Best of Sicily in 11 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being there with my wife. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many WOW moments to pick just one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch at Erice with Maria. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The theater and temple at Segesta."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fabulous!! No complaints.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to name "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time. Will vote again and again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monreale visit"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

the best

Favorite "WOW" moment

"mama virginia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tuormino and Mount Etna!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing vacation, great memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to choose - probably the temple of Segesta"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the winery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour of Erice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic and Stephanie was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Stephanie, our guide, was OUTSTANDING!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sicily in general!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Minerales and learning about the different cultural influences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized. Super guides. Wonderful sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Was fantastic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the greek temples and vases from 400bc"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very fun, educational, scenic your

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Views from the Greek Theater in Taormina"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Varied, well organized, super guides, great value.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A bonus beach day in Trapani with wonderful new found friends finding sea glass and taking a dip. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group of travelers and Stephanie is a fabulous tour guide. We saw a lot of beautiful Sicily, but never felt rushed. Highly recommend.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Greek ruins at Segesta, and the first time seeing the gorgeous view of Taormina from our hotel’s dining room."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour of Sicily was a delight! Our guide, Stephanie, was professional, warm, kind and supportive. Our enjoyment of the trip was always her top priority. Each local guide was also interesting and informative. Sicily, itself, was a wonderful destination,. Between the amazing history, the beautiful scenery, the delicious food...with emphasis on gelato...and the friendly locals, we had a fabulous experience. We have already recommended the trip to friends!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When visiting the ruins of the Villa Romana del Cascale which had, thankfully, been hidden under a mudslide for hundreds of years, we were amazed at the mosaics on the floors. They were so beautiful and intricate, and they told astonishing stories of the life of the rich and famous is ancient Rome. It was incredible to see these mosaics in such quantity and so well preserved!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall experience was wonderful. It was a well organized tour with an experienced, friendly tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mt. Etna, probably is."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The topography was unbelievable "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Trip logistics were flawless and tour guide Stephanie was just perfect. She was available to answer any question and was so organized. Very caring and relatable person. She loves Italy and Sicily and that came through in every thing she did.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beautiful scenery"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A well choreographed tour plenty of down time or free time with some great personal touches and a fabulous tour guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Etna Taormina there were many "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Pace was good. Downtime adequate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Sicily tour exceeded my high expectations as we visited sites pertaining to years Sicily was ruled by Carthage, Greece, Rome, Arabs, Normans, and Spain. Great value was added by visits we could not have seen outside the tour: Palazzo Conte Federico, the cooking class, and the baroness' country estate. Our only disappointment was that "Mama" Etna was obscured by African dust, but she appeared on our tour's last day. Our tour guide, Brad, was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the mosaics at churches in Palermo: Monreale Cathedral, the Palatine Chapel, and La Martorana church."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great guide, Brad, and a most convivial group of folks on our tour. There were many sights to see and many experiences to enjoy. Our coach driver was amazing as well on the narrow twisty switchbacks that are a hallmark of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although I enjoyed the Greek temples, several; amphitheaters, etc. It was experiences of the areas such as a lunch and cookie lessons with Maria, a hotel (Baglio della Luna) with a scenic garden and patio... Too many experiences to single out a single moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is a terrific and comprehensive tour of Sicily that includes the major cities of Palermo and Catania along with small picturesque towns such as Taormina and jaw dropping ruins like the Valley of the Temples and Segesta. Brad was a wonderful guide- knowledgeable and organized. He made great recommendations for meals and activities when we had free time and knew so much about Sicily’s history. We could never have seen and done as much if we’d rented a car and tried this itinerary on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole tour was very memorable- but a major wow moment was the free day in Taormina. We rented a boat through a Rick Steve’s recommended company and took a private cruise around Isola Bella, a small nearby island. Then had lunch at a restaurant that Brad recommended called Osteria Rossino Di Vino in Taormina. One of the best meals of the trip!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wow!! This is our fourth Rick Steve’s tour and we had mild expectations. But Sicily has been our very best Rick Steves tour!! We had no idea Sicily would be incredible, and we had no idea our tour guide, Brad Mc, would arrange stupendous experiences every day!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Greek ruins in the Valley of the Temples"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Brad did an excellent job communicating and providing informative commentary. Local guides were excellent (Jackie, the guide in Ortigia). Good accommodations and food. Fellow travelers were wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WWII Landing Museum in Catania will stick with me - provocative in the context of current world events. I was expecting this to be the cathedral at Monreale but the renovations prevented us from seeing the mosaics in the apse. Again, Jackie's comments were fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was such an enjoyable and enriching experience. Everything about the tour was top notch. Our guide, Brad, was so knowledgeable, articulate, and considerate. The local guides in all destinations were excellent. I loved the central locations of the hotels and the extra, special activities that were planned for us (puppet show in Ortygia, cookie making demo in Erice, etc.) Most of all, I loved our fellow travelers. We had such a cohesive and congenial group. We became like a family.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was continually "wowed" by the views. From the stunning view of Palermo's skyline as seen from our hotel's rooftop to the sights of the ancient temples seen in the distance from our hotel near Agrigento to the stunning view of the sea, coastline and cliffs from high above in Taormina, I was totally enthralled. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group visited several places in Sicily

