Taormina, Isola Bella & Castelmola Tour from Messina | Private
Tour Overview
Discover the highlights of the eastern Sicilian coast in a private day tour that combines panoramic views, history and clear water. The tour starts in Messina and takes you to some of the most iconic places on the island. The first stop is Taormina, famous for its elegant streets, boutiques and panoramic sea views. You have free time to walk through the historic centre and take in the atmosphere of one of Sicily's most loved destinations. We continue to Castelmola, the village perched above Taormina, with one of the widest panoramic views on the island. There you can relax, walk and take photos. The day continues with a stop at Isola Bella, a small island in turquoise water, perfect for a break in nature. During the tour you will hear local tips and authentic recommendations, experiencing Sicily in a genuine and stress-free way.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Complete itinerary in a single day
- Balance of nature, culture and downtime
- Free time to explore on your own
- Iconic viewpoints and unique photo spots
Included Services
- Private transport PICK-UP / DROP-OFF
- Wifi
- Water
- Air conditioning
- Visit to Taormina with free time
- Panoramic stop at Castelmola
- Stop at Isola Bella
- Assistance throughout the experience
- Local tips on restaurants, shopping and authentic places
Tour Highlights
Messina
Cathedral of Messina, Catalans Church (Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani), Christ the King Sanctuary
Taormina
Corso Umberto, Piazza IX Aprile, Cathedral of Taormina, Greek-Roman Theatre, Villa Comunale gardens
Castelmola
Piazza Sant'Antonio, the Ancient Roman Arch, the Auditorium, Castello di Mola, San Giorgio Church, Cathedral of San Nicola
Isola Bella
Tour Itinerary
Messina
The Cathedral of Messina has always been the symbol of the city, a constant reference point for its people, rebuilt every time after the various destructions over the centuries.
On the left of the facade stands the monumental Bell Tower, over 60 metres high, with the largest astronomical and astrological clock in the world. At twelve strikes at noon, the clock sets in motion all the mechanical figures to background music.
A worthwhile stop during any visit to the city.
Another religious building worth visiting is the Catalans Church (Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani), an example of late Byzantine architecture mixed with later styles. The progressive rising of the city after earthquakes and reconstructions has left the church about three metres below today's street level.
The last stop in Messina is the Christ the King Sanctuary, with one of the best views over the Strait of Messina and the Calabrian coast across the water.
Taormina
Taormina is a hill town close to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, with hiking trails that reach the summit.
The town is known for the Greek-Roman Theatre, still used today for live performances. Just below the theatre, the cliffs drop down to the sea and form small bays with sandy beaches.
A narrow strip of sand connects Taormina to the small Isola Bella, a protected nature reserve.
The town mixes history and landscape in a way that has attracted poets, writers and international celebrities for over a century.
Castelmola
Castelmola is a small village a few minutes above Taormina, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Known for its ceramics, the village combines history, art and architecture. It is a natural terrace built around the ruins of a Norman castle, with views over the Ionian coast on both sides.
An alternative spot to visit in Castelmola is Bar Turrisi, famous for its unusual interior design.
Before leaving, do not skip the local sugar-coated almonds and prickly pears.
Isola Bella
Isola Bella is a small island at the foot of Taormina. A protected nature reserve surrounded by clear water, reachable on foot via a thin strip of sand at low tide.
More Info
Over 400 satisfied customers have used our service, departing from Messina Cruise Port to explore Sicily.
We had a great experience with this transfer company between Messina and Taormina. Our guide, Ghozale, was absolutely lovely, and our driver was professional and accommodating. The...
We had a great experience with this transfer company between Messina and Taormina. Our guide, Ghozale, was absolutely lovely, and our driver was professional and accommodating. They made all the stops we requested, and the price was fair. We were initially expecting a Mercedes minibus, but another comfortable vehicle was provided instead, which was fine for us. Everything went smoothly, and we highly recommend this company!
If you are looking for transfers across Sicily for great prices and luxury - look no further! We were a group of 12 and had Daniele drive us around who was amazing! Thank you SO mu...
If you are looking for transfers across Sicily for great prices and luxury - look no further! We were a group of 12 and had Daniele drive us around who was amazing! Thank you SO much xxx
We had a lovely day visiting Taormina and Isola beach and Antonio was great and made it all very smooth. The whole experience was so easy to organise with Daniele. I would recommen...
We had a lovely day visiting Taormina and Isola beach and Antonio was great and made it all very smooth. The whole experience was so easy to organise with Daniele. I would recommend this company for anyone visiting Messina on a cruise
We had the BEST experience in Sicily with Giovanni. He had an I credible day planned for us in Taormina. We had great views for photos, found the best shops, ate an amazing lunch, ...
