We are traveling on the Celebrity Solstice in July stopping in Messina Sicily until 7 PM what tours, private car and area do you recommend to see. Traveling with 11 and 15 year olds.

Hi Cee - Most people on a Messina stopover head for Taormina. That's your best option IMO ...

Steve

As you get off the ship in the morning, taxi's, van's and limo's are lined up to take you to Taomina. We shared a van with a couple we met going down the gang plank, so that we could split the price of the ride. There is someone who speaks English and arranges the price for you. The driver takes you up to the gates of Taomina, and then says he will be back to that spot in 4 hours (or what time you decide). Once back in Messina he does a little tour of the city. Quite a nice day shopping and lunching in Taomina.

Something you might find interesting and different to do is a "Godfather Tour" They go to Savoca and Forza d'Agro. These are two of the town used in filming some of the Godfather movies. These towns are real Sicily. Some of these tours also include a stop in Taormina. Your ship might offer one as a shore excursion. There are also many companies in Messina that offer them where you can book ahead online. Forza d'Agro is a little gem. Your kids will love exploring the castle and you will love the views.

Thank you all for the info.

MBnancy what was the cost of the taxi?

TravMimi any of these companies that you can recommend to look on line?

ceeba: www.sicilylimousineservice.com is a good company. They offer lots of day tours and shore excursions. You can pick one of the tours they offer, and personalize it. Their Godfather tour is a good one. It's half a day, but you can add hours for extra cost if you want. You might want to add in a short visit to Taormina, but the view from Forza d'Agro is better IMO. I'm pretty sure your kids will like a Godfather tour better than a Taormina tour. They will certainly want to go in the catacombs of the Cappuccini convento in Savoca to see the mummies, and take pictures in the Bar Vitelli (they will know it from the Godfaher). Have a pizza at the fantastic Antichi Muri in Forza d'Agro, and explore the old castle and graveyard. Not many folks on shore excursions there get to see the real Sicily. It's like a day back in time. Your kids will have a lot to talk about when you get back to the ship. Like I said, there are lots of excursions to pick from. If you have the time you could even do a trip up Mt Etna instead.

TravMimi: Thank you, their tours sound good an reasonable. Have you used them before, are they reliable?

Ceeba: Yes I have used them before and they have been very good (request English speaking guide) . There are also many other tour companies online that offer day excursions, and like I said, your cruise ship probably offers this type of day tour (probably more expensive, but you might feel more comfortable about using them.) I do feel however, that I must tell you that these two wonderful hill towns are NOT like the usual tourist sanitized places such as Taormina. They are both perfectly safe, but very rustic - very real. No fancy shopping streets, but if you want to experience something different, this is it. The crypt of the Cappuccini is NOT for the squeamish, but kids are fascinated. There is a trapdoor and ladder to get to it. I mentioned all this to let people know there is much, much more to stopping in eastern Sicily than Taormina. You won't be overrun with tourist.