Underground · SYRACUSE CAVE TOURS
Numbers below ground are capped almost everywhere, and the good slots go months out. Here are 15 syracuse cave tours to lock in early, what is included and how they differ.
Set out from Riva della Posta for a 90-minute cruise around Ortigia with Captain Mirko or another local captain. You’ll see Maniace Castle, Aretusa Fountain, the Grand Harbor, sea caves, and the Umbertino Bridge, then stop for swimming and snorkeling. English and Italian tours run from April 15 to November 15.
“We really enjoyed the trip. Captain was experienced and nice guy!”
Cruise around Ortigia with an Italian, English, or Spanish-speaking skipper. You will pass under Umbertino Bridge, see Castello Maniace and Arethusa Spring, visit sea caves, stop for swimming and snorkeling, and enjoy seasonal fruit with prosecco. Guides such as Salvo, Gaetano, Stephen, and Michelangelo are known for adding music, humor, and local color.
“I did this boat trip last year for the first time last year and returned to Ortigia a year later with a friend and it was still just as fantastic! The boat ride has the right amount of people, the skipper was fun and engaging. He served fruit and prosecco and we stopped at two locations to dive into the water. He provided snorkeling masks and even floating noodles if we wanted them. To do this two years in a row and it still be just as amazing and entertaining is a testament to this great company. This time we even went under the world’s lowest bridge and had to…”
In 90 minutes, a local skipper such as David, Stefano, Antonino, or Emiliano takes you around Ortigia, under Umbertino Bridge, past Maniace Castle and Fonte Aretusa, and into coastal caves. You get a swim stop, snorkeling mask, fruit, prosecco, soft drinks, shade, and music on board.
“Great activity, we enjoyed it a lot and our guide was great. Highly recommend”
You’ll circle Ortigia from Via Malta, pass beneath a low bridge, visit Syracuse’s sea caves, and stop for a short swim near Fonte Aretusa. English and Italian commentary comes from your guide, with captains such as Enzo and Alessandro adding local stories and humor. A Prosecco toast, safety gear, and freshwater shower are included.
“We were 9 ladies celebrating a birthday, the trip was great fun the driver was knowledgeable and friendly and processo was fab”
Spend two hours on a spacious boat from Ortigia, cruising past Maniace Castle, the Arethusa spring, sea caves, and Pillirina Cove. You can swim and snorkel at two stops, with masks, skipper, and petrol included. Guides such as Francesco and Alessandro use English or a translator app, and the boat has sun and shade.
“THis was an amazing tour!! The whole experience was stunning! The vibe on the boat was fun and uplifting with music and true Italian life!! I cant say enough nice things about our captain!!! I cant wait for others to experience this tour!”
Board Sirakù’s Crystal Boat near A Surgiva in Ortigia for a 50-minute cruise along Siracusa’s coast. Your English or Italian-speaking skipper, often Antonino, Antonio, or Stefano, guides you past marine caves and sea grass, with clear panels below your feet. A swim stop and boat-side photos add to the fun.
“An excellent experience, Antonino was very knowledgeable and also very confident at the helm. He led us through some very choppy waters and he clearly knew what he was doing, we felt very safe all throughout.”
Join a two-hour boat trip from Ortigia with an Italian skipper and English audio guide. You’ll circle Arethusa Spring and Castello Maniace, view the Pillirina, Cappuccini, Corallo, and Grande caves, then swim in Plemmirio’s clear water. Prosecco and goggles are included, but bring your own snorkel tube.
“Definitely recommend! We booked the 9am tour and we were the only ones so ended up being a private tour with the bottle of Prosecco to ourselves! Marco was very nice and showed us all the sites as we went round the coast! Water was crystal clear so we saw lots of fish, recommend taking your own snorkel but they do give you goggles. 2 hours is the perfect amount of time as we were able to have 2 swimming stops and still have plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day afterwards.”
Meet at the blue flag by Dolphin Excursion and Rental for a one-hour boat ride around Ortigia. Your captain explains the coast in English or Italian as you pass Arethusa Spring, Maniace Castle, caves, forts, and the Umbertino Bridge. Fresh water, music, and a short swim stop are included.
“It was a great trip, we loved every moment of it!”
Join an Italian or English-speaking skipper for a one-hour cruise around Ortigia, passing Maniace Castle, Fonte Aretusa, Spanish walls, and more. You will enter several sea caves, including the Heart-Shaped Lovers’ Grotto, and may stop for a swim when conditions allow. Shared and private boats are available.
“Awesome boat trip to the grottos and around the castle, very informative and relaxing!”
Spend 2.5 hours cruising from Ortigia past Fonte Aretusa and Castello Maniace, then along the Syracuse coast to sea caves and swimming spots. Your skipper, such as David, Chris, or Antonio, provides local stories, music, water, and a generous Sicilian aperitif with prosecco as the sun sets.
“The skipper was an excellent leader and captain and made important decisions re the route since it was very choppy. The commentary was good- there could have been more as I like to hear lots of information. The aperativo stop at sunset was lovely and a bonus was the almost- full moon hovering over the old Norman fort. A great evening.”
Set out from Via Senatore Giuseppe Maielli for a one-hour cruise around Ortigia. Your Italian or English-speaking skipper points out Arethusa Spring, Castello Maniace, the bridges, harbors, and sea caves, with a 10-minute swim stop in clear water. If Nunzio is at the helm, expect warm service and useful tips for seeing Siracusa on foot.
“Veramente una bella esperienza nel mare di Siracusa. Complimenti a Nunzio, ottima guida”
Spend two hours circling Ortigia, passing Castello Maniace, Arethusa Spring, Pillirina, the Plemmirio coast, and sea caves. Guides such as Ninni and Nuncio explain Syracuse in English and Italian, with time for swimming at two stops when conditions allow. Meet at the Infopoint Syracuse kiosk and bring swimwear and a towel.
“Wonderful & exclusiveTrip with plenty of historical facts, time for a swim and fun. Really recommended.”
Spend 2.5 hours cruising from Ortigia to Pillirina Bay, the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area, and Syracuse’s sea caves. Your English or Italian-speaking skipper, including Stefano, Emilio, Antonio, and others, handles the route while you swim, view Ortigia from the water, and enjoy a fixed Sicilian picnic with prosecco or wine.
“The boat tour and guide was AMAZING! We ended up having the whole boat as a private excursion, so we swam a few times and enjoyed seeing the mussel farms.”
In one hour, you circle Ortigia by boat, pass the Umbertino Bridge, Arethusa Fountain, the Duomo, and Maniace Castle, then stop to swim near Syracuse’s sea caves. Steven is one guide associated with the tour, which runs in Italian and English with music on board.
“Booked very last minute ~45 minutes before. They were ready to go when we got there and we left within 2 minutes of arriving, it ended up just being the two of us. Tour was fantastic and we had a great time. Guide was friendly and pleasant. Would absolutely book again.”
Enter Syracuse’s Catacomb of St. John with an English or Italian guide and follow its galleries, arcosoli, rotundas, and burial chambers. A VR viewer adds a visual layer to the visit, though its usefulness varies. The tour lasts 45 minutes, costs $16, and includes admission plus a €2 service fee.
“The tour was excellent. The site speaks for itself, but the staff and the delivery was excellent. Probably the most historically unique catacombs I've ever seen.”
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