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Taormina - really enjoyed all the shopping with great restaurants "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip. Andrea was a fabulous tour leader. He was exceptionally knowledgeable, well-organized, and personable. I loved all the "surprises" he orchestrated during the tour. Our group was very cohesive, and I attribute it to the camaraderie created by the tour leader. Tour was the right length to see all the important sites. There was a lot of walking but that was expected, and no one had a challenge keeping up with the pace. Local guides were all great. Bus driver (Enzo) was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" historical moment was visiting the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento (we could also see it from our hotel window!); my "wow" fun moment was baking cookies with Maria in Erice. My "wow" walking moment was the stroll we took on our own around Ortigia (beautiful island). And we saw kite surfing as a bonus near Mozia!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The Sicily tour was a good overview of the island and it's 3,000+ years of history. We enjoyed the ancient ruins, the wonderful, interesting food and sharing the experience with other travelers like us. Almost everything was well-planned and easy on us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through the Agrigento Greco-Roman ruins. We had heard about these for 20 years, but had never seen them until now."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just wonderful! A great mix of education and incredible sights all with a great guide and excellent care for logistics and safety

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to choose one. The views after hiking the 500 stairs in Taormina, the cooking class with Maria, and the tour of the Contessa's home"

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

This Best of Sicily in 11 Days tour was fantastic! The overall experience was above and beyond my expectations. Years ago I had enjoyed the Rick Steves tour of Athens and the Peloponnese Peninsula and hoped this Sicily tour would be of equal quality. It was even better, enhanced by our terrific guide, Andrea, and our group of travelers. I am so happy to have joined the tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first "wow" moment was our meet and greet on the hotel's rooftop in Palermo! What a way to kick off our adventure. Our fabulous guide Andrea ensured we understood what we were seeing and that we didn't miss out when our schedule had to deviate. This tour allowed us to explore the many layers of history, culture, cuisine and art Sicily has to offer from ancient times to present history. What a wonderful, "wow-some" experience!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent tour guide Andrea

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was terrific. Andrea was both knowledgeable, professional, and always went the extra mile to make sure we to knew what to expect next and to add unexpected experiences. He had many stories and anecdotes that personalized the stops on the tour and made the motor coach rides both interesting and entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments which all revolved around the "magician like" manner in which Enzo, our motor coach driver, flawlessly navigated the narrowest of streets and roads, traffic, and pedestrians. We still don't know how he did it, but it was marvelous to experience, and literally evoked multiple "wows throughout the trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fun and informative. The amount of detail that Andrea provided was helpful in planning free-time and also pre-tour highlights. Also, with the size of our group Andrea really helped us all bond together.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was visiting the Basilica Cathedrale in Montreale. Absolutely stunning and our tour guide was terrific"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding tour. The diversity of topography and the amount of agriculture was surprising. The many layers of history, cultures, and number of conquers made Sicily a complex region of Europe. Andrea, our tour guide, added much local history and color to this tour in an easy and understandable manner. Each of the local guides were knowledgeable and exceeded the Rick Steves standards.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stumbling upon the Santa Lucia celebration on the Island of Ortigia next to Siracusa. and the vast number of mosaics in the Villa Romana Del Casale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Andrea our tour guide was great. We have toured with another company previous and I have to say there was no comparison. The Rick Steve's nailed it with the Sicily tour schedule, events, and tour guides. The only suggestion I could make is to shorten some of the individual tour times. A couple of the guides were very long winded, with an overwhelming amount of knowledge, which is great, but our group of 5 thought a bit to much time was taken up.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Making Cannoli's and staying in Taormina were 2 of our favorite experiences. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I had a great time on this tour. Our guide, Andrea, was fantastic! He was enthusiastic & knowledgeable without information overload. The pacing was good; a mix of activities, downtime, and travel. We really liked getting to know our fellow travelers. We loved our “buddies” and met a lot of fun, smart, like-minded, well-traveled people. The hotels were good, not all great, but all well situated. Some of the included meals were just okay, but many were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The temples in Agrigento were pretty impressive! I really appreciated the “surprise & delight” things that our tour guide.Andrea arranged — a gelato here, a taste of chocolate there, and a local treat somewhere else. So fun sharing those things with the group!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed Sicily as it was not overrun with tourists.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the temples at Agrigento."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had an amazing time in Sicily. All of the places we were promised to visit in the itinerary and more, were provided. Our Rick Steve's guide and all others selected were very well read, patient and mostly easy to understand. We had a great group of people with whom to share our experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really enjoyed the working farm (Day 6), prior to arriving in Syracuse. Taormina was especially fun and action-packed."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour. The itinerary was spectacular and the food was even better. Tour had a good variety of “busy-ness” and down time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt Etna and the view from the hotel in Taormina "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very high quality and enjoyable guide and itinerary. Nancy was second to none and made everything work simply and easily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Contessa and learning about salt harvesting"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was such a surprise and we are so thankful that we decided to participate. Our guide was phenomenal and such an assest to the whole experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to narrow down. Thought the Greek temples in Agrigento were astounding and the view from the ampitheater in Taromina was magnificent."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely excellent! Who knew Sicily was such an amazing place! I certainly had no idea, even though I ready your Sicily book and thought I had studied well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is really difficult, as there were "wow" moments every day. But if I had to pick one, it would be the day we went to Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples. Everything about this day was "wow." Not only the temples which, of course, were the highlight, but also the museum, the stone giant telamon and the cork temple replica."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and my husband and I couldn't have been more impressed with every aspect of the trip! From Nancy our tour director, to the activities, the hotels, meals, and other tour experiences, it was one of our most memorable European visits. Being on the tour enabled us to focus on the fun part of travel, not having to worry about travel logistics. And it was great sharing our experiences with our tour "family."

