Sicily · ISOLA BELLA BOAT TOURS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 isola bella boat tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Set out from Giardini Naxos on a two-hour Sicilian boat ride with an English or Italian-speaking skipper. See Taormina’s bays, the Blue Grotto, Isola Bella, and the marine reserve, with time to swim and snorkel. Guides such as Nunzio, Dario, and Delphino are known for lively commentary.
“We enjoyed very much, our guide was very nice and friendly and the tour was very stunning”
Set out from Pontile Pizzichella with an Italian- and English-speaking captain, often Francesco, Antonio, or another member of the team. Cruise past sea caves and Capo Taormina, swim near Isola Bella, see the Blue Grotto and Mazzarò Bay, and enjoy snacks with a welcome drink.
“35 4 minimum 18 176 total This was definitely a fantastic, memorable experience for our entire family. We were 10 people and much to our surprise we had the privilege of a private tour. Francesco was super funny and had great tunes to jam out on. The captain certainly makes a difference in your experience. He was interactive with our young adult kids, took pics and joked around a lot. An unforgettable experience for sure. Thank you”
Set out from Giardini Naxos with Kristal Boat for a relaxed two-hour cruise along Taormina’s coast. Expect sea caves, Mazzarò, Isola Bella views, a swimming stop, English commentary, Prosecco, and almond pastries. Some departures are led by guides such as Kevin, Andrei, Francesco, or Gianluca.
“We had so much fun on the Kristal! The captain knew a lot about the area and very skillfully drove our boat into grottoes and caves. We opted to snorkel and had a blast seeing the fish and swimming in the sea. We would definitely recommend this experience to others!”
From Marina di Schisò, you’ll ride an air-conditioned semi-submarine past Giardini Naxos, Isola Bella, the Bay of Sirens, and the Blue Grotto. Large underwater windows reveal fish and sea grass, while the upper deck gives you open-water views. Guides speak Italian and English.
“Great activity! The submarine had plenty of windows so we could all see the fish outside. The hatch up to the top stays open so you can go up and down as you please. Up top has railings and room for people to stand, the views over the water were stunning. Very very happy with this activity, amazing for the price!”
Set out from Giardini Naxos with guides such as Peppe, Alessandro, Angelo, or Antonio for a 2.5-hour boat trip along Taormina’s coast. You’ll receive snorkeling gear, a safety briefing, time at Isola Bella and another bay, plus views of Etna, caves, fish, sponges, and coral.
“So much fun! Would totally recommend to any group or solo person. The boat was nice and they had water and snacks.”
Set out from Giardini Naxos on a shared boat for a 2-hour run past Capotaormina, Isola Bella, the Blue Grotto, Mazzarò, and the Bay of Sirene. Swim in the marine park, hear stories from your skipper, and enjoy prosecco, soft drinks, and almond sweets.
“Cracking morning out on the boat!! Really informative, and fun. Prosecco on the way back was a lovely touch. No toilets onboard though”
Travel from Messina port to Taormina with a guide, walk Corso Umberto and the Greek-Roman Theatre, then cruise past Isola Bella, Giardini Naxos, and coastal caves. The boat may include a swim stop, but it does not normally land on Isola Bella. Guides may include Claudia, Roberto, Sara, or Andrea.
“Loved our guide and the tour to Taormina BUT the boat ride could've been a lot nicer if the boat captain wanted to put some effort into the boat tour! Weather conditions were perfect even our tour guide mentioned how it's going to be great due to low winds and how the waters not choppy! So going into the blue grotto and other caves should've been doable....we drove by and that was it! In addition instead of maneuvering the boat to tie down by Isola Bella the island that were supposed to visit he oped to just drop anchor in open water by the train station.....the water had tons of…”
Set out from Giardini Naxos with a skipper such as Giuseppe, Pepe, or Phillip, depending on the boat and crew. In about two hours, you’ll see Isola Bella, Taormina’s Faraglioni, Love Grotto, Blue Grotto, Mazzarò Bay, and San Nicola Bay, with a swim, prosecco, fruit, and Sicilian treats.
