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.
Excellent service, friendliness, and transportation for visiting Messina and Taormina. Don't hesitate to contact Daniel. They treated us fantastically 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
Extraordinary
Highly recommended
I would highly recommend this company. They were on time and friendly. The driver made a wonderful lunch reservation for us. On the ride back to our cruise ship my husband left his...
I would highly recommend this company. They were on time and friendly. The driver made a wonderful lunch reservation for us. On the ride back to our cruise ship my husband left his phone in the car. When they were contacted about the phone they immediately responded and were on their way to the ship which was leaving soon. We were able to get back the phone just in time. Their service and efforts were amazing! If I am in Sicily again I would definitely use them.
Service was excellent. We had multiple drivers for a number of desitinations and all were wonderful! Taormina for the morning, Spiaggia di Isola Bella for lunch, La Plage Resort B...
Service was excellent. We had multiple drivers for a number of desitinations and all were wonderful! Taormina for the morning, Spiaggia di Isola Bella for lunch, La Plage Resort Beach Club for the afternoon, then back to the cruis ship. We left a cell phone in the car and Daniele went out of his way to get it back to the ship before it left port - exceptional indeed!
Exceptional service!!!!!!!
Very nice trip!
Daniel took us to see some beautiful places, took amazing photos of us, treated us to the best cannoli, and we had a wonderful day as a family, enjoying ourselves at our own pace.
Exceptional driver and guide. Very friendly, kind, and knowledgeable about every corner of the island. Highly recommended! Thank you, Danielle.
The best part of the tour was Daniel, a polite person who knows everything and speaks Spanish. He was truly a find. I congratulate the company for sending Daniel.
With pleasure, and Daniele has been spectacular! Very kind and professional!
The trip to Taormina was very relaxing and comfortable with Giulietta.. she was very caring and flexible and was able to accommodate all our requests.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely phenomenal experience from start to finish! Private Transfer Sicily did a fantastic job putting together a super memorable day for our group of 8 (4 adults and 4 ...
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely phenomenal experience from start to finish! Private Transfer Sicily did a fantastic job putting together a super memorable day for our group of 8 (4 adults and 4 boys, ages 5–10). Daniela was a lifesaver, replying instantly to my last-minute request for a Messina tour and making the whole planning process easy. Our driver, Giovanni, was the absolute best—friendly, kind, knowledgeable, and totally catered to our group. He drove us in a comfortable, air conditioned van along the gorgeous Messina coast, then got us to the cathedral just in time for the 12 PM animated clock show, which the kids loved!Afterward, he took us to Taormina and dropped us right at Isola Bella so the boys could swim. He even recommended a beautiful restaurant with a spectacular view and amazing food. We wrapped up the day with shopping and gelato in the main square before Giovanni dropped us right in front of our ship in time for our 6:30 PM boarding time. Absolutely book them for a stress-free, amazing tour in Sicily! Huge thanks to Daniela and Giovanni!
Brilliant experience
The best day of the holiday. Daniele is amazing. He was great with my mum who has limited mobility and a great day. I'll definitely book with him again when I come back. La Sicilia...
The best day of the holiday. Daniele is amazing. He was great with my mum who has limited mobility and a great day. I'll definitely book with him again when I come back. La Sicilia è molto bella!
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!