Favorite "WOW" moment

"After many years of studying theater history, standing in the incredible Greek and Roman theaters we visited throughout the trip was an experience of a lifetime for me! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall I was very happy with excellent tour manager, the itinerary and the hotels. That said, I believe that there was too much "free time" and that a few more meals could be included.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Palazzo Federico and meeting the contessa."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned so much about Sicily! I really didn’t know much beforehand, and found it to be fascinating. The history of the island is long and colorful, with the parade of conquering invaders who all left their mark, both on the landscape and on the people of Sicily. Our tour guide, Nancy, was delightful: so helpful, engaging, and knowledgeable. I loved hearing her talk about the history and culture of Sicily. And our bus driver, Giuseppe, was wonderful—kind and skillful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! The cooking class with Mama Maria, delightful Taormina, the history behind the beautiful Monreale Cathedral, the stunning mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale, and the WWII museum in Catania. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was so enjoyable and informative, thank you, Nancy!! You were fabulous!! Thank you so much for your insights and sense of humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say…"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw so much of Sicily that we would not have seen on our own. The convenience of a bus and a tour guide allowed us to cover the island in the time that we had. The sights that were included were extensive and Jaime had us perfectly timed to see them at opportune moments - ahead of large tour groups, school groups and cruises! The tour guides along the way were very knowledgeable and kept it very interesting. Also appreciated a little time each day to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking tour of Taormina because got off the Rodeo Drive of Italy! And that day included the presentation from Boris about Mount Etna. Fascinating. Once again, Jaime treated us to aspects of Sicily which we would not have found on our own."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time to tour in Europe. Without a guide, I think there would have been so many things one would miss. Our guide was excellent and added a great deal to the overall experience. This is something that I can see myself doing again in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The history was most amazing to me. The structures and art that were produced over 1900 years ago was hard to hard to believe."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide, a great variety of points of interest, a very congenial group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The temple in Palermo that had been erected BC, then became a mosque, then a cathedral. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful travel mates and guide. There was a lot to see and the group travel experience was excellent; especially for a single person.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the luncheon at the farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our long awaited tour of Sicily was made exceptional by the itinerary planned and the knowledgable guidance of Jamie. His knowledge, kindness and humor was a mix that allowed us to enjoy the highlights as well and the hidden gems in Sicily. Our accommodations were first class and the meals were outstanding at every stop.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick one wow moment from this wow adventure, including a tour of Contessa Federicko's Castle Home, to a country estate, a first class winery, Mount Etna, Greek theatres, views of the Sicilian shores, the salt flats. It was a wow trip "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great locations with a thorough exploration. Plenty of time to explore on our own. Convenient hotel locations made it easy to dive into the surroundings. Jamie our tour guide did a wonderful job educating us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exploring Mount Etna. Amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw, tasted and traveled to places we would not have done on our own, Our guide Jamie was absolutely wonderful and his humor, information and site visit timing was spot-on. Each and everyone of our traveling companions made the trip all the more enjoyable. The local guides in each of the towns gave us in depth information and a perspective on the local color that made the experience very real. Not having to worry about transportation and hotel made moving from place to place very easy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments between the food and the activities but if I had to select one it would be the coastal and hillside views from Taormina. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Terrific! Very well organized. I liked the sequence of stops and activities. Our guide Jamie was very knowledgeable, and attentive to the needs and well-being of tour members. He was careful in looking after the dietary needs of my traveling companion. Nice to have a dedicated bus and driver (Angelo) for travel between stops. Great choice of comfortable hotels. Also, great group of pleasant and kind people on our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many "wow" moments! First on my mind are the spectacular views of cities, countryside, and Mediterranean Sea from heights of Palermo, Segesta, Erice, and Taormina. Loved the rooftop breakfast areas and lounges of our hotels with amazing views. Greatly enjoyed ruins and museum in Agrigento. Our guide (I think Michael) was very informative. Also enjoyed beautiful churches in Monreale, Syracuse, and Taormina. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every day was wonderful. I think the others on the tour were exceptional-- considerate and interesting. It was nice to meet new people who also think that a Rick Steves-style tour is fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Segesta was particularly beautiful-- gorgeous views and wildflowers, and great weather. Taormina is probably more beautiful but the weather was not great when we were there. I enjoyed the stroll from the theater to the temple. The biggest wow was the food at the agritourismo and at the cooking class. I was glad to check off another Caravaggio in Syracuse on my bucket list to see them all."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about the rich history of Sicily."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, I loved the food and sights of Sicily, thanks in large part to having an amazing tour guide, David Tordi!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were "WOW" moments on a daily basis during this tour. Our first night in Palermo at dinner as a group on the rooftop restaurant of our Ambasciatori Hotel, overlooking the lights of Palermo was a WOW. Listening to our local guide recount the diverse history of the area while looking at the mosaics in the Cattedrale di Monreale was a WOW. Sitting in Granduca Restaurant in Taormina, gazing out at the blue Mediterranean over a delicious lunch was a WOW."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had not done a tour since pre covid…the attention to detail and the guides who led us were nothing but the very best…so grateful for this amazing tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The people welcoming and hospitable, the tour informative and the tour guide was excellent..oh yes and the food…out of this world!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I am interested in the history and archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean world and there were many things on this tour that were perfect fits for that interest.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about and visiting the site of the ancient Phoenician city of Mozia, now being excavated."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, and Alfredo is probably the best guide ever! Also might have been the best group ever - this was our 5th RS tour, and pretty much everyone else in the group were RS veterans as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Villa Romana de Casale! The mosaics are of course fantastic, but the scale of the whole place is astonishing. Also, fantastic to have the final meal of the tour are Mi Cumpari Turridu in Catania (we had just seen Stanley Tucci interviewing the owner recently!) - fabulous food with the group."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Alfredo was a wonderful guide, made the tour come alive. Excellent history, amazing sights, some wonderful meals, and a good group of like-minded companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For one of us it was the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, for the other the Valley of the Temples."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was so much more than I expected..... the food, Mount Edna, the wonderful tour group and great fresh food everywhere

