The 5 best Boat Tours in the Naxos Gardens

Spend an evening on a boat, admiring the sunset setting over Ortigia Island.

During this excursion you will circumnavigate the island of Ortigia admiring the historical part of the island including the former Bourbon prison, Fort Vigliena, the Spanish walls, Maniace Castle, the Levante promenade, the Alfeo promenade, the Arethusa fountain and the immense Great Port of Syracuse.

On board you will have cool drinks, water, prosecco, white wine, red wine and will be served an aperitif of typical products to enjoy before your return.

You will, in addition, have the opportunity to make some bathroom stops to dive into the sea at sunset and enjoy a truly exciting experience.

Throughout the outing you will be accompanied by an experienced skipper who can provide detailed explanations of the places visited in Italian, English and Spanish.

We recommend appropriate clothing for the evening weather.

The Ortigia boat tour with aperitif is a unique experience of sailing around the historic island of Syracuse, accompanied by a delicious aperitif on board. You will have the option to decide to take one of the following 2 tours:

Cave Tour

The Ortigia Island and Sea Caves boat tour will take you to explore the natural and historical beauty of the island. Starting from the Umbertino Bridge, you will visit three natural Sea Caves. Along the Lungomare di Levante, you will see the Maniace Castle and the Arethusa Spring. You will also have the opportunity to take a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters before returning to the port.

You can choose the 1-hour excursion or the 2 1/2-hour excursion.

Sunset aperitif

The aperitif tour will have you admire the colors of the setting sun while enjoying an aperitif with a board of typical Sicilian dishes and PDO prosecco, making the experience even more magical.

Discover the beauty of Syracuse with an experienced skipper aboard the Oceanis 34 sailboat, which will take you around the most fascinating and historic places on the Sicilian coast.

Departing from Syracuse's Porto Piccolo at 09:15 or 14:00, you will visit Maniace Castle as you sail around the island of Ortigia. Afterwards, you will explore the northern and southern coast of Syracuse and Ortigia, listening to local legends and diving of the crystal clear waters. Return to the port is scheduled for 1:15 pm or 6:00 pm, depending on the time selected.

While sailing, you will be treated to an onboard aperitif of local products in oil, bread, cold meats, cheeses and fresh seasonal fruit, all accompanied by a local white wine.

The excursion is organized on a shared basis and lasts about 4 hours. Depending on weather conditions and the skipper's decisions, the stops may vary.

Maximum capacity: 8 people.

Discover the Island of Ortigia aboard a fully equipped boat in the company of friends and family, exploring its most fascinating caves and enjoying an aperitif along the coast.

Departing from Syracuse, the excursion includes three different itineraries with different durations from which you can choose. In each case, depending on weather conditions and the skipper's decisions, the stops may vary.

Island & Caves (1 hour)

By choosing this tour you will experience an intense hour of sailing. Starting from Ortigia's grand harbor, you will circle the island from the harbor to the cathedral facade and the Arethusa fountain. Along the north coast of Syracuse, you will explore sea caves such as the Grotta dei Cappuccini, Grotta del Corallo, and Grotta dell'Amore, before returning to the port.

Visit to the Caves (2 hours, with snorkeling)

The 2-hour excursion has a similar itinerary as the 1-hour tour but includes a 30-minute snorkeling stop along the coast of the island of Ortigia. In addition, you will be offered a snack of fresh fruit and prosecco during the cruise.

Sunset aperitif (2 hours, with snorkeling)

With the sunset tour you can visit the island's sea caves and enjoy Sicilian specialties freshly cooked and served directly on board. A snorkeling stop at sunset is also included to give you special photos and an unforgettable moment.

Maximum capacity: 12 people.

Set off to discover the caves along the coast of Ortigia Island guided by an experienced skipper who will be able to tell the history of the area.

This excursion will allow you to admire the Duomo, the church si Santa Lucia, Palazzo Veneziano, Ponte Umberto I, the small port, the former Bourbon prison, the Spanish walls, the Lungomare di Levante, Forte Vigliera, Castello Maniace, the Fonte Aretusa, the Lungomare Alfeo and the Porta Marina.

You will then continue with the exploration of the sea caves to admire coral stalactite and stalagmite formations.

Finally, you will make a stop to dive into these crystal clear waters.

Discover the beautiful island of Ortigia on board a boat shared with other participants, guided by a skipper with lunch served on board.

You will initially visit the northern side of Syracuse, made famous by the presence of sea caves and peculiar rocks resembling various animal shapes, and then move to the Plemmirio nature reserve with its renowned Pillirina Gulf.

You will then circumnavigate the island of Ortigia admiring its historical part that includes the former Bourbon prison, Fort Vigliena, the Spanish walls, Maniace Castle, the Levante waterfront, the Alfeo waterfront, the Arethusa fountain and the immense Great Port of Syracuse.

During the tour you will have cool drinks, water, prosecco, white wine and red wine. You will also be treated to a lunch that will include mixed appetizers and a first course or a second course cooked directly on board that can be homemade or seafood based at the staff's choice. All places visited are accompanied by an explanation by the staff, in Italian, English or Spanish.

