Mount Etna and Taormina Full Day Tour from Catania

Mount Etna: light trek and the lava cave

The day begins on Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide drives you up the slopes and leads a light trek across volcanic terrain, past old craters and lava fields, explaining how the volcano formed and why it erupts. The walk is easy and does not go to the summit, so it suits most fitness levels. It is a good introduction if you are asking how to visit Mount Etna in a single day.

You also visit a lava cave using the kit provided, a tunnel left behind by flowing lava that has since drained away. Inside you can see how the rock cooled in layers and ropes. The Etna cable car and the off-road bus with a volcanic guide to the highest reachable altitude are not included, so ask your guide on the day if you would like to know more about going higher.

Taormina, the hilltop town above the sea

Taormina is a hillside town about 200 metres above the Ionian Sea, with views of the coast and, on clear days, Etna smoking in the distance. It has been a resort since Greek and Roman times and remains one of Sicily's most elegant places. Narrow lanes are lined with boutiques, cafes and ceramic shops, and the town is easy to explore on foot.

You have free time in the town centre, which is enough for a walk along the main street, Corso Umberto, through the historic gates and into Piazza IX Aprile, a terrace square with sea views. It is worth spending part of your time simply looking at the panorama. Many visitors ask what to do in Taormina in a few hours, and a walk, a coffee and a viewpoint is the answer.

The Greek Theatre and other things to see in Taormina

The Greek Theatre, built in the third century BC and later rebuilt by the Romans, is Taormina's most famous monument. Its stage is framed by a view of the sea and Etna, which makes it one of the most dramatic ancient theatres in the Mediterranean. It is still used for concerts and performances. Entry is not included in the tour, so if you want to visit, budget time and pay at the entrance.

Other places to see include the cathedral square with its fountain, the clock tower gate and the gardens along the edge of the hill. If you are interested in beaches, the coast below Taormina, including the small island of Isola Bella, is reached by cable car or road, but that would take most of your free time.

Options, timings and hotel pickup from Catania

There are two options with the same price and the same programme, which differ only by start time. The default option departs at 10:00 and the other at 8:30. Both are shared small group tours with pickup from your accommodation or nearby in Catania city centre, and the time is confirmed before departure. The full day lasts about nine hours.

The tour includes return shuttle transport, an English-speaking guide, the light Etna trek, the lava cave kit and free time in Taormina. Lunch, the optional visit to the Greek Theatre and the cable car with off-road bus to the highest reachable altitude are not included. Trekking shoes are available on request when you book, so mention your size.