Best of Sicily in 11 Days Tour

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

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

Overall excellent tour. Recommend it for sure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Castelamola"

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

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

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

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

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt Etna"

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

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list"

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

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

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

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 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 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 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

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 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 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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

Great guides/fun experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Villa Romana"

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 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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 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

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

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 3 of 5

Good variety of Sicilian locations. Great hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"None"

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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 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 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 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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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 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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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 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

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 5 of 5

Our Rick Steves guide, Virginia, made this tour more incredible than it was already destined to be considering our fabulous itinerary of historic sites, cultural experiences and great Sicilian food. A native of Italy who now lives in the Seattle area, Virginia obviously loves her job at the Rick Steves organization. You can tell that she really cares about each and every tour member. She was always checking to make sure we were doing well. She even had surprise treats and gifts for us all along.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel in Agrigento the moment I noticed where we were having dinner with the view of the Greek temples at dusk. "

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

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."

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

Sicily is a sight to behold, embrace, and experience! We walked away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for its history, our American history, its diversity, its beauty, and its challenges. I'm thankful for this journey with our delightful guide and other travelers, experiencing this intriguing place together!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I experienced a "WOW" every single day! It's so hard to pin down one of those moments. I guess the most memorable part of the tour was the times our group had arranged "picnics" on several of our outings. When you see a "spread" of favorite Sicilian dishes as a buffet and get to try everything, it's a WIN! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour. It has far exceeded my expectations. Our guide, Ruth, was amazing. Cannot ask for a better guide for my first RS journey. She was friendly, helpful, patient, organized and accommodating. I also love how all the local guides were very informative, knowledgeable and passionate. I learned so much that I wouldn't have done without a tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many WOW moments. I love to eat, that was one of the reasons I picked Italy as my destination. I especially love the lunch at the working farm. It was simple and so delicious!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first trip to Europe and our first Rick Steves tour. To say that we were very impressed would be an understatement! We are already thinking about our next RS tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments. The Monreale Cathedral and the Valley of the Temples were definitely two of our favorite moments."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I love the way that the Rick Steve's tours are organized. You have great learning experiences, both historic like the museums and fun like the cooking school. You also have time to do whatever you would like to do, from exploring the back alleyways to having a drink on a beautiful terrace and just relaxing. I think Rick's motto of no grumps and the idea you need to haul your own luggage, draws people who are motivated to learn about another culture while having fun in a group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The theater and temple at Segesta."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

There where many opportunities to see and do things I would not have done otherwise. That is the secret sauce of the Rick Steves Tours, exposing you to new experiences and introducing you to local people and customs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a number of wow moments: the Contessa, The salt flats, but for me it was the communal meal at Erice and then a walk about the town. It combined getting a taste of the local food with bonding of our tour mates followed by a stroll through a lovely hilltop village. As an aside, while in Erice I took a picture of the sign for Via Curatolo and sent it to an ex coworker of the same name. Turns out his grandfather grew up in Erice. Small world after all."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed the tour very much. The sites and towns we visited were all great, the guide was positive, helpful and generally well organized, and the overall pacing of the tour was good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching a beautiful sunset in the lovely coastal town of Trapani"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Sicily is interesting, and yes, gritty. Our tour guide and group were great, I would change a few things in the itinerary/timing, personally. For example, one of my anticipated highlights were the Roman mosaics. Yet, for this site, we had no guide. Audio guides would have been really useful. And in Catania, 2 hours allotted to the Allied landing museum was just too much - there was nothing else out there, a lot of sitting around in the heat.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch at Erice with Maria. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The Sicily tour had so many interesting and inspiring things to see and do. Ancient Greek and Roman temples and villas, cute hill towns, beautiful beaches and coastline, and the people were very friendly and kind. I was very disappointed in the filth, garbage and overall neglect of both Palermo and Catania. Our guide Ruth said that the Sicilian people are more focused on living the sweet life, ignoring general cleanliness and public health. Our first Steves tour was 17 days in Italy, fantast