“We loved our boat excursion with Giuseppe! He was knowledgeable and quite fun!! The music was great. The prosecco and fruit were perfect and the sights were beautiful beyond words! I highly recommend this excursion.”
Paddle about 7 km from Giardini Naxos with an English or Italian instructor to Isola Bella, the Blue Grotto, Grotta degli Innamorati, and Fico Rock. You’ll stop to swim, hear coastal stories, and return by kayak. Small groups are limited to 10 people.
“Great way to tour for the active, with nice friendly staff and Davide was a great tour guide! Had an amazing time, completed something off my bucket list! You see all the locations up close that you can’t see on a boat and they gave us a traditional Sicilian sweet treat at the end. Would definitely recommend this activity😊”
Start near Catania Cathedral and ride by van to Isola Bella, Taormina, and Castelmola. You get free time for swimming, sightseeing, and views, plus multilingual audio commentary. Bring beachwear, water shoes, and sturdy shoes, since the route includes a long stairway to the beach.
“Ao ruínas do teatro são magníficas. A vista é maravilhosa. Passear por Taor6é simplesmente mágico.”
Start at Sea Spirit Diving Resort at UNAHOTEL Naxos Beach, where instructors including Julien, Cilla, Chrissy, and Swan prepare you for two guided underwater sessions at Isola Bella Marine Park. The day includes transport, equipment, snacks, drinks, Sicilian wine, and a small group capped at eight people.
“The crew was very nice and professional - perfest for first doving experience. Isolla bella is a beautifull location that brought a lot of great memories”
Join a skipper and crew for a two-hour boat trip from Giardini Naxos to Isola Bella. You’ll see Taormina, Castelmola, Capo Taormina, the Faraglioni, and Mount Etna, then spend about an hour snorkeling, swimming, or relaxing on the solarium.
Join an English or Italian guide, including captain Tinauro on some departures, for a two-hour cruise from Giardini Naxos. Visit Lover’s Cave, Isola Bella, the Blue Grotto, and quiet bays, with time to swim, snorkel, watch for dolphins, and enjoy a Sicilian aperitif.
“Un moment inoubliable avec un capitaine au top — attentionné, drôle et vraiment génial avec les enfants 👏 Pause baignade, explications avec références cinéma, apéro fruits frais et prosecco … tout simplement parfait Une expérience à ne pas manquer pour découvrir Taormine autrement !”
Join Captain Nino or another La Rosa Dei Venti skipper for a two-hour boat trip from Giardini Naxos along Taormina’s coast. You’ll see Isola Bella, enter the Blue Grotto, stop for about 40 minutes of swimming, and enjoy prosecco. The small boat holds no more than 15 people.
“My wife and I were watching the boats from the beach on day one of our Sicily trip. We’re like, “We should get out there.” We were thinking that it would be super expensive, but Captain Nino’s excision is the perfect balance of chill and efficient. This excursion allowed us the perfect getaway from Taormina. Quick taxi down to Giardini Naxos pier, he’ll call/message you so you can hop on the boat, and see all the sights that you need to see. My wife and I floated in the water because the salt water makes you so buoyant. Chill, awesome time.”
Travel from Messina port or your hotel to Taormina for 2.5 hours on Corso Umberto, then spend 2 hours at Isola Bella. Drivers such as Gianfranco, Santino, and Marcia tailor the day, but this is mainly private transport rather than a fully guided tour.
“First, this is not a guided tour— it’s only transportation! We booked private transportation for our group of 10. The driver dropped us off at Corso Umberto, a town in Taormina. Spent the morning shopping and walking around, admiring the view. Then he came back to pick us up and drove us to Isola Bella Beach where we had lunch and spent the afternoon swimming. And then he returned to drive us back to the cruise port. The driver knew enough basic English to communicate. But the convenience of having private transportation was great!”
Pick a coast, a volcano or a kitchen.