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the smoke from Mount Edna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I heard rave reviews of your Sicily tour when I was on your Istanbul tour in October 2022 and I was not disappointed. The Island of Sicily herself, the Accommodations, Meals, Daily Activities & especially our guide: Alfredo made the entire experience unforgettable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the artifacts discovered on Mozia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Alfredo, our bus drive Angelo, the daily tours, our accommodations and the provided meals were all excellent. For me, the daily tours were better than the itinerary described so I was never disappointed. The other members of the group also helped to make it great trip. They were all time conscious and fun to travel with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I went to Sicily not knowing much about the country so for me there were many wow moments but I’d say the Villa Romana del Casale was one of the biggest surprises for me."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a wonderful group, and Alfredo was a fantastic host. The hotels were great, the meals were delicious, and every local guide was super informative and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, the Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina was my wow day. What a mind blowing place! It must have been great to be a rich Roman! 😉"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful trip. Our guide Alfredo Vitale was a perfect leader: experienced and knowledgeable. He struck just the right tone, was a great source of information, had a winning personality, and kept everything running so smoothly that the logistics were never a problem. By Alfredo's establishing group norms and also, perhaps, just by luck, everyone in the group was kind, well-meaning, and courteous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sicily was such an amazing place, it would be hard to say. I had a small wow moment when while touring the Siracusa market with a local guide I thought "Oh, I wish I could taste that cheese." No sooner did that wish pop in my head, but we turned a corner and there was Alfredo standing with a sample platter. Alfredo and Rick Steves Tours seems to have thought of everything, including mind reading! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nancy was amazing she really made our experience of Sicily! She helped us better understand the culture including the food and the history. Nancy was so considerate of our anticipated needs and handled all of this in such a warm and professional manner! To sum it up she set the bar very high for our future tour guides. Thank you to Rick Steve’s for rescuing us after losing our first guide became ill and sending us Nancy!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting my Grandfather ‘s former home in Trapani ."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour itinerary and fellow travelers. Our guide Nancy is very detailed oriented and took care of us all. She is Sicilian so she shared local customs and made sure we had a daily treat of something local. Hotels were all very nice and well located. As usual, the RS experiences that you couldn't do on your own - with Maria and her assistant Mark, at the farm and the winery are all memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite experience was at our our hotel, Baglio della Luna, in Agrigento. It had a lovely courtyard and garden, great food, we could see Valley of Temples off in the distance, and the temples were lit up at night. Other memories include seeing the Temple of Segesta nestled among the hills, the fabulous views from the rooftop decks at our hotels in Palermo (distant hills and the roofs of the city), Trapani (ocean) and Taormina (Mt Etna) and seeing Mt Etna for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour - Sicily is a beautiful country, with more ancient history than I was aware of. Nancy was an outstanding tour guide. We went to Cefalu for a few days pre-tour, which was a wonderful place to acclimate to the time change

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one thing - enjoyed the visit to Maria’s cooking class (and the food!), seeing the mosaics, visiting the winery, Mt Etna, and the gorgeous coastline. I would love to go back to Agrigento and Trapani. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide (Nancy) did a fantastic job filling in for our initial tour guide (Donald) at the start of our trip. We learned so much about Italian culture from her. I can still hear her say the words “bene, bene” and “piano, piano” as we departed from the bus. Nancy and all of the restaurants did a great job making sure my Celiac needs were met. No worries. Loved the cookie making class with Maria & Mark, the midday feast at Giovanna’s and the Benanti Winery Tour. Aurelio was a great driver!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of Mt Etna from the rooftop of our hotel in Taormina. As always, our fellow RS travelers were great. Ciao."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I think the tour was made so much better with our tour guide Nancy's input and knowledge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Italian food."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were very busy, with both our main tour guide and local guides giving us reams of information. Nancy gave us treats of local products along the way to introduce us to new foods. Accommodations were made for special diets and fellow tourists who had other special requests. As with any trip, not everything went according to plan but we all adjusted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide ended up in the hospital on day 2, but within a day we had a new guide who blended very well with us. Aside from Nancy, everyone seemed enchanted to meet a contessa and visit her palace."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour of any kind. We had always used Rick's books to organize our own trips. We were pleasantly surprised that we enjoyed it as much as we did.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably visiting with the Contessa in Palermo and with Maria in Eurice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our native Sicilian tour guide, Nancy, was far beyond excellent! She has so much enthusiasm and passion for Sicily. The local guides were also very good. Especially Mark who (unexpectedly for him) graciously became our friend to take us around the mountain top town of Erice. The friendly bus driver, Aurelio, was incredible at navigating the narrow winding roads and traffic! The hotels, restaurants, sites and itinerary were all excellent. Great like-minded tour group making for a fun trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything related to food & food activities; the pizza dinner, the busiate demonstration and dinner, Maria’s cookie making & lunch, the markets in Palermo & Catania. The spirited volcanologist, the gracious Contessa, and the friendly Italians. The sites were all excellent."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nancy was a terrific tour guide, and we appreciated her answering her phone at 7 am to take control of our tour after our initial guide became ill. Sicily was everything we had hoped it to be, and more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Frederico Palace in Palermo was unbelievable, and the Contessa did a superb job guiding us. It was my favorite individual tour of all of our seven Rick Steves tours. Yes, it was that good."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a guide replacement after the first day. This turned out to be an outstanding change as I feel the fit was perfect for us. The group jelled well after several days and the overall experience was great. Hotels were good overall and met standards. The group meals were average at best. While socially enjoyable the food could be marginal at best. Over several tours I’ve done the pattern has developed of limiting choices, reducing drink options and limiting option for those with dietary limits

