Top Sicily Lunch

The best way to connect with any local culture is through food, and nowhere is this more true than Sicily. With this cooking class, shop for ingredients at the market in Taormina like a local before learning how to prepare a variety of traditional Sicilian dishes with Chef Massimo in his restaurant kitchen. Enjoy the fruits of our labors over lunch afterwards, served with two local wines.

Master three different traditional pasta recipes during this private cooking workshop in Messina. Head to the home of a local cook for a culinary immersion. Put your cooking skills to the test at your own workstation with ingredients and tools. Then, taste your home-cooked creations, paired with red and white local wines.

Sicily is home to a unique cuisine, different from mainland Italy and often hard to access without the knowledge of a local. With this Sicilian cooking class, enjoy an exclusive glimpse into Palermo’s culinary traditions by exploring one of the city’s oldest markets with a local and then preparing classic dishes at a family-run cooking school. Make four courses and sample what you’ve created during a celebratory meal.

Learn the art of Italian cooking directly from a local during this small-group experience. Join your host in their home and discover the art of pasta-making as you learn to roll 'Foglia' by hand and create two delectable pasta dishes from scratch. Then, see if you can master the art of making the tiramisu. Immerse yourself in the Italian culinary scene, make new friends, and savor the flavors of Italy with this hands-on cooking adventure.

Marvel over the geological wonders of Mount Etna, then visit the elegant resort town of Taormina on this action-packed full-day tour from Catania. Soak up the dramatic scenery of Europe’s highest active volcano as you visit the hilltop resort of Refugio Sapienza; As an alternative to trekking, you can catch the cable car to the 9,514-foot (2,900-meter) peak of Mount Etna (optional) and explore a natural lava cave. After exploring the lava cave, have a delicious tasting of the local products such as honey, oil and wine. On the way to Taormina, you will stop and see the beautiful "Isola Bella” from above. Then spend the afternoon enjoying your free time in Taormina, among medieval churches, ancient Greek theater, and lively shopping district.

Explore Europe's highest active volcano with this Jeep tour on Mount Etna. Join a nature guide and head up to about 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) to discover lava flows and extinct craters, plus take in the views over the Caldera del Valle del Bove. Then don a helmet and headlamp and venture into a lava tube to better to learn how lava flows are formed and cool.

While your ship is in Messina, see more of Sicily on a half-day trip to Taormina. Take a guided tour of this historical city, including a stroll along Corso Umberto, once an ancient Roman street, and a visit to the Greco-Roman Theater. Plus, sample Sicilian delicacies, admire views of Mt. Etna and Giardini-Naxos bay from Castelmola, and on return to Messina, check out this ancient port’s highlights. Port and Taormina pickup and drop-off included.

Explore Mount Etna during the most dazzling time of day with this sunset Jeep tour. Set off in the afternoon to take in the Valle del Bove and lunar landscapes of the lava and ash fields on the slopes of Europe’s highest active volcano. Discover side craters and extinguished lava flows, don a helmet and headlamp to venture into a lava tube, and admire the bird's-eye view at sunset.

Mount Etna is one of the most striking natural features in Sicily, and with this tour, you can experience both its beauty and geology. Set off from Catania, stopping at an organic farm on the mountain slopes to sample honey, wine, olive oil, and other specialties. Afterward, continue up to the Valle del Bove.

See the stunning Aeolian Archipelago on this day trip to the islands of Vulcano and Lipari from Taormina. Take a motorboat across the turquoise waters to the UNESCO-listed chain of volcanic islands. Enjoy free time to explore, cooling off with a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea or checking out the Lipari Archaeological Museum for a bit of island history. Your day concludes with transportation back to Taormina.

Discover the Aeolian Archipelago on this day trip to the islands of Stromboli and Panarea from Taormina. Journey to each island by motorboat, exploring the local shops at your leisure or taking a cool dip in the sea. Afterward, cruise around Stromboli to see the island’s volcano. Keep your eyes peeled for the crater of Sciara del Fuoco, known to light up the sky with its jet-like eruptions. After a full day of touring the UNESCO-listed islands, return to Taormina.

