Godfather tour Taormina with boat and arancino tasting

Walk the Godfather filming locations, then cruise the Taormina coastline and taste arancino at sea.

A private guided tour from Taormina combines a walking tour of Savoca—the medieval hill town where Coppola filmed The Godfather—with a boat tour of the Taormina coastline, Isola Bella and the Blue Grotto, plus a traditional arancino tasting. The guide explains the film's production and the real history of the Sicilian Mafia. Hotel or port pickup is included, and the full experience runs 5 to 8 hours depending on which departure point you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Godfather tour and boat experience

• Travel from Taormina to Savoca
• Visit Bar Vitelli and take photos
• See movie pictures and Coppola monument
• Enjoy panoramic Mediterranean view
• Walk to Santa Lucia church
• Explore Savoca streets and meet actors
• Have traditional Sicilian lunch
• Depart from Giardini Naxos Bay
• Boat tour of Taormina coastline
• Visit Isola Bella and Blue Grotto
• Admire Cave of Love and Prickly Pear Rock
• Taste traditional arancino on boat

The Experience

The day starts with a private car pickup from your hotel or port in Taormina or Catania, then heads inland to Savoca, an unspoilt medieval town that stood in for Corleone in the film. You'll visit Bar Vitelli, where scenes were shot, and pose with an authentic Sicilian shotgun called a Lupara; the bar keeps photographs from the movie and a mirror monument to Coppola. Walk to the Church of Santa Lucia, where Michael and Apollonia kneel in the doorway to marry—the actual location Coppola used. On a good day you might meet locals who appeared as extras, like the woman who played Apollonia's mother. The guide walks you through the fabulous streets and explains both the filming process and the real Sicilian Mafia structure, its rise and the anti-Mafia fight.

After the walking tour, you'll have a traditional lunch in a typical trattoria: cheeses from Etna, salami, ham, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, homemade bread, parmigiana, caponata, pasta alla norma, local wine and lemon sorbet for dessert. Then you descend to Giardini Naxos Bay for the boat tour—a shared boat, not private—that runs about 2 hours along the Taormina coastline. You'll pass Isola Bella, the Blue Grotto, the Cave of Love and the Rock of the Prickly Pear, with views of Mount Etna rising from the sea. During the boat tour you'll taste a traditional arancino al ragù, the Sicilian rice ball that appears throughout the region.

The entire outing is guided by a personal English-speaking driver who stays with you throughout, so navigation and timing are handled. Children from age 3 are welcome, and infants can travel in a pram or stroller. The boat portion is the only shared element; everything else—the car, the guide, the walking tour and the meals—is exclusive to your party.

What’s included

• Private car pickup from your Taormina hotel or Catania airport.
• personal English-speaking driver and guide for the entire day.
• walking tour of Savoca including Bar Vitelli and the Church of Santa Lucia.
• traditional lunch in a Savoca trattoria with cheeses, salami, pasta, local wine and lemon sorbet.
• boat tour of the Taormina coastline, Isola Bella and Blue Grotto.
• arancino al ragù tasting during the boat tour.
• explanation of The Godfather filming and Sicilian Mafia history.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Prestelli Sicily Tours

Is this one for you?Book from Taormina if you're staying in town or arriving by cruise; book from Catania if you're flying into the airport—the private car and guide get you to Savoca and the coastline, while the shared boat portion keeps costs down.

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Top questions

What exactly happens in Savoca during the Godfather tour?

Savoca is the medieval hill town where Coppola filmed The Godfather, and you'll visit Bar Vitelli, where scenes took place, see photographs from the movie and a Coppola monument, and walk to the Church of Santa Lucia where Michael and Apollonia marry in the film. The guide explains the filming process and the real Sicilian Mafia history as you walk the streets.

Is the boat tour private or shared with other travelers?

The boat tour is shared—you'll be on a boat with other guests—but the car, guide and walking tour in Savoca are private to your party only. The boat runs about 2 hours along the Taormina coastline, passing Isola Bella, the Blue Grotto and other landmarks.

What's included in the arancino tasting during the boat tour?

You'll taste a traditional arancino al ragù—a Sicilian rice ball—during the boat portion of the tour. The tasting is included as part of the experience.

Can I book this tour if I'm arriving at Catania airport instead of Taormina?

Yes, you can choose the Catania departure option at checkout. Hotel or port pickup is included from either Taormina or Catania, depending on which option you select.

How long does the whole tour take from start to finish?

The full experience runs between 5 and 8 hours, depending on your departure point and how the day unfolds. This includes the drive to Savoca, the walking tour, lunch, the boat tour and the arancino tasting.