Things to do in Sicily
Day Trips from Palermo Sicily10 optionsBoat Trips Taormina Sicily42 optionsSicily Wine Tour10 optionsSicily Hiking Tour26 optionsSicily Sailing Tour8 optionsSicily Snorkeling Tour12 optionsNoto Walking Tour7 optionsFood Tour Sicily30 optionsMount Etna Hiking Tour5 optionsMuseums6 optionsSicily Walking Tour47 optionsSicily Airport Transfer10 options
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Palermo Street Food Tour Capo & Vucciria Markets Local GuideThis 3-hour street food tour of Palermo takes you through Capo and Vucciria markets with a local English-speaking guide, tasting 10 traditional Sicilian street foods including arancini, panelle, and the famous pani ca' meusa, plus three drinks and a seasonal dessert. Groups stay under 10 people, so you interact directly with the guide and vendors instead of moving as a crowd. The tour starts at Teatro Massimo and works through the backstreets where locals eat, not the tourist-trap storefronts—and it runs rain or shine.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste multiple street foods across two markets in one morning without backtracking—the guide leads a set route through Capo and Vucciria rather than letting you choose stops.
Palermo Street Food Tour: Small Group with Local GuideA three-hour walking food tour through Palermo's historic center led by a local food expert who explains the history and technique behind each dish. You'll taste five Sicilian street-food staples—panino ca' meusa, panelle and crocchè, sfincione, arancina, cannoli and granita—across at least four stops, finishing with the equivalent of a full meal. The guide speaks English and Italian; small groups only, so the pace stays unhurried and questions get answered.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to eat the way Palermitans do rather than the way tourists are told to—small groups mean your guide has time to answer questions and adjust the pace, and the route moves through the historic center on foot so you see the city between stops instead of just the food.
Etna: Morning Trek, Lava Cave & Valle del Bove with PickupYou’ll hike volcanic trails on Mount Etna with a local guide, taste wild berries along old lava flows, explore an underground lava cave by torchlight, and look out over Valle del Bove’s vast slopes. Includes hotel pickup from Catania and all gear—just bring your curiosity (and maybe an extra layer).
Mt. Etna & Taormina: Volcano Trek, Lava Cave & Village ExplorationYou get a guided walk or cable-car option on Mount Etna's lava fields, a helmet-and-lamp cave visit with local product tasting, then free afternoon time in Taormina to explore the Greek Theatre, medieval squares, and coastal views. Transport from Catania and a multilingual guide are included throughout.Is it for me?Right for families and mixed-fitness groups who want both the volcano and the village without arranging separate transport or timing — the full day structure is what fits both into one departure from Catania. Plan for an active morning on Etna (walking or cable car, your choice) and a slower afternoon wandering Taormina's streets and monuments.
Boat tour Egadi Islands from Trapani: Favignana and LevanzoA full-day boat tour from Trapani to the Egadi Islands—Favignana and Levanzo—with a small group of up to 12 people, a live guide in English or Italian, and multiple swimming and snorkeling stops at named coves and sea caves. The boat departs at 10 a.m. and returns around 6 p.m., with snorkeling equipment, wine, water and lunch included; children are welcome from age one.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to swim and snorkel at multiple named coves and caves in one day without arranging the boat, the stops or the equipment yourself—the small group size and fixed schedule mean you move between islands on time and anchor long enough to actually explore the water instead of rushing between photo stops.
Palermo: Anti-Mafia Walking Tour & Capo Market StoriesYou’ll walk Palermo’s tangled streets with a local guide who isn’t afraid to talk straight about Cosa Nostra and anti-mafia heroes. Listen to stories at Capo Market, see faces on giant murals, taste gelato from mafia-free shops, and stand before grand cathedrals where history still lingers. It’s not always comfortable — but it feels honest.
Palermo Pizza & Gelato Cooking Class: Make & TasteA 3-hour hands-on cooking class in Palermo where you make authentic pizza from scratch—kneading and stretching the dough, adding toppings, baking it yourself—then learn gelato-making secrets during a chef-led demonstration and taste the result. The class includes fresh ingredients, an apron, utensils, digital recipes, a graduation certificate, and a meal of your handmade pizza and gelato with wine or soft drinks. Vegetarian options available with advance notice; not suitable for celiac guests. A family option with up to 50% off for kids and teens is available.Is it for me?Book this class if you want to cook rather than watch a demonstration, or if you're traveling with kids and want an activity where everyone makes something together at a lower cost with the family option.
