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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Mount Etna night hike: Stars to sunrise, experienced hikersThis is a night hike on Mount Etna's north slope in Sicily, reserved for experienced hikers with high fitness. You start before dawn, walk under the stars guided by a French-speaking volcanologist, pass through a lava tunnel, and reach the summit craters at sunrise to see the Valle del Bove and active peaks. The hike takes about 6 hours and is limited to groups of 10 or available as a private outing.Is it for me?This hike is built for experienced hikers with strong fitness who want to see Mount Etna at the moment it reveals itself — the night walk and the early start are what put you at the summit at sunrise instead of hours later. If you hike regularly but have never done a volcano, or if you prefer daylight hiking, a standard daytime Etna tour is a better fit.
Trapani Salt Pans & Museum: Guided Tour with TastingYou walk the perimeter of working salt pans inside a protected nature reserve, collect salt crystals by hand, and learn how sea water transforms into the salt on your table. Then you tour a 1400s mill museum that tells the story of the families who've run these pans for generations, taste the reserve's own salt production, and have the option to dine overlooking the water. The whole day is paced for all fitness levels and fully wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?This tour is built for anyone who wants to understand where salt comes from without needing to arrange transport or navigate the reserve alone — the guide handles the history, the process, and the timing, leaving you free to walk, touch, and ask questions.
Palermo Street Food Tour: Taste Traditional Sicilian DishesA 3.5-hour walking food tour through Palermo's historic center where you taste traditional street food and Sicilian dishes at four stops, guided by a local foodie who shares the stories and insider knowledge behind each bite. The tour runs in English and Italian with small groups to keep the experience personal. Water and at least one alcoholic drink are included; by the end you will have eaten the equivalent of a full meal.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to eat the way Palermitans do, not the way tourists are told to. The small-group format and a local guide who knows the vendors means you're not following a script; you're tasting real food in real places and learning why each dish exists.
Palermo city tour in CruiserCar: Nine-seater cabriolet with guideA Palermo city tour in a nine-seater CruiserCar—the world's first open-air cabriolet designed for sightseeing—with a live guide (Cicerone) who speaks your language and stops at the Cathedral, Teatro Massimo, Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria and Mount Pellegrino. You choose between a short panoramic route through the Historical Center, the full Grand Tour covering the city's landmarks and Via Libertà, or a six-hour extension that adds Monreale Cathedral and the Catacombe dei Cappuccini. Pickup is included; the vehicle is wheelchair accessible and equipped with WiFi, bottled water, snacks and prosecco on board.Is it for me?Pick the Historical Center Panoramic for landmarks within the old city on foot; choose the Grand Tour to add modern avenues and Mount Pellegrino by car; select the Complete Grand Tour to include Monreale Cathedral mosaics and the Catacombe dei Cappuccini.
Taormina: Food & Wine Walking Tour with Sicilian TastingsYou’ll wander Taormina’s historic streets with a local guide, tasting Sicilian seafood paired with white wine, hearty landfood with reds, then pastries and liqueurs in a classic patisserie. Expect laughter over Prosecco, stories from real locals, and flavors you might dream about later — all included in your small group or private tour.
Sciacca: Pasta Cooking Class with Local Chef & WineYou’ll step into a real Sicilian kitchen in Sciacca, learn to make fresh pasta by hand with guidance from a local chef, sip homemade wine as you cook, and enjoy your own creations for lunch. Expect laughter, flour-dusted hands, stories about Sicilian food traditions — and leave with both new skills and your own box of pasta.
Palermo: Historic Center Photo Walk & Pro PhotoshootYou’ll wander Palermo’s historic center with a local photographer who knows all the best spots — no need to pose like a pro. From Teatro Massimo to La Cala harbor, you’ll get real photos that capture how the city feels (not just how it looks). It’s relaxed, sometimes funny, and you’ll go home with a gallery of moments you might’ve missed on your own.
