Best of Sicily in 11 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent tour, not only the content, but especially the primary guide Nancy. Your organization is lucky to have her. We covered a lot of ground, and typical of Italy, there were challenges, but wow was Nancy a wizard at navigating and resolving those challenges. I particularly enjoyed the historical greco / roman parts and felt is was also important to do the WW2 museum as well. Can't beat the food either.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We happened to be in Trapani for the Good Friday festivities. Oh my, this was beyond description. I recognize this experience is unique to the particular time period, so I will say both Monreale and the Villa Romana del Casale were also "wows"."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fantastic guide, good pacing and balance between group activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The pastry demo and tastings with Maria Grammatico, and the wonderful buffet lunch that followed."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well-paced, engaging, and featured a good balance of historical, cultural, and gastronomic activities. Our tour guide, Nancy, was excellent: friendly, organized, and caring. Sicily itself is beautiful, and the history is fascinating. This was my first experience on a group tour, and it fully met my expectations. The infrastructure in Sicily can be challenging, and doing a group tour was the perfect way to experience the region without dealing with the hassel of driving/navigating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The main wow moment for me was meeting Maria Grammatico for a baking demonstration in Erice. Her story was fascinating, the pastries were delicious, and it was an experience I wouldn't have had if I'd traveled through Sicily on my own. I also enjoyed the puppet show in Siracusa for similar reasons. Overall the wow moments for me were the cultural activities that I wouldn't have planned on my own. It was fascinating to see the procession in Trapani on Good Friday. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was lovely, educational, and the tour guide Nancy Benedetti was truly fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't pick one. The entire trip was a wow. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, three things stand out. (1) Nancy was an outstanding tour leader, her passion for Sicily was infectious. (2) Fellow travelers made the tour exceptional. (3) Sicily itself - I have travelled to Italy eight times previously (independent travel), and Sicily was everything that I loved about Italy and more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mount Etna developed a new vent and blew perfect smoke rings into the blue sky. Never had seen anything like it. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful quick overview of the island of Sicily. I really enjoyed our guide, Nancy, her enthusiasm and love of her job shined through. As usual, great people to travel with and plenty of delicious food. The island was actually a pleasant surprise.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think being in Trapani on Good Friday was a "wow" moment. Seeing all the statues come out of the church and them parading around the streets all night. It was quite the cultural experience. The overall beauty of the island was a surprise, I would visit again."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, great tour members, great hotels in the heart of the city, fascinating history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The age in which Sicily was first settled and the number of times it was conquered. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful, good guides, good travelers, good sites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick from"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

excellent guide (Donald) for the full trip plus local guides with additional expertise, great balance of guided group time versus free time to wander or rest (we didn't rest), hotels were in great locations to walk into the living hearts of the cities, interesting additional activities that we never would have thought of ourselves (baking cookies, salt harvesting, extra boat ride at Syracuse, puppet show), other guests had similar interests and activity level.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"tough to choose one, but the cathedral at Monreale. We saw so MANY other gorgeous churches, but the local guide pointed out the contribution by many different people groups and how it all blended together into the magnificent architecture, then learning that the different groups got along and worked together so well."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time in Sicily. The food was delicious, the Rick Steve guides were great, the local guides were all energetic, knowledgeable, and entertaining and the sites very memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several: The Palantine Chapel, the Roman mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale, the Easter Monday breakfast at the Hotel Continental Taormina, the talk by the volcanologist, walking through the streets of each city, and pretty much all of the delicious wine and food, including pizza, pasta, eggplant, gelato, cannoli, and granita. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily is a fascinating place, and the pace and itinerary of our tour allowed us to experience most of its wonders.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am still wowed by the Monreale cathedral."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful overview of Sicily. The sites, the food and the guides were all outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina with the ancient theater. I also loved the Cappella Palatina, which we saw the morning prior to start of our tour. It's hard to pick a favorite as all the sites were wonderful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide David was wonderful. He gave us great cultural and historical information. We had several meals together with our full group which I really enjoyed. The sites were spectacular.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to breakfast on our last morning in Taormina and seeing Mt. Etna from our hotel rooftop. It was cloudy the days prior so we were anxious to see the view. Just stunning especially since I am from a place with no mountains or volcanoes. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour experience was beyond excellent! For starters we had the best tour guide, David Tordi, we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing on any tour. The itinerary was outstanding. All the hotels were outstanding and very well located. The local tour guides were equally amazing. Sicily exceeded our expectations in every possible way. We cannot wait to return to Sicily and hope to join David Tordi again on another Italy tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first wow moment was the Norman Cathedral in Monreale, but really there were too many "wow" moments on this tour to list. Each location has a "wow" moment that could be visual or gastronomical. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great history lessons, people and cultural overlaps. All guides were very knowledgeable about the historical events that shaped Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Architectural evolution from 3000 bc. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had an amazing time with our wonderfully entertaining and enthusiastic guide David Tordi. We were a happy band of wanderers exploring the beautiful island of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard to pin down just one! The Temples at Agrigento and the delicious dinner afterwards at the hilltop hotel stand out, but for me, I think seeing the fabulous mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale was the highlight of the trip. A close second was the impromptu “mini concert” by our guide David Tordi at our farewell dinner. He brought the house down! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily, along with its beautifuly scenery, historical sites and architecture, excellent food and wine, came to life through our seasoned, knowledgable tour guide. We enjoyed sharing the tour wih our fellow travelers and came away feeling happy for this experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting the contessa along with a tour of her family's home was a fabulous way to kick off our tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, beautiful Sicilian sites, landscape and food. Enjoyable tourmates.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick one particular moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Highly recommend. Sicily is way more beautiful than I had expected. What a fantastic tour! The locations were great and the weather overall was perfect. While I prefer smaller towns and open space, the cities were all friendly and easy to navigate. David Tordi is an outstanding tour guide. We learned so much about Sicilian history and culture, and I in particular appreciated learning more about the language. What really made the trip was the support and friendliness of my fellow tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wildflowers in Segesta were unreal! The next time I go to Sicily, it will definitely be in the spring again. On European tours, it can be difficult to find open space, so what a treat it was on day 3 of the to find myself surrounded by wildflowers and to hear nothing but bird song. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized, had variety and sufficient free time to learn more about each visited location.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina remains a favourite - particularly when we visited Catania the morning after."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour! Well chosen sites, cities, and hotels topped off with exceptional dining experiences. The cultural variety of ancient architecture was aptly chronicled by our fantastic guide, Andrea, who worked diligently to make our tour memorable and describe the unique spirit of the Sicilian people and language. We'd like to thank our bus driver, Angelo, for going out of his way to return a lost item to us. The only miss for us was the length of time at the War Museum.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments but we both were gobsmacked by the exquisite mosaics in the Roman villa, savoured the lunch at the Benanti winery on the slopes of Mount Etna, were entranced by the beauty of Taormina, and fell in love with the delightful Maria and her cookies! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

- This was our first Rick Steves tour, and it was great - great people, great sites to see, a great place to visit, and great food! - We typically travel on our own, often following the itinerary in a Rick Steves book. So, this tour was a change of pace. However, the pace of tour was such that it moved, there wasn't a lot of waiting around for anyone. The tour guide kept things going, but nor did we feel rushed - There's sufficient time to do stuff on your own, which was also appreciated

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There's a lot to choose from - there's the various Greek/Roman ruins, the mosaics in the center of the country, the views from Erice, and walking the town in Ortigia. However, I'm going to go with the Roman amphitheater in Catania on the last day of the trip. I wasn't expecting to see a large Roman site that the rest of the city was built around (and you'd *never* know it by walking on the street), but it caught me by (pleasant) surprise. It was my favorite ruins on the trip!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Sicily tour was even better than we expected. Andrea is a wonderful guide; knowledgable, friendly and efficient. Our tour group was excellent. Sicily provides many interesting sights and experiences and the food is absolutely the best!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina was beautiful and the theatre was incredible. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour in all respects. The guide was wonderful and the group was congenial. We made lots of new friends, saw amazing sites and ate delicious food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were most impressed with the Villa Romana del Casale. The beauty of the mosaics was overwhelming. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour, pleasantly surprised by how organized it is, and great group of fellow travelers. We had fantastic guide and driver, made the trip very enjoyable and educational. The amount of group time vs free time was perfect, only thing I'd add is that we could of used a little more time at the Roman Villa viewing the mosaics, they were amazing! Hotels and meals included were good, no complaints.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"many :) mosaics at the Roman Villa, contessa's house in Palermo, buffet lunch at Erice, Taormina (it's gorgeous), Mt. Etna... to name a few."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide , Andrea, added to a great itinerary in so many ways. We must have had at least a dozen other local guides who filled out the tour. Our eighth Rick Steve’s Tour as he best one yet thanks in small part to Andrea’s efforts. We enjoyed a really great tour group as well. Those Canadians know how to enjoy themselves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina. Amazing location which is saying quite a bit given how beautiful Sicily is to visit"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I knew from watching Rick Steve’s tv show on Sicily that there would be a lot to do an see on this trip to Sicily, but it was a lot more than I expected. The incredible multi-cultural history evidenced by Archeological treasures, ruins, and repurposed structures from many former cultures and eras that seemed to be everywhere. The food was an adventure and quite a departure from the boring fare at home with its wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and sauces. Late multi-course dinners with wines

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to have a favorite, but Agrigento mutiple Greek and the 38,000 sqft of mosaics at Romano Casale come to mind."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great people on the tour. Really enjoyed meeting and getting to know everyone. Our guide was wonderful, so knowledgeable, and attentive. The food was great the hotels were very nice and comfortable. Enjoyed the scenery and sites. Overall a very enjoyable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty and scenery on the bus rides through the country. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour coordinator as were the local guides. The tour group was a good mix of folk from different backgrounds and made the experience even better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not any one experience but collectively getting an understanding of the history of Sicily and how it shaped the culture."