We had the BEST experience in Sicily with Giovanni. He had an I credible day planned for us in Taormina. We had great views for photos, found the best shops, ate an amazing lunch, and swam in the most perfect cove. We can’t wait to come back to see Giovanni and Daniele!
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We visited Sicily on a cruise and decided at the last minute that we wanted a private tour instead of taking the cruise excursion. After comparing several companies, we chos...
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We visited Sicily on a cruise and decided at the last minute that we wanted a private tour instead of taking the cruise excursion. After comparing several companies, we chose Private Transfer Sicily because Valentina responded almost immediately and offered a very reasonable price - actually lower than several other companies we contacted. The excellent price definitely did not mean lower quality.
Everything was exactly as promised. Antonio met us right outside the cruise port, and from the moment we started the tour, we knew we had made the right choice. Antonio is a proud Sicilian who genuinely loves his homeland. Although he doesn’t speak much English, he used a translation app throughout the day to introduce the history, culture, and local traditions. He even volunteered to take photos for our family at every scenic stop.
One of the biggest highlights was Castelmola, a beautiful medieval village that large tour buses simply can’t access. Without Antonio’s recommendation, we probably would have missed one of the most charming places in Sicily. The itinerary also included spectacular viewpoints over Isola Bella and plenty of time to explore Taormina at our own pace.
We had a wonderful day and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. If you’re visiting Sicily on a cruise and are looking for a reliable, reasonably priced private tour, we highly recommend Private Transfer Sicily. We wouldn’t hesitate to book with them again the next time we’re in Sicily!
We literally just got back to our cruise ship after spending the day in Taormina, and I had to jump on here to recommend our driver before I forgot.
If your cruise stops in Messin...
We literally just got back to our cruise ship after spending the day in Taormina, and I had to jump on here to recommend our driver before I forgot.
If your cruise stops in Messina, do yourself a favour and book with Daniele from Private Transfer & Tour Sicily.
We skipped the cruise ship excursion and couldn't be happier that we did. It was much less expensive, we had way more time to explore Taormina, and never felt like we were being rushed. We had time to enjoy amazing pizza, paninis, cappuccinos, pastries, shopping, and just soak in the atmosphere.
On the way back to the ship, Daniele even fit in a quick stop in Messina, which was a great bonus.
He was friendly, professional, on time, and genuinely went above and beyond to make sure we had a fantastic day. We were back at the ship with lots of time to spare, so there was never any stress.
If you're looking for a private transfer or tour in Sicily, I would HIGHLY recommend him.
Thanks again, Daniele! You made our day in Sicily one of the highlights of our Mediterranean cruise. 🇮🇹
We wanted to find a driver in Messina simply to get around for the day while our cruise was in port, but it ended up being one of the absolute highlights of our trip.
We found Pri...
We wanted to find a driver in Messina simply to get around for the day while our cruise was in port, but it ended up being one of the absolute highlights of our trip.
We found Private Transfer Sicily, and from the very beginning the experience was excellent. They were responsive, communicative, and made the booking and deposit process completely transparent and easy.
When we arrived in Messina, Daniele met us right at the cruise ship, and from the moment we left the port, we knew we were in great hands. He is an excellent driver—safe, professional, and incredibly engaging. Throughout the day he shared fascinating insights about Sicily, its history, traditions, and everyday life, making every mile enjoyable.
His recommendations were outstanding. We mentioned that we wanted to try granita, and he immediately made it our first stop. We highly recommend the traditional breakfast of coffee granita and brioche, especially on a hot Sicilian morning. Daniele then took us to beautiful Tindari, even making an extra effort to get us all the way to the hilltop. He recommended a wonderful local restaurant nearby for an authentic lunch before continuing to Oliveri, where we relaxed with a beer at a beach club overlooking the sea. Before returning to the ship, he even stopped at a shopping center with a grocery store so we could pick up a couple of bottles of Mount Etna wine to bring home.
What really set Daniele apart was his genuine hospitality and his passion for sharing the real Sicily rather than just the typical tourist stops. Every recommendation felt personal, authentic, and thoughtfully chosen.
By the end of the day, we weren't just impressed with the places we had visited—we had completely fallen in love with Sicily. Daniele's recommendations, warmth, and local knowledge inspired us to return for a much longer stay, and we'll absolutely be reaching out to him when we do. We can't recommend Private Transfer Sicily highly enough. If you're lucky enough to have Daniele as your driver, you're in for a truly memorable day.
Julia picked us up at the cruise terminal and made sure we were safe, comfortable, and on-time. She helped us with a lunch reservation, and was willing to be flexible with what we ...