Favignana & Levanzo Islands: Boat Tour from Trapani with SnorkelingYou board a modern boat in Trapani and spend the day anchored at four coves across Favignana and Levanzo, swimming and snorkeling with gear provided. Drinks and snacks come with the ticket. You get roughly 40 minutes at each stop, time enough to explore underwater or climb out and sit on the rocks. The boat returns to Trapani in the late afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see multiple Egadi Islands coves in one day without renting a private boat or figuring out ferry schedules — the fixed itinerary and small group size mean you spend more time in the water and less time organizing.
Palermo Food Tour: 10+ Tastings in Markets & StreetsA 3.5-hour food tour of Palermo led by a local guide through the city's historic markets and streets, with 10+ tastings including arancini, cannoli, pasta alla Norma, sfincione and local wine. You walk the maze of Vucciria and Ballarò markets, taste dishes most visitors miss, and learn how centuries of cultural influence shaped Sicilian food. The itinerary and menu shift based on what's available that day and any dietary needs you mention in advance.Is it for me?Book the morning departure if you want to move through the markets when they're most alive and vendors are actively selling; choose the afternoon-evening option if you prefer a later start and want to eat through the day's second wind. Either way, the walking is steady and the tastings are frequent, so you're eating as you go rather than standing in one place — it suits anyone who wants to move through the city and taste as locals do, not sit at a table.
Taormina Castelmola tour: Villages & Mount Etna viewsA guided tour from Messina visits two villages: Castelmola, perched at 550 meters above sea level with views of Mount Etna, and Taormina, Sicily's most popular destination, where you walk Corso Umberto and see the Cathedral, Piazza IX Aprile and Santa Caterina Church. A professional guide leads the group through both towns over six hours, with transport by air-conditioned bus and live commentary included; you can choose a private tour, a small group (8–16 people) or a shared group departure.Is it for me?Choose the private tour if you want the guide and the route to yourself, or the small group option if you prefer company but a capped size; the shared group works if you're flexible about group size and want the lowest price. The six-hour span means you see both villages without the day feeling rushed, but you'll be on your feet walking Corso Umberto and the squares, so a moderate level of fitness helps.
Ortigia & Sea Caves Sicily: Boat Tour with SwimmingYou get a guided boat tour around Ortigia island, passing Castello Maniace, the Duomo, and historic waterfront landmarks, then venture into sea caves to see stalactites, coral, and dramatic rock formations lit by filtered light. The tour includes a swimming stop in clear water before returning. The route adjusts for weather, but the main sights and swim are standard.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Ortigia's landmarks and sea caves without arranging a rental car or piecing together multiple stops — the boat does the navigation and timing, leaving you free to just look and swim.
Sicilian Cooking Class in Taormina: Market to Sea View KitchenA four-hour cooking class in Taormina where you visit a local market, then prepare three traditional Sicilian dishes—an appetizer, fresh fish main, and six handmade pasta shapes—with Chef Mimmo at a seaside restaurant in nearby Giardini Naxos. The class includes wine and cheese tasting, lunch, transfer from the market, and a certificate of participation; children from age 6 are welcome, and the guide speaks English and Italian.Is it for me?Start at a local market to touch the ingredients you'll cook, then prepare and eat your own dishes at a table overlooking the bay—the whole arc from discovery to table is what makes Sicilian cooking stick.
Palermo Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class: Learn Italian RecipesA small-group cooking class in Palermo where you learn to prepare fresh pasta fettuccine and ravioli, then tiramisu, with step-by-step instruction from a guide in English. The class runs three hours and includes a welcome glass of Prosecco, wine with your meal, and lunch or dinner at the restaurant table where you sit down together after cooking. The operator notes that traditional recipes contain gluten, dairy and eggs, and while substitutes are available for allergies and dietary preferences, the instruction focuses on the classic method and cross-contamination cannot be guaranteed.Is it for me?The class asks you to stand and work for three hours in a kitchen, so it suits people who are comfortable on their feet and ready to get hands-on with flour and eggs. If you have a severe gluten, dairy or egg allergy, the shared kitchen and traditional focus of the instruction mean you should confirm with the operator first that the substitutes will work for your needs.