It was a great trip with no negative issues at all. Well arranged.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Anything associated with Mt. Etna."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Guides were excellent. Food average to poor quality except 1st dinner in Palermo that was excellent. Hotels below average to poor: all of them had mildew except for the one in Taormina, Continental, which was above average.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Palatine Chapel"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip. Wonderful cohort of people, fun and interesting sites, fantastic guide/leader

Favorite "WOW" moment

"cooking experience with Maria Grammatico"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent group of characters, great, attentive guide, sites that were interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greek Temples"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

So well organized. All details were taken care of.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The jaw dropping beauty of Sicily which can only be appreciated in person, pictures cannot possubly do it justice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

awesome experience it is a memory we will keep forever. Karen was outstanding in every way .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"cant pick just one event , the cost of the tour was a bargain in comparison to what you received."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great! Our guide was knowledgeable, funny and kind. Our driver was excellent. There were surprising things around every corner.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick, but I'll say the cathedral at Monreale. That was amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We learned about the layered history of Sicily from experts, saw the historical artifacts, and enjoyed Sicily's wonderful fresh grown food, and enjoyed touring with a wonderful group of people and tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our "wow" was that Archimedes lived and died in Syracuse. Our favorite place was Trapani -we loved the wonderful community and the hotel. Our favorite historical artifacts were the roman mosaics and Virgin Mary Cathedral in Syracuse with the Greek Temple embedded in the 16th century church. Our favorite food stop was the wine tour lunch on Mount Etna"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very well described in the pre-tour correspondence. I felt I was prepared for the level of activity. The hotels were well located and I think they were nicer hotels than I had expected. And the people on the tour were all very nice and seemed very like-minded regarding the places we saw and things we did.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the Palazzo Conte Federico was definitely a highlight. The palazzo itself is amazing and the Contessa who showed us her home was absolutely charming. The mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale were also incredible."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It exceeded my expectations! I learned so much about Sicily and our guide, Karin was excellent, knowledgeable and made it interesting. Accommodations were better than expected, also.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina, the guided tour of the back streets and up the mount to the Greek Roman Theater. The view on top was beautiful. I may have not enjoyed it as much if we had gone during the high tourist season. There were many other experiences I enjoyed , so hard to pick just one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour and it exceeded my expectations. Guides Andrea and Cecilia was outstanding and I learned so much about the culture and history of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, there was a "wow" moment every day. My favorite day was the pastry lesson and lunch with Maria Grammatico. Every conceivable Sicilian dish was on that buffet table and the food was fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized with time for exploring, hiking and shopping, including walks along shorelines, markets and hidden gems. The restaurants and street food was amazing. The food and wine served at our group activities was superb. The choice of local guides made each day a fresh and energizing experience! Their love for their country was very passionate!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several WOW moments/ stories that is all about the history and beauty of Sicily "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

I have done many land bus tours with travel groups. This was an average trip. I always use the RS Books and Podcasts as a supplement during my free time on other trips but I could not do that for this trip since the guides pretty much follow the book.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The number of civilizations, from 700 BC to 2000 that fought for and won rights on the island."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We toured Sicily with Andrea and Cecelia and 25 fellow travelers. It was wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking out on the rooftop deck at the hotel in Taormina and seeing My Etna and the surrounding scenery. It was breath taking!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

First time on a Rick Steve's Tour, I worried about fitting in with the group. On a previous tour form another company, I did not have anything in common with the other travelers, the tour was politically divisive and extremely uncaring about what the tour guide was saying. Wwll, I was wrong. The other people on the tour were great, the guide was great and the tour enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the countess in that lovely palace built on the old town walls AND making cookies with Maria Gramatico."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved how the tour was the right balance of organized activities and free time. Overall I had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Taormina, at the Greek amphitheater, felt like on top of the world. There were several wow moments like in Segesta, Agrigento etc."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I think we were a cohesive and easy group to 'herd'. Interesting and for the most part respectful people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Villa Romana mosaics"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved Sicily! Enjoyed the locations visited and the knowledge of the local guides who informed us about the various sites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views in Taormina! So beautiful and stunning!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gret. The coordination was amazing. Loved viewing the beautiful locations and learning more about the history. The people and the guides were all top notch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved walking the stairs in Tiramisu and then down to the beach. Great day!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Andrea has been one of our favorites tour guides. Everything was so well organized and no glitches or unexpected experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing some sites that on our own we might have missed. Having a great day at the terrace seeing mt etna with snow. That was the perfect hotel for mt etna. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour to Sicily exceeded our expecations. It was a very active tour and we visited places we would never have been able to book on our own. Our guide Andrea was fantastic. He was just the right amount of warm accommodation and professionalism, not to mention his vast knowledge of the region. Having Cecilia training with him provided us with even more support and perspective. It always amazing us what great people we meet on Rick Steve tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me my favourite wow moments often had to do with food. Being a celiac, travelling often leaves me worried whether I'm going to be able to experience local foods. Andrea has personal experience with eating GF and there was not one time that I had to worry. In fact he went out of his way to find gluten free variations of all the the local foods - Arancini, cannoli, pizza, even street foods! Other wow moments would be opening up the blinds first morning in Taormina and looking an Mt. Etna!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour is well planned and led by experts on Sicily. Our guide Andrea was fantastic! So many unique experiences were included all along our journey through time. Loved it all.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh so many, it’s hard to choose. I truly enjoyed our tour through Siracusa, with the local guide. I had just been there 4 months earlier and did not know what I was looking at. The guide brought light to the city’s history and showed us areas (the underground tunnels), I did not know to visit. The big wow in Siracusa is the duomo’s architectural history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The best bunch I have ever traveled with on a RS tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was amazing. We were so impressed with our tour guide Stephanie. The whole tour was incredible and more fun than we’re ever imagined. I highly recommend Rick Steve’s tours!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour of Mt Etna and being to stand in a crater was amazing! Also loved temples of Agrigento, Erica,segesta and beauty of Taormina and Ortigia. Actually loved everyday!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved every minute of it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The new friends we met on the tour!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip of a lifetime!!!!! We could not believe that every detail was considered. We can thank you enough. Che Dio ti benedica sempre.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We found one of my wife’s ancestors name on the ceiling of Santa Catarinas church in Palermo. He had remodeled it back in the 1700’s. Also my surprise Birthday party at a lunch in Agrigento. Also the Greek temples in Sicily were incredible. So were the churches and cathedrals. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful guides, food, and sights. We can't wait to go on our next tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "Valley of the Temples" at Agrigento and the Temple at Segesta; the Palatine Chapel in Palermo was incredible."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Since we went early, middle of March, their few crowds to content with plus it wasn’t hot. That made it great. Dressing warm was easy, skies were blue with many a day of white puffy clouds.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The uncrowned tour of the wild animal gathering in mosaics at the Roman Villa of Casale was a sight to see."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had an amazing time. When my parents invited me, I wasn't sure how it would go but once we started the tour, it exceeded every expectation that I had. The sights, history, people and experiences were amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved seeing the Roman Villa and the mosaics. It was incredible to look at rooms that didn't even have broken tiles and the technology that they used while other parts of the world were literally living in huts! I also was blown away by the old temples and the way that churches were built around them, the history and culture was mind blowing. I must also add that the pizza was AMAZING!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Sicily tour far exceeded all my expectations. Sicily is absolutely beautiful and each place we visited was amazing. Our guide, Stephanie was fabulous and helped make this tour really special. It also helps to have a great group of Rick Steves travelers to share in the experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, my wow moment was seeingTaormina with Mt. Etna in the background. It was incredibly beautiful. The Greek temple in Segesta was spectacular too. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The history tours, the people, guide, the logistics, the bus driver all professional. The local guides in each area were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ancient standing Greek temples. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 11-day tour of Sicily was unforgettable. From our fabulous tour leaders, to our insightful local guides, to the delightful folks from throughout the US with whom we shared this once-in-a-lifetime experience, EVERYONE we met was terrific. We can’t thank you enough for all that RS does to make our European travel work so well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Monreale Cathedral was absolutely breathtaking. We had no idea just how grand its size and story would be. What a magnificent place!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guides & local guides were well informed about tour highlights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well-organized and the guides (Karin and Nina) were excellent. They were knowledgeable, fun, and made each day enjoyable. The lodging was nice and the food was great! Angelo (the bus driver) also helped to make the tour run smoothly. We also had a wonderful group of fellow travelers and enjoyed getting to know everyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each day was great, but my favorite was Ancient Segesta and Erice. The landscape in Segesta was beautiful and peaceful. The flowers were blooming and we had the temple and theater almost to ourselves. The delicious lunch afterward at Maria Grammatico's was also memorable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