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Making Sicilian almond pastries and cannoli with Maria Grammatica, a warm and wonderful lady who along with her sister were sent to live in a convent as their parents had too many mouths to feed. The nuns put them to work in their bakery. Maria is a national treasure."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall experience was outstanding. We loved and enjoyed Sicily but did not always appreciate the hot weather expecially on the 90+ degree days. We had more laughs on this trip than the previous 9.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stopping up at the "top" of Taormina for a drink at a view and the Valley of the Temples which we never new existed."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour provided a comprehensive overview of Sicily with an array of activities that were suitable to a wide audience. The tour offered superior value, comfort and advice to enhance my enjoyment of sightseeing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many moments, though when Tomasso organized a rooftop social for the group in Trappani, that was a special moment. I know it takes a lot to assemble these informal and optional gatherings and the venue and moment was special. Thank you!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The description of the Best of Sicily was spot on. Be prepared to embark on a 10,000+ steps a day experience seeing incredible Ancient Greek & Roman ruins, beautiful landscapes and interesting cities. Never a dull moment with a guide who was exceptionally knowledgeable & enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Greek ruins in Agrigento & outside Trapani."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

500 Characters is not enough space. I will send an email to Rick. Overall, it was an awesome experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Greek temples and the Roman ruins were major highlights for me. The architecture of the cities, which were each very different, especially where Greek, Roman, Moslem, Norman and Spanish influence was apparent such as the Syracuse Cathedral where Ancient Greek Columns were integrated into the Cathedral walls. Just wandering the cities, absorbing the culture and the people, avoiding the motor scooters, trying the street food or restaurants, and just people watching was a great experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time. Will vote again and again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monreale visit"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

the best

Favorite "WOW" moment

"mama virginia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The organization of and the itinerary for the tour was outstanding. Most of al, the guide, Virginia, made the trip even more awesome. Molto bene!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Palazzo Federico, having lunch at Erice with Maria, and visitign the Valley of the Temples, the Villa Romana del Casale, Mt. Etna, and Taormina generally."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The description of this tour as very active is accurate. I enjoyed all the walking and the stairs! We had a great group of couples and singles who mixed freely. It really helped me to have more other singles than on other RS tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the slightly more relaxed atmosphere in Taormina as well as the smaller market in Catania. I especially enjoyed the two swims i had with my friend. The food at the wineries was delicious! It was all fun!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour experience was amazing. Virginia was an amazing tour guide. She was super engaging and gave us the right amount of information. She was excellent at keeping the us all together and making it really fun. I absolutely loved the tour. The little stops along the way for coffee and sweets were also a very nice touch to the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment - there were many. The Greek temples in Segesta and Agrigento were amazing. But I really loved the authentic lunch and cookie/cannoli making we had with Maria. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fabulous!! No complaints.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to name "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great group, great excursions , best of all exceptional guide Virginia

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Guide Virginia , Private villa at Palermo followed by Roman Mosaics . Many villas in Italy could not take any photos"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A jam-packed tour of key locations and special attractions, with great guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the winery."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I used to organize international group trips for Sierra Club, using various tour companies; I’ve done tours associated with cruises; and I’ve organized my own private trips. Rick Steves trips are the best for providing an interesting itinerary, and the very best guides without the shopping stops and endless tipping.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many great moments, but especially memorable was the trip to Mt Etna and the information we learned from our volcano expert."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was fantastic. Our guide was awesome. The accommodations were great and our fellow travelers were a ton of fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick just one. Each stop of the tour was awesome in its own way"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide Andrea was amazing and all the other guides were very good. Our bus driver was very skilled navigating those narrow roads. Enjoyed most of the tour some towns more that others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed the little surprises, stopping for gelato, lunch with Maria, wine tour and lunch, visit to the Contessa, lunch in the countryside."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour director Andrea was outstanding. Well organized, friendly, helpful and knowledgable! He provided a lot of unexpected extras that made it such fun and facilitated our getting to know all of the group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On day 6 we visited a working farm and had a wonderful local lunch hosted by the Contessa. An extra bonus was that our bus driver Tony serenaded us at lunch with his accordion! We did not want to leave! Andrea warned us, "you will not want to go but we simply must move on"!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well planned and managed by our guide Andrea Vannelli. We have had other friends who have visited Sicily not on a RS tour and their experience was underwhelming where ours was not that. I felt like I really started to understand Sicilian culture and history with the sites we visited and the discussions with Andrea. It is a gem for RS to get a local Sicilian who speaks near perfect English to help us understand Sicilian culture and this is why I travel with RS.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two moments with the same "wow". Visiting the hill-top cathedral in Monreale and the Cathedral of Syracuse where people have been praying for 2600 years solidified my understanding of Sicily multi-cultural history in the Mediterranean and its place in the history of human civilizations. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my "Rick Steves Test Tour" - how it went would decide if I'd another one. The tour was enjoyable from the very beginning. Our Tour Guide Andrea was outstanding. He was knowledgeable, engaging, organized, and caring. He made sure the trip ran smoothly - a true "gem" within the Rick Steves' family. The sites visited and local experts that presented on historic perspectives of these sites were awesome. I learned so much and am hungry to learn more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am a bit of a foodie and food is such a big part of traveling, so the lunch at Cassabianca was my "Wow Moment". Excellent local foods cooked skillfully, accompanied by a local crisp white or tasty red wine at a shared rustic venue with our traveling group . A very memorable experience indeed."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Worry free! Full of special experiences that are not available anywhere else. Our overall guide was amazing and did everything imaginable to enhance our understanding of Sicily and its culture!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The little things he did to immerse us in the culture. For example we used our new Italian language skills to order gelato! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour! Great cities and sites, awesome food, excellent guides, and a fantastic group of people to tour with Another great RS tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The special lunch at the "Country Contessa's" farm. Incredible food, great music from Antonio (bus driver on accordion) and Andrea (our singing guide) Very memorable!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Andrea was awesome! He really enhanced our experience in one of the most beautiful places in the world

