Day trip

From Taormina: Full-Day Guided Tour of Syracuse

3.8 / 5

26 reviews

Activity provider: SAT Group
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    Day trip

    From Taormina: Full-Day Guided Tour of Syracuse

    Activity provider: SAT Group
    Likely to sell out
    Likely to sell out

    From US$ 53.66 per person

    On a 1-day guided excursion by bus, discover the many sights and wonders of the beautiful Syracuse. See the archaeological area, the Greek Theater, and the quarries before visiting Ortygia Island to see the Fountain of Arethusa and the cathedral.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
    Reserve now & pay later
    Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
    Duration 8 hours
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Skip the ticket line
    Live tour guide
    English, German, Italian

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Explore the archaeological site in Syracuse
    • Wander around Ortygia Island and admire its wide variety of architectural styles
    • Marvel at the Fountain of Arethusa
    Full description
    For those traveling to Sicily, Syracuse is not to be missed. Once the most important city in Magna Graecia, it defeated the mighty Athens in 413 and was home to many a great Greek, including the inimitable Archimedes. At the height of its economic, political, and military power, the city had a population of 300,000 and, according to Cicero, was "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all.” Join a full-day guided bus tour of this great city, which includes a visit to its archaeological sites as well as the island of Ortygia. First, visit the archaeological site, which is situated in the northwest of the town and is home to a staggering number of well-preserved Greek and Roman remains. The main attraction is undoubtedly the Greek theater, which dates back at least until the 5th Century BC. Its cavea is amongst the largest ever built, its 59 rows could accommodate up to 15,000 spectators. Just over the ridge from the theater, you will see the old stone quarries where today there grows a fragrant lemon orchard. Also, visit the famous Ear of Dionysius, a 20m-high, slender pointed arch cut into the rock face about 65m deep. The rock was once used by Dionysius the Tyrant as a prison for his bitterest enemies. After stopping by the Roman amphitheater, continue on to the Archaeological Museum, which contains a great collection of exhibits from all over the Syracuse area. Spend the second half of your day wandering around the beautiful island of Ortygia. It may be a small island, but it's packed with over 2,500 years of history. Architectural styles vary widely, encompassing Greek and Roman remains, Medieval Norman buildings, and a great deal of understated Baroque visible in the main cathedral. In the afternoon, take a break to relax in one of the island's many restaurants, trattorias or bars, as you take in the sights of the lagoon.
    Includes
    • Transportation by coach
    • Tour leader service
    • Local guide service
    • VAT and taxes
    • Drinks or meals
    • Entrance fees
    Not suitable for
    • People with mobility impairments
    Covid-19 precautions
    Safety measures in place
    • All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
    Traveler requirements
    • You must present either proof of full vaccination, proof of a Covid-19 infection in the past 3 months, or a negative test taken no more than 24 hours before the activity starts
    • All participants are required to bring and wear FFP2 masks. Blue surgical masks will not be accepted

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Meeting point

    Taormina Bus Terminal - Via Pirandello

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    Important information

    What to bring

    • Comfortable shoes
    • Sun hat

    Not allowed

    • Pets

    Know before you go

    • It is recommended you wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and a hat/visor.
    • Please note, bookings for the next day must be booked at least 15 hours in advance.
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    3.8 /5

    based on 26 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      3.3/5
    • Transportation
      3.8/5
    • Value for money
      3.8/5
    • Safety
      4/5

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    I liked the excursion, we got picked up from hotel in the big, modern bus. I liked that we had breaks and that we were given a lot of free time to walk in the city. I think you shouldn't organize three language excursion. It takes a lot of time to share the information and our guide (Alfredo) was giving different information in different languages and he was quite chaotic in the explanation. I find that's a pity because he is very knowledgeable person and shared a lot of stories, it was just sometimes hard to make a link between the pieces of information that we got. Also, maybe you should consider organising earlier or later trip, it was dead hot already at 11am and it's really difficult to stroll around the stone city with all the heat.

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    July 25, 2021

    L
    Liliya – Germany Verified booking

    Helpful?

    The day was well organised with the bus picking us up promptly at Giardini Naxos at 7.30. Make sure you are early the bus does not wait for long! Following more pick ups from Taormina etc we were on our way and to our surprise stopped at a service station for 20 mins (I’m assuming as the driver needed to stop due to time on the road - as otherwise a very odd place to stop) in hindsight we would have however bought snacks as there was a lot of time between breakfast and lunch, especially for anyone like us who did not really have time for breakfast with the early pick up point. However they are the downsides the trip was totally worth it! Spectacular sites of the Greek theatre and the paradise caves were brilliant. And Ortigia was beautiful with amazing buildings to go view. Overall a great trip with our guide, Eva being very knowledgable, interesting and funny!

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    September 13, 2019

    G
    Gemma – United Kingdom Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Nice day trip for cold days

    In summary, a big thank you to the organizers. Rebooking from Thursday to Monday went smoothly. The local guide, SAT, sent us a great tourist guide. Very understandable in Italian, German and English and very well informed about the tour. Attention, there are additional costs of 2 € for the cathedral, which is optional. The tour leads through the old Syracuse (theater of the Romans and Greeks) to the island with the old city wall, city center including cathedral etc. There was no time pressure during the entire duration of the tour, which is rather an exception. Book the package, it is really recommended.

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    May 2, 2019

    S
    Schindler – Germany Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Product ID: 166962