SICILY
Sicily’s best days out.
The 15 most popular half-day tours in Sicily, with what each costs, how long it runs and the operator behind it. The handful worth planning a whole day around.
Half-day from Palermo to Monreale and Cefalù: Norman mosaics, a Duomo audio guide, Greek-Arab art, and seaside wandering on Sicily’s north coast.
Most Popular“Monreale's cathedral is impressive and Cefalù is stunning, you should definitely go. Please do keep in mind that this is not a guided tour, it's pretty much just the transportation.”
Half-day Mount Etna trek from Taormina with lava fields, a lava-tube visit, and a chalet stop for snacks, wine, and almond tasting.
“Our guide, Tony, was so knowledgeable and had a true passion for Mount Etna. He gave us the full history of the volcano and its affect on the surrounding area and also of the flora and fauna present on the volcano today. It was truly a pleasure to have Tony as our guide.”
Half-day Mount Etna trek from Taormina: extinct crater rim hike, a lava cave visit, and winery lunch with wine and almond tasting.
“Our guide Daniel was exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable. The hike on Mount Etna was fascinating, and his guidance made the experience even more memorable. We had a great time!”
Guided Etna wine tasting from Taormina with a winery visit, four wines, Sicilian snacks, and scenic stops around Linguaglossa.
“Amazing, beautiful vineyard very well organised fabulous guide on the bus and at the vineyard, very informative and passionate about the history of the wine. Good variety of wines and nibbles. Was able to order wine for delivery to home, which was so convenient including spices and Gambino olive oil, so we can do our…”
Half-day Taormina pizza class where you make dough, choose toppings, and eat your creations with wine and bruschetta.
“Very fun group of people and chef! Loves how hands on it was”
Half-day Mount Etna from Taormina, Naxos, Letojanni, or Mascali. Door-to-door transport, crater walk, optional cable car, honey tasting.
“We didn't know what to expect but this ended up being a private tour with Orazio. He messaged us the day before the tour and picked us up from our hotel on time in his spotlessly clean car. Orazio was friendly with excellent knowledge of Etna backed up with photos from his i pad. He…”
Half-day Mount Etna hike from Catania with crater walks, a lava cave, and views over Sicily plus tasting of local products.
“Our guide, Silvia, was exceptional. Not only was she knowledgeable, an excellent driver, and a positive, upbeat person, she was very kind and attentive to my friend who had some mobility challenges with some of the terrain. Silvia stayed by her side, helped her, and gave her confidence without being patronizing. The entire experience was…”
Half-day Mount Etna hike and lava cave plus a Zafferana Etnea wine tasting with volcanic-soil wines and local food pairings.
“The guide was very helpful and informative We enjoyed the Etna trip. The vineyard was excellent The food delicious Definitely recommend Please visit the vineyard shop Such an incredible choice of local delicacies”
Learn to make authentic Sicilian pizza in Taormina. Hands-on dough, shared lunch, and a chef certificate in a small English class.
“This class is well-organized and lots of fun. The instructors are helpful and the environment is clean and casual. It was nice to be able to see professional chefs in action. Totally recommend this class!”
Half-day trip from Palermo to Corleone and Ficuzza with the Godfather Museum, waterfall scenery near Dragon Gorges, and small-group comfort.
“The half-day excursion to Corleone was unexpectedly delightful. The driver, I believe his name was Michele, is an architect by profession and infused the tour with a funny mix of English and Italian, along with lots of interesting facts about the region. All in all, a great experience!”
Half-day Mount Etna trip from Catania, Acireale, or Giarre with crater walks, honey tasting, and panoramic stops.
“It was one of the best experience EVER. We found out so many interesting things and we were speechless when we arrived at the final destination. The driver Orazio, it’s a 10+ driver, person and guide. He explained absolutely everything since he took us from the hotel. He was so polite and he had answers…”
Shop Taormina’s markets with Chef Massimo, cook Sicilian classics at a panoramic home kitchen, then eat a multi-course lunch with wine.
“Massimo is a dedicated chef and his many tricks and tips have made this day unforgettable. The food was excellent and we all felt very happy to have had this experience.”
Half-day morning jeep tour on Mount Etna with a lava cave, Valle del Bove, and a guided walk among extinct side craters.
“Amazing tour. Our guide went above and beyond our expectations and we had a fantastic time. He was also able to recommend a great local shop to pick up some amazing baking afterwords. Thanks so much for an unforgettable day!!”
Small-group half-day Palermo market tour and cooking class with chef Patrizia, 4 courses, Sicilian wine pairings, and lunch.
“Patrizia was an exceptional instructor and the food we prepared was delicious. Loved the kitchen and Sicilian ambiance. Thank you Patrizia!”
Private half-day with hotel pickup to the Palermo Catacombs and Monreale Cathedral. See Rosalia and the Benedictine cloister with an expert guide.
“Great tour and guide. Learned a lot at every stop! The guide was very well informed and thank God for the driver.”
From Mount Etna to the Valley of the Temples, the markets of Palermo to the islands offshore. Every way to spend a day on the island.
