More about: 6 Best Taormina Tours
Taormina is an area in the region of Sicily that is home to natural landscapes, delicious food, places full of history and culture, boat trips and many more options for you to enjoy. Moreover, being on top of a cliff, the way to move around the city is quite simple, which makes it easy to connect with every activity.
Here is a list of the best tours in Taormina, covering various activities such as culinary classes, gastronomic tours, walks by the sea, visits to the historic centre and its landmarks, etc.. All with the aim of making sure you don't miss out on any of the best things to do in Taormina.
1. Discover the history of the Mafia with the Godfather tour in Taormina.

If you're a movie fan and want to learn more about the history of the Sicilian mafia, this Godfather tour is a must-do experience on your visit to Taormina. During the tour, you will visit the villages where iconic scenes from Francis Ford Coppola's film were shot and discover the secrets of the Cosa Nostra.
The tour will take you to Savoca and Forza d'Agrò, two charming medieval villages that served as the setting for the trilogy. In Savoca, you will see the Bar Vitelli, where Michael Corleone asked for Apollonia's hand, and the church of San Nicolò, where the wedding took place. You will also learn about the real history of the mafia in Sicily and how it has influenced the island's culture.
Places you will visit on this tour
- Savoca, one of the most beautiful villages in Sicily, famous for being the setting of several scenes in the film.
- Bar Vitelli, a historical café that preserves the original decoration used in the filming.
- Church of San Nicolò, where the wedding of Michael Corleone and Apollonia was filmed.
- Forza d'Agrò, another medieval village with breathtaking views and a strong connection with The Godfather saga.
- Sicilian streets and landscapes, which will transport you to the atmosphere of the film and the history of the mafia in the region.
This tour is not only an opportunity to relive the magic of the film, but also to immerse yourself in the history of Sicily, its traditions and its medieval architecture.
Details of interest
- Price: from 50€ per person.
- Duration: approximately 4 hours.
- Means of transport: air-conditioned minibus.
2. Gastronomic and wine tour through the bars and restaurants of Taormina

Taormina, like all the small towns that make up the region of Sicily, has an important culinary tradition. Therefore, one of the essential activities when visiting the city is to take a gastronomic and wine tour through some of the bars and restaurants. In them, you will taste classic Italian recipes with Mediterranean products and exclusive drinks.
Most probably, the starting point of this tour will be Corso Umberto I, as it concentrates the largest number of places to eat and drink. Moreover, as many of the places included in this tour are open in the evening, visitors often include it among the things to do in Taormina at night
Places to visit on this tour
- Franco Wine bar & Typical Sicilian Food, with delicious salads, lasagne and much more. Also, desserts such as tiramisu, parfait and, to drink, a wide wine list.
- Shaker Caffe', where you can try the popular cannolis, Sicilian pastries and enjoy a delicious craft beer.
- Osteria Il Vicoletto, with exceptional wine service, vegetarian food and the classic Italian dishes: pasta and pizza.
- Amigos bar, an ideal place to enjoy drinks such as beer or a good cappuccino, accompanied by pastries or cannolis.
- Ristorante Badia, a restaurant specialising in seafood, where you can enjoy pasta with seafood, tuna pizza and an incredible swordfish recipe.
Once this tour is over, you will be ready to go back to the hotel and rest, or pick up your bags for your return flight using a transfer service to Taormina airport.
Interesting details
- Price: generally, the value of this tour is from 79€ per person.
- Duration: 3 hours (approx.).
- Means of transport: on foot.
3. Tour of the historical centre of Taormina and its most important places

Getting to know Taormina is easier than other cities, because many of its main attractions are located in the historic centre. So if you plan to spend 1 day in Taormina you can take this tour, which passes through the heart of the city and visits iconic places such as the Corvaja Palace or the ancient Theatre.
The start of this tour is usually scheduled from the southern part of the city, at Porta Catania, one of Taormina's fortresses, built around 1440. Thus, the idea is to contemplate all the architectural features that make this a medieval city.
Other essential places chosen for this tour include:
- Taormina Cathedral, the main catholic place of worship in the city.
- Piazza IX Aprile, a historic square from where you can see the Gulf of Taormina in all its splendour.
- Corvaja Palace, a stone-built fortress representing the Arab influence in the region during the 9th century.
- Ancient Theatre, built in the 3rd century BC, which has served as a venue for artistic performances by the Greeks and as a wrestling arena for the Romans.
You will also see the Town Hall Building, the Church of Santa Caterina, the ancient Roman Naumachie Gymnasium, the Odeon, as well as the many pottery shops, markets, craft stalls, bars and cafes to experience the local gastronomy and have a drink.
Details of interest
- Price: the cost of this tour is usually around €10, as it is not an open-ended or self-paced tour, but one designed for small groups. Of course, you can do the tour on your own, but if you do it with a guide you will save time and it will be easier to choose where you want to go.
- Duration: 2 hours (approx.)
- Means of transport: on foot.
4. Boat tour along the coast of Taormina to the Bay of Giardini Naxos