1st time in Europe. The group was great and Karin & Nina were excellent guides. They had interesting stories and good knowledge of the places we visited. The food was outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the Greek and Roman ruins"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Upbeat, knowledgable tour guides, interesting places

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of it"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful adventures with terrific guides throughout the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the unesco site to see the tiled antiquities."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Awesome! Great fellow tour members, great guides, awesome history/culture/educational experiences. Angelo is an excellent bus driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to choose one, but The Valley of the Temples is outstanding!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

"Outstanding" seems inadequate - great guides (tour and local), great group, amazing sites, and of course the food. I felt as though we got a full flavor of the island, its culture and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the mikveh in Ortigia and imagining the lives of the women who used it. I got chills."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was great. This was our first Rick Steves tour--in fact, our first group tour--so we weren't sure of what to expect. But the guides were excellent, our group was a pleasure to spend time with, the scenery was outstanding, the sites were very interesting, the accommodations were very nice and the food was delicious. We're looking forward to taking another Rick Steves tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two stand out. One was our morning at the Segesta ruins. Nestled in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean, the still and silent edifices from two millennia in the past seemed to stand as ancient sentinels among the tall grasses and wildflowers. The other was Taormina. The Greek-Roman theater, with snow-capped Mamma Etna in the background, was an impressive structure in a beautiful setting. The hike to Castelmola offered even more incredible vistas of Etna and the sea."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was great: the food, hotels, tour leader, tour guides , transportation, cooking lessons. It surprised me, that tour had all aspects of the Sicilian culture: history, geography, archeology, anthropology, nature, culinary, language. It looks like a big organization knowledge was put into this tour to satisfy any particulate interest of the participants .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is not a place, it is not a town, it is not a museum. My big wow deserves our tour leaders Karin and Nina. You have to be very talented to take bunch of 28 strangers, put them on the same bus for 11 days and make them meaningful friends. Our sites seeing were endless, the same with our conversations at the lunch and dinners that we took together. I want to add to the "wow: Taormina with Etna , Villa Romana with mosaic, Monreale Cathedral and Greek Valley Temples "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized, very professionally led.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visit to Monreale"

It was lovely!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the Greek Temple at Segesta. It was the first Greek Temple that I had ever seen. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed this tour of Sicily. I had never done a bus tour before, and had only done very active tours, such as biking and hiking vacations. I was entirely satisfied with the amount of exercise I got each day. I’m not sure if I would do another tour like this though. My reason for this is I didn’t really enjoy being on a huge bus with 28 other Americans getting off at stops where at times it seem like we were a nuisance to the locals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We toured beautiful home, belonging to a countess, who was a lovely host. It was amazing to see the history behind this Palazzo, and to hear her stories. it was an inside look into the people and history of Sicily."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was able to get there a few days early to get settled, explore and acclimate. When we started in Palermo it was a fun and interesting group. I loved all the stops. I especially enjoyed the desert making and lunch, the salt tour and the wine tour. I'm all about the food and learning experiences. Each of the tour guides were wonderful but Tommasso was fantastic. The pace was great and the timing between places was perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Definitely the tour of the salt flats!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed Sicily: the history, culture, religions, architecture, civilizations, markets, puppets, people, foods, churches, museums, urban, rural, mountain experiences were layered and varied; all were interesting. It was a well-paced & active tour & definitely one of my favorites (I’ve taken 8 R.S. Tours). Tomasso was a truly great experienced Sicilian-born guide and an excellent teacher. He had first-hand knowledge of growing up in the country & funny tales of his Mama.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked Siracusa & Taormina quite a bit. They were both walkable, beautiful historic small city resort areas & the seaside views were just beautiful. The blend of planned time & free time allowed for plenty of outdoor exploration. The pastries were the most beautiful foods I’ve ever seen - works of art! Mt. Etna (and the lecture by the volcanologist) was my most surprising experience. Rural Sicily is wonderfully green & agricultural area (oranges, almonds, dates, wheat) in late winter."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

