Best of Syracuse Tour

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Discover Syracuse, a Sicilian gem rich in archaeology, landscapes, art, and food!

Pick-up at your hotel & skip-the-line tickets included!

Professional Guides

Skip-the-line tickets

Pick up at your hotel

Great photo stops

Duration

about 4 hours

Activity level

moderate

Neapolis Archaeological Park

– Greek Theater
– Altar of Hiero
– Ear of Dionysus
– Roman Amphitheater

Ortygia Island

– Cathedral of Syracusa
– Baroque piazzas
– Dreamy Mediterranean landscapes

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Tour Description

Best of Syracuse Tour: explore one of the most fascinating cities in Sicily with us!

Syracuse is one of the most captivating destinations in Sicily—and a must-see for anyone who loves art, archaeology, and history.

Thanks to its fertile land, strategic location, and mild climate, Sicily was a prime target for Greek settlers as early as the 8th century B.C. These settlers founded wealthy and powerful city-states across the island, and Syracuse was the most important of them all—a thriving cultural and political hub that rivaled Athens in glory.

Today, Syracuse dazzles visitors with its magnificent ancient ruins, baroque architecture, and stunning coastal landscapes.

Explore the Highlights with Our Private Best of Syracuse Tour

🏛️ 1. Neapolis Archaeological Park: Walk Among the Ancients

Your journey begins at the Neapolis Archaeological Area, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Italy.

Here, your expert private guide will walk you through the remnants of ancient Syracuse, once a mighty city-state that resisted even the Roman Empire.

Highlights include:

The Altar of Hieron: Built in the 3rd century B.C. by a local ruler, this massive altar was used for public sacrifices and ceremonies.
The Greek Theater: Carved directly into the bedrock over 2,000 years ago, this magnificent structure is one of the largest ancient theaters in the world and still hosts classical plays during summer.
Dionysius’ Ear: This striking limestone cave, named by Caravaggio, leads into the Latomia del Paradiso, an ancient quarry that was also used as a prison by the tyrant Dionysius.

You’ll also visit the Roman Amphitheater, built after the city’s conquest in 212 B.C. Despite their eventual victory, the Romans struggled for months against the genius of Archimedes, Syracuse’s most famous citizen, who engineered war machines to fend off the invasion.

🏝️ 2. Ortygia Island: The Heart of Historic Syracuse

After a couple of hours immersed in ancient history, you’ll head by taxi to the stunning island of Ortygia—the historical core of Syracuse.

Connected to the mainland by a short bridge, Ortygia offers a blend of ancient Greek charm and Sicilian baroque elegance. Here, more than 2,700 years ago, the Greeks founded the original settlement near the spring of Arethusa, which still feeds a charming freshwater fountain.

As you wander through Ortygia’s winding streets and sunlit piazzas, you’ll admire:

The Cathedral of Syracuse: A breathtaking monument to religious continuity, this cathedral was literally built inside the ancient Greek temple of Athena. Today, it’s dedicated to the Virgin Mary, seamlessly blending pagan and Christian heritage.
Baroque architecture and sea views: Ortygia’s beauty lies not only in its historical buildings, but in the atmosphere—romantic streets, vibrant markets, and breathtaking seaside promenades.

✨ Book Your Best of Syracuse Tour Today!

Experience the layers of history that make Syracuse so unforgettable—from ancient empires to baroque brilliance. Whether you’re a history buff, an archaeology enthusiast, or simply love exploring authentic corners of Italy, this tour will leave you inspired.

Note: The order of sites may vary slightly depending on the day. In rare cases, the Cathedral may be closed for religious ceremonies; if so, it will be admired from the outside.

👉 Ready to explore Syracuse with a private guide?

Pricing of our Syracuse Tour

549 € for 1 person
39 € per additional person

What's included

Skip-the-line tickets

Transportation

by cab to Neapolis or Ortygia

Pick-up at your hotel

If in Ortygia

Book our Syracuse Tour now!

through the booking calendar

December 2025

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Send us a message using the form below, contact us via

Whatsapp, or call us at +39 376 165 1457

Important Info about our Syracuse Tour!

Pick-up at your hotel is included only if your hotel is in Ortygia. If you’re staying somewhere else, let us know and we’ll find the best solution for you.

This is the price for 1-6 persons. If you have more people in your group, let us know and we’ll create a customized price.

You MUST bring an ID, a passport or a driver’s license to enter the sights.

