The 15 Best Boat Tours in Sicily

1.Panarea and Stromboli Boat Trip by Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,605 reviews · 10 hours · from $89Our pick

From Milazzo, take a 10-hour boat trip to Panarea and Stromboli, with free time on both islands and an evening view of Stromboli’s volcanic activity from the sea. The Italian-language tour includes the Aeolian Islands entrance tax. Food and drinks are not included, and you cannot bring them aboard.

“The boat was on the crowded side, but there was plenty of ventilation and the staff was vigilantly instructing guests to keep their masks in place. Time on each island and after dark to watch Stromboli do her stuff was just right. Unfortunately, only a little bit of eruption action to see, but that’s just how it goes sometimes.”

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2.Boat Tour Egadi Day discover Favignana and Levanzo from Trapani

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,183 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $139Top rated

From Trapani, a boat carrying no more than 12 people visits swimming and snorkelling spots around Favignana and Levanzo, with two hours of free time in Favignana village. Expect onboard commentary, snorkel equipment, water, soft drinks and wine. Captains vary; past outings have been led by Alessio, Mauro, Christian and Nico.

“Great trip, Alessio was a great boat tour guide and the trip allowed us to see parts we might not have been able to just using the ferries”

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3.Boat Trip of Ortigia Island and Sea Caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 937 reviews · from $23Best value

Circle Ortigia’s coast with a skipper who points out its bridges, monuments and sea caves, then take a swim stop if conditions allow. This one-hour trip enters Syracuse’s big and small harbors and the canal beside the island. Guides including Otto, Ninni and Davide have led outings in English and Italian.

“Our guide was extremely welcoming and fun. He provided a ton of information on the city and let us jump in and swim. Highly recommend, absolutely loved it.”

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4.Boat Tour with Captain Mirko, Snorkeling & Caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 746 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $35

In 90 minutes, Captain Mirko and his crew take you around Ortigia, past Maniace Castle and the Aretusa Fountain, then along Syracuse’s northern coast to sea caves and a cove for a swim. Snorkeling masks and fresh water are included. Commentary is offered in English and Italian, though the crew may vary.

“Informative, friendly & relaxed boat trip. Took in some beautiful sights along the way & there’s an opportunity for a sea dip.”

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5.Favignana and Levanzo, Egadi islands tour by boat from Trapani

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 720 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $114

Spend about eight hours cruising the Egadi Islands with a captain and no more than 12 people aboard. The route pairs Favignana’s coves and old tuff quarries with a stop in its port town, then continues to Levanzo for more swimming and coastal views. Snorkel gear, snacks, soft drinks, and selected alcoholic drinks are included. Captains vary, with names such as Vito, Francesco, and Tony among those who have led trips.

“We loved our tour, and despite being very worried about the heat and sun we were very comfortable. The coastline is beautiful and the boat is lovely. Our guide was fantastic. It was an extremely hot day so the stop in Favignana for lunch wasn’t particularly pleasant - nowhere to cool off and not many great food options, so we would have preferred a quicker stop there rather than the couple of hours we had.”

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6.Boat Tour with Aperitif on Isola Bella

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 647 reviews

From Giardini Naxos, take a two-hour boat trip past Taormina’s bays and sea caves, including the Blue Grotto, with time to swim near Isola Bella. Your skipper shares local sights as you cruise, then serves fruit, almond paste, and drinks. Bring your own mask and snorkel if you want to look underwater.

“Very good value for money. Get to see Naxos and Taormina from the coast. Very beautiful. We were also lucky and saw many dolphins on our tour. Would recommend but especially if short on tome and want to see the full beauty of this Ionian coast”

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7.Ortigia Boat Tour with Marine Grotto

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 617 reviews · from $45

See Ortigia’s waterfront, Arethusa Spring, Maniace Castle, and coastal caves on a two-hour boat trip from Siracusa. The route includes time to swim and snorkel, plus seasonal fruit and prosecco or juice. Guides such as Salvo, Stephen, and Giovanni have led trips in Italian, English, and Spanish.