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My best moments were at mt etna and Taormina. Stunning beauty and dramatic views"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved our tour guide, Nancy, and her culture info. The group of travelers were welcoming to all and a joy to travel with. The pace of the trip was challenging but perfect for all the experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"there were many Wow moments, hard to choose. Guess I'll go with our Benanti vineyard tour, and light lunch in Catania. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was a truly great experience. The countryside was beautiful and Siracusa and Taormina were excellent. Although our guide Donald had to leave us after day due to heath reasons, Nancy did a superb job.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour and lunch at the Etna winery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily is a fascinating place to visit, with natural beauty and a complex history that is evident in everything from historic buildings to local food specialties.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn't one. Every day was filled with interesting sights and experiences. Sicily has so much to offer the visitor!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed this tour very much. We saw some stunningly beautiful places. We also saw places, especially in Palermo and Catania, that were in very poor condition. Lots of graffiti, garbage in the streets, and streets, sidewalks, and buildings in poor repair.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially enjoyed Taormina - the views were stunning in every direction. Another highlight was our visit to a working farm where we had a fabulous lunch. And I loved visiting the lovely town of Cefalu, although that is something I did on my free time as it was not included on the tour."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a wonderful, engaged group, a superb guide and new experiences. Learned (as always) much history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not one 'WOW' but many really great special moments and sites and experiences"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Several really interesting activities I really enjoyed. Not enough time at some venues and felt a bit rushed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Etna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I liked our tour leader, Alfredo, the route of the tour, the food, the guides, and the incredible beauty of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring Siracusa, where my maternal grandfather immigrated to the US from."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw a lot of Sicily and got the feel of the culture on this tour. Our guide Alfredo and the other guides for each of the areas we visited were excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was all a wow moment. It was a very special vacation for us and really made us proud of our heritage "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Alfredo, was fantastic! He really made Sicily come alive, both in its history and current society. Our local guides also were great, especially at Monreale Cathedral.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pin down just one experience! But one of the best was the pastry cooking lesson/demonstration with Maria."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my first group trip alone., my concern was free evening dinners eating alone. That never happened. Someone always asked me to join them. This experience was absolutely amazing. It was all because our outstanding leader, Alfredo

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything was a wow moment. Highlights were the Roman Villa mosaics and staying at the Baglio Della Luna. The local guides, our cooking class and meal with Maria. Picnic at the agritourismo. And especially my travel mates."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the minute our tour began, our tour guide, Alfredo, had so much positive energy, was so engaging, and wanted everyone to feel included and to get to know one another. It was an outstanding experience in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “WOW” moments between the history of Sicily and the magnificent sites, that it is so difficult to choose. If I had to absolutely choose, I would say “Big Mama” Mt. Etana and going to the salt pans were both unbelievable and extremely educational experiences. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lots of fun and beautiful sights!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bomb shelters; the real underground tunnels and rooms followed by the simulation of what it was like when a bomb dropped."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour of Sicily was fabulous! Very thorough & comprehensive view & explanation of the history, art, and culture of Sicily. This was my first time abroad & I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Everything from start to finish was well curated. Alfredo, our tour guide, was so lovely & knowledgable. I would definitely have him as a tour guide again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s so hard to pick favorite moments, but all of the churches I saw were just fabulous. Almost unreal. You think those things only exist in the movies until you actually experience it. Pictures do not do the beauty of Sicilian architecture & art justice. It’s spectacular to hear about history and evolution of how those churches came to be. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous guide, itinerary, food, and group. Alfredo, our guide was perfect! He was so knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and welcoming. This is my third RS trip. He was the best guide I could have imagined for this trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many: Greek ruins at the top of the list, followed by ancient salt flats, Maria’s pastry class, Erice and Taromina were all amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We have used Ricks tour guides for 45 years or more but this is the first time we have taken one of his tours. It was the 11 days to Sicily and then we went on to Malta for 5 days. We loved everything about the tour. It was just what we expected he would plan. We loved all the hotels because they had character and we in excellent locations. Especially the one in the countryside in Agrigento. The rooms we sufficient and locations excellent. I should have started by commenting on our tour leader.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. The winery tour and tasting was excellent. The evening Roberto cooked us a meal in Trapani was excellent. There isn’t one wow moment. Brad our tour leader was a constant wow . He was excellent. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We liked that there were extra goodies to experience beyond the normal tour sites, which included locals sharing about their lives and passions. Very enriching.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The people of Sicily and their vibrant history."

Overall a great tour in a beautiful part of Italy with varying dramatic landscapes.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every day brought new and interesting sites and events. Brad was a wonderful tour guide. The food and variety of places that we ate was delightful. In particular, Baglio Della Luna, near the Agrigento's Valley of the Temples had the most variety of all the breakfast buffets, and their use of 'real' china and silverware added an air of elegance.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick one overall 'wow' moment, but the Phoenician island of Mozia was evocative of what life must have been like over the ages. The archeological ruins there were amazing as well as those at the Villa Romana del Casale. (I'm a quilter, and the mosaics on the entire trip provided so many creative possibilities.)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

