Best of Sicily in 11 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing guide who the entire experience fun and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking up to Mt Etna in a hail storm!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Saw amazing places, met amazing people, and our guide was absolutely the best. We learned so much! But the best part of the tour was being guided by Nancy-she was wonderful!!! The tour was very organized and everything was smooth. Hotels were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list. The church in Monreale and all of Taormina stand out the most."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good balance of local sights/tours combined with free time to explore

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina . Views were spectacular"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, excellent guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count, Sicily was beautiful, the food and was amazing"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Although we use Rick Steves' guidebooks every time we travel to Europe, this was our first Rick Steves tour. We had such a wonderful experience, it changed the way we will approach future travel as we got so much more out of the trip. Our guide was wonderful, we saw and learned more than we would have on our own, we still interacted with local people on our own, and we really enjoyed the other travelers on the tour. We are sold!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but two come to mind. One was seeing the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento - they were amazing. The other was because we packed so lightly, we had to do our laundry in Ortegia. While doing our laundry, we met the laundry's owner - a woman from Northern Italy - and talked to her about her family and her business. Another customer - a young engineer from France - also joined our conversation. Had we not had to do our laundry, we would have missed out on a great conversation!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good food , new sights and adventures around every corner

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of the Mediterranean from Taormina"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Aways busy doing something enjoyable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The variety of history"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent overall job done by Rick and his crew. The guide was terrific, the pacing of the travel fine, the sites visited all important and interesting, the hotels comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Trying to hike Mt Etna during a rain and windstorm....only to learn it erupted two days later."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Could not have been better-great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The time our guide took to make a personal pilgrimage come true and actually took the time to accompany us so we would have a translated"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Jamie was outstanding. Funny, very knowledgeable and made sure we all had a good time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples is incredible."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A tour is a truly great tour when, in the middle of it, you think you would want to do it all over again and bring friends to enjoy the experience. While the itinerary of this tour is well thought out and the cadence of the daily activity is balanced, it was our guide, Jamie, who made it outstanding, sharing his wealth of knowledge of Sicilian history, of Italian and Greek mythology, and his enthusiasm for making our tour experience unforgettable. A fantastic and cohesive group too!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As this was my first Rick Steves tour, realizing by the end of the first day that it would truly be a fun travel group and great guide. But a huge “wow” also applies to the special culinary experiences Jamie arranged for us."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jaime is a great Tour Guide! We learned so much of not only the History of Sicily but also the Culture.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw all the amazing sights as promised, but we also got a true feel for the culture and history of Sicily through our experiences. We were blessed with great weather which didn't hurt!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch near Erice on a farm. The food was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

the tour was wonderful. our guide, Nancy, was Sicilian, speaking fluent English, and she made the trip. She was welcoming, had ways for us to get to know the other tour members, made sure everyone was doing well and was basically on call for us. She also talked about Sicilian history and culture, and arranged for great guides and lecturers. The trip was action-packed but we had either a free afternoon or a free evening, most days. The group meals had delicious food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't choose one wow moment because there were so many. Having a personal tour by the Countess in her Palermo palazzo, cannolli lessons from Maria Grammatica, seeing the ancient ruins, the lecture by the volcanolgist near Mt. Etna, the gorgeous resort towns of Traponi and Taorima, the Monreale Cathedral, the Roman Greco outdoor theater------- it was all a wow."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Benissimo! A well-paced, comprehensive and fun tour around Sicily, helping us understand and even live the culture ourselves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taking boat past salt flats to tiny island of Mozia and the lovely country buffet lunch we were served in the garden. Best pasta (salad) on the trip, as well as incredible crenshaw melons and fresh fruit…and pastries of course!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was phenomenal! Nancy, our guide was top notch and the tour was amazing. The members of the group got along incredibly well. It was an amazing trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, honestly. Every day felt like a WOW, but the day that we went to Segesta, Erice and the baking class was probably the best."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nancy Benedetti was an exceptional guide whose knowledge, humor and warmth made for a rich, moving, and fun-filled experience of Sicily. Her vibrant personality helped build a group spirit of learning and laughter, and made for one of the best traveling groups of my nine Rick Steves’ trips! She curated our many wonderful meals and sprinkled lots of food treats along the way. Nancy provided both facts and context to help us understand and enjoy the complex and history of this magical island.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tied: Walking through Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples with Michele and cooking (and eating!) at La Pasticceria with Maria Grammatico."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first R Steves tour and it was eye opening! We saw sights that we would never have known to arrange for ourselves. The group was so friendly and positive, we all got along so well. To top it off our guide, Jamie, was so friendly, professional, knowledgeable with a great attention to detail! All and all it was a wonderful experience and we will be looking for more trips!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say the trips to the agri-cooperative for farm to table lunch, the winery and especially the lovely lunch and hands on baking experience were just some of the wow moments that made this trip so special!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jamie was a fantastic guide, my travel companions were friendly and fun, and the itinerary was well thought out.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Eating lunch at a baroness' farm."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is our 3rd Rick Steves tour and we had a great time - the people in our tour group were all great and Jamie was a knowelegable and enthusiastic tour leader