Taormina is a cliff-side town bathed by the Ionian Sea, an arm of the Mediterranean. For this reason, it is possible to do various water activities in its surroundings. So I recommend this boat trip along the coast of Taormina to the bay of Giardini Naxos, which is always included among the best day trips from Taormina.
During this tour, which lasts about a couple of hours, you will be delighted by the breathtaking views of Taormina and Isola Bella from the sea and you will be accompanied by professional guides ready to help you in any way you need.
As you make your way along the coast, you will see:
- The cave of love and the blue cave, two famous caves in the bay of Isola Bella.
- The Hotel Capotaormina, a well-known hotel in town with a striking structure and architecture.
- The Grotta di Sant'Andrea, near the fishing village Baia delle Sirene.
- The Scoglio dell'elefante, a huge 20-metre high rock shaped like an elephant.
Afterwards, you will stop to enjoy the waters of the Mediterranean, so you can do various water activities such as swimming, snorkelling, photography and a different perspective of the city from the boat you are sailing on.
Interesting details
- Price: the price of the activity is approximately 50€ per person.
- Duration: 2 hours (approx.).
- Means of transport: boat.
5. Photographic tour of the most picturesque places of Taormina

If you are a content creator, a student or a lover of photography or simply want to capture the best images of your trip to Taormina, this experience is the ideal choice for you. It is a tour of the most charming places in the city, accompanied by a professional, who will teach you the basics of photography.
The tour usually starts somewhere along Corso Umberto, such as Porta Catania. From there you will start the process of visual creation, analysing the space, the shots, the colours, the use of light and much more, to capture professional quality images.
As you progress through the photo session, you will be able to contemplate and capture different locations, such as:
- Corso Umberto I, which is the main artery of the city and contains a vast amount of monuments, fortresses, statues, shops, restaurants and bars.
- Palazzo Corvaja, an ancient stone building that still retains some of the most noticeable traces of Moorish influence in its structure.
- Piazza IX Aprile, which functions as a sort of public terrace from where you can enjoy incredible panoramic views of the Gulf and the volcano Etna.
- Villa Comunale historical garden, to capture images of various exotic flowers, typical plants of the region and staircases.
As a final result of this activity, you will receive the photographic work done in high resolution, to share them on your social networks or in any way you wish, with your friends, family and acquaintances.
Details of interest
- Price: the experience usually has an average cost of €399 per person.
- Duration: 2 hours (approx.).
- Means of transport: on foot.
6. A ride on the Taormina funicular to admire the aerial views of the area and visit the Isola Bella beach

As an alternative way to get aerial views of Taormina, the bay and its surroundings, you can take a ride on the funicular railway of the city. This is one of the most popular means of transport in the area as it connects the upper and lower parts of the area.
The Taormina - Mazzaró cable car completes its journey in just 2 minutes and will connect you to Mazzaró, giving you access to the coast and the beach at your own pace.
If you want to sunbathe, admire the sunset, swim or just sit and watch the waves, you can do so once you arrive in Mazzaró and walk for about 10 minutes to the beach of Isola Bella.
Also, if you want to explore the town a little, there is no shortage of options to do so. For example, you can take a quick tour of the Regional Naturalistic Museum of Isola Bella You can also take advantage of your presence in the area to enjoy traditional snacks, food and drinks in the surrounding restaurants and bars.
Interesting details
- Price: the entrance ticket to the funicular costs approximately €3 per person.
- Duration: funicular ride 2 minutes and exploration of Mazzaró and Isola Bella beach 2 hours (approx.).
- Means of transport: funicular.
What will I see on this type of tour of Taormina?

On this type of Taormina tour you will see a wide variety of things. Initially, the tours focus on showing the beauty of the landscape, which is made up of panoramic views of the city and nearby areas, such as the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna.
You will also see a range of medieval buildings that were prominent in the corresponding period. You will see the influence of Arab culture in this region, which once belonged to the East.
On top of that, you will see and taste a variety of Sicilian and Italian dishes, including classic pastas and pizzas, along with more authentic preparations made with local produce, such as seafood and various types of fish.
Tips for a tour of Taormina

When making your trip to Taormina, there are a few things to keep in mind. For example, if you have travelled in your own or rented car, it is best to leave it in a car park, as this is a cliff-top city with a large number of pedestrian streets.
Since the best option is to move around on foot, it is recommended to wear closed shoes or, otherwise, to be very careful when walking, as the streets are cobbled and uneven and you might get hurt.
According to the season of the year in which you are going on the tour, you should select the right clothes to move around the city. For example, in summer you will need short , breathable, cotton clothes, as the weather is hot, dry and muggy. Winter, on the other hand, is windy and cloudy, so clothes should be sturdy and warm.