Best of Sicily in 11 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed the tour and the people on the tour, both guides and tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed seeing the different cultures that had inhabited the island over the centuries. In particular how Greek Temples had become Roman Temples, Mosques, Norman Churches and Catholic Cathedrals. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour guide Karin. Interesting and enjoyable group. My only dislike of the tour was visiting the salt pans . Not worth the time to visit

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Agrigento was amazing"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized. What we've come to expect from a Rick Steves Tour! Hotels were located just where we'd want to be. Great guides and excellent overall experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Throughout the trip we visited sites inhabited by the Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Normans and Spanish. A lot of what we saw was from the 8th century BC forward. Wrapping your head around the technology achieved that long ago and thinking about the melting pot that is Sicily was profound!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well organized and our guide was amazing. But there are a few things that could be improved.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ancient theaters and temples"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great! We saw so much, had so many experiences and had nice people to share them with

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Santa Lucia statue when we went to Mass in Siracusa. The guide said that was a once a year event. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everyone was so pleasant and accommodating .Great group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beautiful scenery in Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, a very pleasurable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The temples at Agrigento"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very educational & well-organized—full of information but also of heart, Our tour guide (Olfio) was outstanding & deserves extra kudos for his efforts!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many but the first one was soon after arrival, sipping wine at an outdoor cafe in a cobblestone piazza surrounded by ancient buildings while listening to an exquisite violinist busking in the sunlight…the dolce vite & quintessential Italy! But I also loved my first glimpse of an almost intact temple amongst the hilltops…"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really enjoyed the trip. Everything we saw was very interesting and all the guides were very knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The realization that we were able to see so many ancient in their original state. The Valley of the Temples and the villa with the mosaics. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Guide was knowledgeable and efficient

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maria making cannoli"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't say there was one moment, but we really enjoyed all the group dinners/lunches, Monreale and the visit to Maria's villa for lunch and a baking demonstration."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Having never been on a programmed tour before, I was very skeptical, however, it was an absolutely amazing experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several come to mind, but the one that pushes itself to the front is making cookies with Maria Grammatica! Second, might be Alfio‘s description on the bus of the lead up to World War II. Although I thought the WW2 museum was a bit overwhelming, Alfio‘s description gave me an entirely new insight to a piece of history that I ever fully understood."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mid day meal with Maria Grammatica"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall tour experience was excellent. Exceptional tour guide, great scenery, just the right mix of group time and "alone" time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There so many wow moments, it's hard to pick. But we'll go with our tour guide's humorous and thoughtful commentaries on the bus, and his guitar playing and singing at supper. Scenic hilites included Taormina, Mount Etna, and the Villa Romana de Casales. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour of Sicily was an outstanding experience. We were immersed in new historical and cultural/culinary perspectives daily. David did an amazing job as cultural ambassador, logistics coordinator and entertainer. He facilitated our cultural experience while seamlessly handling issues behind the scenes to minimize impact to the group. David was a great "il dolce far niente" Sensei.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This trip had multiple "wow" moments. One of the highlights was standing on the battlements of a Norman/Templer castle looking out over the Mediterranean Sea, across to Mt Etna, and down on a Greek theater converted into a Roman coliseum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our first Rick Steves tour. Previously we had put together our own tour using his guide books which have always been outstanding. This tour took it to another level. We loved the stress free travel and the personal touches provided by our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greek Temples"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great guide, David, who not only familiarized us with the rich history of Sicily, but showed flexibility and adaptive thinking while addressing the needs of our travel group. We praised David, but he kept the focus on the needs of the group, rather than himself. Historic sites visited were interesting, but the highlight for me was the mountaintop vistas from Castellomalo and Erice overlooking the Mediterranean. The views were simply staggering. Hotels were good; food was good+

Favorite "WOW" moment

"View of Mount Etna from our table comfortably positioned below a picture window in the Hotel Continental dining room in Taormina or the view of the waves breaking on the shore at Taormina as viewed from a high vantage point."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our favorite Rick Steves Tour to date. The guide David was outstanding! Very knowledgeable and interesting. Always looking out for all the group members. Went above and beyond. Seemed to truly enjoy being there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! Taormina was my favorite city. The ocean views and Mt. Etna. Bellissima!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time taking an RSE tour, although very familiar with Rick, his PBS shows and guidebooks. Used him as a travel resource for over 30 years. The Sicily tour was well run. The hotels were all good, the bus transportation too. Our tour guide was very knowledgable, engaging and ready to help. The selected tour sites were all interesting and we especially appreciated the exclusive activities. We didn't know much about Sicily prior to the trip, but now appreciate it's rich history and evolution.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, many interesting moments. Perhaps if it wasn't so cloudy and we could see all of Etna, that would have been our "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Tour was very well organized and ran like clockwork. The hotels, meals and tours were all perfect for the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The market in Palermo was incredible. We also really enjoyed the meal and cooking class in Erice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall experience was wonderful. Our guide was very knowledgeable and engaging with all others on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moments were the breathtaking views of the seacoast and roof top views while eating breakfast. The markets were fantastic - the vegetables, meats and cheeses were so tempting. And the churches were so beautiful no words to express their beauty."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The experience was great and very informing about the history of Sicily

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking at the Temples "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great experience

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Nina was the heart of the tour. There were a lot of amazing, moving parts and she made it seem effortless and engaging the entire time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To find out there is beachcombing in Ortygia. I enjoyed spending time by the water in my free time. I’ve never seen so much lovely beach glass and bits of ceramics. That was an unexpected surprise."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was exactly as described. Very well organized and we were able to see so much in the 10 days in Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the cooking class with Maria and long the cookies. The lunch was amazing and she was so delightful. Afterwards the little town of Erice was lovely."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a busy tour but the atmosphere was always calm and relaxed. We saw and experienced so much more than we would have if travelling on our own (our usual style).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to state just one! A tour of the Palazzo by Conte Alessandro Federico. The visits to Erice, Cathedral of Monreale, Temple & Theatre of Segeste, the island of Mozia, Valley of the Temples, the 142 Steps in Caltagirone, the mosaics of Villa Roma, Syracusa Cathedral, a walk on lava, lunch at Benanti Vineyard, Carnivale at Taormina which was total immersion in the celebration, seeing Mt.Etna, Cathedral of Catania. The island of Mozia was pretty special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour of Sicily was beyond expectation. Stephanie was the perfect tour guide with knowledge, humor and patience. Hotels were comfortable with the exception of the first hotel in Palermo. Don’t put guests up in room directly below kitchen and restaurant. It was loud resulting in not much sleep due to early morning set-ups and closings. I did mention it to Stephanie after we moved on to next city. The hotel said they couldn’t move us when asked. We look forward to another trip next year.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our last day the sky was clear allowing a perfect view of Mt.Etna all day into the evening from hotel patio was a true delight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An informed tour of Sicily is Ancient History 101. It was an enriching experience studying the layers of civilization and the opportunity to engage with the intellectually stimulating fellow travelers. I have already been recommending Sicily in February to others. We were frequently among just ordinary Sicilians, not other tourists.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Siracusa or Ortygia. Delightful approachable town. Where else can you have Archimedes, the greatest mind in ancient history, the Peloponnesian Wars and the Apostle Paul?"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour leader, sights, activities and weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monreale Cathedral "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour with excellent, knowledgeable guides. Though group was larger than I’m used to, it didn’t feel large by the end. The information gained about Sicily was outstanding. I am left wanting to visit Sicily again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick just one. The Count and his home; the cooking lesson from the 84 year old baker, the views from Taormina, I could go on and on. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very positive! everything we look for in a Rick Steves Tour. It was stimulating, educational and fun! I loved the variety of experiences: Wine tasting, theater, so much to see, do and learn.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Three moments stand out to me. Agrigento and The Valley of the Temples was fascinating. It was a beautiful day and the almond trees were blooming. Baglio della Luna where we stayed was lovely. The panoramic views of the temples lit up in the evening from the Baglio della Luna courtyard were truly breathtaking. The visit to Palazzo Conte Federico was so unique. Count Federico gave our group the tour. Monreale Cathedral and golden mosaics....so moving as a Christian."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved Sicily! The people, the food and wine, the colorful markets, the beautiful seascapes and the fascinating history. This tour is a feast for the senses. Our guide Tommaso was wonderful. We especially loved his stories about his Mama; we all wished we could meet her. Our bus driver Enzo took excellent care of us as he drove on many steep and winding roads.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I said "wow" a lot so it's hard to pick just one. My favorite and the most fun experience was cooking with Maria.  What a treasure she is, we could not stop laughing and smiling with her.  Following our cooking lesson and a fabulous lunch, we explored the medieval mountaintop town of Erice with amazing views of the water far below us. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Pleasant, friendly tour group, great variety in sites, great guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can't say I had a wow moment. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour gives a great impression of the people, food and pulse of Sicily. Our guide Tommosa is a Sicilian and has a vast knowledge of the area. There was a great mix of cities, smaller villages, great architectural areas, and food experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved accidentally stumbling on the Carnival Parade and being covered in confetti. The Valley of theTemples in Agrigento, with it well preserved and intact temples was amazing to me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide, group and experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but I would say when we accidentally dropped into the middle of the carnival parade at Taormina. We were just heading down to meet our guide Tomaso for the evening orientation tour and went from our wonderous hotel, took a few steps down to the piazza and were in the thick of it. Loud, exciting, full of confetti, noise, music, children dressed in Halloween-like costumes, and adults smiling ear-to-ear with spritz in hand. I had confetti coming off my clothes for days."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was a great tour, and I underestimated how much I would like it, appreciate it, and learn from it. Tommaso really made our tour even more outstanding- his insights as a Sicilian, his choice of restaurants and professors and guides, and his entertaining way with us all as a group. Thank you.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the amphitheater and also the temple, in Segesto- my first glimpse of each, the setting and Tommaso’s explanations while we viewed it all. I loved walking down from the amphitheater hilltop, with the nature, and its views. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We saw a lot of Sicily which was great. Outstanding bus driver Enzo, who drove us safely around many tight turns. It was my 2nd Rick Steves tour and not as impressive as the first, Central Europe, maybe due to the lesser quality of the hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our orientation tour of Taormina and we ran into a Carnival Parade! Wow, indeed!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The highlight of the trip was our guide Tomaso. He was very professional and skilled as a guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Trapani, the art in all of the churches and the cooking class with Maria. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tommaso was a wonderful tour leader: knowledgeable, passionate, humorous, and a great story-teller. We were also fortunate to have a great group of fellow travelers. The tour really hit so many highlights of Sicily, from the various cities and towns we visited to the historical, political and geological breadth of the island. Accommodations were first rate, for the most part, and of course, the food. We sampled many regional specialties, along with a wide variety of riojas and biancos.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That's a tough one, but I think the first time Mount Etna popped into view, as the bus rounded a corner was a WOW. But also the mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale, and the Cathedral at Monreale. The most unexpected wow moment was going out later on Sunday evening in Taormina and participating in the Carnival parades. What a hoot!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tomasso was wonderful, the group was fun and engaged, Sicily was spectacular