All our local guides were great - Tommaso was wonderful as our overall tour guide. We were with a great group of people - always on time for everything! The siesta hours were sometimes hard to get used to since we usually like to eat dinner a little earlier than 7:30 but we adapted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Roman mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed how organized and thought-through all the activities were. We kept commenting that we were getting to see more than if we were on our own trying to figure things out. Tomasso was an exceptional guide who was both personal and professional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Finding a ton of sea glass at the beach in Trapani and the overall feel of the towns at night. Also fun to make a few friends and have an unexpected good time with everyone. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Interesting sites...Tomasso is a terrific guide and the local guides were outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Villa Romano de Casale"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were blown away by the layers of history a person is able to see and better understand while touring around Sicily! Our thoughtful tour guide facilitated an excellent experience with relevant information, local insights, and well-informed historical explanations. This tour allowed us to see Sicily through the ages, up to the present, in an amazing and interesting way. Sharing the tour with enthusiastic fellow travelers and enjoying warm local hospitality made for a 5 star experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many highlights, it’s hard to narrow it down to a single “wow” moment. Seeing how old Sicily is, how it’s strategic location has factored into so many historic events, how Sicilians’ resilience has dealt with the combining of cultures over the centuries, how today they’re still moving forward was noteworthy. But perhaps the use of mosaics in their art and decoration stood out. The glittering gold mosaics in Monreale to the elaborate floors in the Villa Romano were truly stunning."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our Sicily tour. Andrea was great, as was Massimo our bus driver. The places we got to see were amazing - and of course -- the food was to die for. I give "very good" rather than "outstanding" as some of the hotels were very uncomfortable with short beds and phone booth sized showers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The extra boat ride Andrea arranged for us in Ortygia. We went into some caves and around the island. Our captain was fabulous and even treated us to cookie and limoncello. Super special!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 4th RS tour turned out to be the best so far. Our guide, Andrea, was very knowledgeable and made Sicily come alive. We were very lucky to have a native Sicilian leading our tour.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steve’s tour and it exceeded my expectations. These tours were recommended to me. The food, hotels and sights were excellent and I really felt like I got to see so much more than on a traditional trip. I loved it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sunset we saw in trapani outside our hotel was my favorite wow moment. The sight just took my breath away. We were right on the water and could walk on a path right outside the hotel near the ocean. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every single moment of this tour was incredible (probably because Sicily is an incredible place)! The food at all of our group meals was such high quality and varied so greatly from meal to meal. All of the local guides were amazing and all of the hotel/restaurant staff we interacted with were so kind! The was I describe this tour is "it was a dream" because I have never experienced anything as breathtakingly incredible in my life!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every single moment was a wow moment! There are two that stick out the most. The first was in Trapani. When we arrived it was rainy so I took a quick power nap before our orientation walk. When I woke up and went outside there was the most gorgeous double rainbow over the coast with the most gorgeous sunset as its backdrop. The second was in Taormina. It was cloudy and rainy out entire time there, but on the last morning we woke up to a crystal clear view of Mt Etna from the dining room!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a fabulous introduction to Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mount Etna with its beautiful blanket of snow was memorable and the Valley of the Temples was outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved not organizing everything on my own. This was my first Rick Steve tour but I have used his books extensively and traveled all over Europe. The experiences with the volcanologist, Maria's cannoli lesson, salt museum presentation would not have been done if I was traveling without a tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina was perfect weather, Etna was stunning, the walk was great. Everything was perfect."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The sights, sounds, places, and food in Sicily exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I experienced a number of wows during my travels in Sicily; however, the one that made the biggest impression on my mind was the Valley of Temples by a little bit over a couple of other sites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Stephanie, was fantastic! This was my first tour, and I saw and learned more than I expected. So many details were taken care of. The guides for some of the sites were knowledgeable and thorough. There was enough down time to do what we wanted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was seeing Mt Etna and the beautiful Mediterranean Sea!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was great to learn about Sicily, its history both ancient and recent. I think the tour captured the essence of the region, its culture, landscape, cuisine. Our tour guide Stephanie was amazing and made the tour even more memorable with stories and insights about this region of Italy. Sicily with Rick Steve’s tour is definitely worth going.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While the ruins of both Greek and Roman artifacts was fascinating, the “wow” would have to be the sheer beauty of Taormina. We had an intense rainstorm while traveling to Taormina and we awoke to see Mt Etna covered in snow with steam escaping juxtaposed to the clear Mediterranean waters below! The beauty was breathtaking!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We are fairly seasoned travelers, but I’ve taken few guided tours. This tour of Sicily exceeded all of my expectations. I loved the exceptional organization of the tour, the tour guide, David , local tour guides, and the positioning of each hotel. We did not need a taxi at any time, there is an excellent balance of time for dinners with the group and by ourselves we like some independence in this group Tour let us that happen. The special small group experiences was absolutely great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food! Pasta alla Norma… making cannoli with Maria Gramattica… Taormina… trying to speak Italian with local people…. Everything! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guide was awesome, and that I believe has the biggest effect on the overall experience. The hotels were the usually RS choices - clean, comfortable, excellent locations, and friendly staff.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide signing and playing the guitar at our final dinner was a new and very enjoyable twist."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful tour guide, a fun group and we learned so much about beautiful Sicily. There was a perfect mix of scheduled events and free time, allowing us ample opportunity to explore and enjoy. Of course, a major highlight was the food and wine. Sicily has so many wonderful specialties and we sampled a large variety of them. The outdoor markets were amazing with all of the fresh fish, fruits and vegetables. I couldn’t believe how wonderful everything tatsted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments and my favorite was seeing the Roman mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale. The stories that were told through the mosaics offered an opportunity to glimpse first hand an ancient lifestyle that was beyond belief."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first organized group tour and I was a bit apprehensive. But from the first moment I forgot all that. David Tordi was so personable, helpful, patient, and informative. His knowledge of Italian and Sicilian culture/history/cuisine/environment is extensive and the way he relates it all shows that he enjoys sharing, he has a passion for his culture, and he delivers lots of information in ways that make it easy to digest. Hotels,dinners,guides,orientation walks,museum,etc were great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had "wow" moments every single day, to be honest....the depth of history and layers of conquest were revealed in a fantastic way...I suppose the Valley of the Temples and museum in Agrigento might be the wowest, but the Piazza Armerina was a wowzer...and, weirdly, the Duomo di Monreale brought tears to my eyes...WTF?!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was very well planned, active, full of good surprises, and our tour guide – Virginia – was outstanding! I had few preconceived notions about Sicily, although we had been to Italy – including southern Italy - before. So, every day, I learned something new, and I was excited to see amazing scenery, beautiful cathedrals and churches, awesome historical sights, and Sicilians participating in everyday life and special traditions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is our fourth Rick Steves tour so the “wow” moments have to reach a pretty high bar! But, I would say two things struck me on this tour. One, the amazing caliber of your tour guides. I don’t know how you do it, but your tour guides are the absolute best! Virginia surprised all of us with small, special gifts on many days and that experience was delightful. She was also very well organized, and so full of information. And two, I would say that Palermo absolutely exceeded my expectations."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves' tour, and although we had vey high expectations based on our friends' experiences, the tour exceeded our very high expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing snow on Mt. Etna and the sea at the same time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Where do I begin? Everything about our tour of Sicily was simply amazing---the history, the culture, the people---it was all fantastic! The tour was very well organized, with just the right mix of structure for learning, and free time to explore at our own pace. A special note of thanks to our tour coordinator, Virginia. Her knowledge of Sicily, including current events, is truly impressive, as is her tremendous skill as a group leader. We could not be happier with the entire experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day was filled with a new "wow" experience. The cathedrals at Monreale and Siracusa were breathtaking. The evening at the contessa's home in Palermo was quite special. And the sheer beauty of the landscape everywhere we went was breathtaking. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Accommodations exceeded expectations. Nancy was a wonderful hostess! I loved her informative talks on the bus. She also did a great job keeping everyone on schedule. Enjoyed having some free time, and especially the sightseeing and meals on our own. This was easier than the trips we have done on our own! Less stress! The local guides pointed out things that we would have missed on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the accommodations in Taromina. Old Fashions on the deck overlooking Mt Etna!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Sicily tour was outstanding and exceeded our expectations. We had the best tour guiide, Nancy who had a lot of energy, experience and knowledge. Our group was a wonderful mix of people and we all got along really well. The agenda was perfect and the hotels were all awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We thoroughly enjoyed all of the tour but especially the food and wine events. The event and lunch with Maria was very special. We loved the ability to be hands on for the event. The food served for lunch was delicious."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an excellent tour experience. Our tour guide, Nancy (not sure of her last name) was excellent beyond words. She shared great information and saw that our daughter who has a milk allergy was provided with non-dairy food options. You need to clone Nancy so she can lead all your tours. The hotels were very good. The food was very good. Sicily has amazing historical sites. And we went when the weather was still nice and the crowds were minimal. We also made many good friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments since there were so many beautiful churches, amazing Greek temples, beautiful countryside scenery, mount Etna, and beautiful Taormina. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour. We saw and did things I would never have done on my own. Sicily was a fascinating place. We had great tour guides and we had a great group of people that I toured with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hearing some of the history like the Norman King who went on a crusade. He went to the middle east and had dinner with the Sultan and came back. If all wars could be like that, we would have peace. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the itinerary stops. Length of visit was fine due to efficiency of tour arrangements. Tour supervisor and city/area guides were top notch.. Health and safety considerations were employed appropriately.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views of Mt. Etna from our hotel were very exciting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time. It was nice to have all of the arrangements made and to see the special spots that I see on Rick Steves's shows. I appreciated the depth of knowledge of the guides and the free time to do my own thing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding. Sicily was a special experience - the food, the history, the scenery, the people. We will definitely go back some day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As usual, so many “wow” moments it’s hard to pick a favorite. Making cookies with Maria Grammatico in Erice, seeing the temples in Agrigento lit up at night from our hotel room, eating the most delicious pasta alla Norma in Catania, just walking the streets in Taormina!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nancy made the trip outstanding by the fact that she is Sicilian and knows the culture well, but was able to compare it to the US culture so precisely. Furthermore, she accommodated our daughter’s dairy free allergy at every step along the way. Nancy had high expectations and the trip was well executed without delay. She set the tone to have fun and build community and we grew close to each other in the group. We were thrilled to have had this experience from someone who loves her country well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything about this trip was above my expectations, from meeting the contessa in Palermo to seeing ancient ruins in Taormina and the view of Mount Etna at sunset. I was thrilled with Nancy’s rich knowledge of the culture, the expertise of the local guides and the food, the accommodations and the smooth transitions from city to city. I was surprised by how much I loved this country and its people and didn’t want to leave. It was a perfect blend of history, art, cuisine and beyond expectations."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My expectations were exceeded! The itinerary for this trip was amazing, and we accomplished everything. It was my first Rick Steve's tour, after having watched him on TV for 20+ years!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Valley of the Temples"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was planned well. Lots of unique experiences that would not have been possible without the tour. Plenty of solo time to explore. Overall, perfectly organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Baking with Maria Grammatico was definitely a highlight. She reminded me of my mom. She showed us how she made her famous cookies and we had the opportunity to make them too. The lunch with her was so delicious. I loved it. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our third Rick Steves tour and the longest to date (prior tours were city tours of seven days). The group was extremely cohesive and the guide delightful and low key. All the accommodations and activities were excellent. Our last tour was in 2012 and Rick Steves has definitely maintained his high standards. We enjoyed how active the tour was--lots of walking, which balanced time spent on the bus. At each new city, our guide gave a helpful orientation walk so we could enjoy our free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick just one...Mt. Etna erupted while we were in Taormina. We had already had an excellent presentation complete with photos and video by a volcanologist, so we knew exactly what was happening. Several in our group caught photos of the eruption from the terrace of our hotel. Equal to that experience was our local guide Jackie in our first city, Palermo.Her in-depth orientation set us up to truly appreciate and enjoy the rest of our tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide set a positive and adventurous tone and the knowledgable local guides were fantastic. I highly recommend the tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guides tied together current topics facing the world, historic facts, art history, and wove together a complete context of the churches and archeological sites, making the trip a more rich experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our first tour, but not first experience in beautiful Sicily. The Rick Steve tour was wonderful. Our tour guide was fantastic, the group was so fun to be around and the site and city tours were informative to give us a great understanding of Sicily's culture, history and lifestyle.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving up the winding roads toward Erice for baking lessons and fantastic lunch at Maria Grammatico's cooking school. The ageless Maria wowed us with her decades long experience baking. This was a great group experience where everyone rooted for the others to pass Maria's critical eye for perfection. The lunch was fantastic and the views of Trapani from the porch and the town of Erice were magnificent. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gobsmacked by the selected sites and guides. Fantastico! Happy to once again experience the RSTours approach to touring including guides, sites, tour time balance with “on your own time”, group building, balance of history and cultural exposures

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sites were equally amazing but the explanations offered by Jacqueline Alio made Monreale and her tour of Palermo my favorite wow moment. That said, I wouldn’t pick a single moment unless pressed"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent overall with very few problems/issues that were noticeable. The pace of the tour was very good, with only few times that I wondered about the amount of time at a site or too much/too little free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The good/great thing abougt this tour is that there were several “wow” moments: the visit to Erice and Marie Grammatico’s baking school was outstanding—the arrangement, timing and experience will be remembered for a long time. That same day, the experience at Segesta—a long walk to the ancient Greek theater and then the temple; further on, a visit to Agrigento, Trapani also had many wow moments. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