Italian ArtVentures' Feedbacks

We were amazed by the service we received in Rome and even in Benevento. Giovanni went above and beyond to organize tours and transportation for our family of 15 traveling. Massimo was an incredible and knowledgeable tour guide in Rome. He made it fun for the kids and knew when to take a break. Provided water and an amazing lunch spot for us all. We still are talking about some of the stories he told us. Stefano met us at the train in Benevento and was only supposed to drive us through San Bartolomeo, my father's hometown. But he pulled up my father's and grandfather's genealogy and found some interesting facts that were amazing to find out. He printed and laminated it for us to take. It was an emotional day but such a wonderful part of the trip. The minibus was perfect for everyone to fit comfortably and head over to Almafi. Thank you Giovanni and your amazing staff for making this trip one of the most memorable trips ever!!!

Giovanni was so exceptional at his job that you left the trip feeling torn between wanting to tell the World and also keeping him a best kept secret. Everything that he had orchestrated happened, seamlessly for us as if he had choreographed the entire country of Italy to show up, act, behave on queue. I put together a lot of trips, all over the world, for a group of around 20 friends each adventure. As the chief coordinator, you are always a little concerned about third party tours and tour guides: will everyone show up, is this a scam, can they speak English? Giovanni had infinite patience answering my questions and provided so much detail about our adventure, that everyone knew what to expect ahead of time. He took into consideration everyone’s interest, abilities and aptitudes. We saw a side of Italy that felt intimate and entertaining. There are not enough stars in the galaxy to award him.

What a great experience for me and my family to have these private tours planned by Giovanni. We wanted a curated set of events during our time in Rome and Florence and Gio delivered such a wonderful set of activities to suit my husband and I and our two teenagers. Each of the four days was a memorable experience. Alex was so fantastic and I would recommend him highly- we had one our best meals with him just learning from him and having great conversation. Andres in Florence was a blast and incredibly connected to the history of the area, just a wealth of information so much so that we are definitely coming back to Florence to spend more time. Caterina walked us through the Roman ruins and the Colosseum which was awe inspiring. And, one of the best things we did which I highly recommend is a pasta making class with Romina. We learned to make two dishes with her and then ate the food we had prepared. Such a great way to spend our time connecting to Roma. Thank you Gio and to all our guides! We will cherish our memories made together.

Giovanni-thank you for a wonderful itinerary of guided visits to all the sights in Rome! We so appreciated the communication and detailed planning that ensured our visits to the Vatican/St. Peter's, Colosseum, Hadrian's Villa and Florence came off without a hitch.
Your guides are so friendly and knowledgeable. They made the history accessible and enriching.
You covered every detail, down to lunch reservations, business class train tickets and wonderful air-conditioned transportation with friendly drivers!
Thank you again for all the e-mails to develop a personalized itinerary for a special trip! We give you 5 1/2 stars on a 5 star scale!

I highly recommend Italian ArtVentures. We decided to use a private tour company, rather than the cruise ship excursions, and we were not disappointed. Giovanni was excellent at planning. We booked a tour in Rome and Pompeii. Giovanni was able to customize a tour that was special to us, so we could visit the LDS temple. Maria was our guide at the Vatican. She was fun, smart, and thoughtful. She translated for us as needed and was able to answer all of our questions. One major bonus of having a tour guide is skipping the line for St. Peter's Basilica. Our driver was awesome, traveling quickly and safely. The van was new, clean, and comfortable. We asked for a restaurant recommendation, and Giovanni made us reservations for Amalfi. It was incredible. The next day, we went to Pompeii with Stefano. He was fantastic. He made sure we saw the highlights and we avoided the crowds because of his expertise in the area. Booking was simple, communication was excellent, the cost was well worth what you get. This company is very professional. Totally awesome experience!

Truly outstanding experience visiting the Vatican with Maria! She was the perfect guide - knowledgable, smart, funny, passionate about the subject matter. She had a deep knowledge of the art, architecture, history, and the religious significance of the whole area, and gave us thoughtful, interesting commentary throughout our tour. Although she seemed to have a bottomless knowledge of everything, she also knew how to present the information in a way that was considered, insightful, and crucially, not too overwhelming for us. As we walked, she called attention to many things, some big, others details that could easily be missed. She was well prepared, but also brilliant at answering questions and flexible about following our interests. Several times she pointed out a small detail, then drew a connection back to it later in the tour. She knew the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, courtyard and Basilica like the back of her hand, steering us to less crowded routes and perfect viewing vantages. One of us is Catholic, and one of us loves art, and Maria brilliantly held both our interests throughout the tour. Highly Recommend!