Mount Etna and Taormina tour: Craters, wine, Greek Theatre

Walk the craters of an active volcano, then wander a Greek theatre and a Sicilian hilltop town

This guided tour from your cruise port combines Mount Etna's volcanic landscape with Taormina's archaeological and architectural highlights in a single day. You're picked up at the shore, driven to 2,000 meters elevation to walk the Silvestri craters and see lava flows from 2001–2003, visit a local family farm for wine and honey tasting, then descend through pine forest to explore Taormina's Greek Theatre, Corso Umberto's shops and churches, and eat at a Sicilian restaurant your driver recommends. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours and includes all transport, bottled water, and return to your ship.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mount Etna and Taormina tour

• Pick up from port shore
• Drive to Mount Etna
• Walk to Silvestri craters
• Visit local family farm
• Taste Etna wine and honey
• Drive down through pine forest
• Visit Taormina highlights
• See Greek Theatre
• Stroll Corso Umberto street
• Enjoy local Sicilian meal

The experience

The day starts at your cruise port with pickup in an air-conditioned minivan. The drive takes you inland and upward to Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano. As you climb, the vegetation shifts. You'll notice the change as the landscape opens up. At 2,000 meters, you leave the van and walk together to the Silvestri craters, which sit among the newest lava flows and craters from 2001 and 2003. The volcanic terrain is stark and immediate: black rock, ash fields, and the sense of standing on ground that moved within living memory.

On the descent, you stop at a local family farm where you taste Etna wine alongside a selection of honeys (orange, lemon, eucalyptus, strawberry) along with almond pastries, olives, and extra virgin olive oil. This is not a tourist shop but a working farm, and the tasting happens in that context. The drive down passes through a pine forest before reaching Taormina, where the landscape opens to the coast. Your driver points out where to eat, and you have time to walk the Greek Theatre (the second-largest in Sicily), stroll Corso Umberto with its art galleries, designer shops, Baroque churches, and Renaissance palazzi. The return to port is included.

What’s included

• Round-trip private transfer from your cruise port.
• transport in an air-conditioned minivan.
• guided walk to the Silvestri craters and 2001–2003 lava flows at 2,000 meters.
• wine, honey, almond pastries, olives and olive oil tasting at a local family farm.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• drop-off back at your ship.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Autoservizi Sicily Tours di C. Egitto

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a driver who speaks your language throughout (essential for learning Etna's geology and Taormina's history), and you're comfortable with a moderate walk on volcanic terrain at altitude.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

46 verified traveler reviews

5 ★45

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly is the walk on Mount Etna like at 2,000 meters?

The walk takes you among the Silvestri craters and the lava flows and craters that formed in 2001 and 2003. The terrain is volcanic (black rock and ash), and the elevation is high enough that the vegetation has thinned noticeably. A moderate level of physical fitness is needed for the walk and the altitude.

Is lunch included, or do I pay separately in Taormina?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. Your driver recommends local Sicilian restaurants in Taormina where you can eat, and you choose where and what to order. The farm tasting (wine, honey, pastries, olives, oil) happens earlier in the day on Mount Etna.

How much time do I have to explore Taormina?

The tour is 7 to 8 hours total, and Taormina is the final stop before return to port. Your driver points out the Greek Theatre, Corso Umberto, and the churches and palazzi, and you have time to walk and look around, though the exact duration depends on how the morning on Etna unfolds.

Does the driver speak English?

The tour is guided by your driver, who provides commentary throughout the day. Confirm the language when you book, as the driver's fluency in English or another language is important for understanding the volcano, the farm, and Taormina's history.

What should I wear for the walk on the volcano?

Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes with good grip for the volcanic terrain and the altitude. Bring a light layer. It is cooler at 2,000 meters even in warm months. Sunscreen and a hat are essential, as there is little shade on the crater walks.

Will we stop anywhere else besides Etna and Taormina?

The main stops are the Silvestri craters on Mount Etna, the family farm for wine and honey tasting, and Taormina's Greek Theatre and town center. The drive down from Etna passes through a pine forest, but that is part of the route rather than a separate stop.