Taormina Boat Tour: Isola Bella & Prosecco Experience

Spend a morning on the boat, an afternoon in the streets of Taormina

La Dolce Vita is a combined boat and walking tour departing from Messina or Catania that takes you through Taormina's Corso Umberto I and out to Isola Bella, Mazzaro and Naxos bays by boat. The tour runs six to eight hours and includes private transportation, a boat ride with fruit and prosecco, and the option of lunch in either Taormina or Giardini Naxos. Live guides speak English and Italian. Boat berths are limited, so booking ahead is essential.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour and Taormina visit

• Boat tour in Naxos, Mazzaro, Isola Bella
• Walk through Taormina streets and shops
• Panoramic tour of Taormina and surroundings

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from Messina, Catania or Giardini Naxos in an air-conditioned minivan, then moves into Taormina itself. You walk through Corso Umberto I, the main street threading through the Sicilian town, passing shops, bars and pastry shops with views opening onto the coast. A panoramic tour of Taormina and the surrounding landscape follows before the group heads down to the water.

The boat tour covers three bays—Naxos, Mazzaro and Isola Bella—with fruit and prosecco served on board and bottled water available throughout. WiFi is available if you need it. The boat ride itself may be shared with other groups, though your transportation to and from the coast is private. This is where the name "La Dolce Vita" lands: time on the water, good food, and the kind of views that make the day feel unhurried.

Lunch happens in your choice of Taormina or Giardini Naxos, depending on which option you book. The whole outing runs between six and eight hours. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available on request. Because boat berths fill quickly, the operator asks you to book early.

What’s included

• Private minivan transportation from your chosen departure point.
• a panoramic tour of Taormina and the surrounding landscape.
• a boat tour of Naxos, Mazzaro and Isola Bella bays.
• fruit and prosecco on board.
• bottled water.
• WiFi on the boat.
• lunch in either Taormina or Giardini Naxos (depending on your option).
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Transfer Sicily Tours (Private Tours)

Is this one for you?Book from Messina or Catania if you want to skip the drive to Taormina yourself and have the day structured around the boat schedule—the minivan handles the route, the guide speaks English or Italian, and the timing keeps the water and the town both within reach of a single departure.

Top questions

What exactly is Isola Bella and what do you do when the boat gets there?

Isola Bella is a small island in the bay near Taormina, surrounded by the clear water of the Ionian Sea. The boat tour passes through the bays around it—Naxos, Mazzaro and Isola Bella itself—so you see the island and the coastline from the water, with prosecco and fruit served on board.

Can I book this tour if I'm traveling with a baby or toddler?

Yes. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available on the boat if you request them when you book.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the boat, or is transportation included?

Transportation is included. Pickup happens from Messina, Catania or Giardini Naxos in a private air-conditioned minivan, and the driver brings you back at the end of the day.

Is the boat ride private, or will there be other groups on board?

The boat ride may be shared with other groups, though your minivan transportation to and from the coast is private to your party.

What's included in the tour, and what costs extra?

The tour includes private minivan transportation, the boat ride, fruit and prosecco on board, bottled water and WiFi. Lunch in Taormina or Giardini Naxos is included depending on which option you select at checkout. Tips are not included.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs between six and eight hours from pickup to drop-off, covering the walk through Taormina, the panoramic views of the town and surroundings, and the boat tour of the three bays.