Messina Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Messina tours and things to do on Sicily’s northeast tip: day-trip to clifftop Taormina and its Greek theatre, climb smouldering Mount Etna, follow The Godfather trail to hilltop Savoca, admire Messina’s astronomical clock, and taste Sicilian wine and food. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
rating
Explore Messina by interest
Whatever brings you to Messina — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Messina
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Taormina
Greek theatre.
Mount Etna
Active volcano.
Savoca
Godfather village.
Messina Cathedral
Astronomical clock.
Alcantara Gorges
Basalt canyons.
Greek Theatre
Taormina views.
Etna Wines
Volcano vineyards.
Etna Craters
Lava fields.
45 min awayTaormina
Greek theatre.
1.5 hr awayMount Etna
Active volcano.
South awaySavoca
Godfather village.
Near Etna awayAlcantara Gorges
Basalt canyons.
City awayMessina Cathedral
Astronomical clock.
Slopes awayEtna Wines
Volcano vineyards.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Messina visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild and green — lovely for Taormina and Etna.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Hot and busy, best for the coast.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm, with grape harvest on Etna.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Cool below, with snow on Etna’s summit.
For Etna
Late spring to autumn for the best access.
Best overall
May, June, September and October.
One day
Taormina and the city, or a Savoca trip.
Two days
Add a full Mount Etna day.
Three days
Add the Alcantara Gorges and a wine tour.
For history
Taormina and the cathedral.
For nature
Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorges.
For cruisers
A shore excursion to Taormina or Etna.
On foot
Messina’s centre and cathedral are walkable.
Day tours
Tours run to Taormina, Etna and Savoca.
By train
Trains link Messina and Taormina along the coast.
Cruise port
Shore excursions leave right from the port.
Where to stay
Stay in Messina or base in Taormina.
Euro
Italy uses the euro; cards widely accepted.
The clock
Be at the cathedral by noon for the show.
Taormina
Book the Greek theatre to skip the queue.
Etna
Bring layers; the summit is cold and windy.
Savoca
Stop at Bar Vitelli from The Godfather.
Cruisers
Choose a shore excursion timed to your ship.
Combos
Some tours pair Taormina with Savoca or Etna.
Taormina tours
Day trips fill up — book ahead.
Etna tours
Volcano trips fill up — reserve early.
Savoca tours
Godfather tours fill up — book ahead.
Shore excursions
Cruise tours fill up — reserve early.
Alcantara tours
Gorge trips fill up — book ahead.
Summer & cruise days
Peak days are busy — book far ahead.
Taormina tour
Around €63–110 for a Taormina day trip.
Etna tour
About €69–120 for a Mount Etna tour.
Savoca tour
Roughly €90–141 for a Savoca Godfather tour.
City tour
Around €42–70 for a city and cathedral tour.
Alcantara tour
About €60–100 for an Alcantara Gorges tour.
How to save
Join group tours to save over private ones.
Messina through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild & green.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely.
- Best for
- Coast & sun.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy.
- Best for
- Etna harvest.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Warm.
- Best for
- Snowy Etna.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool.