Is a Private Tour Worth It in Messina? Scilla & Reggio Calabria Cruise Day
Is a private tour from Messina worth the extra cost? On our second visit to Messina aboard Celebrity Constellation, we decided to do something completely different: cross the Strait of Messina from Sicily to mainland Italy and explore Scilla and Reggio Calabria with a private local guide. What started as a three-hour walking tour of Reggio Calabria turned into nearly five hours of sightseeing after our guide offered to customize the day and take us by car. We visited beautiful Scilla, saw the dramatic Castle of Scilla, explored local neighborhoods and scenic overlooks, and then continued south to Reggio Calabria. In Reggio, we visited the cathedral, saw the location connected to the first Versace boutique, walked along the famous Lungomare waterfront, spotted Roman ruins, stopped for a refreshing lemon granita, visited the Aragonese Castle, and even watched firefighting aircraft scoop water from the Strait to battle nearby wildfires. We also talk about one of the biggest questions cruise passengers face: cruise-line excursion vs. private tour. Private tours can cost more and you are responsible for getting back to the ship on time, but the flexibility can completely change your port day. In our case, adding Scilla turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire experience. After taking the ferry back to Messina, we still had time to visit Messina Cathedral and its famous astronomical clock before returning to Celebrity Constellation. If you’re planning a cruise stop in Messina, you don’t necessarily have to stay in Sicily. Calabria is only a short ferry ride across the Strait, and Scilla and Reggio Calabria can make for a very different and memorable cruise excursion. For travelers interested in finding private local guides, you can also check www.toursbylocals.com. We are not affiliated with ToursByLocals and this is not a sponsored recommendation.