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think seeing the religious buildings that encompassed Greek - Roman - Arabic, and Christian influences -, there was one in particular in Ortygia with Liliana - amazing"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Andrea was a great overall guide; knowledgeable, friendly, funny, charming, offered up unexpected local treats. He could read the tour group well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two: the Roman villa's mosaics and a delightful lunch in the countryside underneath olive trees."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fabulous. So many unique experiences packed into one tour! Awesome tour guide (Andrea) -- so professional and easygoing -- seamless pivoting and handling of surprises along the way. Can't say enough good things about this incredible, packed with fabulous food and fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"60 MPH gusts blowing us off our feet, on the side of Mt Etna -- plus being able to look at the volcano from the balcony of my room in Taormina. Just wow."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour of Sicily exceeded our expectations. We learned about all the “layers” of history from the Carthaginians to WW II. The experiences, a tour of a contessa’s home, lunch at the baroness’s estate, lunch and wine tasting at a Mt. Etna winery…,were delightful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to select one WOW moment. I really enjoyed our lunch in Erice followed by a baking lesson from Maria, a delightful woman in her eighties."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Andrea was a wonderful tour guide and brought Sicily alive. We took this tour 5 yrs ago and Stacey was our guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Valley of the Temples"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, a great time! Andrea was a great tour guide, good tour members and interesting and beautiful locations! A few small negatives, not in RS control, but Palermo was very dirty/trashy and I didn't feel Catania added anything to the whole Sicily experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole Erice day was fantastic! Beautiful drive, Segesta ruins, lunch and cookie making with Maria, cool village of Erice and then gondola down to Trapani, best day ever! Taormina, Mt Etna and Ortygia are a close second, also all fabulous!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily is an amazing island. I loved the itinerary and all the destinations and events that we did.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Valley of the Temples. Wow, they have survived 2,500 years! Amazing to walk that site."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful! Terrific guide, nice fellow travelers, great itinerary with a mix of special places and experiences, learned so much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one “wow” moment. But especially loved the more “personal” touches of meeting with Contessa Federico, Maria Grammatico, Alberto from the Salt Museum, Villa Romano"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great to be in Sicily and see the breadth of the island, not just Palermo or Catania or Taormina (which are terrific in their own riback ght). Good mix of history, architecture, food, and "back door" stuff.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Valley of the Temples without question - How? Why? When? Guide was outstanding!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best tour ever. Andrea is an awesome guide. And the different stops were all interesting and added to the history of Sicily. The food was all amazing. Wouldn"t change any of the hotels or restaurants. The old woman who was the baker was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Since everything was awesome, I have a wow moment for Andrea. On a day that was supposed to be a "free afternoon" with lunch on your own, there was a glitch in time. Andrea was worried people wouldn,t have enough time, and he provided meatfilled pastries that were enough for anyone's lunch. Then he offered to lead people to one of the sights. And even sat with the group for wine at the sight. Most guides don't give up free time like that. He was very good at spreading time with all the group"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Sicily tour was amazing. Our guide Alfredo was outstanding and the local guides enhanced our experience. I especially enjoyed learning the history of the island. The itinerary was well balanced. The food and hotels were excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The luncheon feast in Erice with the pastry demonstration by Maria was definitely a highlight. Also visiting the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was out ninth Rick Steves tour and they are consistently well-planned and organized to maximize your experience as visitors. We saw some amazing sights and got a close-up look at the rhythms and quirks of Sicilian culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The temples at Segesta and Agrigento were spectacular... but our favorite moment was probably sitting in the shade at the little cafe at the top of Taormina's amphitheater, enjoying a quiet drink while looking out over a panoramic view of the Mediterranean."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Alfredo, set the tone of our tour the moment we met him. His warm welcome to Sicily, assigning our buddy, and reviewing our itinerary, was a great introduction to the days ahead. Our group blended quickly and the first evening dinner was delicious. Walking the historic streets, visiting ancient Greek and Roman ruins, boating to the salt flats, lively farmer's markets, learning in person about Mt. Etna from a renowned volcanologist, and ending with Italy's history of WWII was memorable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "women of Italy" that hosted two group lunches. Maria of Erice, demonstrating her renowned pastries with help from group members. Her life was recounted detailing how personal struggles resulted in positive outcomes. Lunch followed including regional favorites and the almond cookie delights. The Countess at her working farm. I met her 10 years ago - she was as gracious and hospitable as before. We had a tasty lunch in an area built by her grandfather, including traditional foods of Sicily."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 8th Rick Steve’s tour and this tour group was the friendliest and the quickest to “bond” of any tour we’ve been on. This made our experience traveling in Sicily with 27 new friends a real joy.. I really feel like I was immersed in Sicily during our time they’re learning so much about its incredible history and culture. It was a great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pinpoint one “wow” moment ….it seemed like everyday we had a new one. The Villa Romana del Casale with its incredible mosaics preserved from the 3rd century AD was incredible. Standing on a crater at Mt Etna was surreal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience for our first Rick Steves Tour. Sicily is magical! Alfredo was an incredibly knowledgeable, caring guide with a great sense of humor. All the external guides were excellent. The hotels were adequate although the last one in Catania was not as clean as the others and the wifi was spotty.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say there were 2: Maria's pastry lesson outside Erice and the scenery in Taormina with the gorgeous sea and Mt. Etna."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide and itinerary! Nice to have plentiful downtime.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoyed salt harvesting tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guides, itinerary, food, hotels and time management were all excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting with the Contessa in her home in Palermo, and making pastries with Maria Grammatico"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Alfredo was the best. He made the tour from excellent to outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"there were "wow" moments every day, but I was very impressed with the artistry and the multiculturalism found at the Monreale Cathedral. Our local guide Jackie did a great job explaining to us the importance and uniqueness of this historic site, and there was a great balance of guided vs free time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary to beautiful and historic places; local and tour guides were outstanding. Appreciated hotels that were an upgrade from 2022 Heart of Italy 9 days. Food and restaurants on tour were mostly excellent. Free time was about right and grateful for bus time broken up with stops. Alfredo, our tour guide was OFF THE CHARTS./ He's the main reason for outstanding rating. I'd take almost any tour where he's the guide. He made everything run smoothly and was encyclopedia of knowledge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ruins wherever we saw them. What we saw compared to the archaeology dig I joined in Israel. Mind-boggling to be standing next to buildings that are over 2000+ years old AND that were explained by such knowledgeable guides."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guides, broad range of experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing at the top of the Greek-Roman Theater in Taormina on a beautiful and sunny day with the coast stretching out and Mt Etna steaming away in a distance."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a wonderful trip! Sicily is so very beautiful. The trip was coordinated well from beginning to end and Jamie was a great tour guide. The hotels were very good, the food excellent, and our traveling companions were great fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Cathedral in Ortigia and it was also my favorite city on the trip. The mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale were more than expected. Our stop at Segesta on such a beautiful day was terrific."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Jamie was a very knowledgeable guide, even if he was a Brit!. We had anticipated our guide would have been from Sicily. Days were very full historical sites. I did not have much prior knowledge of Sicily but I came home with a much better understanding of the history and very happy that I made the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through the museum and ruins of Agrigento was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour of Sicily: Charming and knowledgeable tour leader and expert local guides, interesting “ancient” locations, great hotels that had either rooms with a view or terraces with a view, great food and getting to see how some of it was prepared, ample wine! Just the right amount of free time to explore, and a fun, friendly group of fellow travelers!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina! Waking up and finally seeing Mt. Etna without cloud cover, the 360 degree view from the hotel terrace, the town itself is lovely, BUT the well-preserved Roman amphitheater and the views from there were spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour director, Jamie, was awesome. He shared so much useful information regarding our adventures and always made it exciting. His knowledge of the area, history, culture, and local cuisine was spot on. His relationships with tour guides and restaurateurs made for some amazing food experiences and walking tours. The hotels were all great and offered filling breakfast items. Sicily is an amazing place to visit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is really difficult to pick one moment! My favorite “wow” moment was staying in Taormina and seeing Mt. Etna, the rooftops, and the sea from the rooftop bar. It was a special place to enjoy cocktails after walking the streets. It was towards the end of our tour so we had all become friends by that point which made it all the more special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour with a great Guide, Jamie. His knowledge of Italy and the various cuisines made for some fun times and great eating. We were not expecting the rich cultural influences Sicily experienced through their long history, so seeing and hearing about those influences was special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Ortigia, seeing how the Greek temple to Athena was incorporated into a later church, thus being able to see the most complete Greek temple to-date, albeit incorporated into a Catholic church."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Trip was as described. Guide was excellent! Great for those on a budget but wanting the full experience of travel abroad. Great for those wanting to learn how to travel in a foreign country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sites we visited were beyond my expectations."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily was a terrific tour. Jamie was a great guide and provided us with a wonderful history of the island. The surprise was the variety of foods (especially the fish) on this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Three wow experiences, the Monreale Cathedral, Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples and the lovely town of Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my 6th RS tour and like the other five it did not disappoint. The travelers were fun, the food was wonderful and the tour guide was amazing. Brad's breadth of knowledge about the sites and culture is mind boggling. He made the sites come alive and helped us to truly understand the Sicilians and their way of life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me there was no one particular "wow" moment although Easter in Sicily is spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were so impressed with this tour! Our guide Brad was fun and informative and kept a great pace throughout the whole trip. Sicily blew our expectations out of the water and we loved learning so much about the history of the island, while also enjoying the current culture and people of Sicilia!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I will always remember my first glimpses of the cathedral at Monreale. We saw so many churches in our month in Italy, but not one compared to the stunning tile mosaic and blended religious traditions of this cathedral."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Terrific guide, Brad, thoroughly shared historical facts and favorite sites. The tour took us to places that were very rewarding that we would have missed if we traveled alone!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina was my highlight, an elegant town on a ridge and its ancient Greco/Roman theater overlooking Naxos and Mt. Etna. We enjoyed our companions, sharing our experiences over a delightful restaurant meal, and our hotel with a rooftop view!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour group was composed of a terrific group of people who added immeasurably to our enjoyment of the tour experience.. Brad expertly combined the dual responsibilities of a tour leader with the joyful enthusiasm of an active participant. Everyone had a great time.while absorbing the complex history of Sicily from the Phoenicians to the present day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics at Piazza Armerina,"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed the tour very much: interesting itinerary, good food, nice mix of organized time vs. free time, great group of people, excellent guide. Palermo was a surprise: much nicer than I expected. Loved all the ruins, and especially the Villa del Casale.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the outstanding mosaics at the Villa del Casale. We have seen many Roman mosaics but nothing as large, beautiful, well-preserved, and interesting as these."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour overall, happy with everything we did and saw