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing vacation, great memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to choose - probably the temple of Segesta"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

our guide, Andrea, was amazing and wonderful! He was smart, funny, polite, and always organized. He kept all of us well informed. He clearly enjoyed his role as guide and was so informative about his home country. I cannot recommend Andrea enough. he made the trip even more special!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tuormino and Mount Etna!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our trip was amazing!! Patricia was the BEST tour guide ever!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was the valley of the temples, it was amazing!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My second tour with Patricia Fannon Avolio and she was wonderful. Our group was great and got along wonderfully.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's really difficult to pick just one moment as they were all so wonderful. Our local guide, Jackie in Palermo, was fabulous. She had such a passion for her city and I could feel the passion in her voice"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was led by an amazing tour guide Patricia. The trip was extremely well-organized, we experienced high-quality hotels, at each new hotel I thought we had already experienced the best hotel of the trip and then another even better otel, the various destinations and tour stops were perfectly picked, and at each major stop we had a highly qualified tour guide who was specialized to speak on that days excursion.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to single out, the entire trip was one big WOW, the Contessa’s home tour in Palermo, Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, Villa Romana del Casale, group dinner in the gardens at Baglio della Luna overlooking the Valley of the Temples, the visit to a working farm and the delicious lunch and wonderful Sicilian hospitality, Mt Eta tour with our personal volcanologist, and our winery tour and again an amazing luncheon. Taormina’s Greek theater. Group size perfect number all became family"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was wonderful, beyond all expectations. This was our first Rick Steves tour, but it will not be our last. We have always planned our own trips using Rick Steves guide books, but the guided tour provided experiences we could not have matched. Our guide, Patricia, was so knowledgeable, engaging and professional, handling every detail with grace and a smile. We celebrated a birthday and anniversary on the trip, and Patricia made both special. Our "merry band of travelers" were great fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Valley of the temples and the evening in Agrigento. The Baglio della Luna was an amazing venue for dinner in the garden looking across the valley to the lighted temple ruins."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily is beautiful and the tour exceeded expectations. We visited so many interesting places. Our tour guide, Patricia was outstanding, so knowledgeable, funny and attentive. She is simply the best! We enjoyed great weather and wonderful food. Our fellow travelers were fun and engaging. What an absolute blast, thank you!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The breathtaking views from Erice and Taormina and the valley of the temples."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steeves tour and it did not disappoint! Patricia was our tour guide and she was kind, humorous and full of knowledge about each and every town we visited. She obviously took the time to get to know the cities we visited and was always able to make suggestions for things to do in our free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was the bus ride up to our hotel and the views of Mt Etna in Taormina. I was in awe of the beautiful coastline below the jagged splendor of Mt Etna."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour. Met interesting people. Saw places I would never have gone to if I would have done a self guided tour. Great tour leader.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many to choose from but the mosaics in the Monreale church were awesome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an amazing combination of experiences, a wonderful tour guide, and a really fun group! One of my favorite Rick Steves tours!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our pizza party in Taormina - it capped an excellent day of sightseeing (Mt. Etna and wine-tasting), typified the more is more approach to food in Sicily, and was late enough in the tour that we had a real sense of camaraderie."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the first tour we've ever taken, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I was so impressed by the planning, guides, experiences, hotels, food, fellow travelers--really, all aspects.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved our day in Agrigento! Our local guide Michele Gallo was outstanding! He is so knowledgeable, interesting--even funny; I gained so much from his tour of the museum and site. And the hotel and dinner that evening were lovely."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a great time, this was our 4th Rick Steve’s tour and I have finally learned it is ok to skip a city tour or other field trip from time to time to simply enjoy the town where we are, or to sleep in late, or take a nap. We went on this tour with about a dozen friends from previous tours and is great time was had by all. We enjoyed cocktails on the terraces several times!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably Valley of the Temples. Next would be the seaside views from the hotel terraces. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic and Stephanie was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many Wow's it's hard to pick one. I will say our group dinners were so enjoyable and the food was always delicious. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As our third tour with Rick Steves in Italy we were knowledgeable of what to expect and again his team delivered on what we love about the tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My goal was to experience La dolce vita with my wife. Her smile in Catania when we had a private dinner was my wow moment. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent overall experience during our 11 days in Sicily. Our guide Stephanie went above and beyond to ensure every member of our group had an outstanding trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Spending the afternoon walking the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento capped off by a nighttime view of the illuminated temples in the distance from our hotel really topped off a memorable day! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide Stephanie was outstanding! I can't say enough about her professialism, expertise, thoughtfulness and attention to detail. Absolutely superb!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour of Erice."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

