Organizing a trip to Sicily with children is essential because it is a land suitable for families. The climate is mild all year round. If it is not too cold, you can even take a dip in April or October. There are so many things to see in Sicily with children, from the most beautiful beaches to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, from the wild Alcantara gorges, passing through many archaeological sites. Visiting Sicily at least once in a lifetime is an absolute must! Is Sicily all-beautiful? Yes, Sicily is all beautiful, but be careful not to be fooled: this is the largest island in the Mediterranean and Italy’s largest region! For this list of five activities to do during a trip to Sicily we have chosen the district of Taormina, Mount Etna and the Alcantara gorges on the est coast of Sicily. The closest airport is the international hub of Fontanarossa in the city of Catania. We relied on Sicily Active a local tour operator specialized in Family Holidays.
Taormina
Perched on a hill overlooking Mount Etna and the blue Mediterranean Sea there is the enchanting town of Taormina. This small town is the ideal location for a family holiday. The main street “CorsoUmberto.” is a no go zone for cars, a perfect place for kids to run and play in the Mediterranean atmosphere. The small cobbled streets host many, restaurants and Pizzeria while the Gelato in Taormina is one the best of the island of Sicily. The proximity to the Alcantara gorge, to MountEtna and to the Marine reserve of Isola Bella make Taormina the perfect location to explore the east coast of Sicily.
1 Body rafting at the Alcantara Gorges
The canyon of the Alcantara gorge is a geological marvel of rare beauty. Channelled inside the canyon’s black walls up to 50 metres high flows the crystal Alcantara River. This location is just 20 kilometres from Taormina and can be an idyllic place to spend a day, swimming in the river and chilling out on the small pebble beach. The more adventurous families can go for an adrenaline Excursion of Body rafting. The guys at Sicily Active can take you in the heart of the gorge, and they are very careful with kids. On the way up the excursion, use the technique of river trekking, overcoming small rapids, swimming and jumping from rock to rock. The fun begins on the way back towards the starting point when the body it is used as a raft to slide along the foamy rapids. The minimum height to take part in this fun activity is five feet.
2 Snorkeling in Isola Bella marine park
At the feet of Taormina easily accessible with a cable car, there is the Marine reserve of Isola Bella;this beautiful bay offers plenty of activities to enjoy with the family. Stand up paddle, boat excursion, Jet Ski and kayaking are just some of the many tours available at Isola Bella. The excursion we recommend is the Snorkeling tour, you get to do a full boat tour of the four bays composing the marine park, and you can explore the underwater life of the Mediterranean sea. Onboard the crew serve fresh fruit and drinks.
3 Kayak tour in Giardini Naxos.
Next to the bay of Isola Bella just five kilometres from Taormina, there is the bay of Giardini Naxos. This seaside town was founded in the 7th-century b.c. from the Greeks. Giardini Naxos hosts sandy beaches, rocky coves and an Archeological Park. The local kayaking school organize two hours kayak tour along Naxos bay all the way to the marine Park of Isola Bella. Along the tour, guests get to enter two marine caves and stop for a swim. The view of Mount Etna towering over the blue Sicilian Sea is phenomenal.
4 Mount Etna
A holiday in Sicily must include a tour to explore Mount Etna. This active volcano is the largest in the European continent and is among the most active on the planet. The last eruption of this volcano took place on December 13, 2020. The trekking trails available on Mount Etna are countless and can satisfy even the most experienced hiker. The most popular excursion is the one that goes all the way to the summit at 3340 metres right on the rim of the four active Craters. The minimum age to join this tour is ten and the distance to be covered in six hours is nine miles. For those families with younger kids or unwilling to walk for six hours we suggest the tour on the north side of mount etnathat in the same day goes from the top of some old crater to the Alcantara river. This excursion allows families to visit a large portion of territory in a single day.
5 Mountain Bike tour on Historical towns
The Alcantara Valley just 30 kilometres from Taormina is famous for the Gorges and the river, but it also hosts a series of beautiful mountain villages rich of history and far from mass tourism. Sicily active has come up with a fantastic 15 km mountain bike tour that goes from the feet of Mount Etna to a stunning natural Pool along the Alcantara River. The Mountain bike trail crosses some section of an old railway’ tunnel (Kids love this part of the tour) it goes through a beautiful Village, before ending at a natural pool where kids and adults can go for a swim before enjoying some local food.
