Private Messina tour: Savoca, Taormina & Isola Bella with driver

Five hours through Savoca's twelfth-century streets, Taormina's Greek theater, and the sea views of Isola Bella

A private tour from Messina Cruise Port through four Sicilian villages and coastal stops, led by an English-speaking driver in a Mercedes minivan. The itinerary covers Savoca (a twelfth-century village and Godfather filming location), Castelmola (450 meters above sea level with panoramic views), Taormina (with free time for the Greek theater and local food), and Isola Bella (accessible by 120 steps or viewable from a terrace). You set the return time to match your cruise departure, and the route adjusts to your preferences throughout the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Isola Bella20m
2. Messina Cruise Port5m

Private tour of Savoca, Taormina, and surroundings

• Walking tour in Savoca village
• Visit Vitelli bar and wedding church
• Walk through Forza d'Agro village streets
• Enjoy panoramic views at Forza d'Agro
• Free time exploring Taormina streets
• See Greek theater and municipal villa
• Visit or view Isola Bella
• Return to Messina cruise port

The experience

Five to seven hours gives you room to move through four stops without the pace of a packed group tour. You start at Messina Cruise Port and travel in a climate-controlled Mercedes minivan with an English-speaking Sicilian driver who narrates the history and film connections as you go. The first stop is Savoca, a twelfth-century village where scenes from The Godfather were filmed. You walk the old streets and see the Vitelli bar and the church where Mike and Apollonia's wedding took place. From there, Forza d'Agro sits 450 meters up (high enough that the views feel like flying), and it too appears in The Godfather, so the driver walks you through the fifteenth-century town and points out the film locations.

Taormina gets free time on its own. You wander the pedestrian streets, try the local food (limoncello, almond pastries, Sicilian cannoli are mentioned as musts), and have the option to visit the Greek theater or the municipal villa at your own pace. Then comes Isola Bella: you can either walk down about 120 steps to reach the island from the sea, or view it from a famous terrace between Taormina center and the waterfront. The choice is yours. The whole day is built around your ship's timetable. You decide when to head back to the port, and the driver gets you there on time.

The minivan includes air conditioning, WiFi on board, and bottled water. Because it's a private tour, only your group travels together, so the stops and pace stay entirely in your hands. The driver speaks English and knows every corner's story: the tour leans on that local knowledge rather than rushing through a standard itinerary.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a first-class Mercedes minivan.
• English-speaking Sicilian driver.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• WiFi on board.
• bottled water.
• tour customizable to your ship's timetable and your interests.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 10:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (70 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (1 to 12 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 15 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sicily tour excursions by Maretna 🌊🌋

Is this one for you?An English-speaking driver means the commentary and the stories come through clearly for anyone who speaks English, so you follow the history and the film connections without a language barrier. The private format and flexible timing make it ideal for cruise passengers who need to return by a set hour.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (1 to 12 years).

Can I change the stops or the order if I want to spend more time somewhere?

Yes. The tour is fully customizable based on your preferences, so you can adjust the schedule, add stops, or spend longer at any of the four villages. You tell the driver what matters to you, and the day reshapes around it.

What is Savoca, and why does it matter for The Godfather?

Savoca is a twelfth-century village in Sicily where Francis Ford Coppola filmed scenes from The Godfather. The Vitelli bar and the church where Mike and Apollonia's wedding takes place are both real locations in the village that you visit on foot during the tour.

How much free time do I get in Taormina?

The itinerary gives you free time in Taormina to explore the pedestrian streets, try local food, and optionally visit the Greek theater or the municipal villa. The exact length depends on how you pace the earlier stops and what you want to see.

Is Isola Bella accessible, or do I just view it from a distance?

You have two options: walk down about 120 steps to reach Isola Bella from the sea and spend time there, or view it from a famous panoramic terrace between Taormina center and the waterfront. Either way, you decide which suits you.

How does the return to the cruise port work if my ship leaves at a specific time?

You set the return time based on your ship's departure schedule when you book or discuss it with the driver during the day. The driver gets you back to Messina Cruise Port on time, so the entire tour fits inside your port call.