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As usual for a RIck Steves tour, it was well organized and full of a variety of activities. It was a very active tour and was a good test of my ability to walk, climb stairs and get around steep streets. The delicious food, wine and gelato opportunities were abundant. Our tour guide Brad was very personable and knowledgeable and our bus driver Angelo was a driving genius. The tour group had a nice variety of personalities and prior experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaic covered cathedral in Monreale. Stunning!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip. Brad was an Extremely knowledgeable guide. Everything went off like clockwork. All of our companions were friendly and fun. Food was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ancient Roman theaters we visited were amazing, all had wonderful views but my favorite was Calatafmi-Segesta."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt that every detail had been established; there were no glitches in transportation from site to site; meals; hotels. Our guide Bradley was superb. And I very much enjoyed all of the other travelers in our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Taormina; such wonderful views. And we hired a taxi to go up to the small village above which was lovely. In the city, being a fan of White Lotus, I enjoyed a Negroni at the bar of the Hotel Continental where is was filmed. We did that in our free time. I felt that the tour gave us just the right amount of time to pursue our own interest’s."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt Etna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour with any company, ever. We saw so much more and with much less stress.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many but, taormina was stunningly beautiful. Being there with the 360 views was great."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily is an incredible place to visit and thanks to the Rick Steves tour, I saw so many fascinating and fun spots, learned so much history and enjoyed fantastic food and wine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved walking up Mt. Etna, the Greek ruins and interacting with the friendly locals."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group with no grumps who appreciated the Rick Steves way of traveling. Our guide, Fredrico, was enthusiastic, entertaining, informative and knowledgeable. Sicily was perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Good Friday procession in Trapani! Even being woken up in our hotel at 3 am with a snare drum dirge."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was all outstanding. I can’t say enough about the level of planning that must of gone into it that made it so seamless for s.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The meals provided by Rick. The venues were unbelievable."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour and people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tavormina...and the hotel. The Continental. Deck had a view of the water and Mount Etna. Beautiful"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Misteri in Trapani, -Taormina"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized. I liked the chronological review of the history and tying it all together. Alfredo was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"wild flowers at Segesta and Mozia and the dogs at Mozia. Easter procession in Trapani"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As we complete our 5th tour with “Rick,” we find ourselves thinking that the quality remains excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Studying the amazing craftsmanship of the workers all over Sicily who adorned the walls and floors, columns, doors and did so with rudimentary tools was mind-blowing. The two examples I offer are twin columns in the Monreale cloister and tile mosaics at Villa Romana Del Casale"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Oh, just go! It was amazing! 6 hotels in 10 days, our guide was fantastic and the food, sights and sounds of Sicily are not to be missed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views from Erice, completely unexpected and WOW!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Sicily . We have taken multiple Rick Steves tours, and this was one of our favorites. We had a great tour group. Alfredo was a wonderful guide. He was warm, knowledgeable and interactive. We thoroughly enjoyed the food, history and the panoramic views.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were So many WOW moments! Walking up Mount Etna, The Cathedral of Monreale, The Easter celebration parade in Trapani and Greek and Roman Antiquities."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic. Our guide, Alfredo, was outstanding. Sicily was a destination I had always wanted to experience and it did not disappoint. With Alfredo's help, we not only saw the major antiquity sites but achieved a better appreciation of what they represented and the history associated with them. Sicily's natural beauty was striking and the fact that Sicilians really appreciate the importance of good food didn't hurt either.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Good Friday procession in Trapani was a once in a lifetime experience. It was simply amazing, words cannot do it justice so that's all I have to say about that."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A tour packed full of wonderful experiences with a group of 29 new friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Good Friday processional in Trapani."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a joyful experience. My wife was more optimist at the start than me . The Sicilian tour was a well designed adventure in all its components. With a mix of cultural activities, experienced guides, comfortable accommodations, ease of travel and variety of meals, each day was a delight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visits to Palazzo Federico and Catania farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded our expectations. While the weather was cool and wet for a few days, I did not dampen the enthusiasm of our guide Alfredo and the 29 travellers who were excited to be back travelling. The sights, food and the congeniality of the people was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot of great memories provided but my WOW moment was hiking up to the high crater on Mt Etna. The views were great"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Easter was such a lovely time to be in Sicily. Enjoyed the diversity of the itinerary from history and the spectacular temples to seeing the mosaics in the churches. Watching the puppet show and listening to the volcanologist were surprising enjoyable moments. Beautiful scenery, amazing food, good wine and a great guide and tour members made the trip so much fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mount Etna in all her glory from the balcony of our hotel was my favourite WoW moment but the visit and lunch at the agriturismo on Easter Sunday was also very special. And then, there was the Misteri di Trapani procession of floats on Good Friday which was a once in a lifetime experience WOW!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our first RS tour and so our expectations were modest; we'd just viewed some comments from other folks in the web forum. Every aspect exceeded our expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wife and I had a lot of 'wow' moments, hard to pick a favorite. Maybe it was the experience both dining and sleeping at Agrigento's Baglio della Luna boutique hotel. Or maybe it was times we got to enjoy Tamasso at our dinner table during the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt that there was a great attention to detail which made things go smoothly. We loved our guide, Tommaso and our driver, Giuseppe, and all the other city guides who joined us. It was clear that a lot of effort went into making this a great experience, which it was.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting and baking with Maria Grammatico. Hands down. I've loved her from afar for years and meeting her and speaking with her was just the most fantastic thing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All of it surpassed my expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our amazing tour guide and the personal experiences we had, be it with a Sicilian Contessa or a cooling lesson with a culinary queen!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tommaso was a great guide, I enjoyed his stories and his knowledge and his engagement with the group. There was a lot of great tour guides at all the sites, and lots of free time. The guides, along with Tommaso, really brought all of the diverse and complex history and culture of Sicily alive. While I would have loved another hour at the ancient Greek temple sites, for the most part there was usually plenty of time to explore all the cities and towns we stayed in.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Greek Temples of Agrigento, Segesta and the Villa Romana del Casale were all truly amazing. And along with the Mt Etna winery - these were THE top wow moments I was hoping for and they all delivered. I would have loved a bit more time at all of them. The country side hotel across from Agrigento was also the best hotel of the tour and worthy of the leisurely afternoon, happy hour, and dinner."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A well thought out tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour guide just made the whole experience so much better. He made Sicily come alive for all of us."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was incredible. It’s the perfect mix of activities and free time. Tomasso was great, we really enjoyed his stories on the bus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is very hard to decide. Probably Etna, but so many wow moments."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sicily is a work in progress, both for its people and for RSE. Portions of downtown Palermo look unlivable and need redevelopment. Places like Monreal, Trapani and Taormina are equal to or more interesting than what I have seen on 12 other RSE tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greek temples at Segesta, Agrigento, and Roman mosaics at Romana del Casale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well-organized and executed tour - full of interesting places, people, food, activities, and stories. I would recommend this tour to anyone. Tommaso is an exquisite guide to spend the time with. Forever grateful for his enthusiasm about regional history and the role of Sicily in the time before D-Day as explained at the museum in Catania. Sure, the food and scenery were great, too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Believe it or not, sitting in the simulated bomb shelter in the museum at Catania, and thinking about Ukraine. All brought to my attention by a visit to an unexpected place."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

While the architecture of major cities is always a highlight for me, the mix of urban and somewhat remote sites really added to my enjoyment of this tour. I especially enjoyed the stops at Mt Etna, the winery and Maria Grammatico's. Hotels were acceptable and well located though the quality of the rooms within them varied greatly between tour members. None of the breakfasts were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have visited dozens of cathedrals throughout Europe, but the precision of the mosaics at Monreale and their Arabic influences really stood out. And the storytelling of the mosaic floor in the great hall at Villa Romana del Casale was exceptional."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent tour; Andrea was an outstanding guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch at Maria’s near Erice"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved that places we visited, the hotels, the guide, and the food and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in ancient places and recognizing how we haven't changed in many ways and how we are evolving."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour consistently moved, and a very good vacation style pace. Everything on the itinerary was interesting and all the locations were fabulous. The reason I give the tour an outstanding rating is because of Andrea. Andrea made this tour extra special at every moment he is an excellent knowledgeable guide. His demeanor is delightful. And his communication and management skills are excellent. The included meals exceeded my expectations., they were delicious and the venues were all great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina was spectacular and the Roman Greek theater is in an incredible site to see."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought it was a marvelous experience. Andrea was a very thoughtful and considerate guide who has emotional intelligence which is off the charts. The accommodations were very nice and the local guides somewhere extremely knowledgeable and approachable. For the most part, the food was very good, and I appreciated the guidance that Andrea provided about where to eat out on our own. I marveled at the way Rick Steve’s found and cultivated the venues that were off the beaten track

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the history, and the deep dive into the different empires, that conquered and ruled Sicily. If I had one suggestion, it might be to provide a bit more context and historical background so that folks can understand how these different civilizations influenced and succeed one another"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An amazing tour with so many wonderful surprises, it was magical!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The salt harvesting and island of Mozia. Such an unusual experience to learn about harvesting salt and then to visit such a small island with so much history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Splendid on so many levels: guide knowledge, ease of transport between cities, choice of hotels, sights seen……I wouldn’t change one thing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Cathedral in Monreale and looking up at the millions of mosaic tiles"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

our trip to Sicily was wonderful. We saw so many amazing things. Having expert guidance and planning takes the pressure and confusion off. We were able to relax, see and learn, and eat incredibly delicious local food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but the churches were amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 6th RS tour and overall it was a very good tour of Sicily. There is a lot of history to covered as Sicily being at the cross roads of many sea routes in the Med led to it constantly being invaded. Donald our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable on all the history and was a great source of information. The food was very good and my favorite part was wine included in all the meals. There was a lot of history to be cover in to short a period of time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was the tour of the salt flats and the island of Mozia. Loved the history of making salt and how import it was in ancient times."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Roman mosaics at Villa Romans del Casale"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This trip had a lot of Wow moments. Agrigento, Mt Etna and Taormina were some of my favorite places."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed this (my 6th) tour. We had a great guide, nice bus and driver, good meals, lots of wine and a great bunch of fellow travelers. I felt the tour was a few days too short. I, and others, felt rushed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were some “wow” meals. The lunch feast at the agriturismo was varied and delicious. The dinner at our hotel Baglio dela Luna was also incredible, due to the wait staff. They were accommodating and entertaining. But the event that blew me away was seeing Montreal Cathedral. I’m not a church person, and I’d already seen the Norman palace in Palermo, which was gorgeous, but Monreale was captivating beyond any church I’d ever seen. The mosaics covered every surface and were stunning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour and I was impressed! Every detail was cared for and there were wonderful extras and surprises!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Climbing Mount Etna, it was a humbling moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great time with great people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt Etna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved this tour! Interesting, fun activities every day, lovely scenery (and weather), and the city guides and tour guide were interesting, knowledgeable, and organized. Tour exceeded our expectations and was a wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many! Seeing the mosaics in the cathedral in Monreale and crossing the lagoon to Mozia Island in the sunshine are two great moments."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I’ve never been on any tours before. I was very happy with the itinerary and the leader. Everyone in the group were very friendly, inclusive and fun-loving. Very positive energy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a few. I especially liked the countryside hotel following the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.. I would have loved to have had a little more time to relax there. Lunch at the farm was a treat as well as the winery visit. Taormina was especially thrilling, despite our one day of some rain, which didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide and lovely group of fellow travelers; Hotels with rooftop terraces in convenient locations and some unique travel experiences were most appreciated.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lunch feast and baking class at the Erice mountain top cooking facility of baker Maria Grammatico. Views of snow-covered Mount Etna from our hotel rooftop patio in Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was well planned. Lunches and dinners were outstanding.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great tour quide, who bent over backwards to be helpful and supportive. I was also impressed with the knowledge and presentation of local guides. The group consisted of friendly and interesting people. This was our first Rick Steeves trip and we will likely do another.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but I think sharing the experience with others added to the overall experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Trip was well planned out and our guide was very helpful, pleasant and humorous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour of the temples near Agrigento along with our overnight stay was impressive."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great overall view of Sicily. I felt like we experienced the food, the culture, the history and the people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was seeing some the church statues at the Church of Purgatory in Trapani. Patricia had suggested this and we were able to walk through the church just before the music and everything started in the square in front at 6 PM. Being a part of that local celebration/event was very special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was excellent with great exposure to a variety of different experiences in Sicily. Patricia, our tour leader, provided both an orderly and fun experience. She also handled problems with apparent ease.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Temple of Zeus is just one of the many WOW moments, but maybe the most outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Patricia and Massimo (bus driver) were excellent. Communication, organization, leadership, respectfulness, balance between assisting, accommodation and handling individual tour members need’s were well done. Communicated timing of each days tour kept us on schedule.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Portafino"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time because the tour was well-organized, guides were deeply knowledgeable, and there were special experiences (tour of contessa’s home in Palermo, visit to salt-making windmill, almond cookie making in Erice, etc) that I would not have had on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick one: the views on bus ride to Erice, and stepping off the bus to the crisp Alpine-like air; the view from the theater to to the temple in Segesta; the terrace at hotel in Palermo and Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I like the guided portion of the tour and bring allowed free time to explore