11/10 recommend this tour! The guides were so friendly and knowledgeable, loved our little surprises and stops along the way. Don't even get me started on the amazingness that was the food and wine- I still dream about the eggplant dishes and arancini and gelato :)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's so hard to narrow this down because Sicily was the gift that kept on giving especially with Andrea as our guide! Generally my biggest 'wow' moment was learning that Sicily is a gorgeous combination of many many cultural and historical influences. I'm just in awe of that fact."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had an amazing time in Sicily. Andrea, our guide, made it very special even calling ahead to hotels to see if they had a piano for my dad to play for the group and have a little jam session. I learned so much and saw so much in a short time plus got to know an awesome group of people. 100% would do it again. Can’t imagine a better experience for my first Rick Steve’s tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably seeing Mt Etna erupt when we were at our hotel in Taromina! Or seeing all of the Greek temples in Agrigento. Also going into the WWII bunker. There were many special moments, but those were my favorite. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my 1st Rick Steve's tour and I was amazed at how organized and well thought out the entire tour was. It was wonderful to not have to think about details because they were all taken care of for you.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was probably seeing Mt. Etna erupt! However, I was truly amazed by everything we saw and experienced."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

food, hotels, ANDREA FABULOUS!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"etna spewing fire and seeing it from the terrrace of our hotel!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour had all the things that make RS tours: a great guide, knowledgeable local guides, interesting sights and experiences, so much history, and a great group. Sicily is a great destination with a good variety of things to see. The pacing was good with not too many early starts and enough time to explore and enjoy the stops. Andrea was an outstanding guide, very attuned to the needs and desires of the group and able to bring his knowledge and enthusiasm about his region to us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the eruption of Mt. Etna at night from the hotel terrace. Watching the glow as it lit up and faded was just awesome. Since that won't be available to all tours, I'll also mention the pastry demo with Maria Grammatico. Hearing her story and seeing her love for her work was a unique experience (and the cookies were delicious!)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour but will not be our last! We enjoyed every minute.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was exciting to see Mt Etna explode while we there! However, there were too many moments to name them all."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous guide who enriched our experience with background on Sicilian and Italian life and customs. Wonderful sites and experiences with a good balance of being guided and exploring on one's own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mt Etna both before and after 'she' was covered in snow, as well as seeing 'her' puff black and white."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the overall program, very balance and not too tiring. I learned right amount of culture, food, and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Surprised to see 80 years old Maria's baking skills and was able to participate the baking class (though I'm a terrible baker, I had a blast). Most importantly, I had the delightful lunch and cannoli."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves trip and I was totally blown away with the whole experience. I loved the small size of the group (26) and Our tour guide , Nancy was over the top incredible. Nancy was Italian and gave insight to her native country and was a wonderful historian. She knew her Sicilian and Italian history and knew it well. I can't say enough wonderful things about our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"They were all WOW moments. Every town we stayed in was a WOW moment and the bus rides were WOW moments. Our bus driver did a wonderful job driving on steep narrow roads as well as express way roads."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I think it was the group that helped make this tour experience really nice. It was a combination of couples and single people who are very kind and very friendly. We all got along so well! This and the outstanding guides who brought us on our journey, Especially Nancy’s, our main guide, knowledge really gave a nice flavor to each place we visited. I always felt safe, especially when Giuseppe our bus driver traversed the narrow and windy roads.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments, but I think going to Mt Etna would take the prize of being the most favorite. Being so high in elevation and walking around the craters… looking out to the landscape and seeing the ocean in the distance. It was beautiful! Then, as Giuseppe or driver, traversed the windy roads, we looked back and saw smoke coming out of the volcano. The next morning in Taormina , where we stayed, we could see Mount Etna, which was now covered white with snow."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall tour guide and local guides were perhaps the best we have experienced over the 7 Rick Steves tours we have taken. The cultural, historical and geographical experiences exceeded our expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything was a “wow” moment but perhaps my top moment was the excursion up to a crater on Mt. Etna, and back down again with the volcanologist as we experienced the varied sights and feel of the area which were so unexpected. As we descended from 6,500 feet the volcano started puffing black smoke and later actually erupted, according to the news in the US. Exciting! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent mixture of culture, interactive venues and local food experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt. Etna, although the Maria Grammatico event was a close second."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This Sicily tour met and exceeded our expectations! Thank you.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Valley of the Temples. It is an amazing site to visit. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

No significant complaints. Guides were definately outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"War museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed this tour. It was by far the best tour I’ve been on. I’ve been on tours with other tour companies but this was my first Rick Steves tour. It was well thought out and our guides were exceptional. We had twenty-six travelers and two guides and it was a perfect size group that allowed everyone good access to the guides. By everything being included most everyone participated in all of the activities. It was easier to interact with everyone with this size group. I would do it again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I didn’t start out with any must see or do preconceived notions and because of that almost everything was a wow moment. I love history and seeing the accomplishments that people made three, four and even five thousand years bc was mind boggling. To understand the cultures of people living and working together that long ago was amazing. The tools that were invented and made were awesome and the fact that they still exist gives us a greater understanding of their time. I took thousands of picture."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed my tour. The quality of the guides was excellent, the tour group a pleasure, and the food wonderful. The pace of the tour was appropriate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mount Aetna and Torimino."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour. We had no idea what to expect. We were a bit unsure about being with a group of strangers for 11 days. Our tour director Karin was fabulous. Our bus full of strangers soon became friends. We were a little worried about some of our lengthy bus rides between cities and not using the bus toilet. The bus stopped every hour or 2 for a pit stop and coffee. Sicily was fantastic, steeped in history and beauty. We highly recommend this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sicily is such a beautiful country with friendly people. I would say the view from our hotel in Palermo each morning was hard to beat. We were lucky to watched Mt Etna blow off some steam from our hotel roof top in Taormina. There were so many "wow" moments it is hard to pick just one. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an excellent experience from the beginning to “Arriverderci”. Simply outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting and hearing the experiences of The Contessa in Palermo and touring her Palazzo"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mt Etna spitting fire and seeing it with snow on it. Seeing a tiny chapel in Taormina called Sant’ Antonio. It had a nativity scene in the context of the entirety of Bethlehem. The little wooden buildings with the little clay figures going about their day oblivious to the fact that something is happening in their town that will impact the world for thousands of years. Also an interaction with a restaurant cook and her grandchildren was lots of fun. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The many layers of Sicily "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The experience overall was great and really enjoyed Sicilia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn't one single "wow" moment, I as "wowed" around every corner."

The tour did a nice job exploring all the "lasagna layers" of Sicily- the multi-layers of history, art, culture, food, scenery, geography, and interactions with locals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Villa Romana del Casale was really extraordinary. I had no idea how expansive the collection of beautiful mosaics would be, and how well preserved. It was a fascinating journey back in time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide, great tour members and amazing history

Favorite "WOW" moment

"View of Mount Etna at sunset from roof top bar at our hotel in Taormina"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide and his local guides were so excellent in every way. I wanted to wrap them up in my suitcase. I really enjoyed each one of my fellow tourists, it was remarkable how nice and interesting they all were. The compare system created an immediate friendship.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There really were many of those moments. The view from our hotel room in Trapani, the ancient mosaics where the bikini girls were found, the fish market in Catalina where the squid shot out its ink! All of the sites in Taormina, seeing the volcano. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Saw lots of interesting and historical sites, but too many churches for my taste. The "behind the scenes" or "off the beaten path" experiences were great and the tour of the countess's home was awesome and unexpected. As usual, the group made a fine time even more enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Countess's home visit...personal, in-depth, and current yet with a fantastic historical connection to Sicily and European hierarchy.."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a well organized, thoughtful and most professional tour. We enjoyed the fellow travelers, local experts and our guide Tomasso.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each unique location created a "wow", Mozia and the salt pans, Erice provided unparalleled views and Ortigia's winding streets and hidden Trattoriia's and our view from the hotel rooms along the Sicilian coast. Our "wow" meal was in Palermo at La Galleria restaurant recommended by local guide Jackie. Also super "wow" at Benanti winery. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour experience was phenomenal. The guides were wonderful. They were interesting, informative, personable, funny and made the trip very enjoyable. The participants were fun to be around and all had wonderful attitudes.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was walking on Mt Etna that afternoon and then watching it erupt that evening. We had our Volcanist explain all about the volcano and then he informed us it was erupting. We went to the roof to watch and we were able to eat dinner and watch the volcano for two hours. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our third Rick Steves Tour. It was interesting, challenging, educational and absolutely fun, all at the same time. I continue to be impressed with how smooth and organized this and all of our prior trips have been.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh, that is easy! We visited Mt. Etna in the afternoon on our way to Taormina. That evening at our hotel, we had a first rate lecture from an engaging volcanologist from Catania. As the lecture was ending, we were told that Mt. Etna was erupting right then! Everyone rushed up to the hotel's rooftop restaurant to watch, and we just stayed there to eat dinner while watching the fireworks for over two hours. Amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We took this tour of Sicily on the strong recommendation of other travelers, so we had few expectations. This trip was beyond anything we could have imagined! Every day we were surprised and delighted by historic sites, food, and unique experiences. wonderful people, and surprises provided by our tour guide, Andrea. Andrea did a great job organizing things and keeping us on schedule. We had the added bonus of Vanessa along for the ride.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite WOW moment was eating pizza outside a restaurant on Via Cavour in Ortigia and having an AMAZING tenor set up a boom box and begin singing "O Sole Mio." It was a quintessential Sicilian moment! Another WOW moment was our hotel in Agrigento. Such a place of beauty and peace overlooking the Valley of the Temples! And WOW! We saw Mt. Etna erupting!. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our two guides were quite knowledgeable and personable. The scenery was beautiful and the special stops were well planned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maria’s lunch where we learned to make cookies and had amazing food."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized and offered a variety of experiences to understand and appreciate Sicily. The tour guide, Andrea was organized and informative. As a resident of Sicily he offered many local experiences and insites which enhanced the overall experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our day at Mt. Etna. The winery visit which included lunch and a tasting of three wines was excellent. Upon our arrival in Taormina, we watched the volcano erupt from our hotel balcony. It was a memorable day."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Top notch guides, interesting sights, excellent hotels, and wonderful food and wine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mt. Etna erupt just hours after our visit."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the sites covered, the group of people we were with and all that was included

