Port of Messina?

[leannak]

We are on a Mediterranean cruise this summer that ports in Messina one day. We are hoping to make it a relaxed, non-excursion, easy day. So we’re planning on staying in Messina, even though I hear it’s not a particularly pretty town. The one thing I want to make sure to do is try cannoli - I hear they were first created in Sicily. Any advice on where to do this or how to get into town from the ship? I thought the hop-on hop-off bus would be a good idea and just watch for restaurants or bakeries, etc. but whoa - the HOHO bus in Messina gets terrible reviews!!

 

[Pens Fan]

OK - I have to weigh in on this. I understand you are looking for a quiet day, and I respect that. However ... we just spent three weeks in Italy and Greece and Messina was one of our favorite ports. To just hang out in Messina is really missing out on an amazing experience. Sicily is incredible and I can't recommend just hanging out at the port. We used https://www.sicilylife.com/ and had a fabulous day.

 

[Intr3pid]

If you are a movie buff, there is a Godfather movie tour which will pick you up to/from the port. Shortish and more relaxed. You can also ask your guide to find a cannoli spot for lunch.

 

[leannak]

Well, we'll be with 4 kids and already spending quite a bit of time in Rome, Athens, Naples, etc. so I think they'll be burning out by all of the ruins and scenery and volcanoes, etc. If it were just us adults I'd do Taormina for sure. Or the Godfather tour - sounds so fun!!

I saw Disney has a cannoli making excursion but when I asked my family they all said they'd rather walk around and people watch some and just "be" in Sicily and simply taste the cannoli from a restaurant before getting back on the ship. :-/ (Is cannoli even good?!?!???)