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina and hiking up to castelmona and hiking down to isle Bella. (Spelling is questionable on my part)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was well-organized by Rick Steves Europe & expertly-run by our guide Virginia. As a native Italian who had spent two decades in the US, Virginia was the ideal 'host' for our group of Americans with much travel experience. She was warm, funny, & smart, & provided a dazzling array of services & support to make the trip memorable. The itinerary was thoughtful and provided plenty of diverse, educational and entertainining experiences that gave us a thorough first encounter with Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Palermo's cathedrals & mosaics, the soaring heights of Erice and salt flats of Trapani, the Greek temples at Segesta & Agrigento, Roman mosaics at P. Armerina, intimacy of Ortygia and Taorima, and amazing Mt. Aetna. Plus great food & drink, multiple 'trinacria', fish markets, Sicilian people. Honestly: EVERYTHING."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful! Our guide, Virginia, was so nice and knowledgeable. All of the local guides were outstanding. The hotels were great, and the meals were varied snd delicious. This tour was very generous with the wine, which was appreciated! We learned so much about Sicily. Had no idea there was so much unique history, culture and food in Sicily!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to choose, but I was really wowed by the sheer volume and beauty of the mosaics at Romana del Casale and my husband was impressed with the size and majesty of Mount Etna."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the terrace at the Continental Hotel in Taormina. It was incredibly beautiful"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Tour Guide, Virginia was personal, knowledgeable and attentive. I'm unable to eat Gluten and GF meals and snacks were provide. All my questions were answered and made traveling easy and fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The entire tour, guide, area and individuals in our Group"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Virginia was one of our best guides of the 7 we have been on. Tour coverage, information, helpfulness, attitude by Virginia was superb. The locations we visited and the local guides were also excellent. I was surprised by the hotels were it was recommended to NOT drink the water one hotel provided water at no charge while another (the 2nd location) charged us. That was disappointing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hillside terrace hotel and hiking in Taormina"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

the tour guides were experts in their subject and delivered with enthusiasm and energy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Was to see the astonishing mosaic in Monreale"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Terrific tour with a lot of enjoyable and like-minded travel companions. It’s hard to believe how much we saw in eleven days, yet it didn’t feel rushed. Our tour leader, Donald, was outstanding, as were the local guides. The accommodations were all good, and the food was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the explosion of baroque detail in the Chiesa del Gesu in Palermo."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As a librarian, I had read many books, sites and blogs, including those by Rick Steves, regarding Italy and Sicily. So I was fully expecting this to be a great trip. It exceeded my expectations on every level.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our third RS tour, and all have been excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Donald as a good guide, the sites and pace were good balance of structure and free time, good group restaurants and hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ortigia Island: the blend of everything great about Sicily. Close 2nd: Taormina only because of the views."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall this was a great value and fantastic tour. We loved Sicily! The history, food, geographical beauty and culture make this a must destination.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt Etna covered in snow with steam coming out the top. Just beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The smaller towns and villages we explored were wonderful. The big cities (Palermo and Catania) were noisy, dirty, full of graffiti, and generally unfriendly. We felt the need to confine ourselves to a very small part of these cities near our hotels. The smaller towns, especially Taormina, Monreale, Erice, and Agrigento were peaceful and clean. Wonderful sites to visit. Good options for dining and exploring the towns.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Norman Palace in Palermo, visit to Mt Etna, Benanti Winery tour, and the views from the hotel in Taormina"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guide was delightful, the food fabulous, the other tour members so much fun, and the story of Sicily was enchanting and so interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved "making" the cookies with the delightful Chef Nino. We laughed, tasted, and felt a part of the real culture."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful group of people on our tour, exceptional guides, and an engaging itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we went to Maria Grammatico's place and saw the incredible antipasto spread. Wow! Then helping make cookies and cannolis. Close second was Valley of the Temples."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was Donald who seamlessly made sure every aspect of our tour flowed perfectly. That takes a lot of skill and was very impressive, Sicily is amazingly beautiful with an interesting history, and I think this tour struck the perfect balance not to overwhelm while showing us Sicily. We had great local tour guides, The hotels were nice, and we were blessed with a really really good bus driver, Giuseppe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very hard to choose, but I think the views from our hotel terrace in Taormina were my "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great tour led by a great guide who ensured that myself and 27 other great vacationers had one of the best tours ever!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wife's lineage from grandparents back was pure Sicilian, so watching her experience some of her heritage was my favorite. Especially when I told Chef Nino at the Erice cookie making stop that my wife was Nina and Sicilian and they had a great interaction together."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A very interesting tour- lots of good sites and things to see, fun people interactions with local guides and cooks, excellent tour guiding by Nina- always on top of things & funny to boot, nice travel companions, enjoyable walking every day, comfortable bus, good itinerary with enough free time, and last but not least, good food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt. Etna was pretty stunning; salt pans were quite interesting; greek temples were awesome. no single "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful tour with amazing history, interesting cities and archaeological visits, great food, and fun experiences (like baking cookies with Maria). Nina was a terrific guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Amazement at seeing so many structures and archaeological finds that originated hundreds of years BC. But also really loved the lunch and baking with Maria, and the visit to Mount Etna and the winery after."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent. Nina was a great guide. We had wonderful local guides. Each day was packed with activities, lots of variety. We had a fun group of fellow tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was Ancient Agrigento: Valley of the Temples and the archeological museum. We had just visited Greece in 2022 and this was great for comparison."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing. Not only did we see Sicily we got expert guides through the entire tour, but plenty of free time to spend as we wished. It was very balanced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many! Seeing the ruins and the amazing beauty of the country."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a fantastic tour. March is a great time to visit Sicily. The weather was great and it wasn't crowded. Nina, our tour guide, was terrific!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments, but the cathedral at Monreale was pretty amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour experience. Sicily is an interesting part of Italy and Italy is an interesting part of Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ancient temple at Segesta."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Nina was amazing! She put everyone at ease and answered all of our questions. She has a great grasp of them history and culture of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything was a wow. The landscape was beautiful and the extra events, the cooking demos, the puppet show and meals, were something so special. Also, our local guides were exceptional."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My preconceptions of Sicily were completely transformed by this tour. I had been to Italy several times, but never Sicily. I thought of it as hot, barren, rocky, and uncomfortable due to its Mafia reputation. Through the eyes our of main guide and the local guides, Sicily became a beautiful island full of abundant produce, mountains, olive and almond groves, wineries, fresh air city markets bustling with color and sound, and historic temples and antiquities dating back more than 2500 years.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I tried writing about just one, but these are equally compelling: the people on the tour were WOW (all were terrific), certain duomos and certain ancient temples were WOW (especially the Valley of Temples), sunsets on the terraces of hotels were WOW, the open air markets were WOW (a carton of strawberries for 1 Euro!), our guide, Nina, was WOW in every way."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything on this tour was amazing. Our Tour Director, Virginia was outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The experience in Erice. The lunch and cookie making with Maria was a great memory."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour of any type and I was ambivalent. I've travelled a lot, but some health issues have slowed me down in the past few years. This was incredible fun and I plan to take other Rick Steves tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Absolutely the lunch and baking demonstration."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful relaxed and informative tour. The scenery was often spectacular, the history was immensely interesting, and the tour meals were great. I rated it Very Good instead of Outastanding because I think there was too much "Vacation from Your Vacation time".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting Chief Maria Grammatico and enjoying her cooking demonstration and the wonderful lunch her staff prepared for us."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time! Virginia was a fantastic guide and every place was interesting

