Where to drink · CATANIA
Good catania drinks tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 13 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Join Papa Sail for a five-hour cruise from Catania with captains such as Michele and Manuele. Sail past Ognina, the Ulysses Caves, and Aci Castello, then snorkel or paddle near Aci Trezza before a Sicilian aperitif with Prosecco.
“Brilliant we had such a lovely day, we loved every minute!”
From Catania, ride to Etna Park with a multilingual guide such as Lorenzo, Carmelo, or Tommaso. Walk among extinct craters, explore Grotta Lunga with helmet and lamp, then taste Etna honey, olive oil, wines, and liqueurs. Optional cable-car and 4x4 upgrades cost extra.
“Our first day in Sicily was a food tour with Kate, and it completely changed how we experienced the island. She's warm, genuinely friendly, and makes you feel like you're exploring with a close friend. Her passion for Palermo is contagious – you can't help but be excited about everything she shows you. This wasn't just about tasting amazing food. Kate helped us understand the city's soul and made us feel truly welcome. By the end of the tour, we didn't feel like tourists anymore. If you're visiting Sicily, do this tour. Kate will make sure your trip starts off perfectly. To Kate: We love you! Thank you for an…”
You’ll hike around Etna’s Monti Sartorius craters, enter a lava cave with supplied gear, enjoy a Sicilian lunch with Etna wines, and visit Alcantara Gorge. Guides such as Roberto, Rosario, Tony, and Saro bring strong local knowledge. Expect a full, active day with steep paths and stairs.
“It was exciting to be on the lower elevation of Mt. Etna. The area for the hike has many trees among the volcanic soil. The guide was excellent and very in tune to the changing weather conditions. Though we were unable to do the cave our guide substituted an interesting stop as a “surprise”. The lunch at the winery was delicious and the cooling waters of the gorge were a sight. We met some very nice people and appreciated that this was a small group of only eight. Quite a bit of walking though the hike is not difficult. Lots of stairs at the gorge. Highly recommend this tour.”
Travel from Taormina to Etna’s northern side with guides such as Alex, Andrea, Luca, or Claudio. Hike the Monti Sartorius craters, enter a lava tunnel with helmet and flashlight, then enjoy a Sicilian lunch and Etna wine at Gambino Winery. Pickup, transport, lunch, and tasting are included.
“We had a beautiful day hiking Mt. Aetna with Andrea, our guide. He was so informative and also fun! The wine tasting was wonderful at Gambina Winery. I thought the price was reasonable for an 8 hour day!”
Travel from Catania to Mount Etna with a multilingual guide, walk an Etna Park trail, visit a lava cave with helmet and flashlight, then enjoy four wines, cheeses, cured meats, pâté, and olive oil at a winery near Ragalna. A higher-altitude cable car and 4x4 ride costs extra.
“Excellent tour. Carmello was exactly on time. he provided great commentary about the area and the volcano on the drive up. He will make excellent recommendations about options to do at the top. We picked the quad tour. The wine tasting that followed was superb. Great wine and fantastic food!”
Join naturalist guides Renato or Antonio for a six-hour Etna adventure from Catania. Ride historic rural tracks, walk around Silvestri Craters and lava fields, view Valle del Bove, then share Etna wine and Sicilian snacks at sunset. The walks are easy, but closed shoes and warm layers are essential.
“esterday, September 25th, my girlfriend and I joined a small group tour on Mount Etna with our guide, Renato. He was absolutely fantastic – friendly, knowledgeable, and full of great stories about the volcano and the surrounding area. Renato showed us so many interesting spots and explained a lot about the history and nature of Etna in a way that was both fun and engaging. The sunset from the mountain was truly beautiful and made the experience even more special. To top it all off, Renato surprised us with delicious local snacks and excellent wine, which gave the whole evening the warm feeling of a family gathering.”
Meet your sommelier at Piazza Scammacca for four volcanic Sicilian wines, each paired with food from the market kitchens. Guides such as Luca, Andrea, and Domenico explain Etna’s soils, local grapes, and wine traditions in English or Italian. The tasting lasts 90 minutes and costs $53.
“It was perfect! Lovely place and lovely host! Amazing story about the place and very good vines :)”
Spend three hours on a private sailboat from Catania with a skipper, hostess, and English or Italian guide. You’ll view Mount Etna and the coast, swim in the Ionian Sea, and enjoy Sicilian appetizers with Prosecco. Crew members may include Ivan, Giulia, Sergio, Julia, or Ben.
“nice guides, very good food and a nice glas of prosecco while cruising along the coast. We did not set sail (no wind) which was even nicer because there were no waves and the boat was very falt and stable in the water.”
From Taormina, join a small group of up to eight with guides such as Mario, Maurizio, Luigi, or Raffaele. Walk Etna’s craters and lava flows, visit a lava tunnel, then taste four wines with a generous Sicilian meal at a local winery.
“Luigi is a wonderful guide, he has a story for everything captivating people around and he knows a lot about volcanos and the whole region. One can never get bored around him. Food at the winery was good and a lot, a complete lunch menu and wine tasting exquisite with proper presentation for each wine.”
Spend 6.5 to 7 hours visiting three Etna wineries by private air-conditioned car. Taste white, rosé, and red wines with bruschetta, pasta, cheeses, meats, olives, and bread. Guides such as Roberto, Massimo, Maurizio, and Samuela bring local wine and village knowledge to the day.
“Great Experience, if you can request Maurizio to be your guide you will be in great hands. He definitely enhanced the experience. He shared history of Sicily as we drove from vineyard to vineyard. He is extremely knowledgeable and personable. Each vineyard had its own characteristics so all three were unique in their own way. This experience is a must if you can make it happen.”
Set sail from Catania Nautical Club for three hours along Sicily’s volcanic coast. Your English or Italian crew takes you toward Ulysses Caves, with a swimming stop, sunset views, prosecco, and local appetizers. Crew members may include Giulia, Sergio, Carlo, Benjamin, or Ivan.
“The other passengers energy! Everyone was incredible and lovely I met some wonderful people”
Meet at Etna Urban Winery for a family-style Sicilian lunch, four Etna wines, and a look at urban vineyards and a 1790 winery. Angela and the winery team explain the wines, food, and family story. Lunch begins at 1 PM, with a courtyard setting or indoor table if weather turns.
“the tour was really good fun. The venue is out of the city, but easy to get to if you have a car and they have parking. The tour guide was friendly and gave us a good tour of the building (which wasn't too long, but told us all about the history which was cool) and gave us info about the wines we tried as well as the food we ate. The food was incredible - varied, tasty and felt very fresh, much like the wines as well. Lunch/wine tasting lasted over an hour on its own. Afterwards you can walk around the vineyards and there is an extra self…”
Walk among Etna Urban Winery’s city vineyards, then explore a 1790 palmento with its old presses, tanks, and wooden barrels. Guides such as Angela and Vera explain the family story before four Etna wines arrive with chef Leonardo’s tapas and a main course.
“We had such a great experience today! First we had a tour in the wineyard which was really nice and the guide explained everything pleasure. The history behind this wineyard is very interesting! Their dog came along with the tour which was a nice addition. Afterwards, we got to taste 4 different wines which were amazing. The food that came with these wines were incredible as well. We included the lunch which was a good decision. The staff was very kind. We would definitely recommend this experience.”
Pick a bottle and see where it is poured properly.
