Private 2-Hour Tuk Tuk Tour of Syracuse and Ortigia

Ortigia island and the Temple of Apollo

Ortigia is the small island where Syracuse began in the eighth century BC, when Greek settlers from Corinth founded one of the most powerful cities of the ancient Mediterranean. Today it is the historic heart of Syracuse, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, joined to the mainland by two short bridges. Many visitors ask how to get to Ortigia and how to move around once there: the lanes are narrow and the sun is strong in summer, which is exactly where a tuk tuk helps.

The first stop is usually the Temple of Apollo, just past the bridge. Built in the early sixth century BC, it is the oldest Doric temple in Sicily, and its massive column stumps sit below the level of the modern square. Over the centuries it served as a church, a mosque and a barracks, and our driver explains each layer while you take photos.

Piazza Duomo and the Cathedral of Syracuse

Piazza Duomo is one of the most beautiful squares in Sicily, a long, pale stone space framed by Baroque palaces and churches rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693. At its centre stands the Cathedral of Syracuse, whose Baroque facade hides something unique: the building is the Greek Temple of Athena from the fifth century BC, and its original Doric columns are still visible in the side walls and inside the nave.

On this tour you have time to step inside if you wish; the Cathedral ticket is optional and paid on site, and shoulders and knees should be covered. If you are checking Syracuse Cathedral opening hours, it is generally open every day from morning until early evening, with visits paused during services. Allow about 20 minutes for the square and the interior.

The Fountain of Arethusa and the seafront

A few steps from Piazza Duomo, the Fountain of Arethusa is a freshwater spring that rises only metres from the sea, forming a round pool planted with papyrus where fish and ducks swim. Greek legend says the nymph Arethusa was turned into this spring as she fled across the sea, and it has been a symbol of Syracuse since ancient coins were minted here.

From the fountain the tuk tuk follows the seafront promenade along the Great Harbour, lined with trees and old palazzi, where locals gather in the evening. This is one of the best places for photos, especially in the soft light of late afternoon. The driver stops long enough for you to look over the balustrade at the papyrus and the harbour before continuing towards the tip of the island.

Maniace Castle and the tip of Ortigia

At the southern end of Ortigia stands Maniace Castle, a square stone fortress with round corner towers built in the thirteenth century to guard the entrance to the Great Harbour. It later became part of the Spanish defences of the city, and its position on the rocks gives wide views of the open sea and the harbour on both sides.

On the 2-hour tour the castle is a photo stop from the outside, with time to walk to the edge of the square and watch the water. If you want to go inside, it is a good place to return later on foot, as it is only a few minutes from the seafront. Morning and sunset are the best times to visit this corner of Ortigia, when the stone turns golden.

The old Jewish quarter and the lanes of Ortigia

Between the castle and the eastern seafront lies the Giudecca, the medieval Jewish quarter, a grid of narrow lanes with balconies, small churches and quiet courtyards. Beneath one of its buildings is a mikveh, a ritual bath carved into the rock, considered among the oldest in Europe. The tuk tuk slips through streets where larger vehicles cannot pass, which is one reason this ride is so popular.

Is Ortigia worth visiting? Almost every traveller who comes to eastern Sicily says yes, and these lanes are the reason: craft workshops, small squares and sea views at the end of every street. The best time to visit Syracuse is spring or early autumn, and summer evenings are lovely once the heat drops. Your driver ends the tour wherever you choose in the pickup area.