Trapani Salt Pans Tour: 3 Reserves & Salt Museum TastingYou walk three working salt pans near Trapani with a local guide, learn 2,600 years of salt history inside a 600-year-old mill, taste raw salt crystals and delicate salt flower in four flavors, and walk the path of the saltman through the brine tanks themselves. Hotel pickup, air-conditioned minivan, and museum entry are included; the whole experience takes around four hours.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand how salt is actually made and taste the difference between types—the guide's expertise and the working landscape make it clear why Trapani salt has a reputation, and you avoid the confusion of trying to navigate the reserve alone.
Palermo: Palazzo Conte Federico Private Palace TourYou enter a medieval palace still inhabited by its original family, who personally guide you through the noble floor and Arab-Norman tower. The tour is small and unhurried, with direct access to architectural details and stories only residents would know. Booking through Viator guarantees your spot in advance, which matters because the family limits numbers to keep the experience genuine.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see inside a real palazzo rather than a restored museum, and if you prefer a small, intimate tour led by people who actually live in the building rather than a standard guide script.
Egadi Islands Boat Tour: Favignana & Levanzo from TrapaniYou board a small boat in Trapani and spend the day island-hopping between Favignana and Levanzo, swimming and snorkeling at five named coves with water so clear you see the seabed. Lunch is on your own in Favignana village; drinks, snorkeling gear and a local white wine are included. Groups stay under twelve, and the full day on the water means you're back in Trapani by evening.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in or near Trapani who want a full day on the water without arranging transport, picking coves or managing a group—the fixed route and small-group format handle all three. Plan for a full day out, which is what lets you hit five different coves and two islands without rushing.
Mount Etna volcano trek from Taormina: Craters and lava cavesThis six-hour small-group tour from Taormina takes you onto Mount Etna to walk through craters, explore a lava cave, and learn the volcano's eruption history with an expert guide. Hotel pickups in the Taormina area are included, as are a helmet, flashlight, and free rental of hiking boots and jackets. A snack with wine and dessert finishes the day. The guide speaks English or Italian, and the group stays small enough that you're not one of dozens.Is it for me?Choose this small-group tour if you want a guide who can answer questions and adjust the pace to match your group; book a private option instead if your party prefers to set your own rhythm without sharing the route with others.
Mount Etna 3000m: Cable Car, 4x4 & Crater Trek SicilyYou ride the cable car and 4x4 to 2850 meters, then trek four hours across volcanic terrain to Barbagallo crater at 3000 meters, passing extinct craters, the 2002 lava channel, and viewpoints of the Summit Craters and Valle del Bove. Your guide handles the route and safety; the operator provides helmet, jacket, shoes and socks. The descent retraces the volcanic sand channels by foot and cable car.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to stand on an active volcano without arranging transport, guides or gear — the operator handles the logistics and safety so you focus on the altitude and the view. The four-hour pace and moderate fitness requirement mean you'll feel the climb, but the cable car and vehicle do the hardest vertical work.
Egadi Islands Small Group Boat Tour from Trapani: Hidden Coves & CavesYou’ll sail from Trapani with a small group to Favignana & Levanzo, swimming in surreal blue coves like Cala Azzurra and exploring sea caves only reachable by boat. Snack on fresh fruit and local cheese with prosecco as your guide shares stories about island life. Expect laughter, salt on your skin, and a few moments that’ll stick with you long after you’re home.
Palermo Pub Crawl: 5 Bars, Free Shots & Local NightlifeYou arrive at Finch Lounge by 21:30, get your wristband, and meet the group. Over the next few hours you hit five local bars within walking distance, collecting one free shot at each stop and drink discounts with your band. The pace is flexible — 30 minutes to an hour per venue depending on the vibe — and the whole point is meeting locals and other travelers in bars with live music or DJs. You're back in the city by late night, not exhausted, just full of new people's names and numbers.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to meet people in Palermo's nightlife without planning the route or paying full price at each bar — the wristband and free shots are what make the social part work, and the fixed start point is what gets the group moving together instead of scattered.