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views from Taormina were astounding"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great RS tour. There is a lot more to Sicily than I realized. So much interesting history, beautiful landscapes and wonderful food. What {who} I will remember most however, is Andrea, our wonderful guide. He added experiences not on the itinerary and introduced us to Sicilian music, candies and traditions. There were 3 birthdays in the group and his way of celebrating them brought joy to all of us. One of the celebrants said it was the best birthday she'd ever had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots of wows, but Mt. Etna "tops" them all. Never in my life would I have expected to be walking on the rim of a volcanic crater."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip did not disappoint. It was the trip of a lifetime for me and my husband. We were grateful to have Andrea as our tour director. Andrea was knowledgeable on the history, culture, food and people of Sicily. He created a welcoming, engaging experience that left us feeling connected to the places we visited. The venues and hotels were excellent and our bus driver Giuseppe was the best!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments: the ruins, cathedrals, architecture and landscape. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, Wonderful sites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everyday we had at least one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely enjoyable from start to finish. Our tour guide Andrea was outstanding, bright, friendly and a great teacher. Our accommodations were excellent selections, with delicious breakfast provided. The cities chosen for our eleven day adventure were enchanting. The guided tour offerings we experienced during the trip were delightful yet educational. Rick provided our group with a once in a lifetime experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Maria's cooking demonstration near the Mountaintop village of Erica. We learned how to make authentic canoli, and later enjoyed a spectacular dinner that included my surprise birthday celebration organized by Andrea. The staff provided an assortment of Maria's famous baked delights to top off the event. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is one of the best Rick Steve's trips that I have been on. Of course, Andre was very professional, educated us about the history and had fun with us at the same time. Ex..pocket coffee. The group was very tightly knit which is quite unusual. That made it doubly fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples. The temple and the amphitheater just took my breath away. So many wow moments it's hard to name just one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great itinerary......great tour guide(Andrea)!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"climbing Mt Etna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Sicily tour provided a great overview of the history, and culture. The tour director, Andrea, native to Sicily, knows the land, history, and food well and is a wonderful tour director.There is great interactions with the tour members. The Sicily tour has met beyond my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moments: - Agrigento ancient ruins, the Roman mosaic in Siracusa, walking along one of the craters of Mt. Etna - the food - enjoying the company of other tour members "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Sicily Tour far surpassed my expectations. The variety of sites visited, the skills & communication of both the tour guide and the individual location guides, the level of exploration of Sicily's history & culture, our fun companions, amazing food experiences -- all made the trip exceptional. I had hoped for "interesting", but this 11 day tour turned out to be "amazing". The presentations made with care by our guide, Andrea V. made every day a fun time complete with new information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stepping from another beautiful Italian piazza into the astonishing all-surround mosaic art that fills the Monreale Cathedral. Learning from the outstanding local guide about how William II as a 17 year old in the 12th c had the vision to bring together Eastern & Western Christian artisans, along with Arab Muslims to create the art unique in all Europe. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was amazing! All the sites we visited, what we learned, and above all else our WONDERFUL guide! We were very well taken care of the entire time, and for sure you will never go hungry for food or knowledge!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Agrigento and Mount Etna putting on a show for us!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great all the way through. It was well planned, with interesting stops and local guides, and the balance of planned and free time was perfect. Sicily is a fascinating place. It is beautiful and I enjoyed learning so much of its history, from ancient times to the present. Also, our guide Karin was excellent, making everything flow, sharing her knowledge and making it fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many moments during the tour that could be a "wow" moment, but I would have to say that my favorite "wow" moment was seeing Mt. Etna erupting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Sicily tour was just about perfect. The destinations, pace, lodging, food, and guidance were better than I could have ever hoped for.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I found Erice's castle and view entrancing."

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Very busy with not as much free time as I'd hoped. Need a few more days spread over 2-3 towns. More focused on things and sights, not people and culture today. The group was very large (27!) which is too many to do a lot of things. Local guides and headsets were hard to hear and understand. A talk about what we would see the evening before would be more beneficial. The volcano expert is an example. Having choices and breaking into smaller groups would be beneficial.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Etna erupting and visiting a crater where locals were sledding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall tour experience was fantastic! I learned so much about the culture & history of this beautiful island. The food, weather & people all contributed to an amazing tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" There were so many “wow” moments for me - everyday held another wow ! The view of Mt Etna from our hotel deck was certainly a WOW , the mosaics, Greek temples, local markets and of course -the cannolis!! Wow! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Impressed with quality of activities each day. The food was great and rooms very nice

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Erma eruption "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful tour experience. Karin was an amazing tour director...always upbeat and full of interesting information. The sites were amazing. The hotels we stayed in were very good. The cooking lessons were so much fun. The food that we were served was a real treat. We also enjoyed being part of a small group where we could get to know people. We also appreciated free time to do further walking tours or just enjoy our surroundings.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was difficult because there were so many. The Villa Romana de Casale with its mosaics was unbelievable and the biggest wow. The baroque church of Santa Caterina was also spectacular. We loved the puppet show and were so glad to see this art form. The mosaics in Monreale, Greek temples in Segusta and Agrigento, Mt. Etna, the scenery everywhere we went, the salt flats, it was all wow! We enjoyed the food, the cooking lessons and the knowledgeable guides."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our experience was exceptional! Our first time traveling with a tour and the value of doing so was evident daily. Plentiful breakfasts. Thoughtful itineraries & reasonable daily schedules. Supportive & unique lodging. Comfortable & relaxing time on the bus -- thanks to a sincerely kind and skilled driver (Enzo!). Skillful, patient trip guide (Karin!) and informative, warm local guides. We were younger (mid/late 40s) than most of our tour mates (60s+) but that made the experience richer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Uniquely "checking into" each hotel in mere seconds -- in a fun & engaging way! Many multi-course meals facilitated by kind, attentive and professional staff."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very much enjoyed the tour. Was educational and logistically well executed. Travel companions were uniformly friendly and interesting. Our leader was very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This question is always difficult because a visit to a new region is essentially a “wow” experience throughout. Nevertheless, if one moment needs to be selected, it might be the visit to the cathedral in Monreale. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful I just loved Sicily and out your guide Stephanie

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Erice and Monreale"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized, professionally executed, educational and much fun. The group of 28 was enough, wouldn’t want more than that, preferably a little smaller but it was ok.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting near Mt Etna and the history around it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall tour experience was great. The tour guide, Stephanie, was exceptional, as were all the local guides. They were all so knowledgeable and engaging. The pace of the tour was brisk but each day still left enough time to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Villa Romana del Casale and seeing all the mosaics!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was organized, well planned, and provided enriching information as well as experiences that we could not have accessed on our own. Our guide was fun, caring, and kept things rolling along efficiently. The local guides offered meaningful in depth background about the area and specific sites we were visiting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was surprised that Rick Steve’s Tours were so well known across the country. I had always enjoyed thinking that he was a local Pacific Northwest guy with a local following. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time touring with a group. Loves the experience and knowledge our guide had given us