David and I enjoyed it from the moment we met our guide Jayme, and our group members. The tour was fast paced and very fun and informative, full of history, art, architecture, and great opportunities to meet Sicilian people. I feel like I just completed a semester of Sicilian. All the group were a lot of fun, very much like myself, wanting to experience the realness. Our guide was prepared for the unexpected. He found alt routes when necessary, and helped me when I fell on my knee.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was Wowwed by so much. My favorite by standing on our terrace in Taoramino looking up at Mt Etna in the clouds. I was wowed by all the wonderful Sicilian people out there just living life. I always felt comfortable and welcome to just be me. I was Wowwed by the amazing group lunches and dinners that Jayme arranged. All food was incredible, even a couple dishes I wasn’t sure that I would like. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sicily has an impressive history. We learned a lot. Jamie was a good and knowledgeable guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The temple at Segesta and the fish markets. (I like fish.)"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized and informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Roman Villa of Casale"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the very start, we were very impressed with the RS organization, from the user friendly website and pleasant, well-informed people who answered our questions on the front end to the knowledgeable professionals we interacted with in one way or another on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Before the tour even began I was wowed again and again by the timely, thoughtful answers I received from the RS Travel Forum as I planned the pre-tour leg of our trip. During the tour, my favorite wow moment was walking out to breakfast on the roof of our hotel and seeing Mount Etna, shrouded in clouds the day before, glistening white against the blue sky, after a late April snow storm. It took my breath away! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group of people to travel with. Our Guide was wonderful and had great information about what we were seeing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the ruins at Agrigento was a wonderful experience also staying in the town of Taormina with the views of Mount Etna was great."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed learning about all the ancient and mythological history. I think 28 people is just too large (OATS limits size to 16) though we had a very good group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being up high on the roofs and overlooking the cities - at our hotel in Palermo as well as the cathedral there, and the cathedral in Catalina. Wonderful views including the sea."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sicily was a master class in history and diversity. Jamie was a fabulous guide and we enjoyed all his off-the-beaten-path dining recommendations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Some of the best seafood of my life, plus visiting Villa Romana del Casale -- The mosaics were absolutely incredible. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Because I had never been on a tour before, I didn't know what to expect. I certainly read many reports of previous tour participants, but I couldn't imagine that the abundant accolades I read could possibly be true. But they all were - the tour was outstanding! Our tour leader, Jamie, was over-the-top terrific: knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, engaging, efficient - I could go on and on. He was the best!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow experience happened on one of the last days of the tour. When we awoke in the hotel in Taormina and walked to the terrace to see the early morning light we were amazed by the sight of Mt. Etna glistening with white snow on the summit. The previous day it had rained (the only rain of the tour), so we never saw the mountain and didn't realize how prominent it was. What a sight! It will be etched in my memory for years to come."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Sicily tour was an enjoyable mix of sights, culture, and food. We had a great group of people on our tour. Our guide, Jamie, was very organized and knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was impressed with sheer amount of beautiful mosaics at the ruins of Villa Romana del Casale. All of the Greek/Roman ruins we visited were fascinating."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved exploring Sicily. It is a beautiful island with a beyond rich history. Andrea Vannelli was a wonderful guide and I greatly appreciated his insights in what it means to be Sicilian. This is a tour with a good mixture of fun activities and historical sights. The food was delicious at all the group meals. We were blessed with a great tour group of delightful people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the day we traveled from Agrigento to Ortigia. It included viewing the beautiful countryside out the bus window, the amazing mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale, the wonderful lunch at the farm, and watching the sunset over the water at my favorite stop of the tour, Ortigia. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Andrea was fantastic! He was a wonderful teacher of all things Sicily and just a delight. The local guides were outstanding and the food was plentiful and excellent. The special things like meeting the Contessa, cooking with Maria, the owners tour of the salt museum, the lunch in the countryside villa and the winery were all great. The hotels were 3 star, but the locations were 5 star. Lots of time to explore on our own, with help from Andrea if needed. Great group of fellow travelers!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day brought a new wow moment! My favorites were the Temple and hillside theatre in Segesta for the shear beauty and preservation of the site. Driving up to Erice and making cookies with Maria was another highlight. And the winery tour was such a beautiful site, as well as being very enlightening."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Extremely smooth from start to finish.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching Maria make cookies called Nun’s Boobies."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding introduction to Sicily. Great food, good travel companions, exceptionally talented guide Andrea Vannelli.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning how Sicily, due to its strategic location in the middle of the Mediterranean, was fought over by the Phoenicians/carthaginians and the Greeks, then Romans, then Goths, then Normans . . .etc. Andrea helped make sense of the Greco Roman history lessons of my youth that never really "clicked". But the major realization was that Sicily, which may be part of Italy in modern times, isn't really "Italian" at all- and that native Sicilians retain their own identity."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The depth of history of Sicily and the food and culture were all revealed with the help of our knowledgeable guide- Andrea.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many views including those from our rooftop restaurant in Palermo to the view from Castelmolo high above Taormina, but my favorite historical "Wow" moment was when I realized that the Syracuse Cathedral was built using the structure of a Greek Temple."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great art, like-minded travelers, fabulous food, excellent tour guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Taormina and Castelmola and trying to understand the skill and determination to build and live in such mountainous terrain."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour of Sicily was the best I have experienced. All the fellow tourists were courteous and punctual in meeting the group schedule. Tomasso Pante is the best tour guide we have had in our travels to Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking upon the dormant craters at Mt. Etna. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was well planned and well coordinated. We enjoyed all the site visits and group meals. Our tour guide, Tommaso was awesome! He was very knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Maria Grammatico's cooking school was one of the highlights of our trip. The lunch was delicious, the view was fantastic and the baking class was informative and fun."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well scheduled, good hotels, good restaurants, good guides. sites covered the high points.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick just one... Mt Etna was certainly one, as was the stay in Taoromina. Both beautiful, in such different ways. The Winery was also a high point. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our first tour experience and we were hopeful that we would enjoy it. Enjoy it we did! Sicily was just beautiful. We can't say enough about our guide, Tommaso. He clearly loves his native land and was a wealth of knowledge on a daily basis. Our local guides were also wonderful. We are already looking at tour options for 2025.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's impossible to pick one "wow" moment. We loved Palermo, visiting the Contessa's Palazzo, the markets and our spectacular view from our hotel rooftop deck. The lunch in Erice with Maria Grammatica was fabulous and the views stunning. The Valley of the Temples was truly spectacular as was the City of Trapani. The vineyard tour and tasting was a lovely touch and Taormina and the trip to Castelmora were yet another high point."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was so fun. I went places I would never have gone to or known about..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments. I guess the single most wow moment was up high in Erice and looking out and seeing Tunisia, and finding out I was closer to Africa than I was to Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All the arrangements and activities were excellent, not only as advertised but each beyond expectations. The arrangements, food, speakers, and especially Tommaso, our tour guide, were outstanding. Also our bus driver, Angelo, who was expert and so helpful. Would recommend unhesitatingly and with gusto.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So difficult to pick one moment out of 10 days, but overlooking a steaming Mt. Etna while enjoying breakfast in the lovely hotel in Taormina was breathtaking -- so simple, so powerful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