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monreale was amazing"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and we could not have been happier! I loved every bit of Sicily and our tour leader, Virginia, helped make all the details of travel smooth as could be. Most of all, the trip was FUN!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everyday was an adventure for sure!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour exceeded expectations! We have traveled in Europe for decades, always making our own reservations/plans, so this was our first group tour. Have used RS books for years and like the way he travels. It was nice to leave the driving and planning to someone else. There was a good balance between personal time and group time. Really liked the expert guides/speakers. Liked the restaurants and hotels. Very much enjoyed the group. And loved our guide, Virginia! She was exceptional!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many Wow moments! Mt. Etna was #1 - walking it and always seeing it once we reached the east coast. The day we left, we actually saw some smoke coming from it. The Roman Villa uncovered about 25 years ago was amazing! Of course, all the ruins were impressive. Climbing the mountain to reach Erice and enjoy cooking class was awesome! The view was stunning! Our bus driver, Massimo dealt with hairpin turns so skillfully! A friend asked if I had taken pictures from airplane!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My impression was the tour exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Segesta"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guides were outstanding they went above and beyond to enhance our travel experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views in Taormina were so beautiful I have never seen anything like it before!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The history with the visual representation was impressive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fact that the structures are still standing and in use after hundreds of years. They are truly construction marvels."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved it! Loved my guide, Tommaso and the length of trip and format. Buddy check a great idea.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooking cannoli with Maria but also really loved our meeting with the contessa."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Way beyond expectations in terms of food, stays, convenience and sights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is a cumulative "wow" of all that we could see in the short period of the tour."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed the tour guides and the cities we visited. Tomasso, our guide was very knowledgable and gave us great information throughout the trip. Most of the rooms we stayed in were clean and basic, with the exception of Catania. The hotel there was very dirty and in a terrible neighborhood. Disappointed in our last night. Thought there were too many bathroom breaks and silly stops. Would have rather seen more sites than get another coffee at a cafe, which is followed by another bathroom break.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Had 2 wow moments: (1-) Greek Theatre of Syracuse and (2) Taormina Greek theatre"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Over the past 20 years, I have used Rick Steves' books to plan previous trips which have been invaluable. Sicily was my first escorted trip and it did not disappoint. Our knowledgeable tour guide Tommaso provided clear instructions from the first night and to last. Every tour guide in the towns and sites provided excellent information and background enhancing our experience. Overall the trip exceeded my expectations and I would definitely sign up for another one.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visit to Mt Etna. It was a clear day with snow on the mountain. There were tons of people enjoyed sledding and making snowman. Luckily our group was able to walk around the crater and marvel at the views."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As far as I'm concerned, a Rick Steves tour is the gold standard. This is our second Rick Steves tour, and both have exceeded our expectations. The tour guides are educated, experienced and solicitous. The hotels provide both a great local experience but are also modern enough to meet our expectations. The food is varied and plentiful. The free time to explore on our own is a important for those of us who want to get closer to the culture. Overall: An excellent experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me personally, the lunch and "class" with Maria Grammatico was the most emotional part of the tour. Maria reminded me so much of my grandmother who emigrated from Sicily in 1908."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was one of the best trips I've ever taken. What's not to love about Sicily--the food, the scenery! My fellow travelers were great fun. Probably the most physically demanding of the tours I've taken, but I'm glad to say I handled it with no problems.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just about everything was a wow, but the city of Taormina was one of my overall favorite places. Stunningly beautiful. Tomasso, our guide was able to schedule a boat ride in the bays, for those of us interested. One of the local boat tour operators took us out, even though it was prior to boat season. We were on the second Sicily RS Tour of the season, so it was early Feb. 26-March 8th."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first time experience with a Rick Steves’ tour. It surpassed my expectations. Many years of expertise in travel was clearly evident in every aspect of the Sicily tour. Communication, Organization, Knowledge and Enthusiasm of our guide(s) created an unforgettable experience for all of us. I I felt transported through history and submerged in a culture. It was awesome!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On our walking tour of Taormina, we seemed to almost “happen “upon the other worldly Greek ruins high above the town. In themselves a marvel but the location offering the most awesome views of the town and coastline. Indescribable beauty."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great tour! I loved how the tour was organized to reveal the layers of history and cultural influences that create the Sicily of today. The variety of experiences kept me fully engaged and waiting for the next reveal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the incredible mosaics in Monreale"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful, informative, interesting, enlightening, FUN!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to choose from! The historic sites and natural beauty of Agrigento, Ortegia, Taormina and Mt Etna were outstanding! The food was some of the best I've ever had! The layers upon layers of history and culture were captivating."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Sicily tour in February 2023 was a delight from start to finish. Our tour guide Karin was charming, caring, informative, and very well organized. Her on-the-bus anecdotes offered fascinating glimpses into Italian life from an American perspective and some amusing Italian takes on American customs. The local guides were excellent and added many interesting historical and geological details about each destination.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several wow moments on this trip, but taking a bus with the vulcanologist Boris up twisting roads to the top of a smoking Mount Etna into a world of swirling wind and deep snow was thrilling. The beautifully preserved mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale were also pretty wow."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First ever tour and RS operation is a well oiled machine. Everything from the lead up to the actual tour were well communicated, timely, comfortable. We visited areas that were not easily accessed by an independent traveler and had unique experiences that we do not typically seek out. Oh, and the food was excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Three: the Cathedral of Monreale outside Palermo was very over the top and the Church of the Gesu in Palermo was baroque over the top. And, the temple of Agrigento was surreal."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We've self guided in past using RS books, this was first guided tour and it met my expectations and some areas exceeded.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking among the Greek temples in Agrigento."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beyond my expectations! Great tour guides, great tour members, great memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt Etna snow capped."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our fourth Rick Steves tour so I had high expectations and this Sicily tour did not disappoint. The trip exposed us to this unique island and revealed the history and the cultures that make it what it is today. Thoroughly enjoyed this adventure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Valley of the Temples was my wow moment. Amazing that these ruins have withstood all this time. This trip brought to life the memories of reading Percy Shelly’s Ozymandias so many years ago."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A lot better than expected!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pizza in Trapani"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Karin was a very personable, fun tour director; she set a fantastic vibe each and every day. The pacing of the tour was just perfect. We stayed just long enough at the different cities to give us a taste of what they had to offer. Our communal meals were delicious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the salt fields, the Carthaginian ruins, stomping around the wild flower strewn pathways to see the ‘gates’ - you could tell we were the first of the season visitors!- and then a delicious outdoor picnic luncheon at the windmill/museum complex- that was a wow/ pure RS tour moment!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was beyond outstanding! Excellent balance of organized and free time, group and meals on our own. Every hotel was excellent. All our local guides were fantastic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Valley of the Temples absolutely amazed me."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour group was excellent. Tour guide excellent. Enjoyed finding out about Sicily and the people of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exploring the town of Taormina. Beautiful town, excellent views!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall, the tour was a good one. After my Rick Steve's Ireland trip, I had high expectation for this one. But due to a couple of poor hotel choices and guides, my enthusiasm for Rick Steve's tours has dampened.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I've been to Sicily before and have previously been "wowed" by most of the island. So this trip the "wow" moment was realizing that meeting and getting to know the other tour members was a much of a highlight as seeing the sites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an outstanding tour. The food was over-the-top delicious and the best part was our guide Alfredo. He is the best of the best! Even though we had 28 people on the tour, this tour seemed to adapt well to the little bit larger tour group size. The only place we had to walk through the town with our luggage was in Trapani so that was good. Alfredo brought Sicily to life for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh, so many to choose from. The very best moment was the visit to Maria Grammatico's bakery and the lunch provided there. The food was excellent. Learning how to bake "Nun's Boobies" was so fun and learning Maria's story was very touching. That was a wonderful experience. And then Taormina, what can we say, we all just wanted to stay more days in Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Alfredo was wonderful. He was knowledgeable, approachable and enthusiastic. The tour members were lovely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick just one wow moment but one of my favorite moments was meeting and baking with Maria Grammatico."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"View from rooftop restaurant at hotel in Palermo"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Virginia was an amazing tour guide. She made everything fun and informative. It was my first solo trip to Europe. The group was very inclusive and welcoming. I won't hesitate to do it again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick. The Franciscan church in Palarmo took my breath away. The volcanist in Taoramina was entertaining and gave us such wonderful information, especially since I live in the PNW."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Sicily in 11 days tour was an excellent experience. Virginia was an outstanding guide providing insights and keeping the group on track. This tour offered a great mix of history, culture and beautiful scenery. The hotels as usual were comfortable and in great locations. I would highly recommend this Sicily tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many 'wow" experiences but if I had to pick one, I would choose Taormina. It's a beautiful place perched on a hilltop with outstanding views (with Mount Etna in the distance) and a great place to explore."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