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to chose from"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Stephanie made the tour very informative and manageable. We could not imagine doing such a fully scheduled tour on our own. Just researching and managing our bonus three days in Naples after our Sicily tour was exhausting. The Rick Steve’s tour allowed us to visit more interesting sites in an efficient manner.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Starting our tour with a visit to the palazzo was a fabulous start to the wonders of Sicily. It was personal and spectacular which got us off to a great start. We were still adjusting to the time ( we’d been delayed on our flight) and were trying to absorb the differences in Sicilian culture. Meeting a long term Sicilian/palermo resident helped us connect our expectations with the reality of Palermo. There are palazzos labeled all over Palermo and Sicily, but the Contessa explained the reality."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an amazing tour experience. It exceeded our expectations in every way. Our guide Patricia went above and beyond not only for myself but I witnessed her do the same for other tour members. Patricia also added experiences along the way that helped our group bond. It took our group from a bunch of strangers to family.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The smile on my husbands face as he exclaimed, “this was the best birthday I’ve ever had in my life”. He turned 65 during the trip. The magical day started with Patricia organizing the singing of happy birthday in an ancient theatre. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was engaging and well-planned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the St. Lucia procession in Syracuse."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best guide and tour I’ve taken. Our last tour guide set a high bar but this trip was even better

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many. I think sitting in the Greek theatre viewing Mount Etna but there were so many. Outstanding tour"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As usual, everything ran on time and was streamlined. This was helped by the fact that our.group was.so.small. December is a lovely time to travel to Sicily. It was cool, but not cold. Crowds were minimal. The Christmas lights were decadent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina. The physical beauty was stunning, particularly with the city all lit up for Christmas. The locals were friendly. It was very relaxed."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall excellent tour. Recommend it for sure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Castelamola"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience on an island with rich history, great food and wine, and colorful locales. Beautiful land, friendly people, outstanding guides (notably Virginia). Our needs were anticipated all along the way and our instructions clear. Group dynamics were good. Learned a lot and the sights were spectacular.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was one wow after another, either in history or visuals. Seeing Thomas Beckett depiction in Monreale Cathedral was an eye opener. Never expected an English cleric to be such a big deal in Sicily. The view of Mt. Etna down to the sea from our hotel in Taormina. Watching residents in a Palermo flat improvising an outdoor dumbwaiter by hoisting a bucket to a third floor balcony. Listening to street musicians. The mosaics at the Imperial Villa. The amphitheaters all over. The numerous temples."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Virginia and Michael were wonderful. We had a great group. Food was absolutely outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina was so magnificent! Definitely going back!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour exploring the history, culture, and beauty of Sicily. A nice variety of experiences discovering the highlights of this fascinationg island.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful mosaics at Monreale Cathedral and the historical Valley of the Temples in Agrigento."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From tour check in to our farewell dinner, each moment spent felt curated just for us. Sicily is a region that one can really dive in to the history, culture, food, wine, scenery and architecture and come away with a new appreciation for the passion and personality of the people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There is never just one but I think it’s the attention to detail RS tours puts into the tours. His guides are the best of the best (Virginia, we love you!) and each tour supports the RS travel philosophy."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Sicily tour was fantastic! Led by Virginia's first-rate knowledge, joyful enthusiasm, and playful sense of humor, our journey across Sicily was filled with impactful moments and many memories to treasure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially enjoyed the well-preserved Roman mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale, The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento, and the natural beauty of Taormina. But my top "wow" moment was learning more about the various civilizations inhabiting Sicily throughout time; such a distinctive characteristic of its present day culture."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I chose your late November Sicily tour because it was not an island that I would or could navigate on my own. And, I am not a hot weather fan! Our guide, Virginia, made this island's vast historical past, present and looking forward stimulating; skillfully incorporating numerous cross-cultural, social, political complexities into a fun weave of "on and off the bus" talks and conversations. Her excellent communication, organizational, interpersonal, humor skills shone out to me!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lighting storm the evening of arriving in Trapani and the rainstorm the morning of leaving Trapani; the humbling beauty, awe and power of Mother Nature; looking out to the Ionian Sea and imaging how both sea and weather has shaped this place and its peoples for eons. Like a temper-tantrum and then it's over - this too shall change so be adaptable and roll along with it!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was wonderful. An extension of the best of south Italy tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt Etna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A tour of Sicily and it was absolutely amazing. Can’t wait to take another Rick Steves trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"They were all “wow” moments! every time I thought I had seen the best, the next thing would blow me away."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Incredibly organized tour from day to day; wonderful guides; beautiful settings and scenery and even weather; a minimum of tourists; outstanding food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Discovering Ortygia and all it had to offer."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All details were perfectly planned and executed, from the hotels, to the tours and guides, to the wonderful meals and activities. Our guide Stephanie was exemplary. She was friendly, helpful and the epitome of professional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The perfect balance of organized activities and free time. Our group was especially good, with everyone pulling together."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had heard so many positive reviews of the Best of Sicily tour from other tour members and I was not disappointed. The itinerary, the sights, the FOOD and our tour members made the tour a memorable and a great learning experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many “WoW” moments to single out just one, but visiting the sight of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the hilltop town of Taormina and the Archaeological Park were standout experiences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic, and unanticipated, that it would be so good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Apart from a couple of specialized sea kayak expeditions, this was the first group tour we've ever taken. We've always preferred independent travel; didn't know whether we could adapt to a rigid schedule. Turned out that the "rigidity" was not an issue, and the tour was so well organized, and the leader so stunningly good, that the experience was overwhelmingly positive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the astoundingly well-preserved Greek temple at Segesta and having the remarkable freedom to wander all around and through it. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily is absolutely beautiful, the culture, history, traditions, food and people are incredible

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day was a wow moment, every place visited, every city, every food eaten, every experience had the wow effect on me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We found the trip fascinating and exciting. Our tour guide was GREAT. The extra things we were interesting . We learned so much history and culture from this trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the landscape around Taormina. Incredible!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Sicily tour is a very well-organized experience full of incredible history, amazing architecture, delicious food, charming local guides, and plenty of free time to explore on your own. Our guide, Nina, was absolutely stellar. She is a wealth of knowledge about Sicily and she has an uncanny ability to turn that knowledge into amazing delivery to the group day after day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everyday held memorable moments, but I think the "wow" for me was the cathedral and cloisters in the hill-topping town of Monreale. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great first experience with RSE. Loved the knowledge of the guides and the itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Local restaurants that we tried (on our own) in Trappani and Catania that were absolutely outstanding in quality, service and value."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed the sites, guides, food, and relatively reduced bus time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The valley of the Temples and the Roman Villa were my favorites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very pleased with the itinerary and other than one property I found the accommodations to be very good. Our tour leader and local guides were excellent. The group was not too large or unwieldy and we moved along quite well. And our driver was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mount Etna from Taormina was spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, the tour was excellent. Of course, I enjoyed some stops and some activities more than others, but that is a matter of personal taste not a criticism.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything about Taromina. The beautiful town, the history, the stunning vistas, its proximity to Etna…everything."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Itinerary was great, Stephanie was knowledgeable, organized, considerate and sweet, hotels well located and very nice, and meals good

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Valley of the Temples in Agrigento at night "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The trip was good, but I wish it include the Neapolis Archaeological Park in Siracusa in the itinerary

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mountain Etna ride and Taormina stay"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Stephanie was a superb leader. Activities were fun and provided new and educational opportunities. Other travelers were friendly and open. The bus driver was exemplary- making the windy, mountainous roads of Sicily manageable for passengers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Great food offerings at multiple venues."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was well organized and ran smoothly. We met very nice fellow travelers and the guides were great. I wasn’t as fond of the big cities; I really enjoyed visiting Erice, Trapani, Agrigento, Syracuse (Ortygia) and Taormina.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Mount Etna and everything about Taormina. It’s really hard to pinpoint a favorite wow moment when there were so many enjoyable moments and activities. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Sicily in 11 Days tour exceeded my expectations. Each day held a fabulous experience. Our guide Stephanie, gave good information on landmarks, history, customs and general helpful local ideas. The range of her knowledge was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving up to Taormina and seeing the beautiful views of the Mediterranean and Mt Etna was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was amazing. Just about all of the many RS tours we and our friends have been on have been amazing but it is so clear to a group of us that the tour guide makes such a huge difference in the tour experience and whether it is very good vs. outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As usual, I would have to look at all my photos to give you the most accurate response. For now, I will say the volcano lecture and the puppets were "wow" because we have been lucky enough to see beautiful sights, mountains, buildings, etc. on all the tours but those two items were unique to this tour!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We are seasoned travelers and I was impressed with the balance of free time to guided tours. The guides were great. Alfredo provided excellent overviews of the places we visited and drove past along with detailed information on where to to eat and what to see on our free time. The addition of subject experts who guided us at the various sites were "icing on the cake". They really knew their stuff.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is very difficult to pick just one when the competition includes Mt Etna, sea salt harvesting, a pastry baking lesson from an 80-year old master, a collection of temples from each of the occupiers of Sicily, a Roman villa and the delicious meals. However, my favorite "wow" moment was the Cathedral at Monreale with its jaw dropping mosaics. A not to be missed site!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour. I will admit Sicily was not on my "bucket list" but it certainly delivered. Beautiful scenery, wonderful accommodations and outstanding tour guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale -- I have never seen anything like it. Largely intact with beautiful detail."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again, RSE exceeded expectations:-)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very difficult to answer bc there were many! Loved Monreale Cathedral, lunch at Maria Grammatico, Museum of Salt, Villa Romana Del Casale, lunch at Agriturismo Torre di Rende, Mount Etna tour, all of Ortigia, all of Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed this tour immensely because of our expert guide, Alfredo, a very knowledgeable set of local guides, great selection of hotels and group meals, and a friendly set of traveling companions. The history in this place is so vast it is hard to capture. The scenery is really breathtaking. It isn’t hard to understand why the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Moors, Normans, and anyone else would want to spend time in Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One wow moment was seeing Mount Etna framed in the ruin of the Greek Theater in Taormina. Another was walking the Valley of the Temples. And still a third has to be all the mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guide Alfredo was so fun and informative and had such a positive attitude that he made the trip fly by.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The villa in Syracuse with all the mosaics was incredible."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a wonderful tour with fabulous tour guides. Each of the locations gave a new experience and gave us a broader view of the landscape, history, and cultural heritage of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Agrigento with its lovely Greek temples. I also loved the Roman Villa with its beautiful mosaic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

