Tour to Taormina canceled due to road construction

Posted by dgawell on 04/18/25 07:56 PM

I just received a cancelation notice from our cruise company that the Taormina on your own excusion is canceled because of road construction. I was thinking of the train, but there are really one two times on that Sunday afternoon. The first won't give us much time, and the second will make us pier runners.

We can't afford the more expensive private tours. Other fellow passengers have heard from their tour companies that the tour is canceled. A few companies insist there is not problem, but the road to Taormina hugs the coastline, allowing few alternatives. I also am concerned that the road will be quite congested with backed up traffic.

For now, we are thinking that we will just stay in Messina, but wonder if anyone has other thoughts and alternatives.

Posted by Carol now retired

Lynnwood, Washington

04/18/25 10:46 PM

9296 posts

Maybe retitle your post: Can you share ideas for spending the day in Messina? I think you will get more of hte responses that you are looking for.

Posted by Jay

Chicago

04/19/25 10:19 AM

2183 posts

We just got back from Taormina, having taken the train down from Salerno and then the train/ferry across the Strait of Messina, then on to the Taormina/Giardini train station. On our excursion to Mt. Etna, and then also the transport to the Catania airport, the drivers were talking about one of the (I think) two roads in & out of Taormina having just been closed for the summer. I do not know if that road accesses the port, but it is possible.

Note that Taormina is mobbed with tourists currently, and portends to be through the fall. Wall-to-wall walking down the Corso Umberto, long lines to get into the Teatro Greco. If you can get out and do an Etna tour, you'll be better off. We had a great time with the rumblings of the active volcano, and visiting some ancient villages on the slopes. Sicily Life was our tour guide.

Posted by looneyman

St. Paul, Minnesota

04/19/25 06:01 PM

23 posts

We were planning on a tour to Taorima from the ship as well and it was cancelled because that tour was using a bigger bus.
The road will be down to one lane - alternating traffic in each direction.
So, it is not closed to traffic, but is closed to the large busses that apparently now cannot navigate the road in that area.

We booked the following smaller tour at a reasonable price (cheaper than a private tour).
They use a van that is small enough to get thru on the road.
Best of Taormina - https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/tour/best-of-taormina/eumsbesttao

With the drive time from/to the port, you will have about 2 hours in town to walk about.
Even with that short time, we still decided to go to get the view from the town plus the view on the ride up/back.

After we are back from the above tour, we plan on then having lunch back in Messina and then walking to the Piazza Duomo and see the world's largest astronomical clock at the Cathedral of Messina.

Posted by Charlene

Centennial, CO, US

04/19/25 06:19 PM

2242 posts

If you’re an art lover, the Regional Museum of Messina is a worthwhile stop. It has two Caravaggios, painted within a year of his death.