Julia picked us up at the cruise terminal and made sure we were safe, comfortable, and on-time. She helped us with a lunch reservation, and was willing to be flexible with what we did. We had a wonderful day and were very happy with this car service. Thank you Julia and Daniele!
Daniel gave our group of 18 an absolute dream of a day! He met us right at the cruise port and whisked us away to the most stunning, iconic views. He even tracked down a lunch spo...
Daniel gave our group of 18 an absolute dream of a day! He met us right at the cruise port and whisked us away to the most stunning, iconic views. He even tracked down a lunch spot with an epic view that blew us all away!
The 20-person shuttle was pristine and comfortably air-conditioned, keeping our older family members cool and happy all day. Daniel accommodated every single one of our needs with a smile. Our entire group was thrilled with his service—highly, highly recommend!
The tour was Amazing!
Very interesting tour to Taormina, Castel Mola, Messina. Very pleasant guide Daniele. A very good glimpse of the sicilian way of living!!
Thank you for your kindness!
Toooop!!
It was a memorable experience!
Impeccable service with courtesy and attentiveness. Daniel was perfect with his thoughtful touches and helped make our wedding joyful and harmonious....
It was a memorable experience!
Impeccable service with courtesy and attentiveness. Daniel was perfect with his thoughtful touches and helped make our wedding joyful and harmonious.
Thank you so much! 🤩
Our transfer from the port to Taormina was on time and smooth. Giulia, our driver, was AMAZING! She spoke fluent English and was very engaging. Great recommendations for food and s...
Our transfer from the port to Taormina was on time and smooth. Giulia, our driver, was AMAZING! She spoke fluent English and was very engaging. Great recommendations for food and sightseeing. The van was clean and stocked with much needed water… I would highly recommend!
Daniele made our cruise stop visit to Sicily a fabulous one. From the initial contact with the company to the final drop off back at our ship nothing could be better. Extremely f...
Daniele made our cruise stop visit to Sicily a fabulous one. From the initial contact with the company to the final drop off back at our ship nothing could be better. Extremely fast and clear communication via WhatsApp, payment method for the deposit was easy. Pickup instructions were clear.
Daniele was waiting for us at our port gate in Messina. He drove us to Taormina , pointing out so many things along the drive. We stopped at a couple of view points before reaching Taormina. Once there, he dropped and picked us up and a very convenient location. A short drive up to another village then down to the beach for lunch at a restaurant he suggested. Food and view was great.
Daniele’s driving was excellent. We felt safe. Car was a Mercedes Van. Comfortable and roomy.
I read other reviews and did a booking based on them. The reviews were accurate. We highly recommend using Private Transfer Sicily.
A couple years ago friends had booked Daniele’s team when visiting the Port of Messina. From the stories we heard, we were so excited to be visiting Messina ourselves for a second...
A couple years ago friends had booked Daniele’s team when visiting the Port of Messina. From the stories we heard, we were so excited to be visiting Messina ourselves for a second opportunity to see this gorgeous area. We were on a cruise so had no flexibility in our schedule therefore I booked Private Transfer & Tour about 9 months prior to our port day to make I got on their calendar. The communication was excellent from the start and remained so up until our pick up at the ship.
Ilina was our guide, Antonio our driver. The six of us were perfectly comfortable in the extended van provided for our tour. We hit beautiful viewpoints they Taormina. Spent a couple hours shopping in Taormina and then headed up Castlemola which was amazing. Enjoyed some Sicilian almond wine in a fun bar and a delicious cannoli.
Next stop was lunch in Taormina at a beautiful beachside restaurant with superb food. Heavenly. Never feeling rushed, we enjoyed a relaxing lunch looking at Isola Bella and the sea. To end our day we went to Messina for highlights there as well. Our group had some special requests along the way which Ilina and Antonio were happy to oblige.
We highly recommend Private Transfer & Tour Sicily. It was an incredible day.
We had the best experience with Giovanni.. he was very caring and took care of my family during our trip to Sicily from the cruise… I would recommend this company to any of my frie...
We had the best experience with Giovanni.. he was very caring and took care of my family during our trip to Sicily from the cruise… I would recommend this company to any of my friends or family visiting Sicily in the future
I had no idea how to get to Taormina and decided on getting a private transfer. The owner was very quick to respond and I was able to secure a ride right away. Antonio was amazing....
I had no idea how to get to Taormina and decided on getting a private transfer. The owner was very quick to respond and I was able to secure a ride right away. Antonio was amazing...waiting for us already when we got out of the ship... drive is safely to and from Taormina and even treated us you Cannoli before dropping us off at the Port... highly recommend this company for their promt and efficient service. Thank you!