While a few insisted on pushing their political views making it uncomfortable to converse, for the most part it was a good group of travelers. There were enough opportunities to avoid unwanted conversations to make it bearable. Our tour guide Alfredo was fabulous and made the trip great. The additional guides were very knowledgeable and enhanced the experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each location had its wow moments but the nicest quality was the short guided walk at the destination and free time to explore on our own."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick Steves is a top notch travel group with incredible tour guides, great experiences, opportunities to participate in group activities as well as explore on your own with guidance from the ‘book’.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I thought about this a lot during the trip and there were many incredible sights and experiences, but they were made all the better by Alfredo and especially the local guides: Jacqui, Michele, Countess Alwine, Iliana and Franco. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The most informative, educational and fun tour I have experienced! Sicily is such an exotic place, with all those diverse layers of history, art and religion.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots to choose from, but I’ll go with the Monreal Cathedral. Larger than the dimensions of a football field, a Roman Catholic Cathedral that incorporates Byzantine, Arabic and Norman architecture, art and religion. It’s symbolic of the “good governance” promoted by King Roger II."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

9 or 10 thousand steps per day but a great experience. Thomaso was a great guide he kept the tour interesting and fun. Great group of people. Rick Steves delivers again

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not sure I had a wow moment there was so much to see and do. Sicily is a relatively small island but it is full of beautiful churches and Greek and Roman ruins. 16 different nations ruled at one time or another. The whole island is a walk through history. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The pace and variety of this tour was outstanding. Sicily is such an interesting island with so many different historical and cultural influences that bleed into the architecture, food, and way of life. If you like Italy, try Sicily for something a bit beyond.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Roman mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale were astounding. I thought I had seen some fine mosaics in Turkey, but the magnitude and quality of these were mind-blowing. Also, the temples at Agrigento and Segesta were wonderful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed the trip. The guide, Tommaso, was fabulous. We had a great group. The weather was perfect (except for the one day).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the ancient ruins in Segesta, Agrigento and the roman villa."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed our tour, as we have enjoyed all our Rick Steve's tours. It is a wonderful balance of tour time and free time. I appreciated all the expert specific guides and the focus on history and botany that Tommaso provided.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The breathtaking beauty of Sicily in general as well as the unique character of each city."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour. Our tour guide Tomasso was very knowledgeable and uplifting. He always had a positive spin on everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wine tasting at Mount Etna was fabulous with great food."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very smooth trip with really fun treats along the way

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Villa Romana del Cásale "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides/fun experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Villa Romana"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What's not to love? Our guide, Andrea, was outstanding. He not only gave us the information we needed to enjoy each destination, but he went above and beyond with intelligent, interesting conversations and additional activities, all with a smile and a sense of humor. The itinerary was well thought out to hit the highlights of a Sicilian adventure, and the local guides were very knowledgeable. The hotels were all good in great locations, perfect for wandering around during free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! One highlight was the wonderful lunch and pastry class with Maria Grammatico, followed by sightseeing in the hilltop medieval town of Erice. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was wonderful: the island of Sicily itself, the accommodations and meals provided, the added activities, the group dynamics, our amazing driver Guiseppe, and above all our incredible guide, Andrea. I've never travelled on a group tour before and I am so happy to report I loved it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hmmm, there were quite a few, but if I had to choose just one, the Cathedral at Monreale. I've wanted to see it ever since I became aware of its existence and it was simply amazing to see those acres of 800 year old mosaics shining brightly. Honourable mentions: Greek temples in Agrigento and Segesta; the cathedral at Siracusa; the personal tour of Palazzo Conte Federico in Palermo by the Contessa herself."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have heard nothing but raves about this tour but I did not expect it to be so diverse and well rounded. There was a little bit of everything-history, art, churches, great food and fun activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but the first time I saw the Palermo Cathedral really stands out."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our first large bus tour. It was well planned and operated smoothly. The hotels were an interesting mix, and were always agreeable or excellent. Our tour leader Andrea was very effective and entertaining. I think he was an essential attribute of the successful tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ancient Segesta and Mountaintop Erice"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Having never been on a RS tour, let alone any group tour, had nothing to compare it to but the breadth of sites and activities was better than we even anticipated.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the salt pans of Trapani and the Temple of Concordia in Agrigento."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

In planning and selecting the tour, our opinion is that the tour description was accurate and delivered a very enjoyable, memorable experience. We loved meeting and interacting with all the people and left having made new friends. Alfredo has to be one of the best in the business. His knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm made for a great small group tour experience. Additionally, the local guides we had at the various cities and sights were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples and our tour guide. The evening view of the Temples from the hotel’s garden terrace. Only wish we could have stayed another night."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well thought-out and organized, with great local guides, a great tour leader (Alfredo), and a wonderful diversity of activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The rooftop of the hotel in Palermo where we had our first meeting."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The pace of the trip is well planned, the experiences covered a broad range of highlights, and the accommodations were, for the most part comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina was a magical place, especially after dark. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a great experience. Our guide Alfredo, with humor and warmth, expertly moved us through a busy itinerary. We had full days, but I can't imagine skipping anything. Sicilian history is captivating -- deep and layered. The excellent local guides really brought it to life. The food is delicious, the scenery beautiful. Ruins, gardens, mountains, water, charming small towns -- endless delights. You can tell a lot of care went into the planning of the Sicily tour. I'm so glad we went.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day offered at least one wow moment but looking back, the visit to quiet Segesta with its ancient temple and theater was very special. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A fine introduction to Sicily’s history and melting pot of ancient cultures and cuisines, Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman, Spanish

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Villa Romana del Casale and its extraordinary mosaics. Wish we could have spent more time there"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first trip with a tour group. Very organized and well done.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel in Agrigento. Unexpectedly beautiful, too bad we couldn’t eat there. The baronessa’s farm, The Roman villa with the floor tiles."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was semi skeptical at first because we usually travel by ourselves, but I thought, why not. I was really happy we chose Rick Steves tours. We met some great people, had great tours of sites and good food and wine wherever we went. I totally recommend this company.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cathedral of Mon Real was incredible. The dogs that greeted us at Mozia were so heartwarming."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a tour! Thank you for the outstandingly organized tour of Sicily. Nina was the best and the whole package of outings, hotels, sites was just perfect. We have been on many other tours and this one was the best. Recommending to all I speak to of it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Valley of the Temples. So amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well run. On time. Variety of experiences. Helpful guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mosaics at Montreale. Valley of the Temples. Winery visit and farm lunch."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The best word to describe the experience is “Fun.” From the amazing sights, food, history, fellow travelers, and especially our top-notch guide Nina it was a pleasure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing atop the 2,000 year old ruins of the Greek theatre in Taormina looking out over the breathtaking beauty of the city perched above the sea with Mt Etna peeking through the clouds in the distance. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I found Sicily to be a fascinating part of Italy. I was surprised by how large a part it played in European History.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed Agrigento but also the Villa Romana Del Casale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded all expectations. Our guide, Nina, shared her knowledge and experience and passion with our group. The tour was a perfect blend of time exploring with the group and on our own. I appreciated not waking in a different town every day but getting to spend time absorbing the unique character of each of our stops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every moment was a “wow” moment and all enriched by the history and traditions shared with us by our local guides, the demonstrations at Maria Grammatico’s and Benanti Vineyards, walking up in and walking around places that people have been waking up in and walking around for millennia. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

