Godfather Tour Messina: Savoca, Taormina & Cannoli Tasting

The Godfather film locations are real places you walk through, not just scenes on a screen.

A private tour from Messina visiting the Godfather filming locations in Savoca and the hilltop town of Taormina, with two hours of free time to explore on your own. An English-speaking driver-guide picks you up at the ship and controls the pace. The tour ends with fresh Sicilian cannoli and almond wine at a pastry shop in Messina. Duration runs 5 to 6 hours. The ship departure is guaranteed or your money back.

Step-by-step itinerary

Godfather film sites and Sicilian tasting

• Visit Bar Vitelli in Savoca
• Tour Savoca village and S. Lucia church
• Free time in Taormina for sightseeing and shopping
• Admire Messina cathedral and astronomical clock
• Taste Sicilian cannoli at Messina pastry shop

The experience

You arrive at Messina port with a few hours before the ship sails, and a driver meets you at the gangway with no waiting. The van is air-conditioned and seats up to eight passengers comfortably, so there's room for luggage and no cramped minibus feel. Your guide speaks English and drives. You decide which stops matter and how long to stay at each one. That flexibility is the whole point: no fixed schedule, no rushing through a site because the group is ready to move.

The route starts in Savoca, a village in the hills where Coppola filmed scenes for The Godfather. You visit Bar Vitelli, the café where those scenes were shot, and the Church of S. Lucia, another location from the film. Then you drive to Taormina, a town perched on a mountainside with the Greek Theater, Palazzo Corvaja, and Piazza IX Aprile. You get two hours of free time there to walk the streets, eat street food, shop, or sit in a piazza. The guide is not narrating or herding. After Taormina, you head back toward Messina and stop at the cathedral to see the astronomical clock, the largest in Europe.

At the end, you stop at a pastry shop in Messina where a baker makes Sicilian cannoli to order while you watch, then you taste one with a glass of almond wine, a drink made from almonds that is typical to Sicily. The driver takes you back to the ship on time, or the tour is free. WiFi and bottled water are on board. The vehicle is private, so you are not grouped with other bookings.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned mini-van or minibus.
• English-speaking driver-guide who controls the pace with you.
• pickup at the ship and drop-off at the gangway on time.
• WiFi and bottled water on board.
• fresh Sicilian cannoli and almond wine at a pastry shop in Messina.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (4 to 96 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sicily Best Tour

Is this one for you?The pickup at your ship and guaranteed return on time mean you don't need a rental car or worry about missing the departure: ideal if you're arriving by cruise and have a few hours between docking and sailing.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can I visit the Godfather filming locations if I'm arriving by cruise ship in Messina?

Yes. The driver picks you up at the ship and drops you back at the gangway, so you don't need a car or taxi. The tour runs 5 to 6 hours, which fits inside most port calls. If the ship doesn't dock, you get your money back.

What exactly happens at Bar Vitelli in Savoca?

Bar Vitelli is the café where Coppola filmed scenes for The Godfather. You visit the actual location, see the interior where the scenes were shot, and can order a drink or pastry there if you want. It's a working café in a small village square, not a museum.

How much free time do I get in Taormina?

You have two hours to explore Taormina on your own. The town has the Greek Theater, Palazzo Corvaja, Piazza IX Aprile, and many shops and street food vendors. Your guide stays with the van, so you walk at your own pace and meet back at an agreed time.

Is the cannoli tasting included, or do I pay extra?

The cannoli and almond wine are included at the end of the tour in a pastry shop in Messina. The baker makes the cannoli fresh while you watch. Entrance fees to other sites, restaurants, and tips are not included in the tour price.

What's the Messina cathedral astronomical clock like?

The Messina cathedral holds the largest astronomical clock in Europe. You stop there on the drive back to the ship to see it. The guide explains what you're looking at from the van or during a brief stop outside.