Palermo, Monreale & Cefalu Private Tour | Sicily Day Trip
Tour Overview
A private tour of western Sicily through Monreale, Palermo and Cefalù, the highlights of the Arab-Norman heritage of the island. One vehicle, one driver, pickup at your hotel or at the agreed meeting point.
Start at Monreale, where the Cathedral and its golden mosaics show the scale of Byzantine art. Continue to Palermo, the Sicilian capital, to see the Norman Palace with the Palatine Chapel, Palermo Cathedral and the lively street market of Ballarò.
End the day in Cefalù, walking through the medieval streets of the town and visiting the Norman Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take in the sea view and the timeless atmosphere of Cefalù.
This tour covers centuries of history, art and landscape in a single day, with the flexibility of a private vehicle.
Highlights
- UNESCO Arab-Norman heritage in one day
- Monreale Cathedral with its golden Byzantine mosaics
- Historic centre of Palermo with the Norman Palace
- Cefalù medieval old town and Norman Cathedral
Included Services
- Private transport PICK-UP / DROP-OFF
- Wifi
- Water
- Air conditioning
- Tasting of local pastries
Tour Highlights
- Monreale
- Palermo
- Cefalù
Tour Itinerary
Monreale
Monreale
Monreale is a short distance from Palermo. It was founded by the Normans in the 11th century. Legend has it that many of the monuments in the town were built after a vision of King William II.
He dreamt of the Virgin Mary showing him the place where a great treasure was buried, with which he was to build a temple dedicated to her. So the Cathedral was born. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Nuova, or Monreale Cathedral, is one of the finest medieval churches in the world.
Next to the cathedral stands the Monastery, where the monks lived. The columns of the cloister are exceptional, surrounding a garden enriched by a palm-shaped fountain. Another stop in Monreale is the Ciambra district, the oldest in town, right next to the Cathedral.
It is a small, lively area with shops and workshops, narrow alleys and colourful corners. To wind down the visit, head to the Belvedere Public Gardens, with views over Palermo, the hills, the citrus plain and the sea.
Palermo
Palermo
Capital of Sicily and crossroads of cultures and traditions, Palermo will win you over with its colours, scents and flavours. The city keeps the character and contradictions of the dominations that followed one another over the centuries and shows them with pride: its artistic and architectural heritage, its society, the wealth of its food and wine tradition known worldwide.
The soul of the city lives in this fusion of cultures.
Palermo is full of churches, monuments and works of art of priceless value, animated by lively working-class neighbourhoods next to grand noble buildings.
As a bonus: a mild climate in all seasons, a beautiful sea and an irresistible culinary tradition.
Cefalù
Cefalù
With its long beach, Cefalù is one of the favourite destinations for visitors in Sicily, with good reason. The historic centre, whose jewel is the Norman Cathedral, is great for walking among shops and cafés, taking in the cheerful atmosphere of the town.
From the moment you set foot in it, this small seaside town welcomes you with colours and sea scents, where time seems to stop among the narrow alleys of golden limestone, the tall towers of the Cathedral and the ruins of the fortresses that have made Cefalù famous.
Cefalù offers all the ingredients of a typical Sicilian holiday: sun, sea, food and culture.
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!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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...
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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!