The 13 Best Dolphin Watching Trips in Sicily

1.Sunset Boat Tour with Dolphin Watching & Aperitif

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

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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2.Sunset tour in search of dolphins with aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 449 reviews · 3 hours · from $53Best value

Join Antonio and Mariella for a shared three-hour boat trip from Giardini Naxos along the Taormina coast. You’ll pass Isola Bella and several bays, stop for a swim or snorkel, and enjoy pizza or arancini with prosecco and water. The crew then searches for dolphins offshore, but sightings are not guaranteed.

“Antonio was great and we loved everything about this trip. No dolphins unfortunately (quite unusual apparently) but they searched for a long time and seemed more disappointed than us!”

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3.Giardini Naxos Taormina: Dolphin Watching Sunset Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 179 reviews · from $56

Join a 2.5-hour sunset boat trip from Giardini Naxos with guides such as Gianluca or Christina. Cruise past Isola Bella and Taormina’s caves, pause for a swim and Sicilian snacks with Prosecco, then search for wild dolphins as the sun drops behind Mount Etna. Sightings depend on conditions, so treat them as a bonus, not a promise.

“Amazing experience, amazing vibe from the team, great music and food! thank you so much 🙏🙏”

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4.Sunset Dolphin Watching Cruise with Aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 151 reviews · from $53

From Giardini Naxos, Captain Filippo and the Poseidon crew guide you past Taormina’s sea caves and Isola Bella, with a Sicilian aperitif and Prosecco aboard. If sea and weather conditions allow, the crew searches for wild dolphins and may stop for a swim or snorkel. The 2.5-hour trip runs in English, French, and Italian.

“Amazing experience! The beautiful views of the coastline were breathtaking, and seeing dolphins up close was really incredible! Captain Filippo and his crew were knowledgeable, very friendly and spoke excellent English, making communication easy. We also enjoyed trying arancini, a delicious Sicilian specialty, and Prosecco. Overall, it was time well spent with stunning scenery and friendly hosts. Highly recommend this trip!”

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5.2.5 Hours Sunset Boat Tour in Search of Dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Set out from Giardini Naxos for a 2.5-hour coastal cruise past Taormina, Isola Bella, and sea caves. The captain explains the sights as the crew searches for dolphins, then pauses for a swim and an aperitif with prosecco and almond paste. Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed, but the coastal views and sunset behind Etna are part of the plan.

“I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed swimming in the clear water. I was very impressed with our boat captains skills at getting us in and out of caves! Highly recommend!”

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6.Dolphin Watching & Conservation – Dolphins in the Gulf of Catania

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 78 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $84

Set out from Catania for about three hours aboard a small boat, scanning the Gulf for free-ranging dolphins with a skipper and marine biologist. You’ll get a briefing, binoculars and cetacean ID cards, plus Etna and coastal views. Sightings are not guaranteed, and the boat follows rules designed to limit disturbance.

“We had a great time on the trip and saw more dolphins than we ever expected - even our guide, Carla, was moved to tears and said this was only the second time she had seen so many. Carla was very knowledgeable and the captain was brilliant at finding dolphins. We even listened on the hydrophone to dolphins chatting. This is run by a marine conservation group and what you pay helps to fund research so please go and learn about these amazing mammals and their lives. Some points to note though. We had trouble working out where to meet as the address we were given was closed for building…”

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7.Dolphin Catamaran Sunset Tour with Aperetif

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 75 reviews · from $56

From Giardini Naxos, the Catamaran Venere follows Taormina’s coast past sea caves, Isola Bella and bays near Mazzarò and Spisone. You’ll have time for a swim, a tasting of Sicilian food with prosecco or wine, and a guided search for dolphins. The 2.5- to 3-hour trip includes music, parking and English, Italian or Spanish commentary.

“Amazing! The day was beautiful, the music was good, very polite guides and we saw the dolphins!!!!”

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8.Taormina and Giardini Naxos: 2 Hour Dolphin Tour & Grotto

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 63 reviews · 2 hours · from $65

Leave Pizzichella wharf in Giardini Naxos for a two-hour coastal cruise past Isola Bella and the Blue Grotto, followed by a search for wild dolphins and a sunset aperitif. Francisco is one named guide, though the captain and language may vary. Dolphins are not guaranteed, so come for the coastline as much as the wildlife.

“Erg leuke boottocht gehad met een hele leuke gids! De gids maakte foto's van ons en legde hier en daar wat uit. Helaas geen dolfijnen gezien maar dat is het risico.”

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9.Lampedusa: Sunset Dolphin Sighting on a Pirate Ship

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 33 reviews · 3 hours · from $65

Board the wooden Galleon Adriana at Lampedusa’s New Port for a three-hour sunset cruise. An Italian-speaking guide and the captain lead the offshore dolphin search, followed by an apericena with spaghetti, music, and a swim in illuminated water. Water and vegetarian or gluten-free food options are included; cocktails and souvenir photos cost extra.

“La musica dal vivo e l'equipaggio solari, gentili e divertenti, siamo riusciti a vedere i delfini e per essere un aperitivo era abbondante. Esperienza memorabile”

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10.boat tour exploring and searching for dolphins in Acitrezza

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 14 reviews · from $67

Leave Aci Trezza’s old harbor at 6:30 pm with a skipper-guide and up to seven other participants. The two-hour trip passes Lachea Island and the Cyclops sea stacks before heading about three nautical miles offshore to look for dolphins, turtles and Sicilian fish. Andrea is a guide associated with the excursion; staff speak Italian, English and Spanish.

“We were lucky enough to see some beautiful dolphins. ✨🐬”

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11.Lampedusa: Dolphin watching with aperitif at sunset

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 9 reviews · 3 hours · from $77

Set out from Lampedusa’s port aboard the El Condor catamaran for a three-hour search for dolphins, followed by cocktails and typical island appetizers as the sun sets. The trip ends with a swim stop in a cove. An Italian-speaking guide leads the outing; no guide name is provided.

“Serata bellissima!! Bellissimo giro al tramonto e annesso bagno. Aperitivo fantastico!”

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12.Taormina Coast Tour and Searching Dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · from $67

From La Sirena, a skipper takes you past Capo Taormina and the Cave of Love to Isola Bella and the Blue Grotto, with time for a swim and an aperitif. Then the boat searches the bay for wild dolphins before returning with views of Monte Tauro and Etna. Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed.

“Small boat, portable fridge for drinks, we only went around the coast, no dolphin sighting. Reception for our reservation that leaves something to be desired. I would not do it with them again given the higher price compared to others.”

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13.Taormina Sunset tour in search of dolphins with aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Depart from Porto di Giardini Naxos with a skipper and English- or Italian-speaking guide for a coastal cruise past Taormina’s bays and caves. The two-hour tour includes a swimming stop, prosecco, seasonal fruit and a search for dolphins. No guide names or guaranteed sightings are provided.

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