It was really fun. Not too many people in most places and not too many museums. LOL

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It may have been making cookies with Maria, or Erice. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Stephanie, our guide, was OUTSTANDING!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sicily in general!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The primary impression I took away from our Sicily tour was the passion that Andrea, our overall tour guide, and each of our local guides, exhibited for their homeland. I had expected to see a beautiful country, to learn about its rich history, and to have some delicious food. I had not expected the sense of love and respect for their Sicilian heritage that each of them exhibited. It was, for me, the highlight of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Ortigia at the Cattedrale metropolitana della Nativita di Maria Santissima, our local guide explained that it had been a temple to a Greek goddess, then a Roman goddess, and is now dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. All of this is an abundantly fertile land. On that particular spot, feminine fertility that yields and supports life, has been venerated for 2400 years. Possibly without knowing, she was paying tribute to what theologians now call "The Divine Feminine". "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 3rd Rick Steves Tour. Best group of hotels of all 3 tours we have done. All were very nice with great showers. A surprise was the Hotel De La luna in Agrigento. Our favorite was the Hotel Continental in Taormina. Our guide Andrea made the whole trip special with lots of little surprises and his passion for his country. There were no really long days on a bus. Several 2 night stays so we didn't have to move as much. Just a great overall experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several wow moments: Lunch and pastry demonstration in Erice. Mt Etna. Walking along the water on the island of Ortiga and enjoying the sunset. The hotel and city of Taormina. Our guided walk in Taormina which included the Ancient theatre. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a great tour with a fantastic guide, great local guides, and a wonderful group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the ancient greek/roman theater in Taormina and eating granita at Bam Bar."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide was amazing and we had experiences we wouldn’t have if we’d tried it on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Minerales and learning about the different cultural influences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was spectacular. We couldn't have asked for a better tour guide with Andrea. He was absolutely perfect. He managed to bring out the best in all of our fellow travelers and we truly became a band of happy travelers with Andrea as our fearless leader. He has a remarkable ability to affirm each person in the group. This is such a rare quality.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's so hard to narrow it down to just one. Our breakfasts on the rooftop terrace at our hotel in Taormina were pure heaven. The wonderful wine tasting and food pairing at Benanti was great fun. Our 1 hour optional boat ride in Siracusa was a fabulous option provided to us by Andrea and we all loved every second....especially ducking down to leave and enter the harbor!!! Our lunch and cookie making class in Erice with the treasured Maria Grammatico. And visiting Mama Etna, of course!!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized. Super guides. Wonderful sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Erice. Most panoramic view I’ve ever seen. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding example of what a travel tour should be. I have not gravitated towards guided tours in past since I am an avid cruiser (mainly because I enjoy seeing new places in one trip). I must admit the Best of Sicily Tour did not disappoint in that way. Incredible sites across the entire island of Sicily which were all unique experiences. The TRUE highlight was our tour guide, Andrea, who was second-to-none. We cannot say enough about his expertise and care! Can't wait to do another!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The camaraderie of the group facilitated by our tour guide, Andrea, was the absolute highlight. The knowledge of both our guide and the local guides made the trip! I loved how much we learned and every day was a new experience with incredible sites, and more to learn. Having a guided tour allowed for more than just viewing historical sites, but being immersed in the history and background which I looked forward to every single day. The extra 'surprises' planned by the guide were amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had an amazing tour guide (Andrea) and tour group! The weather was perfect, and we visited some beautiful places. LOVED Syracuse and Taormina. Mt Etna was very cool! Enjoyed learning about the rich history of the island. The food was somewhat disappointing, and Catania was a terrible place to end the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Monreale Cathedral! it was so amazing to see the cooperative efforts of different cultures and religions that resulted in such a gorgeous building. It literally brought me to tears."