SIcily has such a fascinating multi-cultural history. This impacted all aspects of our tour--including the architecture, food and places we visited. The beauty of Sicily was amazing--with Mt. Etna being a star. Each hotel was better than the next with the roof-tops of each being very fun to look forward to. Our tour guide, Nina was awesome--so enthusiastic, knowledgeable and a joy to be around. We were also blessed with a wonderful tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh gosh--so many...Mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, Being able to climb a bit on Mt. Etna, Climbing up the steps to church above Taormina at sunrise. And then coming back for tea on the incredibly scenic hotel patio. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nina was very knowledgeable & made it enjoyable to learn about Sicily. The planning with the hotels, tours & meals were flawless. The group was very compatible which also added to the pure enjoyment of our tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the ruins was my Wow moment, besides the outstanding natural beauty of Sicily. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I was so impressed with the vivaciousness and knowledge of our Tour Leader Nina. She made the trip fascinating and fun. The daily adventures were nicely varied and each town had its own flavor. Our group was very congenial, and our bus driver Massimo was terrific.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cathedral at Monreale was a wow moment. The blend of ancient cultures were beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour, and it was *excellent*! From gritty Palermo to *chichi* Taormina, we really got a comprehensive tour of Sicily. I appreciated the balance between group activities and free time to explore on our own in each location. The other attendees were all great as well. I was impressed that our group of ~25 strangers were all so friendly -- truly no grumpy or needy colleagues in our group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A literal "Wow!" moment for me was Monreale cathedral. As soon as I stepped through the doors and caught my first glimpse of the mosaics, I had no words other than "Wow!" It is a beautiful cathedral with a fascinating history."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Siciliy tour was very informative and interesting. Our guide, Nina, was excellent and made the trip even more enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Greek Temples near Agrigento were amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nina, cannot imagine better. She was happy, knowledgeable, energetic, and so darn good in her delivery of information. She was very organized and her friendships with other local guides was real and nice. You could tell they enjoyed seeing her and her groups again. The hotels were very nice and interesting. Maybe one or two local guides were Italian and hard to understand at times. The places that we got to stay and see were wonderful. Mossimo, our driver, was skilled and helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I do remember saying “wow” more than once but 2 times in the same place was Taormina. The view from our room was over the top and walking into the theatre on the local tour was the second. It’s always an eye opener to see how skilled the people who lived back then were to be able to design and build what they did. It’s just remarkable. My geography and history always gets better. The length of the trip was just right. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was an excellent introduction to the culture and history of Sicily. Nina was so knowledgable, helpful, and fun, and I can't imagine a better guide. All accommodations were very comfortable and not in the usual tourist hotels, and the logistics ran without a hitch. On top of all that, my fellow travelers were delightful, and we now have many new friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was amazed by the Valley of the Temples, including the remains of the Temple of Zeus. Their setting on the hilltop was so dramatic. I had read about this place but still stunned to see it."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Good variety of Sicilian locations. Great hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"None"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded expectations - a thorough tour of Sicily

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit with the Contessa and her Palermo Palacio and the luncheons with the Baroness and Maria"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jamie was a fantastic guide and we had a fantastic group of people. The tour lives up to the name, the best of Sicily. The pace is somewhat intense but it also seems the only way to really do an overview of all these different places and sights in Sicily in such a short time. The organization and balance of "must-see" touristic sites plus off-the-beaten-path experiences was, I think, perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can't really isolate one "wow" moment -- it really was a cumulative experience of tastes, sights, learning a bit of Italian, and so on. I loved meeting Maria Grammatico and practicing shaping cookies with her. Loved the Roman mosaics. Loved the ruins at Segesta. I think Ortigia was my favorite."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

tour of Sicily

Favorite "WOW" moment

"learning about the history and culture of Sicily"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experiences in understanding the culture and getting to see things off the beaten path.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Erice Mountaintop and baking with Mary. Awesome experience. Much enjoyed. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was excellent. Each hotel had its own charm. Guides were great. Loved the unique stops along the way. Would never have found those experiences if we planned it on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved lunch at the Baroness'. Also, the garden at the hotel in Agrigenta was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the whole trip. The itinerary was great. Sicily had very interesting sites combining history and culture. Nina our tour guide was warm and welcoming

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the lunch at the contessa’s villa. It was very authentic and delicious "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nina was a fantastic guide. She did a great job keeping us all involved, informed and mostly having a great time. Thanks Nina for giving us an awesome 2nd Rick Steves tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say as every town we visited in Sicily had its unique thing. Driving up the side of Mama Etna was really cool to see all the lava in the surrounding area. The German volcanist was extremely informative. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent combination of history, culture, and food. Nina did a fantastic job of providing insight, fascinating stories, and perspective to what we saw. Super group of tour members made for an enjoyable and fund trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mt. Etna puffing away while eating breakfast in Taormina and viewing Agrigento's Valley of the Temples. Marveling at the layers of history seen in the Syracuse Cathedral and listening to the local guide, Liliana, weave a story of the different periods of the church and the various cultural contributions. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a lot of fun as a family, the group was friendly and Nina our tour guide was excellent. The local guides were very good as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pasta Norma - where have you been all my life? Also Mt. Etna smoking was cool to see."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Despite the fact that I got Covid, the tour was everything I could have wished. The art, the architecture, history, geography .. and I have to say the people on this tour were wonderful! It was a vigorous trip, lots of stairs and hills to climb, but when I got to the top of the stairs and the top of the hills: oh, my! I can’t say it was unexpected, because I did prep for the trip, but to see what I saw in person, was worth every steep stair and hill.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I’ve thought about this a lot, because I found myself sayin ‘wow’ a lot (at old sculptures, ancient pottery), and at one point, ‘wow wow’ (At the Roman amphitheater in Taormina). I think, though, it was actually walking on Mt. Etna, obviously on a dead crater, so no anxiety or fear needed. But I can say I walked on Mt. Etna, saw the evidence of its presence as an active volcano. How ‘WOW’ is that!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent food, reasonable accommodations, and great tour guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick, but the Greek temples and ruins sites, also Etna and the surrounding region were impressive. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire tour was so enjoyable and interesting. We had a fun and knowledgeable tour guide in Donald. Every place we went to was interesting and full of so much history. The local tour guides are just full of knowledge about the places they showed us, and helped us to understand about Sicily's colorful past. The hotels were super -- all were clean, beds were comfortable, staff was friendly and helpful, the breakfast's were so good too. Especially the roof top at the Palermo hotel!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monreale cathedral was one of the best I've ever seen. So beautiful! And all the history of it made it even more beautiful. Amphitheater at Segesta. Ruins at Agrigento. Erice and Maria Grammatico's lunch and cookie class was priceless. The salt flats at Trapani. Taormina is a lovely town, and we had a gorgeous sunset over Mt. Etna from the big piazza!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful 11 days on the tour! Our leader, Donald, was excellent in every way, the accommodations were excellent, the pace of the tour was outstanding and we made friends quickly with our tour companions!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments we can't just list one. Seeing the Valley of the Temples in the daytime and then lit up at night was awe inspiring!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Up until the last day the Sicily tour was superb as was our tour guide (Donald) & I'd recommend it to anyone without hesitation. The one ding is the final day in Catania, which was an underwhelming way to end the tour - the WWII museum was huge & uninteresting, the Catania market wasn't as interesting as others we visited, and the city didn't feel safe for random exploration (Palermo did). Catania is convenient for the airport, but I'd have loved to end the tour with a final night in Taormina.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many memorable moments - each day had multiples. Overall I'd say the food was the "wow", particularly the lunches we had in Erice & en route to Siracusa which were among the best lunches I've ever had. During our own wandering we also had superb meals in Ortygia at a restaurant recommended by our guide that featured mussels cooked in tomato sauce & covered in a bread crust, and also lunch at a random spot in the Ortygia market. And everywhere, Sicilian pizza - wow! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour group, guide Donald, and sites to explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ancient mosaics, Erice, Valley of the Temples, Salt Pans"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So interesting and different from the other Italy tours. I learned so much about the history and cultures that informed Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many - first, the cathedral at Monreale, the Palazzo Federico and tour with the Contessa, lunch and cookie baking with Maria Grammatico, fabulous lunch at the farm, the mosaic floors at Villa Romano Del Casale and beautiful Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well structured and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The salt pans near Trapani."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