Boat excursion along Cefalù coast: Swim and snorkel with aperitifA boat excursion along the Cefalù coast that takes you past the town's beaches and rocky formations, with two planned stops to swim and snorkel using provided masks. The tour visits Mazzaforno and Kalura, where the play of shadows on the rocky beach is the standout moment, and ends with a small aperitif of savory snacks and prosecco on board. A live Italian-speaking guide and captain lead the way.Is it for me?The boat moves at the captain's pace along the coast and stops twice for swimming, so this tour suits someone comfortable entering the water and spending two hours on a small vessel. The evening departure is shorter and timed around sunset if you prefer a lighter schedule.
Sicilian Cooking Class Palermo: Cook in a chef's homeYou cook four Sicilian dishes in a chef's private home, learning techniques and stories that don't appear in recipes. After cooking, you sit down and eat together with local wine, all included. The experience takes a few hours and happens in a real kitchen, not a tourist facility—which is what makes it feel like cooking at a friend's house instead of taking a class.Is it for me?Book this if you want to learn Sicilian cooking in a real home kitchen rather than a tourist facility, and you're comfortable with an unscripted, family-style pace where the chef teaches as you work and then you eat together—the informality is what makes it feel authentic instead of staged.
Palermo: Sicilian Cooking Class in Villa with Garden & City ViewsYou arrive at a villa overlooking Palermo, walk through the host's garden to see where ingredients come from, then make fresh tagliatelle and cannoli from family recipes passed down through generations. Lunch includes the pasta and cannoli you cooked, plus wine and Prosecco. You leave with the written recipes and the muscle memory of how to do it again.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to cook rather than just eat, and who care about where food comes from. The garden walk and family recipes turn this into something you'll actually use at home, not just a memory of a class.
Catania: Sicilian Cooking Class & Lunch or Dinner ExperienceYou’ll chop, stir, and laugh your way through classic Sicilian recipes in Catania with a local chef guiding every step. Taste what you’ve cooked over lunch or dinner with new friends and good Sicilian wine—the kind of meal that lingers long after you leave.
Sicilian Cooking Class in Taormina: Make Fresh Pasta by the SeaA four-hour Sicilian cooking class in Giardini Naxos where you prepare three traditional dishes—caponata, handmade pasta and fresh fish—with Chef Mimmo at a beachfront bistro, then sit down to lunch facing the Bay of Naxos. The class runs in English or Italian, welcomes children from age six, and includes wine tasting, all ingredients, apron, coffee break and a certificate of attendance.Is it for me?The four-hour block leaves your morning or afternoon free, so you can pair it with a beach visit or a walk through Taormina without the day fragmenting into pieces. If you want to cook and eat in one sitting without rushing between stops, this class holds the whole arc—prep, technique, table—in one place by the water.
Palermo: Food & Wine Tour with Pizza Demo in Historic KalsaYou’ll walk Palermo’s oldest streets tasting arancine, panelle, sfincione and caponata with local wine in hand. Watch a master pizzaiolo at work inside a centuries-old palace before trying your own slice. End with fresh cannoli at Bar Costa as you soak up Palermo’s everyday magic—expect laughter, real stories, and flavors you won’t forget soon.
Pizza & Cannoli Making in Taormina by the Sea: Learn from local family chefsA cooking class in Taormina where you make Sicilian pizza, cannoli, bruschetta and traditional Angel Wings sweets with two chefs, then dine on your creations overlooking the Mediterranean. The class runs 3.5 hours and includes a private transfer from central Taormina, all ingredients, an apron, and a glass of Limoncello; children from age 6 are welcome. English and Italian instruction available.Is it for me?Book this class if you want hands-on cooking with two chefs in one evening, not a lecture or a demo — you're kneading, frying and baking the whole time, then eating what you made facing the sea. It works for families with children from age 6 and for anyone who wants to learn Sicilian technique without a long time commitment.