too much down time in towns with little to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"none"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One of the best vacations we've had. We learned so much from our guides and lecturers. Our main guide, Virginia, was very gracious and even gave us a bottle of wine for our anniversary. The tour was very well organized and ran on time; the perfect balance of seeing the culture, but then having someone interpret what we saw and experienced. By the way, Rick, we want to thank you for the perfect weather: sun and not a drop of rain. Rained before and after our trip so kudos to your weather guy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really enjoyed having our guide take us through Mozia. We learned a lot about the Phoenician civilization in ancient Sicily. Unfortunately, we did not write down the tour guide's name, but he was a wealth of knowledge. Honestly there were too many WOW moments to pick a favorite. The food at the wine tasting, as well as Giovanna's was amazing. The Byzantine mosaics in the Norman-Arab churches were stunning, and I loved (to my surprise) the puppet show."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This was our first RS tour so we weren't sure what to expect. The guides were great, the tour was very well organized, and our fellow travelers were nice. We weren't expecting as much scheduled time or long bus rides. We're looking forward to trying one of the My Way trips instead.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The winery tour. The host was fantastic and the food/wine was the best of the entire trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, as a whole we had great tour members as well, really nice experiences on the tour, and great food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through the aqueduct (Port du Gard) was amazing, also loved the market in Sarlat. Oh and the Rouffignac Cave, and Nice. Hard to pick just one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything about the tour more than met my wildest expectations! The people of Sicily were kind and welcoming, the food was gorgeous, all the tour guides, especially Tommaso, and all the sites and experiences made an experience I will never forget!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beaches and ocean, the flowers and wines, and the ancient historical sites, especially the temples lit up on the hillside!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very happy with how the tour went - especially the quality of the rooms we stayed in, which seemed a little more upscale than those of previous tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the ruins at Agrigento."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enriching in every way. Our guide David was so knowledgeable about the region and made history come alive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch at the farm."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved Sicily! Our tour manager, David, was THE BEST and local guides were uniformly good. Tour execution was perfect. The food was good, often excellent. The hotels were fine, nothing special, but some had lovely rooftop terraces. I would have liked some of the "free time" to fall in the morning instead of the late afternoons because there were very early starts every day. My favorite days on the tour were days 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9. I didn't care for day 4.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Villa Romana del Casale and its incredible mosaics! Wow! Also loved the hiking and wine tasting on Mt. Etna. Syracuse was my favorite city."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide, Davy, was great. Our local tour guide, especially Jacquie Akio we’re great

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the entire experience from the expertise, leadership and organizational input from your guide Davis and valuable information provided by local guides. Fellow travelers were great to travel with and a very good itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose but I think time in and around Taromina and the Farm Lunch and visit. Full disclosure I was wowed by the full itinerary."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a very rich experience far exceeding my expectations. This tour had it all— a variety of stunning natural beauty, outstanding archaeological sites, interesting artisans, fabulous food, and, most of all, a superb guide and fun loving tour mates. Each day brought a wealth of Sicily’s culture to appreciate, with guides to help explore the past and the present. David, our amiable guide, went out of his way to make sure his tour members were comfortable and happy. I loved this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing sweeping views of the mountains and the sea in Taormina and Castelmola ranks as my favorite “wow” moment, one of many! Being on the slopes of Mt. Etna ranks second!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour members on prior Rick Steves tours raved about Sicily so we went on the tour with high expectations. We were not disappointed! It was one beautiful old town after another, each one prettier than the last. The ancient ruins we saw were phenomenal, and we learned so much about Sicilian history and culture from David, tour guide extraordinaire. Oh, and the food and wine were excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cliffhanging small town of Taormina was all-encompassing! Views of Mount Etna, sheer cliffs dropping down to the oh-so-blue sea, an ancient Greek/Roman theater that is still in use today, quaint narrow alleyways, steep winding Medieval staircases, hilltop Castelmola high above the town and cannolis for breakfast. Just spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a safe and our days with full of exciting and pleasant events prepared for us

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments. Some of My favorites were visiting Valley of the Temples, villa Romana del Casale and mount Edna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour, after using his books for over 20 years on self-guided trips. We were pleasantly surprised with the smoothness of the logistics. Hats off to Andrea for being so efficient, personable, caring, knowledgeable, connected, and accommodating. Great young man!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt. Etna tour with Boris."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized. Our tour guide, Andrea, was excellent. Meals were fabulous, as well as guest guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Trapani, the ruins, and Mt. Etna."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great blend of urban and rural experiences. As in past Rick Steves tours, the guide and local guides brought to life the history and culture (including the food) in a way that gave meaning and understanding to this very unique locale.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cathedral of Monreale was breathtaking; and I really loved the lunch and cookie baking experience with Maria Grammatica."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour covers a lot of territory and is definitely more packed than previous tours.The chance to see ancient ruins, try different foods, and see Mt Etna were wonderful. As always nice to meet others on the tour. I was surprised at how crowded many of the venues were and happiest when we were a bit more off the beaten path at the salt harvesting and Mozia, at Agrigento hotel with gardens, and at countryside places to eat especially the winery. The guide Donald was knowledgeable and helpful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The drive up to Mt Etna with the road winding through ever changing vegetation and clouds coming in in and out was a wow. I was also wowed or perhaps more overwhelmed by the shear numbers of people at the top of the road! It would have been nicer to have the volcano expert be our guide but I understand circumstances required a change in guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sicily tour far exceeded my expectations! It’s distinct history, impacted by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Romans, British, and French made for a unique experience when compared to other Italy tours I’ve experienced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views! So much of the tour took us to elevations to experience unbelievable views. My favorite from the patio at the hotel in Taormina, especially at night. Just gorgeous!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was quite busy. It was also very informative. I consider a tour like this to be a good orientation to a region, laying the groundwork for a more leisurely, in-depth exploration on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Finding a museum devoted to antique writing instruments (my hobby) right next to the WWII museum in Catania."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This Sicily trip was the fourth and last of several back-to-back tours I did, and the only Rick Steves one. It was by far the best! Every day I hear myself telling friends about my six weeks in Italy and Sicily, and I always come back to Sicily. Each time, I hear myself talking about how good our tour leader, Jamie, was. He was engaging, knowledgeable, full of surprises, and so capable of the cat-herding he had to do. He really made a huge difference in how much I enjoyed this eleven days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maybe Agrigento; maybe the ancient Greek theatre in Taormina; maybe the cooking demonstration by Roberto in Ortygia. Oh, wait - it may have been the visit to the abattoir-cum-kitchen of Maria Grammatico. Too many "wows" to single out just one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group to travel with. Enjoyed learning about the history and culture of Sicily. The food and wine were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Actually the first morning breakfast on the terrace of the hotel was awesome! Fantastic morning view over looking the city. Also the Valley of temples and mosaics were both Wows!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband, Chris, and I really enjoyed our tour. Every day was full of interesting sights and rich experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"First arriving at the terrace on the roof of the Palermo hotel and seeing the view. I also loved the tour of the Monreale Cathedral. And I was so excited that we were going to eat at Me Cumpari Turriddu, that we saw on the Stanley Tucci show."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

great itinerary, hotels, food&wine, tour mates

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Temples of Agrigento"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed learning the long history of the different areas of Sicily. The cuisine, heavy of fish, was delightful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch with the Baronness in Lentini was fabulous. It was a scenic setting and hands down the best meal we had on the trip."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very comprehensive overview of a fascinating island with a long history of diverse occupying cultures reflected in the architecture and food that we visited and ate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Greek and Roman well preserved temples, mosaics, and artifacts. A Roman sarcophagus of a dead child with detailed carvings of the child's birth, life, and death."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, we had a wonderful time. Jamie, our tour guide, was always there for us, very enthusiastic and encouraging, very knowledgeable, always ready to answer a question, energetic and fun. The group as a whole was very friendly, cohesive and engaged and we really enjoyed getting to know each other. The planning that went into what we saw was clearly evident and showed that the reviews you do after previous tours has shaped our tour into a well tuned successful flow. We had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are many, but standing atop the Roman theatre in Taormina and looking out through the remains of the Skene at the view of the coast and the ocean was breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall tour experience meet my expectations but Jamie took it over the top with his exceptional knowledge and witty British sensibilities. The hotels were all wonderfully located and spacious. The pace of the trip was in reason. I enjoyed all the free time to shop and relax.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the rooftop bar at the Hotel Continental in Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

this was our first but not last Rick Steve's trip. Everything was well organized and perfectly executed. Our host and lead Jamie, was outstanding his knowledge of foods wines and unique information made the trip so much more than We had expected. We travel internationally 2-3 x annually a mix of small cruises, self-directed and private tours but after so very much fun with our tour mates It's a Rick Steves' group for us. So thanks' to all John and Julia Shea Boston Ma.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the restaurants that were handpicked by Jamie"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved every location (well, maybe not Palermo so much!), the active nature of the tour and the great group. Such good chemistry!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Impossible to limit to only one. Two tour items pop into my head - sunset on island of Ortygia and the WWII museum in Catania providing perspectives from Sicilian people as well as solders."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great tour with a wonderful guide. All lodging locations were excellent and the food was a highlight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That’s like asking which child do I love the most. But if I must I’d say the meal and baking experience at Erice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greek temples and Villa Casale"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 5th RS trip. Best food ever. Loved our guide Virginia. Outstanding and unexpected stops like cookie-baking with Marie, wine tasting lunch near Mt Etna, dinner at villa overlooking Roman ruins.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The meal at the villa with beautiful garden overlooking the lighted archaeological site of Agrigento."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

After two years of waiting for this tour I had a lot of built up anticipation. The tour was even more fantastic than I had hoped for. It was so well crafted as to experiences, our guide was outstanding, the group was enthusiastic and personable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So much beautiful scenery! So many amazing historical sites! The one that I would pick as the most powerful was the Cathedral of Syracuse. The baroque facade is impressive but the real spiritual moment for me was sitting inside the non-baroque interior looking columns from the 5th century BC temple of Athena that are still an integral part of the structure which has housed various worship groups for 2500 years."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best of Sicily has been our best tour yet (#5). The country is beautiful. The food was amazing. I enjoyed the itinerary as it took us around the coast visiting and learning about the historic towns and country. As always I’m happy to have several hours on many days to explore on our own. Our guide, Virginia, was great. She was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable for the entire trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Sicilian family farm and the winery were my favorite visits."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved our guide, the other travelers, and everything was well planned and well executed. It was perfect! Thank you!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had several "wow" moments. First, Virginia was so positive and knowledgable and friendly and perfect. My favorite events/activities were the cooking class led by the woman raised by the nuns, our trip to the winery and lunch there, and staying in the lovely place in the country where we shared the dinner outside in the garden."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour planning was amazing. We were so impressed with the organization put into this tour including the hotels, busing, local guides, meals and places visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day we spent touring the ancient Greek ruins of Agrigento, "Valley of the Temples" and ending the day at the beautiful country hotel with the amazing views and gardens!"