There was something for everyone from the historical, artistic, religious, culinary, and geographic perspective. We definitely were kept on the go and were not bored. Brad went out of his way to keep us informed on the bus about what we would be seeing, the history and significance of the location, and what to expect when we arrived at the site. He was very considerate to have frequent stops for snacks and bathroom breaks. He also had an excellent report with our bus driver!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That is difficult. There were several! Agrigento's Valley of the Temples, Segesta, Erice, climbing Mt. Etna, and Taormina! Seeing the temples illuminated at night while being at the beautiful countryside hotel in Agrigento was spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the varied itinerary. The tour guide was good but not great. The bus driver was excellent. The other participants were all very nice and made the trip even more enjoyable. It was nice to have a range of ages in our group as well as people from many different states. I appreciated having 10 single women in the group even though many of them came in friend groups.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several ... I really enjoyed the Vineyard Tour and wine tasing as well as the lunch spread that followed. My favorite hotel was the one in Arigento with the beautiful garden, view and hot tub. Loved it!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sicily was wonderful. Exploring the ruins in Segeste & Agrigento was incredible. The cannoli demo & lunch in Erice was fabulous, & Ortega was beautiful. Walking on Mt Etna was a once in a lifetime experience. & my favorite of all was Taormina with its incredible heights & viewpoints, & beautiful sea below. The first full day in Palermo was nice, & the last day in Catania was lack lustre (though the war museum tour with Jamie in the morning was excellent & dinner was awesome).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views of Mt Etna from the hotel in Taormina, both from the gorgeous rooftop Skybar as well as the beautiful patio of our hotel room. Loved it."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sicily was great experience and was very different from the other parts of Italy I have been to. The flavours of the previous occupiers of this island are still present and give Sicily a multi cultural experience. Our guide Jamie was very knowledgeable and kept us entertained - and topped up on vino at all times. Save to say a good time was had by all!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking on Mt. Etna and then watching her smoke and smolder from our room in Taormina, simply in awe of her majesty."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everyday in Sicily was incredibly; we did and saw so much. Sicily is filled with so much history and breath taking sites, not to mention the delicious food and wines. We discovered and learned so much each day without feeling rushed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each day had so many WOW moments for me, it would be impossible to pick my favorite. Second RS tour for us and have now booked our third. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Like our other two past RS tours it was a great experience and we are glad we went on the tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing the mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale and seeing the mosaics and frescos at Monreale Cathedral"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic time. Went with my mother, aunts, and uncle and we loved the vibe of the group and especially our amazing tour guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being able to see the most stunning of places and receive a deep insight into the history and culture of each location. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was way more than I ever imagined it could be. The content was comprehensive and full. Every single day was complete with experiences of interest, good food, and dynamic interaction.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about the depth of civilization throughout the centuries."

Overall the tour was fantastic. Our tour guide Nancy was wonderful. Her knowledge of the Sicilian History and Culture complimented the specialist guides well. She made everyone feel comfortable with each other and promoted harmony and learning among the tour group. I feel we had a well rounded tour and accommodations were surprising in that AC worked in all but one of our rooms!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'd have to say my wow moment was in the Valley of the Temples and seeing the supporting statues for the temple of Zeus in the museum and then seeing the ruins of temple later on the walk. It was so amazing to see all of those ruins from ~500BC"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed our group and our tour leader Nancy. Her energy and enthusiasm for her job was contagious and we learned so much from her. As usual, there was a good mix of tours and free time. We’ve been to Italy many times but never realized how much Sicilians view themselves as Sicilians over being Italians. Highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the salt production from seawater. It was huge and something I never realized I needed to see. Very interesting. The tour of the Greek temples was very good too. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved our tour guide and enjoyed getting to know the other people on the tour. It was a whirlwind experience but we enjoyed the scenery and the history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the top of Erice was incredible. In Catania we stumbled across some wonderful choral groups singing in different churches; very moving. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was amazing, I loved the history of Siciliy. I really apprecitated our guide Nancy who shared the culture with us and how Sicilians live today. The treats from Sicily were also awesome!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing momuments from 500BCE. Seeing the Contessa's home in Palermo"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Truly enjoyed this bus tour. Guides knowledge of Sicily and her humor and enthusiasm made it so much fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many to described but I really loved seeing the "Bikini Girl" mosaic place."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nancy was perfect guide. Group was very companionable. Great balance of free and programmed time. Great mix of activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Whole day touring Greek site of Segesta, making pastries and excellent buffet lunch and wonderful beach for rock collecting."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The content and the preparation of this tour is outstanding. Our tour guide Donald really painted a fantastic word picture of the sights, sounds and culture of Sicily. His professionalism was evident from day one. Our bus driver was a master in negotiating the road of Sicily. We were only limited by our own physicial limitations.Take very seriously the warning that this tour is physically active.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our luncheon visit to Maria Grammatico's Cooking School in Erice. This 81 year young woman gave us a demonstation in making some of her delicious pastries and appetizers. The canolis were fabulous."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our fifth Rick Steves tour and ranks up there with being one of my favorite ones yet. We had a wonder guide, wonderful group and explored rustically beautiful Sicily .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can’t say one singular moment, just a general overall great vibe."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, our tour was great! We covered a lot of territory in our 10 days, but thanks to the planning of our guide, Donald, everyday brought beautiful and interesting sites. Our fellow tour members were great, making the experience even more memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day had its own wow moment. Standing in a crater on Mt Etna. Temples, cathedrals and mosaics built over 2000 years ago. Breathtakingly beautiful views of the Mediterranean. Gorgeous sunsets and sunrises."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic time! Excellent tour guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the top of the hotel in Agrigento. Looking ate the temples lit up in the evening. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was beyond my expectations from the tour description that was on the website!! Donald was a fantastic guide. I know I went to places that I never would have found on my own. The bus driver was absolutely expert at the roads. I sat in the front of the bus and was VERY impressed with his driving expertise! All the hotels were wonderful. The views were spectacular in many places. I enjoyed the Island of Ortygia and Domus Mariae Benessere. We also took a great boat ride around the island!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think my "wow" moments of food were two special lunches/dinners- at Maria Grammatico's in Erice and the Contessa's farm, Casa Bianca in Lentini. The food selections were fabulous and delicious! So much variety. The sights that were WOW were Monreale, the Greek Temple and the Agrigento ruins. This was my first time on an organized tour and my first trip to Sicily. I wanted to see the homeland of my great-grandparents. My family is from the Palermo area. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, I enjoyed the tour very much. There was a good variety of experiences and locations: cathedrals, a farm, a cooking class, a winery, temples, museums, a palazzo, a volcano, etc. The tour guide Don was very good: energetic, knowledgeable, and organized. The tour participants were friendly and diverse as far as careers and the places they lived. The bus driver was excellent. Not many people can maneuver a large vehicle so expertly through such narrow streets.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"What I enjoyed the most was the valley of the temples and the archeological museum in and near Agrigento. The museum was so interesting because of the guide, informative and witty. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

everything was so well planned to avoid crowds,delays etc. Special events planned were so unique and fun! Hotels were very well located, and comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"special boat trip in Ortygia!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed this tour experience very much, and am impressed with every detail - hotels, bus transportation and driver, wonderful food, and our great guide, Donald. I appreciated the roster of the participants, and made it a point to speak with everyone and learn their names. Quality people choose quality experiences - and the local quides in every city certainly added to the experience. I was thankful for Donald's sense of humor and fluent Italian that made this trip a real pleasure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My first "wow" moment was walking out to the rooftop terrace of the Ambasciatori Hotel for breakfast to a stunning view of Palermo - what an opener! The second "wow" moment was at the end of the boat trip around Ortygia, when our captain lowered the canopy and had everyone duck to motor through the low arched road supports. I was able to video it live and it remains a true highlight of the trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great travel group, beautiful sites and delicious food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Three of my favorite trip memories are making cookies with Maria, visiting the temple ruin sites and going to see the puppet show. Oh, I forgot sailing into the caves."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We were very satisfied with all the places we toured in Sicily . We felt that we saw the highlights and learned a lot about Sicily’s history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking around the crater of Mt. Etna and the views of sea and mountains. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best of Sicily was another amazing Rick Steves tour. Our guide Ruth and all the local guides were knowledgeable and answered questions patiently. I learned so much about Sicilian history and culture. Once again, the other tour mates were such fun to get to know, friendly and positive, it was truly a "merry band of travelers," as Rick would say.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments, but the ones that come to mind are: the mosaics in the Monreale Cathedral, walking through Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the delicious lunch and cooking lesson with Maria on the top of Erice, and the Greek theater in Taormina with an unforgettable view. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a great time viewing the many sights of Sicily. Besides the beautiful scenery, I enjoyed visiting the locations and venues where we met the locals and learned more about life in Sicily. It was a good balance of free time and guided touring.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking around Taormina was a very memorable experience for me"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip exceeded expectations in every regard!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the Valley of the Temples.....amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was excellent. I loved the 2night stays and our accommodations. It was a nice mix of experience, from walking though cities and hands on cooking. I wish more info on what we were seeing as we traveled, such as terrain, crops, etc. there was a bit too much of history and background of upcoming sights. I could not take it all in-too much lecturing on board. Overall though it was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt. Etna. Baking with the Contessa. Salt flats. Ruins that we walked to and around. Taormina. City walks with Jamie"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, I really enjoyed the tour. The guides were very knowledgeable and gave interesting backgrounds to all the archeological sites we visited. The hotels were excellent, with very comfortable rooms and very good breakfasts. The tour gave a comprehensive overview of the culture and history of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mt Etna for the first time filled me with a dep sense of wonder. We were lucky....no clouds, a trail of steam risng from the cone. So beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour covered Sicily very well - that is why we selected this tour. We compared different tours, and this one showed the best coverage of Sicily. The tour guide, Jamie, was extremely knowledgeable on a variety of subjects: history, myths, botany, food, and culture. The tour group was outstanding, with a great mix of people, but everyone kept the pace. The accommodations were good, and the countryside accommodations (outside of Agrigento) Baglio della Luna, was superb.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, and the Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale. These two sites were the best of the trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Consistently these tours are informative, well-paced and alot of fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples, could have spent the whole day there"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall experience was excellent! Our tour guide Virginia was one of the best guides we've ever experienced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was seeing Mount Etna and getting to walk up and see a crater. The talk from the Volcanologist was better than I had anticipated. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sicily was our third Rick Steve's tour of Italy. The first was Best of Italy. Truly the best of the best. Second was Southern Italy. Enjoyed it much more than I thought I would (except for Naples). Palermo reminded me of Naples. It was a good place to start because everything was uphill after that.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving to Taormina. Breathtaking! Loved everything. The tour, the walks through the small village. The cliffs overlooking the water. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was so well organized! Our tour guide, Virginia, was so kind, knowledgeable and always available for questions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt Etna! I was fascinated with this volcano when we studied it in 7th grade!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great. We had a really good group and everyone got along well. Our guide was fun and entertaining. When I asked the guide, she assisted another guest and myself set up a driver and wine tasting tour to do separately of the group. No issues at all