1st "tour" after making ~30 On-our-Own Trips using Rick's guidebooks. Now, I'm sold on Booking Tours for "Certain" Trips...meaning Hard to Dry, Navigate, arrange hotels, etc. Plan to book ~8 more Tours over next 5 years. Leadership of Tour by Tommaso was outstanding... knowledgeable, helpful with logisitics, kept group on-schedule, flawless execution with Transportation and Hotel arrivals/departures. Group was a blast, nice people with common interests.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooking Class with Maria... followed by Professor Michael Tour of Greek Ruins"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide - Tommaso! We’ll-planned, never a wasted minute waiting, excellent itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every stop was a “wow.” Favorite? Maybe the 360degree view from the rooftop restaurant of the Ambasciatori hotel. 2nd wow- view of Valley of the Temples from our hotel garden. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All the arrangements were exactly as described in the tour itinerary. Additionally, surprises such as extra meals, entertainment , and professional lectures were also included.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The extensive displays in the archeological museum at Agrigento along with a detailed model of one temple were awesome. The expert commentary of our local guide (a university professor) added to this experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily did not disappoint! The people were extremely friendly and kind. The food and wine was maybe some of the best that I've ever had. Our tour guide, Alfredo, was outstanding (just like all RS tour guides - don't ask me to pick my favorite, because I can't). The local tours were unique and different - appreciate that. The cities (Palermo and Catania) were my least favorite - but I'm not a city girl, so that explains it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina, for sure. When we were told that Italian's from the mainland come there to vacation, it makes total sense - I would vacation there, too. I regret not walking the 500 steps to the top of the hill but we had our shopping shoes on that day so we plum ran out of time. On our tour was a couple that had been to Taormina once, while being on a cruise, but they only had 4 hours to roam. This is the reason they chose this RS tour - to come back to Taormina. That says a lot!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt like I was taken care of. Just sit back, open your eyes to all the amazing sites, taste the fabulous foods and enjoy. When you figure your bus which was smooth quiet and lots of room, fabulous bus driver!, very knowledgable and helpful guide, tips paid, all nights paid with fabulous breakfasts, all tours paid, all guides who joined us at different sites to talk about what we were seeing paid, several delicious meals paid_ worth every penny!! Many thanks!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several wow moments! Time spent in Erice with Maria Grammitco, Mt Etna, the beautiful scenery on the drive and many viewpoints, the fresh fruits and vegetables were beyond delicious!! Actually standing in the Roman amphitheatres and beside the temples was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Rick Steve's Best of Sicily was hands down the best vacation I have ever been on. Our tour guide Alfredo was a sheer joy to be around. He was so knowledgeable about all of the history at each location, helpful on places to go on our free time. And happy to answer questions about each area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many Wow moments its hard to pick. The history is so rich, and there was so much to see. the Roman Mosaics and Syracuse were definitely my favorite. The Roman Bathhouse with so much of the original tile in place was fascinating. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Quite simply the best tour with Alfredo who is knowledgeable, caring, intelligent and fun! The trip was very thoughtfully planned with a lot of attention to detail. Our driver Alessandro was skilled and patient. We had an excellent overview of Sicily with dynamic experiences in history, nature and food. The food was absolutely outstanding. The hotels were clean & the breakfasts had something for everyone, healthy choices and substantial. Our fellow travellers were absolutely delightful!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “wow” moments so it’s difficult to distill it down to just one. Segesta was idyllic because of the natural beauty. Etna was great to see and Agrigento was fascinating….& the hotel we stayed at was breathtaking! There were so many more “wow” moments!!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sicily offered far more than I expected. Beautiful island with an amazing and diverse history!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The town of Erice. Absolutely amazing views and the best group meal of the trip!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS Tour. We have traveled independently all over Europe using Rick's guides and audio tours. Thus, our expectations for the tour were high, and the tour exceeded those high expectations. Our tour manager, Alfredo Vitale, was outstanding. He made each person on the tour feel special, and made everything work seamlessly. And he is just such a warm, genuine person with so much knowledge. We had a great group of travelers. I loved all the hotels and group meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A tie: Climbing around Mt. Etna on a clear day when she was really smoking, meeting with the volcanologist. Cooking lesson and lunch with Marie, what a honor it was to meet her. That was a really special ,fun activity. Lunch was fantastic. There were many "wow" moments on the tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a bucket list trip for me and I was thoroughly pleased. Our tour team of Alfredo - guide and Allesandro -driver were amazing and a delight. The trip was well organized, the itinerary packed with a blend of history, culture, culinary and experiencing the wonderful people of Sicily. Plenty of spare time for exploring and wandering the streets in search of a new adventure. Was great to meet fellow tour mates and make new friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard question of the day....but my highlights were the Greek site of Segesta, the amazing views at Erice with the incredible lunch and bakery class by Maria, the ruins at Agrigento, the Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale followed by an amazing lunch at Casa Bianca, hiking around Mt. Etna - Big Momma and finally walking the streets of Taormina. Did I mention the pasta, gelato and wine - WOW !"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I believe the tour provided an excellent exploration of Sicily and its incredible history. Unfortunately, I became ill during part of the tour, so I was not able to fully enjoy an otherwise wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Palermo was a rough start to the tour. The area of our hotel was dirty and the general area was depressed. Fully understanding global travel is a window to other cultures and experiences, this city was not enjoyed by many in our group. Having now gone on 6 tours, I believe Palermo was my least favorite.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina was simply spectacular at every turn"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First RS Tour and overall I would rate the tour A+. I think our guide, David T. was simply extraordinary, but I'm told by seasoned RS Tour travelers that they've always had outstanding guides - which says a lot about the standards RS Tours maintains.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"May I have 2 "wow" moments? First would have to be our visit to "Mama Etna" (Mt. Etna). We were SO fortunate to have a clear, warm day on the mountain AND 'she' was putting on a real show for us! It made the news all over... She was puffing out smoke rings!! Incredible sight. My second "wow" was our last night. David arranged our farewell dinner as a group, where he knew the owner of the restaurant. Someone found an old guitar.David performed and sang for us and the entire place. Memorable!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily, our guide David, the food, and our fellow tour members did not disappoint!!we have come to expect and anticipate an amazing tour and experience on these tours, so enjoy everything that the tour of Sicily had to offer! Looking for the ‘Villages of Sicily’ tour to be offered now!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching Mt Etna puff circles of steam was such an incredible and once in a life time phenomena to experience! The skies were clear blue as we saw her clearly release her circles!! We felt so blessed to be there at that right time!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had high expectations and Sicily, as expertly presented by our wonderful guide, David, and the excellent local guides, easily exceeded them. We learned about and saw the effects of the innumerable different civilizations that ruled Sicily over the years. You can see this in the amazing archaeological sites, the architecture, the people, and the delicious, and copious, food and wine. It's an amazing and unique place. Great group, great guide, great place.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt. Etna provided the Wow, blowing perfect smoke rings for the first time in centuries. Spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mount Etna blowing vapor circles"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was everything I hoped it would be. Our guide, David was organized, entertaining and just an overall nice guy. His “bus talks” were outstanding. We laughed and learned a lot.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Almost every moment was a WOW moment! David would take us to see incredible places and each day would surpass the one before. It was quite amazing!!! I really liked seeing Mt. Aetna blow perfectly round smoke rings. I think that David called her the day before to set it up for us."

