Messina, Italy (train from Messina to Giardini Naxos)

Hi Jose. We did this exact thing on a cruise in 2009. Assuming your ship will be docked approximately where ours was, you'll want to head south along the waterfront to get to the train station in Messina. It is slightly inland from the harbor front, but not very far. I think it was about a 10-15 minute walk. Buy your ticket to Giardini from one of the ticket kiosks, and you might want to buy your return ticket as well. The train station in Giardini is quite small, and if memory serves there is only one ticket machine and it's possible that it could be broken. When we were coming back, there was nobody manning the ticket office in Giardini, so if the machine had been broken when we were there we would have been out of luck! The ride itself is a straight shot down the coast, no transfers or anything like that. Just remember to validate your ticket in the yellow machines in the station before you get on the train, and enjoy the ride!

I have taken the bus from Messina to Taormina. The service is frequent. So, if the train schedule is not optimum, also consider the bus...