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I researched alot so I knew what to expect. I did feel there were a lot more group food activities which for me as a single traveler were great. Some of them were not listed in the tour, but due to our locations in small towns the guide is allowed to arrange for these picnics, snack times etc. The whole group enjoyed them. Lots of good local food provided. I think this is a plus to the tour and mingles the group better "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My fifth RSE tour was perhaps the best yet, which is saying a LOT. The itinerary was perfectly balanced in terms of what we as a group saw and learned about Sicily and plenty of free (non-group) time. As usual, our guide was outstanding. This was my first solo trip (i.e., without my husband) and I felt safe, comfortable and somewhat adventurous on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am torn between (1) seeing the amazing Greek temples and (2) the expert volcanologist's multi-media presentation on Mount Etna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour encompassed so much more than I expected. Stunning historical sites, beautiful accommodations and scrumptious meals. Our guide, Virginia, was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Valley of theTemples at night when the temples were illuminated."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Many interesting sites and personal touches made the tour one of my favorite.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed meeting the contessa and touring her home in Palermo. She showed a different side to the city and some of its history in towers along the rivers set up many years ago. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It all started with Virginia who was simply a fantastic guide. Not only was she organized, but it was clear that her clients were her foremost priority. She struck an excellent balance between providing historical and cultural information and quiet time. We enjoyed all of the hotels and all of the experiences. The dinners were OK and would need to improve to gain an outstanding rating - of all of the great Italian deserts - lemon jelly - really.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics at Monreale and the Roman palace were unexpected. We have been on tours where we thought one or more days was a filler, but with the possible exception of Catania, we thought every day was excellent."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our sixth RSE tour and as usual, everything was very well organized. Virginia is an excellent and fun tour guide! I really like how RSE mixes up things so we are not just strolling through museums and viewing ancient ruins. On this tour, we visited Maria in Erice, learned about salt harvesting and went to a puppet show. Great mix of activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Three "wows" for me on this trip. Seeing the mosaics at Romana del Casale, exploring Mount Etna and the beautiful views in Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing... We were very fortunate to get Ruth as our guide...and Angelo as our driver. She is so knowledgeable about all the places we went on the tour. Being Sicilian... all the food we had was food like my Nana and Dad would make. We went to San Vito Lo Capo before tour. Caught up with cousins I did not even know about two months ago. Great memory for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To many to count. All the meals we had together with the group. Just walking thru history on this island. But I would have to say... when we went out on the boat in Ortygia into the caves and came back and went under the bridge with the Bee Gees playing. Everyone was laughing and having a great time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well done

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As usual, our tour guide was absolutely excellent (Ruth). Our bus driver (Angelo) was smooth and competent. The locations on this tour felt more "touristy" than Small town Italy or Southern Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cathedral at Monreale"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, this trip was amazing! Our guide, Ruth, made the trip proceed smoothly. Each local guide was outstanding. I think I can add "Ancient World History" to this description as well! Wow!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the Cathedral at Monreale was the most amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was such a wonderful surpise! Great itinerary and great tour director.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics in the Roman villa ruins were astonishing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I cannot say enough good things about our guide, Andrea. He was so knowledgeable, humorous and was able to manage a variety of personalities. You are very lucky to have him representing Rick Steve’s Tours. All the hotels and meals were outstanding. Also our driver Antonio was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the cookie making class with Marie, the Roman mosaics, salt harvesting, time with the Contessa and Taormina’s Greek Theatre. I a’s Greek "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

W did the Best of Sicily guided tour. It was our first guided tour and we very much enjoyed it. We had an excellent guide in Andrea. Best part was that everything was planned and we were able to relax and enjoy Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick one, but probably our time at Mt. Etna. Spectacular! Also the WW2 Museum in Catania was meaningful because my wife's father fought in Sicily in the US Army. The visit with the Contessa in Palermo was a wow moment too. She was amazing and fun. We enjoyed the guided tour of the Valley of Temples as well. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding tour experience all the guides were the best very knowledgeable. Our Rick Steves guide was second to none he was the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour and presentation of Mt. Edna "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Andrea was an outstanding guide; knowledgeable and professional. The bus driver Antonio was as well very professional and what a delight to have him surprise us with his playing on a saxophone. They local guides were also very good with the gentleman at the Valley of the Temples was extremely knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maria's cooking class as an event was WOW. The Roman Mosaics where all of the coloured tiles were was another WOW moment. Time with Contessa Fredico was a surprise and a delight. Taromina’s Greek theatre was outstanding and sorry we couldn’t see a performance, missed Andrea Bocelli by a week. Finally the pizza night was superb as was the last dinner in Catania. Our first Rick Steve’s tour but definitely not our last. A very happy Canadian. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We fell in love with Sicily! And all because of our amazing your guide Andrea who led us through this beautiful country with wit, useful and interesting information, with his passion and love for his country shining through every moment!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many “wow” moments, how do you name just one? Visiting Mt Etna was fascinating and learning that because of her activity, Sicily is the fertile country that it is. I understanding the history of Sicily helped me to understand the resourcefulness of her people and to respect their endurance."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 11 Day Tour of Sicily was well balanced for daily activities, emphasizing historical aspects of Phoenician, Greek and Roman periods & settlements. Our Tour leader communicated extremely well ; sharing broad command of Sicily history and social culture. As the Tour travels 95% of the island we experienced all major Cities save Messina, and traveled the beautiful island interior. All the accommodations and tour bus were pleasant.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt Etna and its surrounding areas"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very smooth with no glitches. One of my best Rick Steves tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Multiple WOW moments!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guide was top tier. I love a well layed plan and this was truly delivered by our local guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow would be hard to pick. Every day was a new adventure and fun. I love to learn and being part of local outings. This trip proved to be learning and fun. Mt Etna would be at the top and close 2nd the visit and lunch pastry making trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was amazing and our fellow tour companions were amazing as well. As a group we just jelled! Everyone got along and really bonded together.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Andreas took us on a boat ride in Ortega, turns out there was a G7 agricultural meeting that same weekend. Our little boat was bobbing around in a bouncy sea followed by a couple of local police on jet skis, making sure we weren’t up to any funny business. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Terrific! Susannah was a great guide. The hotels were excellent as was the food. This group really got along well!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many...to name a few...Visit to Mt.Etna, visit to Maria's place for a baking lesson,visit to Siracusa and the astounding puppet show!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a wonderful experience. Our guide Susanna was outstanding; she was the perfect balance of knowledge, skill, patience and sense of humor. Loved her! The other folks on the tour were great. The hotels were all well located and uniquely charming. I enjoyed all the sites and activities, and by the time we were finished with the tour, we certainly felt as though we knew Sicily and all it had to offer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many WOW moments, from the first rooftop dinner in Palermo (the view!) to the breathtaking views in Taormina, wine tasting near Mt. Etna, the city walking tours; this tour was one big WOW."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So much amazing history and wonderful cities. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I have not been "tour-group" people, but from the TV and videos we had seen (not only Rick's), we thought Sicily might be too daunting to tackle on our own. We found ourselves delighted by our fellow travelers, guides, and the many "extras" included that we would have missed if we had traveled on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick just one -- the stucco sculpture in Palermo's Oratorio of San Lorenzo, Mozia, and Etna would surely rate. However, the one scene that keeps springing to mind is looking out from our hotel rooms onto the wine-dark Ionian sea at Siracusa and the rooftops of Taormina. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great! I got to see way more things that I could have ever seen if I had arranged it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hmm. The baking experience. I wasn’t expecting that and it was so fun. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Touring Sicily with a great guide was amazing. The towns and sights were varied and beautiful. I enjoyed the diverse cultures, people and good