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being on mt Etna was thrilling, especially now seeing that it erupted 5 days after we were there. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Most enjoyable. Loads of walking. Great food and accommodation

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the Adriatic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was a delight to visit with a variety of experiences and history in the itinerary. Guides were all very good including Alfredo, our lead guide plus local guides. There was ample free time for personal explorations. The group size was a bit larger than I prefer and the timing of the trip relative to local holidays and museum hours prevented visits to leading archeology museums in Palermo and Syracuse.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exploring the amazing Valley of Temples and visiting the museum prior to the visit to gain more appreciation for the structures. Concordia Temple was a high point to see."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves Tour and I was impressed with how well organized it was, the prep, the variety of activities, and especially the travelers in our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Agrigento's Valley of the Temples -- weather was perfect and we visited in late afternoon with magical lighting in the late afternoon sun. Mt. Etna was pretty cool, too."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was my fourth RS tour in Italy, having started with the also amazing Venice, Florence, Rome tour and working my way south, and I can honestly say I would "Groundhog Day" BEST OF SICILY without hesitation. It was, in my opinion, worth the wait on every level, and the itinerary, guides, and food were all first-rate---it delivered ten times the color, joy and vibrancy I so adore all over the mainland of Italy. I will be back FOR SURE!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am the travel nerd who will keep repeating every minute was a "WOW" on this tour because I value all the little details along the way that are so carefully and professionally organized, but I do want to mention a couple of major highlights. Our lunch at Maria Grammatico's pastry demonstration near Erice and our visit/meal to Georgiana's (SP) farm near Catania, and the Contessa's' home in Palermo. Meeting these wonderful people up close and learning about their lives are priceless souvenirs. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Incredible!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many favorites! Tasty lunch with pastry making with Maria Grammatico. The coastal town of Trapani, Ortigia was great, especially their gelato's, beautiful Taormina, and Valley of the Temples."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First of all, Alfredo, our guide was outstanding! He provided us with so much information and history and we all enjoyed his humor and energy! All the other guides for some of our tours were wonderful also. All the hotels were great and the roof top restaurants of some of the hotels provided wonderful views,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick one as each city we traveled to had a wow moment of its own, but I would have to say to have been at Mt Etna knowing how "Big Mama" has provided Sicily with so much...was pretty spectacular. We were fortunate to have been there a couple of days before she decided to erupt again."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was my 3rd Rick Steves tour and I found it unique and exciting. The Sicily tour was made particularly interesting because of our "standout" tour guide, Alfredo Vitale Cafasso. Alfredo was both energetic and thorough in his enthusiasm of each of the locations we visited. His energy and knowledge made the tour that much more enjoyable for everyone. This was the first time that I toured alone and found the experience enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is difficult to point to a single "wow" moment but, I would say that our trip to Erie, a medieval town located above Trapani stood out. We enjoyed a cooking class from Maria Grammatica which could only be described as a once in a lifetime experience. Each of the local guides were knowledgable and shared a genuine fondness and personal friendship with our tour guide, Alfredo."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One of many ETBD tours we have done. Other than being one of the shorter, it is was a very good one. Great history lessons throughout, good scenery, architecture, food and lodging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoyed the Valley of the Temples the most, but each stop was well planned. Taormina was certainly one of the best "village" experiences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour leader, great group of traveling companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Great lunch at an old barn / farm. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great Rick Steves tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt. Etna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As with our two previous Rick Steve's Tours it more than met our expectations in so many ways - from accommodations, to excursions and the wonderful meals. Jamie Blair Gould was an exceptional tour director with an amazing amount of knowledge of the area and its history.So many wonderful sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Countess and the Baroness.....meeting real people and people of that background. They were so down-to-earth. Visitng the Countess was like pulling back the curtain on a lifestyle we know nothing about. We loved the lunch at the Baroness' beautiful farm. What hospitality! In fact, we were impressed with all of the group meals,,,and the wine. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is an amazing tour. Sicily offers everything: natural beauty, ancient history, modern history, delicious food and wine and the tour delivered a chance to experience all of these. This group of people all were thoroughly enjoying the tour and being together. Our second Rick Steves tour and we loved it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can we have three? Visiting Monreale Cathedral with an excellent guide; pastry making with Maria; and seeing the ancient Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Deep history at each stop - supported by local "Expert Guides"...that was really great and appreciated. Selected hotels exceeded my expectations. Our guide, Tomasso, was talented and very knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Maria Grammatico day - Great fun to meet Maria and the baking demo of her Almond Cookies and Cannoli. The buffet lunch was beautifully created and served. Delicious food! A fun afternoon."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

5th RS Tour and most active. Great weather, lots of food/wine but overall I was disappointed with tour compared to previous ones, especially Southern Italy/Village Italy. A large portion of the island is not very scenic. Guide was full of knowledge but a fast talker and mover, it was hard to keep up with him sometimes. Covid surfaced & sadly some left the tour. Last night in Catania should be dropped and Taormina made 3 nights. As usual local guides were great and everything flowed smoothly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina. It's beautiful and reminded me of the Amalfi coast. Mt. Etna was also spectacular to see. Usually there are so many 'wow' moments it's hard to pick one but this tour had fewer 'wow' moments than other tours I've taken."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Weather great, people great, guide great, how tour curated great !!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Isle of Ortigia experience "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing from start to finish! After touring Sicily with tour guide Tommaso we can say we had daily opportunities to learn history, enjoy local foods and people, and share the fun with a great group of Rick Steves fans. Almost everyone who came on this tour had already been on an RS tour previously. Now we know why!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Posing for a group photo at our farewell dinner and realizing that we had been completely transported for two weeks and loved every minute with a wonderful group of travelers - now friends."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized and had just the right amount of educational opportunities. Our tour director was very good at keeping us informed and ensuring we knew when and where to meet. The other tour members were all considerate of each other and no one ever kept us waiting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Villa Casale Romano was spectacular! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a fun-FILLED trip. So much to see and I met many wonderful people in our tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Stephanie was our tour guide. She was our tour guide in 2015 for our Rome tour. Stephanie is wonderful and always goes above and beyond for the group. I loved seeing the salt pans, Mount Etna, and the many hill towns we visited. I can't seem to pick just one wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very educational, beautiful scenery and some excellent food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina overall, the lunch on the farm and at the winery plus the parting dinner in Catania"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Guide Stephanie was terrific. But we had taken this tour in 2017 and it was better then, in several ways. The wine tasting at Benanti was disappointing--only 3 wines to taste and almost nothing available to buy (like we did last time). The pizza night was also disappointing. Last time they talked about how they make Italian pizza and let a few of us try to twirl it. This time they just put the pizzas on the table, with no presentation or participation. And the pizzas were unexceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The volcanologist (grad student) who was the guide for the Mt Etna portion and the pictures he showed and shared with us. The mansion with the extensive mosaic floors is also a major wow."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour scheduled just the way I travel

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think that Villa Romana del Casale was the wow moment, while the Mt Etna experience was for me a waste of time"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Best of Sicily Tour was absolutely amazing. While the days were busy seeing fabulous sites, there was still plenty of free time for independent exploring. All the accommodations were amazing and in great locations. Our tour leader, Jamie, was beyond incredible with his knowledge, experience and insight. He truly engaged with each member of the group and he kept the group engaged. The local guides were so personable and knowledgeable. Loved the "flavor" that they brought to the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Absolutely loved the time we spent with Maria in Erice. What an incredible woman and story. No language barrier could lessen the passion and joy that she radiates when she is teaching others to bake. She is a pure delight. The time with Maria was also a wonderful bonding experience for our group. Loved watching the respectful, warm and comfortable interaction between Jamie and Maria. Truly enjoyed the small village of Erice. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