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Time available for viewing selected sights was far too short in most cases. Worst example: 5 minutes to view Greek theater, followed by less than a minute to view Greek temple.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Recently uncovered architectural features in private Palazzo."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Lots of food, lots of wine, and lots of walking. Do not take this tour if you are not fir to tackle stairs and uneven pavement, otherwise, go for it! I had the misfortune of crashing my bike on a ride in Rome the day before, my tour manager was patient and helpful and found me a doctor on the tour for a recommended follow up check on my condition. All hotels were clean, some with amazing views!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked the temples in Agrigento, and the settings of the meals! Syracuse, and the Hotel Continental stay in Taormina was great!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Hotels exceeded expectations. Tour guide informative/educational, considerate, assertive when needed, and a true gentleman. Most of destinations well worth the stop or stay. I enjoy history and there was ample to absorb. Although all participants of our group blended well, I would have preferred a more diverse age range. All but two individuals were retirement age, my wife and I included. The visit of a “working farm” could have been omitted (my opinion may not be that of anyone else).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina and Mt Etna. The volcanologist presentation was the highlight of the days spent there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Alfredo was an excellent guide and the tour members were all a lot of fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics in the Roman senator’s house were amazing to see!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything went smoothly. Food was great. Tour guide and travel companions were wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taormina was exceptional!!! Beautiful town, views of Mt Edna, and hotel."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Simply a great tour with excellent guides and incredible ruins and historic areas

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stunning views of a smoldering Mount Etna and the Mediterranean coast line"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent operation throughout. Our guide, Alfredo, was informative, accommodating, and fun. Angelo, our driver negotiated Sicily's motorways and narrow city streets with precision. We were in good hands. Our traveling companions were interesting and entertaining. Let's all go again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views from atop the hill town of Erice took me by surprise and amazed me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour of Sicily was amazing from beginning to end. I had no idea the important role Sicily played in Greek and Roman history, and there was so much we saw and learned about that. While that was interesting, I enjoyed even more seeing the beauty of the country, the friendliness of the people, and the charm of their culture. My favorite parts of the tour were the more personal touches, such as having a tour of her home by a countess in Palermo, and enjoying a home cooked meal at a farmhouse.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but the ancient hillside town of Taormina was my favorite. Our hotel was amazing, with a rooftop deck looking out over the beautiful city. Walking through the town at night was magical, and I will never forget it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great tour -- wonderful guide and enjoyable group of fellow travelers from across North America. We will definitely do another Rick Steves tour (this was our third). Excellent local guides. We saw the highlights but had plenty of free time. Great meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick, so I'll give one "old" and one "new: the mosaics at the Roman villa, and the talk by volcanologist Boris at Mt. Aetna."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was very well organized. The primary guide was wonderful--knowledgeable, patient, helpful. The individual guides for Palermo, Agrigento, Trapani salt excursion, etc. were also good. Our fellow travelers were interesting and pleasant companions. The sights we saw were diverse--a nice balance of historical sites, churches, city tours, and special touches such as the agriturismo, UNESCO baker, and winery visit. The group dinners/lunches were fun and tasty.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don't think I can pick one--although the views at Taormina of Etna and the surrounding area were pretty spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Normally, I don't like to complete surveys. Too many people--medical professionals, teachers, even waiters--are reduced to consumer products, and our society transformed into a panopticon. But I'm willing to comment. Overall, although I'm not sure if I'm a "tour" person, I really enjoyed this tour. I saw more of Sicily than I ever would have had I been travelling just with my family. We saw so many different kinds of things, ate wonderful food, and experienced so much. It was memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments that it's difficult to select just one. The view from the rampart wall in Trapani was fantastic as was seeing the church there with the scenes from the crucifixion. The views from various places in Taormina were also fantastic. I really liked Siracusa--its shops, its market, the waterfront. Erice was also great. But so were many of the other places we visited--the palazzo in Palermo, the Roman villa, the Greek temples near Agrigento. There were many "wows.""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had never been on an organized tour before and wondered how we would like being in a large group like this. The tour experience went so well and the group really gelled by the end, but we also had plenty of opportunity to go off on our own. So all in all, we were very pleased and will definitely join another Rick Steves tour in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had so many! So I'm going to have to say each of the special experiences organized for us: taken together, they made the "wow" moment/s"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My experience was very positive. Gained so much knowledge from the guides, hotels were of good quality and good locations, food experience was excellent. Bus driver was phenomenal!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The experience with Marie Grammatico, not only her baking session but the sumptuous food display that we were greeted with."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the variety, from the hustle and bustle of Palermo to the ancient ruins of Agrigento to the laid-back touristy Taormina. Jamie was a terrific guide, he respected us all as adults who had previous travel experience. Without exception all of the local guides were outstanding, providing us with their personal insights and knowledge—something we have come to expect on Rick Steve’s’ trips. We really came to realize that instead of all roads lead to Rome, all paths really do pass thru Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The depictions of the captured wild animals being loaded into boats to be brought back to Sicily on the mosaic floors of Villa Romana del Casale. We were also amazed at the detail of the mosaics of Jesus’ face in the Monreale Cathedral."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall it was a good tour, some issues but we saw a lot of interesting sights

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Greek temples at Agrigento"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

After two years of no international travel, it was glorious to be back at it. Sicily did not disappoint. Beautiful country, helpful people, excellent tour guide, and yet another great group of people on the tour. The travelers on the Rick Steves' tours on some of the most friendly, open, curious, and interesting individuals you would ever want to meet. And they don't whine!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Food, glorious food! The funny thing is, I do not even consider myself a foodie. But in Sicily, everything was so fresh, bursting with flavor. I love pistachios and they use them quite liberally. Pistachio pesto on pasta. Magnificent! The pastries, the bread. WOW."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour. Wish it had lasted longer. Our guide Nancy was excellent. The group was made up of like-minded people from across the country, which made for a very enjoyable tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say, but loved touring the Villa Romana del Casale - seeing all of the gorgeous mosaics that are still so visible, then afterwards enjoying the wonderful picnic lunch on the Contessa's farm. Lovely day."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Sicily Tour was delightful. I was amazed at the amount of history happen there. All of the guides that we have had with the four Rick Steves tours have been excellent. However, Nancy, our guide in Sicily was special. Here local knowledge was enlightening and entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"With a Rick Steves tour, there are many "wow" moments from the mountaintop Erice and the wonderful lunch and cooking demonstration, to a swim on the island of Syracuse. There wasn't a day where there wasn't a "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Yes Sicily is Italy in steroids! So amazingly beautiful, so gross, so historically fascinating, and the Italians are a piece of work. My hearts soared and I laughed out loud more times than I can remember. Our tour group was diverse and delightful, and Nancy was an outstanding guide. Her voice overs were so candid and so entertaining. She interpreted Sicily for us and made it come to life. So much value added. And she is a fine, fine person.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beautiful Syracuse Cathedral. It epitomized the layer cake history of Sicily. Having it explained to us in detail was so exciting. I touched those Greek columns. I watched little Italian boys playing soccer outside and talked to a gorgeous wedding party getting ready to go in. Had pizza around the corner. It lives on!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour, and we were happy with how much more we got from a tour than traveling on our own with a guidebook. The tour guide as well as local guides were knowledgeable and personable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Absorbing the waves of human history at the awesome ancient historical sites."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good overview of the history, geography, and current events.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mt. Etna."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat ride around Ortigia."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sicily has many wonderful places to go to and I will remember them all.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Valley of the temples."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour of any kind. I was so impressed with how dialed in the organization is with communities, museums, hotels, and how smooth the operation is overall.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mount Etna. And I wish we could have had more time there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the experience exceeded my expectations. Sicily was even more amazing than I imagined. The food was excellent and plentiful! Our group camaraderie made the experience even more exceptional. And Virginia, our guide, was full of enthusiasm every step of the way. She catered to our every need and made our experiences special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is difficult to choose just one wow moment. The size and structure of the ancient ruins, and the beautiful of the ocean beaches stand out."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a spectacular trip. More than expected. The history facts alone were mind boggling. Perfect in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from Mt Etna."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Virginia our guide was exceptional. Knowledgable, great energy, organized to perfection. Franco was a fantastic bus driver. Tour was thorough, and in-depth.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved it! Andrea, our tour guide was excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat/swim trip set up by our guide, Andrea in Siracusa."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour. We had an amazing trip and feel we were given a great experience in Sicily. We loved the food, the culture and especially our Tour Guide Andrea. He went above in his efforts to show us a wonderful time in his country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had several wow meals and walks through beautiful ruins, churches and historical cities . We also loved our time on the beaches and in the beautiful towns of Palermo,Taormina and Siracusa. I liked how we covered a diverse agenda from visiting the Etna Volcano to the Trapani Sea Salt production."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was thoughtful and all of the the accommodations were very comfortable and centrally located. By setting the proper tone at our first meeting, our guide, Andrea, brought out the best in everyone and we had no grumps!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale and the wine lunch near Mt. Etna were both highlights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour covered a variety of cultural, food and natural wonders of Sicily. The tour was well organized, although somewhat “busy,” with less free time than other trips with Rick Steves. Good mix of activities and locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide arranged a boat ride in Trapani, the water was beautiful and we could swim off the boat!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized, great guide(s), adequate hotels, great food, very comfortable bus