Finding the best cannoli bakeries—pasticcerie—in Taormina can be a fun challenge, but it can also turn into fruitless trips between neighborhoods. With this tour, take the guesswork out and let a chef help you prepare cannoli from scratch, using traditional recipes starting with the crusty shell and ending with sweet ricotta cream. When you’re done, taste your creations and receive a “cannoli expert” certificate.

Beat the heat and the crowds with a morning tour of Mount Etna. Cover more ground by exploring on board a sturdy Jeep, views over the lunar landscapes in the Valle del Bove, and the flora and fauna of the thick woods blanketing the lower slopes. Cap off your tour with a tasting of local specialties including honey, wine, and liqueurs.

Make pizza like a pro during a cooking class in Taormina. Under the expert tuition of a local ‘pizzaiolo,’ you’ll make a versatile dough from scratch and top it with a fresh sauce. Hear tips, learn about the ingredients, then sit down to savor your hard-earned Sicilian feast. Bruschetta, wine, and soft drinks are also included.

Explore Mount Etna, the world's most active stratovolcano, on this small-group hiking tour from Catania. Moderate hike through Mount Etna's moon-like landscape in the Valley del Bove depression, including a lava tube exploration, and the Silvestri craters.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Catania and discover the great Mount Etna on this full-day excursion. Alongside a private guide, head to the southern slope of the volcano and explore the lava flows and craters. Then, head to Taormina for a guided tour of the city center and free time to explore. End your day in the medieval village of Castelmola and stop to taste the special almond wine.

Observe dolphins in the Gulf of Catania safely and sustainably with this low-impact tour. Set off with a crew of specialized skippers and marine biologists to learn about the local dolphin population and watch them frolicking in the open waters off Sicily. This tour abides by the international agreement for the conservation of cetaceans and is certified as eco-friendly, so you’ll get close enough to snap photos without disturbing the animals.

Our skipper will guide you to discover the Egadi Islands, following the wind’s breath. Live a unique experience between secret caves, inaccessible bays and uncountable shades of blue.. Left the mooring and hoisted the sail, your sailing experience can begin. The private boat sails to Favignana with stops at Cala Azzurra, Bue marino, Cala Rossa, Favignana City. The navigation continues to Levanzo, where stops at the most famous bays of the Island as Cala Fredda and Cala Minnola. During the stops you can swim and use the snorkeling equipment available on board. The private sail boat provides every comfort to spend a daily tour in total relax.

Taste your way through the bustling markets and piazzas of Catania on a mouth-watering, half-day culinary tour. Visit fish markets, bakeries, bars and stalls to sample the best Sicilian street food with a local guide. Try regional specialties like ‘arancini’ (stuffed fried rice balls), fizzy drinks, ‘cipollata’ (bacon-wrapped onions), ‘zibibbio’ wine and decadent cannoli. Learn what makes Sicilian cuisine unique from the rest of Italy while discovering some of Catania’s cultural treasures.

Travel into the scenic countryside with this wine tour in western Sicily. The itinerary can be customized according to your interests, with both a half-day or full-day option. Visit vineyards and wineries to taste some of the region’s best-known wines, including Marsala or Grillo. Hotel pick-up is included.

Spend an evening immersed in Sicilian cuisine and culture on this 2.5-hour walking tour of Taormina. Led by a local guide, travel to the city’s top spots to sample fresh fish, bruschetta, sweet Sicilian cakes, and other regional specialties. Complement your dishes with a glass of Prosecco, red and white wine, and Italian liqueur. As you walk and taste, learn more about the city's culinary history from your guide.

Indulge your love of food and wine on this all-day tour of the Etna countryside. After a convenient hotel pickup, learn about the region’s history and culture from a local guide as you cruise through scenic Sicilian villages. Stop at a family-run winery, a picturesque farmhouse with delicious food, and a pastry bar. Enjoy wine tastings and samples of local cheeses, salumi, and pastas included in the tour price.

Book it for Tomorrow and Explore Europe’s largest active volcano this day trip to Mt Etna from Taormina. Relax with transportation to the base station of Rifugio Sapienza and then take off through the foothills for some time to spend hiking at your leisure. Alternatively, upgrade your ticket for a trip up to the upper craters and a guided walking tour through the volcanic craters. Soak up scenic views from the UNESCO-listed spot before concluding with transportation back to Taormina.