5 stars for the Rick Steves' tour, 4 stars for Sicily. Sicily is a beautiful country with many outstanding sites; the cathedral at Monreale, ancient Agrigento, amazing Roman Mosaics, and beautiful Taormina, to name a few. Our guide Jamie's fabulous sense of humor, historical knowledge and passion for the food and drink of Sicily added tremendously to the trip. The food was fabulous. I disliked dirty, chaotic, graffiti covered Palermo and the trash problem that permeates much of the island.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily is a wonderfully memorable place made even better because of our guide Jamie. As usual, the other tour members also made the tour a wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The town of Taormina. The trip up to it, the hotel and the view from it, the shops, the food and the cable car down to the beach area and first class hotel on the beach."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized, lots of fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking out at noon with a volcanologist"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Their weather was fantastic, as was the tour. We enjoyed the other participants and Jamie, our guide was terrific…we learned much of the history of the area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many…such as meeting the Countess Fredricka."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful sites, tastes and sights on this tour! Amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Climbing around the craters on Momma Etna, experiencing the views and otherworldly terrain!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyable. Well organized. Good mix of activities. Good accommodations. Nice group of fellow travelers. Well paced. Experienced and knowledgeable guide, with a good sense of humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"View from hotel's top level deck in Taormina. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every day was fun, educational and interesting. The food and wine were outstanding. Hotels were in great locations and quaint. Our tour guide, Brad made our journey over the top.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have a few wow moment: our baking lesson with Maria along with the delicious lunch at her place, Villa Roma de Casale and it’s 37 million mosaic tilers!, and the salt harvesting in Trapani."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Brad made every destination a WOW moment. Loved Ortigia, especially at night! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide Brad was great. We walked over 7 miles a day and saw a lot. The whole 11 days was go go go.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the earth's most active volcano. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour guide Brad."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Spectacular sights, friendly people, knowledgeable guide and local guides, pleasant accommodations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina Greek Roman Theater. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Guide Brad McEwen made this a very memorable tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What an amazing experience, from our tour guide, the local guides, the accommodations, vibrant cities, fascinating history, delicious food, wine, and so much more!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples was awe inspiring...just to imagine these structures are still standing after thousands of years!!!! Mind boggling !!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour, with good weather, good guides and a fun group of tour members. The mix of ancient civilizations through the ages is inspiring. Strenuous walking in town and country, but not as bad as I had feared.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale. The imagination and artistry are incredible and the immense cost and time to decorate the villa show the values of the ancient Roman upper class."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I have limited information to share as we left the tour on Day 5 due to Covid. The 5 days we were there were great! Guide, Andrea, was very good and the hotels were wonderful. As usual the planned places we visited were awesome!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooking with Maria at her house was a highlight!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our ninth! They have all been phenomenal. Andrea was perfect - loved his narratives/anecdotes, knowledge of Sicily and sense of humor

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Sicily, it was more about all the activities we would have never experienced on our own - Lunch with the Baroness and Benanti Vineyard. The food served at both places was delectable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved it all! People were great every one on time and respectful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Andrea was outstanding tour guide. Knowledgeable about everything. He made the trip for us. It was my first tour and can’t wait to do it again. I had so many wow moments hard to pick one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guides, fun group, beautiful, interesting trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The extraordinary beauty of Sicilian villages and natural scenery."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Unfortunately we had to leave the tour on the evening of day 4 due to a positive COVID test. Up to then the experience was excellent as we have come to expect from RSE.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our time was too short for a wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

we had a great time on our tour in Sicily and loved everything about our tour ! This was our 5th rick steve tour , which lived up to our expectations. Our Tour Guide was Andrea and he was great in all aspects of his job !!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Great time every where we went, but Mt. Etna and Taormina was on our top of our list along with Wine tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized, the leader was outstanding, the accommodations were nice and the activities were interesting and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the beauty of the Sicilian coastline. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our first Rick Steves tour we loved everything about it! Our guide, Stephanie, was wonderful. Our group was diverse and interesting and fun. The itinerary was a great mix of history, tasty cuisine, local farms/guides, and amazing scenery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt Etna, and gelato, of course. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was such a great tour. It was the perfect balance of scheduled activities vs. free time. My fellow travelers couldn't have been friendlier, and the guide was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking back on the trip, there wasn't just one wow moment. Rather it was a blend of all the really beautiful places we went, and the fun activities that were sprinkled in amongst the sightseeing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We are not experienced tour participants, however this experience far exceeded our expectations for tour manager, hotels, bus, meal opportunities, location guided events and congenial fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel and surrounding views from Traomina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful people--our guide (Stephanie), our travel companions and all of our hosts in Sicily! Amazing access to experiences and connection with Sicily's people, stories, culture and the land now and through the centuries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being treated to a homemade Sicilian feast and pastry-making experience with Maria Grammatico in beautiful Erice!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It exceeded my expectations in many respects: tour guide, local guides, hotels, meals provided, and the group experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The spectacular views from Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour. I was a bit hesitant because of the caution about hotels being boutique and having less that great air conditioning. In Italy that was not the case. The tour was simply fantastic. The guide was wonderful, always going above and beyond to address any and all questions and issues. The logistics were perfect, we never waited around, every single thing worked like clockwork. Our experiences were uncommon, interesting, and fun. I loved the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing the sea from atop Taormina but every day was filled with different and exciting activities. The group was simply delightful and fun to be with. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall it was good, tour guide was very knowledgeable, but I do not feel I really experienced Sicily, it was too rush. I understand the logistics and the crowd factor but every morning with exception of one we were on the bus by 8:00-8:15. It did not feel like vacation.My recommendation is to have concentration in one region of Sicily, a large town and small towns in the surrounding region. More cooking and wine tasting or other cultural experiences to experience the people of Sicily