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good choices of hotels and restaurants included in the tours. A high calibre of knowledgeable and experienced guides, including local guides. Our daily guide was just the best, always considerate of our needs and constantly surprising us with special treats and venues.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There is not just one— touring the home of a contessa, having lunch at the villa of a baroness, learning to make almond cookies by a famous baker, Maria Grammatico. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I struggled to keep up but the group was tolerant. I enjoyed the energy I had to put out and don't regret anything. I wished there were more time amidst the temples at Agrigento, and that we could have gone higher on Etna, but all else was just right.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the day we spent in Segesta, Erice and Trapani, and the baking and eating at 'grandma's place'. That day was not the one I would have made a big deal of before I took the tour, and the surprise at what was there and what we did was a knockout."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Was fantastic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the greek temples and vases from 400bc"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Vanessa, our tour guide, made the entire trip so enjoyable. Her outgoing personality and attention to detail ensured that everything went as planned. Thoroughly enjoyed Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Valley of the Temples and realizing just how old the temples are. Simply amazing. But, baking almond cookies with Maria in Erice was tons of fun."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first trip with Rick Steve's and we had a wonderful time. Vanessa was an exceptional tour leader!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormino was exceptionally beautiful - every place we turned was beautiful and the views from the hotel were just wonderful. The weather cooperated while we were there and the skies were brilliantly blue. We took a taxi ride to Castelmola and looking down from there was exceptional, too ( plus the ride up will give us something to remember as we passed cars and trucks on that windy road!)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour experience, with knowledgeable guide and local guides. Plethora of layers of history and artifacts.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina was an amazing cliff side town with views of Mt. Etna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was a wonderful surprise geographically and also historically. I did not expect the variety of landscape: mountains on the perimeter of most of the island and the huge agricultural lands in the middle.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several wonderful moments but the visit to the Villa Romana del Casale to see those exquisite and detailed mosaics was simply breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very fun, educational, scenic your

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The one that stands out is in Taormina looking out through the ancient coliseum to the beautiful city and coastline view. Spectacular "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is my first tour experience. It was better than I could imagine. Well organized. Great guide, great bus driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are many- Valley of the temples and Taormina stand out. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Vanessa made the tour memorable! Best tour guide I have had in 15 years and 30 countries!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Views from the Greek Theater in Taormina"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized. Great guide (Stephanie) and bus driver (Alessandro). Accommodations were better than expected. Points of interest were outstanding. Little "extras" were a surprise - and welcomed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So difficult to pick just one. Loved Monreale ... and baking with Maria Grammatico. Valley of the Temples was amazing - thanks to our local guide there. The list could go on."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, a full, comprehensive, balanced overview of Sicily making us feel like we experience so much, but there's more to know and experience leaving us satisfied, yet hungry for more of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"walking amongst the Doric temple in Segesta and the ruins of Agrigento."