About this tour
A 5–6 hour private drive from Messina combines two Sicilian highlights. Start in Taormina, the hillside town overlooking the Ionian Sea, where you'll walk the main pedestrian street past cafés and boutiques, visit the Ancient Theater with Etna as backdrop, and take in views from the Public Garden and central piazza. Then head to Isola Bella, a protected nature reserve linked to shore by a sandbar, where you can swim in clear water, laze on pebbles, or ramble through coastal vegetation.
Highlights
- Ancient Theater in Taormina with Mount Etna framed in views
- Corso Umberto I: cafés, shops, local atmosphere
- Public Garden and Piazza IX Aprile panoramic stops
- Isola Bella nature reserve and pebble beach
- Free time to swim or explore the island on foot
- Private transport with air conditioning and bottled water
What to expect
Your driver collects you from the Messina port and heads inland for 45 minutes to reach Taormina. You'll have time to wander the main drag—soaking in the architecture and café culture—then visit the Ancient Theater and Public Garden at your own pace. After exploring, you're driven down to Isola Bella, where you transition from history to nature. Spend your remaining hours on the beach or walking the scrubland paths; the water is cold year-round but clear. The sandbar crossing is easy on foot.
Good to know
Wear comfortable shoes for Taormina's cobbles and slopes. Bring swimwear and a towel if you plan to enter the water. The site is pushchair-friendly on main streets but uneven in places. Service animals welcome. Bring sun protection—exposure at altitude is intense.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.