“Wonderful day out - highlight of our trip to Sicily. We were lucky to find Ortiga and fell in love with the town. We booked the boat tour and were happy with our 10-15 minute swim in the crystal clear Mediterranean - prosecco and fruit provided on the way back to town and the views were spectacular. My boys aged 8 and 11 adored the captain who had limited English but was fun! We highly recommended this trip to everyone who would listen when we returned back to our family and friends. Only thing I wish was that finding the correct place to go to find the boat was a…”

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8.Boat tour to Egadi Favignana and Levanzo islands from Trapani

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 614 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $102

Set out from Trapani at 9:45 am for an eight-hour boat tour of Favignana and Levanzo. Expect several swimming and snorkeling stops, a one-hour break in Favignana town for lunch at your own cost, and a small group capped at 12. Stefania and Marco are among the hosts named by past customers, but the crew may vary.

“Great swimming at a couple of coves. Loved the lunch stop off. Slightly rough water, jellyfish and cloudy conditions limited swims in the afternoon which was a shame but Marco kept the drink and food flowing to fill the time. Brilliant day out with a good and competent skipper/host!”

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9.Isola Bella, Blue Grotto, & Mazzarò Bay Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 568 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Sail from Giardini Naxos past Taormina’s sea caves and the Faraglioni, with a swim stop near Isola Bella and photo stops at the Blue Grotto and Mazzarò Bay. The two-hour trip includes snacks and a welcome drink. Guides such as Francesco and Antonio have earned warm praise, but the crew can vary.

“Small group, comfortable boat, helpful guide. Saw lots of stunning places around Comino as described, and plenty of stops for snorkeling and swimming along the way.”

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10.Boat tour Giardini Naxos Taormina Isola Bella Blue Grotto

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 541 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $48

Set out from Giardini Naxos on a roughly two-hour group cruise along Taormina’s coast. Your crew points out Isola Bella, Mazzarò and the coves, with a chance to swim and, when conditions allow, approach sea caves. Prosecco and Sicilian almond sweets add a light treat. English-speaking guides have included Kevin, Andrei, Francesco and 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!”

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11.Sunset Boat Tour with Dolphin Watching & Aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 454 reviews · from $118

Set out from Giardini Naxos aboard the Blue Diamond for a small-group sunset cruise along Taormina’s coast. Graziella and Captain Saro guide you past sea caves, bays, and Isola Bella, with time to swim or snorkel and a chance to spot bottlenose dolphins. Snacks and drinks are included; dolphin sightings are not guaranteed.

“Great people who were keen to make sure everyone was happy Lovely boat”

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12.7 hours Boat trip to Lampedusa lunch, SUP and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 453 reviews · from $86

Set out from Lampedusa at 10:00 am for about seven hours on the water, with a maximum of 15 people aboard. Expect stops for swimming and snorkeling, SUP, a lunch centered on fresh local food, and weather-dependent visits to La Tabaccara and a protected beach. Crew names associated with Sapore di Mare include Pietro, Marino and Giuseppe.

“Our private boat tour with Sapore de Mare had been an unforgettable experience, and maybe the best boat tour we’ve done so far.”

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13.Tropea: Lipari, Panarea, and Stromboli Boat Tour by Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 441 reviews · 11.5 hours · from $69

Leave Tropea by boat for Lipari, fashionable Panarea, and Stromboli, then circle Strombolicchio and pause at Sciara del Fuoco after dark. You get time ashore for churches, village lanes, a meal, or a swim, plus a guide in English, Italian, French, or Dutch. Food, drinks, and landing tax are extra.

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14.Mondello,CapoGallo Reserve Boat Tour with Snacks and Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 439 reviews · from $79

Cruise from Marina Arenella toward Mondello and Capo Gallo, with several chances to swim, snorkel and visit coastal caves. Your skipper handles the route while you relax on deck, listen to music and enjoy fruit and drinks. Captains including Alex, Alberto and Giuseppe have led trips, and some groups have been as small as six.

“Captain Alex was the best captain I ever had! He even won the boat race with the other boat. He was making a lot of jokes and brings us some cannoli’s! We drunk a bottle of 3 prosecco, it was so nice!”

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15.Boat tour of Ortigia Island and sea caves

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 407 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Set out from central Syracuse for a roughly one-hour boat circuit of Ortigia, with coastal views, historic landmarks, and visits to sea caves when conditions allow. Captains such as Ninni and Nunzio have shared local history and practical tips in English. Swimming may be possible, but it is not guaranteed.

“We were walked from the meeting point to the boat quickly and with a friendly guide. He brought us eight to the boat and made sure we got on safely. We were the only two on the small boat with Numzio, our captain. He showed us all of the sites, special rock formations, historical areas and brought us into 3 caves. Nuncio answered all of our questions in perfect English and translated some words for us in Italian. This trip was about an hour, 20 minutes and was worth the cost.”

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