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooking with Maria and the tasty lunch "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the ancient ruins plus Mt. Etna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Saw a lot. Great guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Food experience at the farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved seeing the land of my ancestors and absorbing the sounds, foods, flora and fauna, and diversity of the cultures. Ate more fish than I expected! Prickly pears took me back to my childhood. The Cattedrale di Monreale was breath taking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"La Pasticcerria Maria Grammatico cookie making and incredible lunch spread of delicious Sicilian dishes and the cannolis!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was wonderful. The old country environment of narrow stone streets and ancient buildings was delightful, and the scenery was beautiful. I was surprised by the consistently high quality of the hotels. The schedule of events made every day a delight, and we were having a hard time deciding which meal was our favorite. We liked the size of the group--small enough to get to know everyone, and not large enough to feel like an invading horde.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in the theatre in Taormina on a beautiful day, looking down to the town and off to the steaming Mount Etna in the distance. The combination of scenery and history was very powerful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour guide at Agrigento"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Our leader did a good job of taking us around the island of Sicily to show us the highlights and to have some experiences we might not have had on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Making almond cookies near Erice with Maria Grammatico"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire tour was great. There was a good balance between structured and free time. Our Guide Donald was engaging and very helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples was spectacular. The stay at Baglio della Luna was beautiful and relaxing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Donald was great. Very knowledgeable great personality and work well with all our fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the temples that were still standing"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a wonderful tour guide and a very nice group of people. While Palermo and Catania were a little grittier than I expected, the drive around Sicily and the stops were very fruitful in revealing the complicated history of this Mediterranean island.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mt Etna up close and lava flows and the talk by the volcanologist were wonderful. The winery visit and tasting several different wines and the talk. The temple ruins in Agrigento and Taormina shows that structures can be built to last."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The food served for the first orientation dinner and the last farewell dinner were very disappointing. The pre-orientation dinner tour of countess home was not very interesting. I'm sure there are other sights that would be more worth while.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our beach afternoon on our own at Taormina. Best sights were the golden mosaic church at Monreale and the mosaic floors at Villa Romona del Casal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Experiences, city guides, hotels, our guide (Tommaso), meals together were amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to choose! Probably Etna."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved learning about the history, eating the fantastic food, and seeing so many parts of Sicily. Weather was sunny and the group was fun to be with. Loved the special experiences like meeting the Contessa in Palermo, Cooking with Maria, and the Winery Tour and lunch - those are what set Rick Steves apart.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Palermo and the visit to Monreale and the relaxing wine lunch near Mount Etna."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was so well planned and ready to go for us!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many WOWS to be able to pick a favorite. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As always this Rick Steves' tour did not disappoint. I can't say it was my favorite of the ten I have been on but Sicily can't be compared to other wonderful places in Europe. It was active, educational, well organized, and the tour members were truly wonderful people. The intimate experiences such as making pastries, touring a Contessa's home make these tours extra special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the pastry making lesson by a feisty 80+ woman wonderful lunch."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sicily is a great location if you have been to others parts of Europe because this is where the cultures from throughout Europe came together and left their imprint over the centuries. It was fascinating to learn about cultures and religions coexisting, with evidence of this in the food and the architecture (sometimes in the same building!). The hotels were great & well located. Brad is very knowledgeable about Sicily and he was able to teach us a lot about the history, usually with great humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Far too many to choose just one. Almost every day had a wow moment, whether it was meeting a Contessa, countryside lunch at a winery with a Baroness, the mosaics, the volcano talk, making cookies, the list goes on and on. I’d also have to say that dinner with Rick (via Zoom) was also a highlight"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was a well-orchestrated intense tour with many great varied experiences. Lots of group meals together and many hotel 'receptions', official and unofficial, were fun where group congealed as family! Group at 29 was larger than ideal, hoping not a RS trend. Had Brad as tour guide twice within a month! He is superb, knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, likable, wanting all to have good time. Some things could be tweaked, but all in all, there is no going wrong with a RS tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina was favorite town where we could finally shop when shops were open! Free time during siesta is frustrating! Cookie making class with Maria was excellent and fun! Lunch with Baroness excellent stop! Mosaics in Villa Romana incredible. Mt Etna was great. As we had a RS staff member on tour, we had an impromptu FaceTime visit with RS himself at pizzeria and visited with 'the man' individually. FUN! Outstanding tour members as well, which seems to be a recurring theme on RS tours, our 4th. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I have used Rick Steves guidebooks for independent travel and decided to give one of his tours a try. I am so glad we did! The tour was amazing! Our guide, Brad, was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and fun. I loved all of the sites we visited, enjoyed all of the incredible group meals we shared and especially liked interacting with our local hosts, like Maria during her cookie making lesson. Great tour, excellent guides and wonderful traveling companions!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Agrigento's Valley of the Temples. The amazingly well preserved Greek buildings were stunning and our local tour guide was excellent. An incredible experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall experiences were fantastic. Having Jamie as the tour guide made it incredible. He explained cultures of the Sicilian people in very interesting ways.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole tour was a wow moment. From the time we met in Palermo to our final dinner together."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip. Very enlightening. Our tour guide, Jamie, was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking at a Pre-Greek, Pre-Phoenician temple in Segesta. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guide and site experts, good accommodations, and the touring sites were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples and the Roman Villa."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the BEST(out of 5) Rick Steves tour we have taken! Jamie was incredible! Our group was fun & fabulous! The sites we visited exceeded all expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say that our guide insured that almost every moment was a "wow"! The food, the wine, the city guides, the markets, the villages, the archaeological sites, the churches, the puppet show, the museum and even the bus driver, Massimo - WOW, WOW, WOW!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Sicily Tour came in highly recommended by former Rick Steves co-tour members, and it did not disappoint. Our lead guide, Jamie, was fantastic. He set the tone for a fun and educational tour. His being a food and wine enthusiast certainly did not hurt. I won't soon forget that fish stew from the Catania fish market!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are several to choose from, but the standout for me was Agrigento's Valley of the Temples with its well-preserved collection of ancient Greek buildings. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Virginia was wonderful! Professional, knowledgeable, personable the overall package of what one would want need and expect in a guide. Our group moved along in a friendly yet efficient manner. Each day was filled with memorable experiences!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our “wow” moment is difficult to choose since there were many! Our afternoon in Mozia with picnic lunch! The site was a marvel our guide through the property was very knowledgeable. The Sicilian picnic was some of the most delicious fresh food and wine not your ordinary American picnic!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Virginia was a perfect guide, and the itinerary was thoughtful and interesting. Fantastic experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Difficult question. The mosaic work at the Roman villa was amazing, also understanding the scale of the Temple of Zeus in the Valley of Temples was astonishing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved all of the cities that we visited and the unique experiences we were able to have. Our tour guide, Virginia was fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being able to attend and participate in a cooking/pastry class with Maria in Erice. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour gave an excellent representation of Sicily, going to the various regions to experience the people, atmosphere, different cuisines, and wines. The tour was well-organized and small enough to get to know the group and not feel overwhelmed. The hotels were well situated so it was easy to explore the area we were in.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite was the visit to the Contessa's house in Palermo which was an added attraction. The Contessa was so lively and fun. The other WOW was staying in the countryside hotel with beautiful gardens and scenery and of course, our host Salvatore who put a smile on everyone's face. The hotel was a much-needed rest and relaxation in the middle of our busy tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful Sicily experience from start to finish. I was very impressed with how knowledgeable our guide was regarding both the tremendous historical events as well as the cultural and present realities of the region. Plans for each day were well communicated and the needs of the group were well planned, especially since this was a fairly active tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Always hard to pick just one, but for me my "wow" moment was visiting the Cathedral in Monreale. I have visited countless cathedrals across Europe, but this was truly amazing with all the golden mosaics!! Our guide was wonderful helping to make the whole experience even more meaningful. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The town of Taormina !"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have always been intrigued about Sicily. All of the cities and experiences were so different and fantastic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Erice. Being able to almost “touch the clouds”, the view was amazing. But better yet, was meeting Maria Grammalico. She treated us to a fantastic buffet lunch and then instructed all of us of how to make a few of her favorite pastries. Instead of taking the bus back down, Andrea treated us to a gondola ride down to Trapani. Such a fun day!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We visited great historical sites and had great guides. Andrea, our tour guide was excellent and with great knowledge of the island, especially the history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite "wow" moments were the Monreale cathedral with the beautiful mosaics and the temples in Agrigento."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time on the Sicily tour with my husband. Our guide was knowledgeable about the history of this island, and I learned a lot about the different cultures that populated Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment on the tour was our dinner in Agrigento. The dinner at our lovely hotel was outside, and we were able to view the temples that were illuminated at night. The Blue Moon, Harvest Moon, Supper Moon was stunning as it appeared while we were having our first course. The dinner and wine were delicious."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This being our first Rick Steves trip, I have to say I was totally impressed. The attention to detail with our Guide Andrea was outstanding and almost all touring days were very pleasurable and informative. Hotels, food, transportation and guests were all enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had 3 "wow moments 1) The Cathedral in Monreale with its amazing glittering gold mosaics, Ancient Agrigento Temples with the stone carving of Zeus holding up its walls and the Trapani Salt flats . The guide in Agrigento was the best on the trip!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Brioche con gelato, maybe?"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed Sicily, great guide, enjoyable experiences, good food and wine. What else is there?

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First of all, our tour guide, Virginia, was amazing. She was personable, knowledgeable and super fun. The hotels far surpass ones from other tours, and the sites that we stopped at were all great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples and the hotel/dinner we stayed at. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent guide and very good group experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt. Etna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour and Virginia was a great guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the amphitheater in Taormina was one of the highlights"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful! Great tour guide, great group of people to travel with and an amazing itinerary of places to visit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That is hard to answer because I love them all! Visiting the Contessa in Palermo, baking cookies with Maria in Erice, visiting the Baroness, the puppet show, the winery...I honestly cannot pick one! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding time! It exceeded my expectations! Patricia our guide was amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are constant wow moments. Taormina really was amazing, the ruins, temples, Greek amphitheater, the cathedrals, all hotels were excellent, all meals were amazing, meeting a baroness, a countess and making cookies with Maria! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful tour with a few minor blips. Palermo and Catania are big cities that reminded me of the Italian TV shows Gomorrah and Suburra. They are old and filthy with modern trash and desperate desolation of the poor. the difference between the have much and the have nothings is very evident. There is historic value to both cities and there are beautiful sites to be seen. The small cities and towns are the real jewels and the people are the stars of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite moment was walking Agrigento's Valley of the Temples in the heat and seeing the immense scale and accomplishments of the ancient world. Second favorite was viewing and climbing part of Mount Etna. Awesome. Third was viewing the roman influences and mosaics at Villa Romanadel Casale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

a great group of people, incredibly good and knowledgeable guides and fab food and interaction with locals

Favorite "WOW" moment

"many"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What made our journey finding the best of Sicily was our Guide and Angel, Patricia. She made sure our trip was seamless, exciting and fun. We were a small group of 22 including us and we all got along so well. We were a very respectful group always showing up on time and never keeping anyone waiting. By the end of our trip we became a family thanks to Patricia's joyful energy which was contagious!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The temples of Sicily! They are in such amazing condition and they tower over you!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the free time. It was just enough. The quality of the guides was exceptional. Patricia, our director of our tour, was.the best I have had. The food that you provided was thoughtful and tasty. I can't imagine a tour being as good as Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many. One stands out: the Countess was so wonderful, she left me speechless."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour focused a lot on historical sites, and our guide, Nancy, had an excellent way of presenting the sites to us through stories and her knowledge of history, etc. The tour was well-paced so we had free time to explore on our own. It was nice to not be on the bus so much on this tour. I felt like we received an excellent overview of Sicily and now I want to return to see more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My “wow” moment centers around our tour guide, Nancy. Not only is Nancy well-versed in all things in Sicily, including history, people, the cuisine, the wine, she exudes charm and fun. She also has empathy and thorough understanding of people. In particular, my wife and I were locked out of our hotel room in Ortigia , through no fault of our own. I have severe anxiety disorder and was in the middle of an anxiety attack. Nancy saw this immediate and calmed me down & took charge of the situation."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves' tour and was by far one of the best group trips I have ever been on. Nancy was a fantastic guide - very intelligent, informed and personable. The timing of daily events was perfect - just the right amount of time to visit sites, eat, shop or whatever was on the schedule. Each hotel was unique and comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was the visit to Villa Bianca - such a beautiful setting, lovely host and the most amazing food!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steves' Europe tour and it was outstanding. Our tour guide, Nancy, was amazing and made the tour such a great experience for all of us. I loved her humor and all of the interesting facts about Sicily that she shared with us. The sights were great, the pace was perfect and the food and drinks were awesome. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I felt like almost every day had its own "wow" moments; from the breathtaking cathedral at Monreale, to the mountaintop town of Erice, learning about the salt harvesting methods that have been used for centuries, visiting the Greek temples, seeing the Roman mosaics, staying on the beautiful island of Ortygia, visiting Mt. Etna and a gorgeous winery on its slopes - all "wow" memories to treasure forever."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had a wonderful time. The activities were planned well and our guide Nancy was informative, sociable and a great tour leader.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to name. The cathedral at Siracusa and the wine tasting."