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 5 of 5

We are well seasoned European travelers, but this was our first organized tour. It was wonderful to leave the little details and logistics to our outstanding guide, Nancy Benedetti!!! We added 2 days to the beginning and so glad we did. Tour was well organized but very active as per the description. Nancy did an amazing job on her daily upbeat bus culture-talks and treats. Never had more than 90 min on the bus w/out a stop. I would take another RS tour in a min, esp if Nancy was the guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Good Friday 24 hr processions in Trapani were so solemn and amazing. Taormina is the gem of Sicily and our evening aperitivo hour on the terrazza of our hotel with Etna and the Ioanian Sea in background was a "wow-worthy" for sure. The isle of Ortigya was another favorite. The puppet show was memorable and a piece of the local culture we would have never discovered on our own. The Ballaro Mkt in Palermo was a sight in itself. Wish we had an vacation rental to enjoy the amazing products. "

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

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

We absolutely loved this tour! I really felt like I got a solid taste of how unique Sicily is. Italian, yes, but definitely its own special version of it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"They always say this church/castle/etc was built on the ruins of a previous church/castle/etc, but you can’t usually see it. You just take their word for it. But in the cathedral in syracusa, the temple columns are all still there. It was even more striking because we had just seen the temple incredible ruins in Segesta. It really WAS built on top of the old temple! Close runner up was the cathedral in Palermo, with the Muslim tile works. King Roger sounds like a pretty forward thinking dude!"

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

Fantastic! It was a busy tour, but so worth it. Wouldn’t change a thing! Nancy was fabulous!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Good Friday in Trapani."

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

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

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

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

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 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

Wonderful, good guides, good travelers, good sites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick from"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Highlights: Contessa ant Palazzo Federico, Baglio della Luna hotel location, Romano del Casale, boat ride from Ortiygia to see coastline, Volcanologist Boris, Terrace at Taormina Hotel Continental, Donald.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Romano del Casale"

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

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 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

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

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

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 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

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

To travel and not have to worry about anything but following the schedule we incredible! Usually vacations were hard work as I was always tasked with reservations, bookings, and itineraries, however, this trip I actually relaxed and enjoyed myself!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many moments. Everything, honestly! If I were to pick one moment that really stands out we’re seeing the incredibly preserved Roman mosaics. But really, every moment was incredible! "

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."

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

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 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

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 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"

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Anything associated with Mt. Etna."

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

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"cooking experience with Maria Grammatico"

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 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

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

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 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 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"