a genuine natural paradise. This small island, often referred to as the “pearl of the Ionian Sea,” is renowned for its stunning beauty, featuring pebble beaches, crystal-clear waters, and diverse flora and fauna.
Both experiences offer spectacular views along the Sicilian coast, with the magnificent volcano Etna serving as a picturesque backdrop.
Ultimately, the combination of exploring the enchanting city of Taormina and swimming in the pristine waters of Isola Bella provides a range of experiences, from cultural exploration to sea adventure, ensuring your tour is both unique and unforgettable.
Location
Taormina
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
3.4
(8 Ratings)
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1 star
Grace_m
Sep 17, 2025
Beautiful Giardini Naxos and Isola Bella - One of the most beautiful spots in Sicily. I call it the Sicilian Amalfi Coast. The tour guide, Valeria was terrific in every way - attentive and customized our day based on our needs. She was punctual and flexible. My daughter and I made memories to last a lifetime. She went above and beyond s beyond. The boat ride is a must and Salvatore, the captain was great too.
Review provided by Viator
Jeff_w
Jun 9, 2025
Boat Tour was Highlight - Domenica was our guide and only two of us for the tour. He was very informative and always on time. We had plenty of time to see every part of the tour. The boat tour was very good but the wind was blowing so hard it was a little uncomfortable. The boat operator was trying hard to get around, but we were able to see all around the coast and the caves. Very pretty area, I recommend the boat tour. Domenica made our tour pleasant.
Review provided by Viator
Cindife
May 29, 2025
Great Excursion! - Great Excursion! Giuseppe was amazing, new so much information about Mt. Etna, surrounding villages and Taormina. I know more about volcanos than I did before.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wendy_j
Jun 12, 2024
Wonderful excursion! - My husband and I had a wonderful day on this excursion! We were picked up promptly by our guide in Catania, who took us directly to Giaridini Naxos where we had an awesome boat ride to Isola Bella and all around the coastline. We were able to stop and take numerous pictures and one couple even went swimming! Our boat captain was friendly and explained the areas we were seeing. He took us a lava cave and the blue grotto! He even served some Prosecco & an Italian pastry! It was all heavenly! After the boat trip our guide took us to Taormina where we spent the rest of the afternoon. We saw the amphitheater, had lunch and then she joined us for a walk all around showing us different areas with amazing views! She even took pictures of us on her phone that she sent to us later. It was an awesome day! Highly recommend!!
Review provided by Viator
Ronald_p
May 10, 2025
Transfer, not tour - I was a little disappointed with this tour. I would call it more of a transfer than a tour. On all the other tours we have taken, we were given interesting facts and history about the areas we were visiting. Our driver did not say one word to us the whole drive from Catania to Taormina and back. She dropped us off with the boat charter with instructions on when she would pick us up. The boat driver did not speak English. He was very nice and tried to communicate with us. He took us around the coastline of Taormina and we were able to get some great pictures. It was absolutely beautiful. Thankfully, a gentleman on the tour with us spoke some Italian and was able to translate for our boat driver, giving us some history and letting us know what certain things were. Had we not had him, we would have gotten very little information. Our driver then picked us back up from the dock and took us to Taormina center square area to walk around and shop. She dropped us off with instructions on when and where she would pick us back up. Although, we do enjoy being able to walk around on our own and take in the sights, some history during the car ride and boat ride would have been nice. We did enjoy being out on the water and being able to see the town from a different perspective.
Review provided by Viator
Teri
May 11, 2025
Not a tour! - Make sure you read the description of this tour very well. There is a driver that will pick you up. No information on the area as she is not a guide - hence reading the description of what is not included- a guide is not included. She gave us information about the boat ride and when she would pick us up afterwards. The boat ride was amazing. Very beautiful! While the guide didn’t speak good English, my boyfriend speaks Italian and was able to interpret what he was telling us. We stopped for some pastries and a bubbly! After the boat ride, we were picked up and taken to Taormina in silence. Again, a tour guide is NOT included so don’t plan on learning anything from her. We walked through Taormina and saw the main attractions. It is very nice and mostly a place to shop.
This tour is presented as a private tour, but states you may share the boat ride with other clients. Not sure how it is a private tour if other couples ride there with you and you are on your own as you walk through Taormina.
Review provided by Viator
Barbara_b
May 26, 2025
Worst Experience Ever - Worst Viator experience I have ever had.
NOT a PRIVATE experience in any way, shape or form. Transportation was with 2 other couples for a total of 6 people. ( Not private)
Knew there could be more people on the boat, but there were 12 plus the captain.
No communication beforehand from the operator letting any of the 6 of us know that there was a “transportation” issue which would cause our experience to suddenly become “not private” yet there were multiple communications all morning reminding us where to meet and when. Felt like a true bait & switch.
When operator found out I had reported them to Viator she was livid, demanded to know who contacted Viator, then proceeded to yell & threaten me.
The only reason this experience gets 1 star from me is because the boat skipper/ captain’s tour of the coast was scenic, he was friendly, and our driver to Taormina was doing his best to try & make up for a disastrous start to the day.
If you are in the area, definitely visit Taormina and take a boat ride along the coast, but stay away from this “private” experience. I’ve never had a horrible Viator experience overseas or in the USA until now. This one was truly the worst.
Review provided by Viator
Jeffrey_a
Apr 30, 2025
One of the worst tours our group has taken - Perhaps the worst tour our group of 12 has been on. We would not recommend this tour or company. I don’t know where to start on the lack of customer service.
Review provided by Viator