In case of allergies to certain foods, early notice must be given.

In addition, several bathroom stops are provided to allow you to swim in these crystal clear waters.

If you are looking for a boat tour in Taormina, don't miss the opportunity of this boat tour to sail along the Sicilian coast and delve into all its most renowned bays and caves, such as the Blue Grotto and the Lovers' Grotto.

You will have a choice of two boat tour options in Taormina. In each case, the boat tour departs from Spisone Beach.

With aperitif (2 hours)

The excursion with aperitif will have you visit the Bay of Sirens, Scoglio dell'Elefante, Mazzarò Beach, Isola Bella and many other destinations, including the well-known Giardini Naxos. You will have the opportunity to take a dip in the waters of the bays and practice snorkeling.

During the boat tour you will be offered an aperitif on board with beer, wine, prosecco and drinks, accompanied by snacks and typical Sicilian products.

With tasting (3 hours)

The excursion with tasting includes the same itinerary as the excursion with aperitif, with a visit to the Taormina Caves and Giardini Naxos. In addition, the tour will be accompanied by a tasting of three different types of wine (prosecco, white wine and red wine), paired with a board of Sicilian cold cuts and cheeses.

Both boat tours are suitable for everyone, and you can decide to swim or relax on the beaches near the caves you will visit, so you can have a totally relaxing time.

Maximum capacity: 24 people.

If you would like to try snorkeling or are interested in discovering the marine flora and fauna of the Mediterranean, don't miss the opportunity to take an excursion along the coast of Taormina and the picturesque Isola Bella Nature Reserve.

Departing from Isola Bella beach, you will embark on an inflatable boat that will sail along the bays of Isola Bella, Grotta Azzurra and Capo Taormina. You will also have a choice of two different snorkeling tours.

Sea Baptism

If you are interested in diving the seabed like a real diver, this tour will provide you with an introductory course in the company of a certified instructor to make your "first bubbles" underwater, among the bays of Isola Bella. You will be guided to a maximum depth of 6 meters. You will be provided with full equipment to carry out the experience (wetsuit, fins, masks and snorkel).

Snorkeling tour

The classic snorkeling tour is suitable for all ages, and you will be provided with the full snorkeling equipment to carry out the experience safely (wetsuit, fins, masks, and snorkel). For this tour, light refreshments are provided on board during the break.

Gotevei an adrenaline-pumping snorkeling or diving experience from an inflatable boat in the beautiful setting of Taormina and the Mediterranean Sea.

Two inflatable boats with 10 seats each are available.

The sunset aperitif boat tour in Taormina lasts two hours and is a sunset aperitif tour, ideal for those who want to spend an evening on a boat enjoying the lights of the sunset.

During this boat tour the atmosphere is magical, as this is the dolphins' favorite time to show up and accompany you on this magnificent adventure.

Departure is between 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm depending on the season, at the port of Taormina, disembarkation is between 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm.

The excursion can be shared or exclusive. On board you will be served an aperitif of typical Sicilian products, while you can admire the sun setting behind Mount Etna.

Enjoy a romantic moment on the Taormina coast by visiting the most fascinating caves and Naxos Gardens in the company of your other half. With any luck, you may spot dolphins playing and chasing each other.

The boat tour departs from Spisone Beach the itinerary touches all the area's most renowned bays and caves, such as Grotta Azzurra, Grotta dell'Amore and Isola Bella. The navigation also touches on destinations such as Cape Taormina and Giardini Naxos.

The excursion takes about 2 hours and includes some bathroom stops during which you can dive into the crystal clear waters and snorkel with the equipment provided by the facility. You will also enjoy a delicious sunset aperitif with local products and views of Mount Etna.

The experience can be arranged on a shared or exclusive basis. Depending on weather conditions and the skipper's decisions, the stages may change.

Maximum capacity: 12 people.

The Taormina boat tour and aperitif includes a skipper who will accompany you to the most beautiful places telling you about the myths and legends that characterize this land, along the coast of Taormina and Naxos gardens.

We recommend that you bring your swimsuit, flip-flops, beach towel, lotion and a sun hat.

Short tour (group or private- 2 hours)

Shared or exclusive morning boat tour, ideal for admiring the first rays of the sun and enjoying the cool morning breeze, accompanied by an aperitif.

You can dive into the crystal-clear waters, play with the fish, and admire the beautiful view of Taormina. You will also have the opportunity to snorkel with equipment included on board, guided by professional skippers.

Wine tasting by boat (group - 3 hours)

Wine tasting and typical products by Boat in Taormina. You will take an atmospheric tour of the bays and caves of Taormina and Giardini Naxos, enjoying a selection of typical Sicilian wines and liqueurs accompanied by locally produced meats and cheeses.

Half Day (private - 4 hours)

You will spend half a day by boat along the coast of Taormina and Giardini Naxos with the possibility of swimming and snorkeling stops with equipment provided. A rich aperitif prepared by the captain with local appetizers, local wine, beer, prosecco, soft drinks and water is included. The itinerary is customizable.

The boats are fully equipped, and while sailing the skippers will tell you the history and anecdotes of the place. Don't miss this unique opportunity to visit the coast of Taormina in company!