Sunset Jeep Tour of Mount Etna and Lava Caves from CataniaA six-hour guided jeep tour of Mount Etna departing from Catania explores ancient lava flows, volcanic caves and the lunar landscape of Valle del Bove, ending with sunset views and local product tastings at high altitude. The tour includes transportation in a jeep or van, a multilingual guide, flashlight and helmet for cave exploration, and trekking shoes upon request. Pickup is from your chosen meeting point in Catania.Is it for me?The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and one more language, so you can follow the commentary in whichever language you're most comfortable with. The six-hour pace and high-altitude endpoint suit travelers who want to see Etna's volcanic landscape and sunset without a full-day commitment or technical climbing.
Snorkeling in Palermo: Sunset boat with aperitifA 2.5-hour boat tour from Palermo's Trapezoidal Pier sails to the Queen's Grotto for snorkeling with underwater scooters, masks and noodles, then anchors for an authentic Sicilian aperitif of sfincione, arancine, panelle, croquettes and espresso cannoli, plus Aperol Spritz for adults and Coke for children. The captain picks between Lady Grace (vintage, max 8 people) or Baloo (modern, max 18 people) based on your group size and weather. Vegan and gluten-free options available with 24 hours' notice.Is it for me?The tour departs from the Trapezoidal Pier at Marina Yachting in central Palermo, so you don't need a car or a second transfer—walk to the pier or take public transport nearby, and the boat handles the rest of the day. The captain picks the boat size and route based on your group and the weather, which means the timing and comfort are already decided for you instead of something you arrange.
Taormina: Sicilian Cooking Class & Lunch with Local ChefYou’ll start with coffee in central Taormina before learning to cook classic Sicilian dishes side-by-side with a local chef. Get your hands into fresh pasta dough, taste caponata as it sizzles, then share a lively lunch with regional wine. You’ll leave full — and probably grinning — with an apron and certificate as reminders.
Scuba diving Taormina: 2 dives in Isola Bella Marine ParkCertified scuba divers dive twice in the Isola Bella Marine Park off Taormina, Sicily, with a PADI 5-star dive resort based in Giardini-Naxos. The day runs six hours from the resort, includes all equipment, boat transfer, and a break between dives with fresh fruit and refreshments; a live guide narrates the area's Greek and Roman history during the boat ride and at the site. Children are welcome from age 10; snorkeling is available alongside diving.Is it for me?Spend your morning and early afternoon exploring Isola Bella Marine Park at different depths and times of day—two dives with all equipment and logistics handled, so you focus entirely on the underwater world.
Messina Private Tour: Taormina, Castelmola & Isola BellaA private guided tour departing from Messina cruise terminal visits Castelmola, a Norman and Baroque village perched above Taormina with views of Mount Etna; Taormina itself, reached on foot through shops and restaurants; a panoramic stop at Isola Bella; and returns via the Sanctuary of Christ the King and the Duomo cathedral, home to the largest astronomical clock in Europe. The itinerary is built around cruise ship timing, with a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French, private transportation, bottled water and air-conditioned vehicle included.Is it for me?Book this if you're docked in Messina and want to see hilltop Castelmola, walk through Taormina's streets, and visit the Sanctuary—a private vehicle lets you move between stops on your own schedule rather than waiting for a group to finish at each location.
Palermo: Cathedral, Teatro Massimo & Capo Market Food TourYou walk Palermo's historic center with an expert guide, starting at the Arab-Norman Cathedral and moving through Teatro Massimo, Quattro Canti, and the Fontana Pretoria. The tour includes entry to the Cathedral, a stop in Capo market with street food tasting, and visits to the Four Corners and Opera dei Pupi. Comfortable shoes and smart casual dress are essential; the tour takes 3+ hours and requires a minimum of 2 people per booking.Is it for me?This works well if you want to see Palermo's main monuments and taste its street food without arranging separate guides, entries, and timing—the fixed route covers the Cathedral, opera house, baroque squares, and market all in one morning, which is what makes it possible to move through the historic center and still have time to linger in the market.