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There where too many to choose one"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved it, so well organized! Suzanna was amazing and all the tours were so interesting! All the tour guides were so informative! Hotels were great and always in an excellent location.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pastry lesson with Maria! Great experience! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved it! One of my best vacations ever.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Etna. Its size and dominance."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was amazing. We love the places visited, and the food we ate, and the people we met! The guides were amazing as always!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We realized on this tour that this might be our favorite group of fellow travels we have ever been with on a RS tour (and we have loved them all)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I are 1st-timers with Rick Steve’s thoughts long-time fans from Rick’s tv series. We knew this would be a challenging financial investment for us, but based on our opinions from the show and on-line reviews, we were confident this would be a great value. WOW! Our Sicily tour was far beyond our expectations! Virginia, our tour guide for the duration, always made sure each of us were informed and comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour guide Virginia was integral to the ease and amazing experience we enjoyed. Seamless experience, no matter the weather, traffic or unpredictable events, she always kept our trip well-paced and amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour far surpassed our expectations. Our tour guide Virginia was very personable, helpful, thoughtful and knowledgable. She made the experience so enjoyable. The hotels were all very good and all offered outstanding breakfast buffets each morning. The tour bus was very clean and comfortable. The sites chosen for the tour were amazing. Each day of the tour felt like a new adventure. The other tour guides were extremely knowledgable as well. We never felt rushed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments for us so it's difficult to pick just one. I would put the Monreale Cathedral, Villa Romana Del Casale, the temples, Ortigia, Mt Etna and Taormina at the top of our list of places we loved. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

SO much to see in Sicily! And Virginia was an AMAZING tour guide!

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide, Virgnia, was exceptional. The tour was well organized and hit the highlights. I recommend this tour highly!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The temples at Agrigento was fantastic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I greatly enjoyed my tour. It was well organized, the tour guides were exceptionally knowledgeable, the hotels and restaurants and their menus well chosen. The sites, as well as the cities and towns we visited and stayed in, were memorable. Virginia, our tour guide, was exceptional. She was able to keep us on schedule, was warm, and very responsive to individual requests, e.g. she steered me to a restaurant which had as its house specialty a particular Sicilian pasta dish I wanted to try.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although there were many beautiful objects that I remember, e.g. a gorgeous 3rd century BC Greek statue of a young man on Moria, as well as wonderful mosaics and Greek temples, the most amazing moment was the last dinner we had when each of us presented Virginia with a present to thank her for her taking such good care of us. Our group happened to come together exceptionally well, and some of the reason for that we felt was attributable to her leadership."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

People, places and food were all outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many wow moments to pick just one"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved every minute of the tour. We experienced true Sicilian life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mt. Etna from a distance with a clear blue sky. Wow!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was great from our tour director to the planned activities and the amount of free time. The local guides were personable and knowledgeable. Everything was on schedule and when adjustments could be made to make the experience better, it was communicated in advance. Also, we had a great group of people on the tour. This was a great experience overall.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the beautiful mosaics in Vill Romana Del Casale."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sara was amazing...everyone was on time, and the history and sites wd visited were incredible The meals offered by the tour were exceptional

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to describe, perhaps the mosaics"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved everything about the tour. A wonderful experience -- The places we visited, the experiences we had, the people on the tour with us, our guide, Sarah, the local guides, the accomodations...really all great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is a hard question. We had never been to Sicily, so everything was new. Sicily was full of Wows--from Erice, to Segesta, to Agrigento, to Villa Romana, to Mt Etna and Taormina --all wows. The unusual experiences--touring the house with the contessa, being fed by the Baronessa, baking with Maria Grammatico, the Puppi in Ortigia, the walking tour of Taormina in the pouring rain, were all things I surely would have missed if I had been visiting these places on my own. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was excellent! Well organized, great itinerary, outstanding tour guide, companionable tour mates.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a number of wow moments but my favorite was the visit to Villa Romana del Casale and seeing the amazing mosaics. Absolutely stunning! I'd also like to give a special mention to the unique 'off the tourist path' activities ... visiting the Contessa in Palermo, Maria Grammatico's pastry school, visit to the Benanti Winery and lunch with the Baronessa. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, great guide, great group of people!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just waking up each morning and knowing that I had an exciting day ahead."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I were happily surprised by the content of the tour. The intellectual level was high, and we appreciated the variety of experiences offered. We are interested in art, history, food, culural activities, and activities in nature, so we were very happy to have all of those on this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are several, of course. One was the baking class with Maria Grammatico (and the delicious lunch that followed). I have always wanted an Italian nonna--she was delightful! It was inspirational to see her at her craft, considering her age. My stepdaughter is a pastry chef, so this was super relevant to me. Another wow moment was our group dinner in the garden in the countryside outside of Agrigento, with the temples and theaters alit in the distance. Magical."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour far exceeded my highest expectations, thanks to its breadth and depth, our wonderful group leader, Sara and an itinerary that was well thought out and comprehensive. I look forward to another travel experience with the Rick Steves group in the near future. I've already been boasting about the experience to family and friends and encouraging others to take a tour. Congratulations to all!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aside from the incredible subject of the tour, Sicily itself, I must give credit to Sara Corfield for making the trip so successful. As a former teacher and current museum educator and having led numerous tour groups throughout Europe over the years, I must say that she deserves many "wows" for her professionalism, knowledge and leadership. Thankyou Sara!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

excellent itinerary and our guide, Sarah, was great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monreale"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My Etna & Taormina"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the tour of Sicily - everything was so good, the food, the tour, our wonderful guide, Nancy, and all the sites and history of this amazing place.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gathering with a group from our tour on our hotel balcony for a little party complete with drinks and snacks - and watching the show Mt. Etna was putting on for us - erupting and booming away. An event to remember."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very educational and fun at the same time. Our tour guide Nancy was outstanding. She is a wealth of information, organization, and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, it’s hard to just have one. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Learned so much about Sicily and our tour guide made it fun and educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being there with my wife. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

very well organized. Tour guide was organized and knowledgeable. Travel companions were all relatively compatible. It was a good trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the Mediterranean; the history of the salt flats, viewing Greek ancient sites, watch Mount Etna erupt."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My fellow travelers were friendly and welcoming. We had many fun adventures and laughs. Our tour leader, Nancy, could not have been better. She was knowledgeable, thoughtful and very, very caring throughout the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moments included: swimming in the Mediterranean, seeing Mt. Etna come to life, seeing the amazing architecture from all over the world located on this island, enjoying the magnificent hospitality and of course, the cuisine. My souvenir to my friends and family is the menu of recipes I I brought back and will be preparing for a Sicilian dinner party. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a good mix of history and nature and food! The people were nice and our guide really took good care of us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It would have been the Valley of the Temples until we saw a live volcano!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well-paced with a good balance of group vs. alone time. Nancy is an exceptional guide and we appreciated her attention to detail.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beautiful Taormina was the best combination of charming Sicilian city, spectacular views and wonderful food (of course!)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Having a love of travel and this tour being our first experience of being part of a tour group, our guide, Nancy, was OUTSTANDING! Nancy's ability to lead a diverse group of travelers was amazing. Her knowledge, skills, and abilities made the travel experience so much fun. We learned so much more than we normally learn when we travel on our own. Nancy's ability to give you the "right" amount of information to keep your attention without overwhelming you was "spot on".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "wow" moment for me was when I could not remember what day it was because we were having so much fun. Having worked for 45+ years, I have lived by my calendar. I truly felt like I was on vacation when I stopped worrying about what day it was and let Nancy tell us about what experience was next."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had a great time even with the summer heat. Our guide Nancy was AMAZING. I would love to have her on every tour I go on.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food was… wow! Loved getting to see so much in the time there. I think going to Mt Etna though was great, especially hearing it make the constant noises."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I liked that we didn't have a full packed schedule. Each day, there were free times, when I could either rest, recuperate, or explore on my own. The itinerary was diverse, included some cultural, educational and fun stuff. The buddy checking system was efficient, and gave me an opportunity to connect to someone. For me, the tour guides were all very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, and sometimes their too much in detail teaching bored me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first night dinner at the rooftop in Palermo - the view was breath taking. The luncheon we had at a villa in Trapani - the food was fabulous. All the city walks were fun in Palermo, Trapani, Ortygia, Taormina and Catania. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very well organized and executed. Full day of events and activities, tour guide was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visting the Greek/Roman theater in Taormina was fantastic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed the itinerary. Wish we had more time to gondola up Mt Etna. But LOVED the winery lunch. Maybe add a day???

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Difficult to pick one. The dinner on patio in Palermo, awesome views! Need another day there.Maria Giamatico’s lunch and cooking. Tapestry art and ruins. Mt Etna! Taormina "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The whole experience was amazing! Our tour guide Virginia was outstanding! She was very knowledgeable and had a great way of explaining and engaging the group. Our bus driver Enzo did an awesome job! The trip hit all the highlights I wanted to see in Sicily and everything was explained thoroughly. Learned so much about the history. Loved every minute of the sights, culture, art, ruins, food! Such a beautiful and interesting trip. Will definitely visit Sicily again and do more Rick Stevens tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many WOW moments to pick just one."