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When our guide Andrea improvised and arranged for a boat ride to a lagoon where we where all able to jump overboard and swim. The afternoon had been scheduled as “free time” and Andrea made arrangements with a local captain and brought along fruit, wine and snacks! A great afternoon!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, good accommodations, good meals, well organized

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Taormina and the boat ride to sea caves at Ortygia were best for me"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour with Alfio was absolutely amazing. The hotels, the food, and the people were amazing. I think the pace was good but a little more downtime might have been beneficial for some of us to refuel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think I will always remember the bomb shelter in Syracuse. It was really chilling and made me imagine how horrifying it must have been for the people of Sicily to be bombed continuously without really even knowing why."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 1st Rick Steves tour, and indeed our 1st tour group travel of any kind. My wife and I have always traveled on our own before but decided as we are older and speak no Sicilian (or Italian!) that this was the way to see Sicily. Very happy with that decision. No way we could have found the wonderful hotels we stayed at on our own (either to book or to physically find if driving or taking public transportation). Saw a lot, enjoyed it all very, very much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every place we went we all said "nothing can top this", but then there was the next day. I like vistas, so if I were to pick one favorite I guess it would be the view from Erice of Trapani, the sea, and the Egadi islands. I could see that battle between the Roman and Carthaginian fleets in 241 BC! (Hope I got the date right.)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

greatly exceeded our expectations which were high to begin with.Sicily was a beautiful and interesting island. Tour director was world class. Accommodations and food better than expected. Itinerary was diverse and always interesting. Our travel companions were great without exceptions (which is rare).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many. Taormina was a particularly beautiful town with wonderful ancient remains in a spectacular setting."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour experience was colored by the unseasonable heat. Not the fault of the tour, and Alfio did what he could by standing us in the shade as much as possible. Leaving that aside, the tour delivered. I wanted to get a sense of Sicily, the history and architecture, and especially the food, and I was very satisfied.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At our second group dinner, the restaurant had arranged the seating around several large tables. Except for two seats, which were at a small table apart from the others. My wife and I were at the end of the line, so that table was what was left. We took it, no complaints. But when Alfio saw the arrangement, some emphatic Italian ensued. The restaurant staff added a section to one of the large tables, making room for us. We had a good dinner and a pleasant conversation with our fellow travelers."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Alfio is amazing - he is the tour. The food and meals on this tour was even better than what we had on 2 previous RS tours (best of Italy, Greece). The tour was jam-packed - one day we had 5 different activities! Our fellow tourists were friendly and interesting - compliant with masking. There was much more to see in Sicily that I expected - amazing mozaics, beautiful cathedrals, ancient ruins, etc. We had unseasonably warm weather, which was rough on a few days. Loved the tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Almost too many to list, but my favorite was the wine-tasting/lunch at the Benanti winery on the slopes of Mt. Etna. I've been wine-tasting in CA for years and this was the best wine-tasting experience I've ever had. We loved hiking to one of the Mt.Etna summits with the very knowledgeable vulcanist Boris. The lunch with the baroness in the countryside was amazing. We loved Erice and the cooking demonstration & lunch with Maria Grammatico. The mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale were stunning"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

First Alfio was beyond fab and made the trip all it could be. Even when things needed bo be juggled around due to logistical conflict like the car race causing the schedule to shift it was all done in a seamless fashion. The only thing that could make this trip better is adding a couple of days as parts of it seemed a bit rushed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"how well the ancient greek temples and roman villas were preserved in spite of the numerous earthquakes that have shook so much of Sicily over the years."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Simply amazing. Alfio is the best guide. All the restaurants were amazing. The sites, culture our bus driver absolutely everything!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mine was the puppets. Didn’t think it was for me! Boy was I wrong. Incredible"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful. Our tour guide Alfio was wonderful. He was funny, knowledgeable and passionate about everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about the old civilizations and how we were walking where they walked. Wow to all the choices from towns, hotels and food"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a great experience on my tour of Sicily. The historical education provided by our guide, Nancy, enhanced my understanding of Sicily, then and now. My fellow travelers were a pleasure to meet and became great friends as we explored the sights, sounds and tastes of Sicily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "WOW" moments had to do with the wonder I experienced when looking at buildings, inventions, and creations that were done by people so long ago with a great degree of sophistication. I feel blessed to have seen and learned about the history that is the foundation of so much in our world today."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good guide, compatible fun tour group sites interesting. Weather was hot but the Mediterranean was refreshing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"beautiful town of Taormina. My wife dancing with a prince in Catania. Breakfast on the roof top overlooking Palermo and Taormina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nancy was a wonderful guide. I love that history, local guides, unique lunch experiences, visiting a winery, farm, and making marzipan.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Roman mosaics, Valley of the Temples, and time to swim in the Mediterranean Sea."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour guide and very collegiate group. Sites were great and the variety we visited gave a great overview of the island, the people, the food and wine, and the immense history of this part of Italy

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The overall landscape of the island from steep cliffs to vast vineyards and farmland and the markets we toured."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a remarkable eye-opening education experiencing the Best of Sicily! Immersing in the rich culture, the delectable food, the varied architecture from palazzos to temples to ampitheaters to chuches was a unforgettable opportunity to trek through history. It could not have been a better time and I didn't want it to end!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Impossible to select a #1 but glimpsing the temple of Segesta for the first time, the salt pans at Mozia, learning the art of pastry making from Maria Grammatico, the umbrella skyscape above the Catania fish market, and swimming in the Tyrhennian and Ioninan Seas were all highlights!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything about the tour was outstanding. Our guide Nancy was so much fun and so informative. The local guides were incredible as well. I feel that I would have missed so much if I was not on a Rick Steves tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rolling pastry dough with Chef Maria Grammatico"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Highly recommend Ricks tours

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The organisation, information and punctuality of the whole tour. Plus as an outsider ( Australian) I was made feel very welcome"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The best part of the trip was the group of people. All were enjoyable travelers. Our tour guide, Nina was very good as well. Our bus driver was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were a bit disappointed with Sicily overall (trash everywhere) but getting to Taormina was the highlight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great experience with our tour guide Nina and a wonderful group of travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the views from the hilltop city or Taormina. The place was spectacularly dry."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nina was a wonderful guide. s She had a wealth of knowledge and such an enthusiasm for Sicily and all it offered from a rich history to current happenings. We had such a great tour group and all were eager to share their experiences and excitement in the tour. This group really contributed to making this experience go beyond our expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moments were many on this trip. Enjoyed Erice with the pastry making demonstration and the town with beautiful views. The wine experience with lunch and learning about the family history of the winery were such fun. Visiting Mt Etna was a highlight and we had a wonderful local guide. Taormina was a darling town. The hotel was such a delight and such close proximity to the town center."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an awesome tour with an incredible main guide (Nina) and a truly wonderful group of travelers. Rick Steves tours attract the type of people you want to be friends with, and this was no exception. And in our 10th RS tour, we still found the ongoiing guide to a crucial part of the mix, and Nina was perfect in that role.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As always, it is hard to pick your favorite "wow" moment. From meeting the Contessa in Palazzo Federico on the first day to walking through an uninspiring facade to the Greek then Roman theater on the last day, it was a series of "wow, this is great" moments. But if i have to pick one today, I would go with seeing the incredibible mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale from the 4th century AD. They are so well preserved (landslide) and portray an incredible varietty of people and scenes. Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was our first visit to Sicily. We had a wonderful time in spite of the sometimes oppressive heat and humidity outside. All accommodations were well air conditioned so we were fine in our rooms.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hmmm, what sticks in my memory is how good the pizza was at the restaurant we were taken to in Taormina. It was some of the best pizza we have ever had. On this trip we had pizza at several different establishments including post-tour at what was deemed the best pizzeria in Naples (the birthplace of pizza), but none were as great tasting as at our group pizza dinner in Taormina!"