Terminal Crociere → Messina Centrale
Exit the terminal and walk along Via Vittorio Emanuele II and Via Calabria toward the pier to Piazza della Repubblica, the square in front of the station. Follow pedestrian signs around construction areas.
Cruise port in Italy
Messina
Explore on foot directly from the pier. Average time in port: 9 hours. 37 places to explore.
- Ships calling here
- 35 ships
- Upcoming sailings
- 858 sailings
- Average time in port
- About 9 hours
- Lowest fare
- From USD 367
Photo: Alex Subias
After disembarking
Cruise ships dock at Terminal Crociere. Explore on foot directly from the pier.
- Where the ship docks
Cruise ships dock at Terminal Crociere.
- Taxi Pickup Location During Construction
During construction at the cruise terminal, taxis pick up passengers at Largo Minutoli on Via Vittorio Emanuele II.
- Messina Cruise Berths
The cruise berthing area includes Marconi, I Settembre, Colapesce, and Vespri piers. The passenger terminal is at I Settembre pier.
- Construction of the New Messina Cruise Terminal
Construction of a new cruise terminal has been underway since May 28, 2026. During this period, ships scheduled for I Settembre pier berth at Marconi pier instead. The expected completion date is September 5, 2027.
About 9 hours in port: where can you go?
Time available at the destination after subtracting return travel.
- MessinaAt the pierTime at destinationAbout 9 hr
- TaorminaAbout 1 hr each wayTime at destinationAbout 7 hr
- Mount EtnaAbout 2 hr each wayTime at destinationAbout 5 hr
Return travel Time at destination
Calculated from the average time in port. Return deadlines vary by sailing; check the daily programme on board.
Between the terminal, city and airport
Travel between the terminal, city center, railway station and airport.
Messina Cruise Terminal → Piazza del Duomo
Exit the cruise pier gate and walk about 10–15 minutes (about 800 m) west toward the city center along the flat road to reach Piazza Duomo, home to Messina Cathedral and its astronomical clock tower.
Messina Centrale → Taormina-Giardini
At Messina Centrale, take a Trenitalia Regionale train to Taormina-Giardini. The trip along the Ionian coast takes about 40–50 minutes.
Messina (Piazza della Repubblica) → Taormina (Terminal Bus)
At the bus terminal in Piazza della Repubblica in front of Messina Centrale, take a direct Interbus to Taormina. It goes to the bus terminal in the hilltop center on Via Pirandello, not to the coastal railway station.
Messina places to explore
Explore 18 checked places. Select a pin to see its card, or choose View on map from a card.
Duomo di Messina
It has three Late Gothic doorways and a mosaic of Christ. Inside is a large pipe organ.
- Hours
- Daily 07:30–12:30, 16:00–19:30
Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani
A building that survived the 1908 earthquake. Its lower position than the surrounding area shows the pre-earthquake street level.
- Admission
- Free
- Hours
- Daily 09:00–12:00
Museo Regionale Interdisciplinare
An art museum on the northern coast of Messina, exhibiting artworks and cultural artifacts.
- Admission
- EUR 9
- Hours
- Mon Closed
Tue–Sat 09:00–19:00
Sun 09:00–13:30
Teatro Vittorio Emanuele II
Sicily's largest theater, on a street near Piazza del Duomo.
Sacrario di Cristo Re
A Neobaroque sanctuary on a hill, overlooking the natural harbor and town.
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 09:00–12:30
Sat 09:00–14:00
Sun Closed
Reviews say opening hours vary for the sanctuary interior and its different areas, so check the schedule for your visit date if you want to go inside.
Santuario della Madonna di Montalto
A sanctuary to the Virgin Mary in Messina, with a history associated with the Sicilian Vespers of 1282.
- Hours
- Daily 09:30–12:00, 17:00–19:00
Nearby and longer trips
Compare nearby destinations with full-day trips requiring four or more hours of return travel, allowing for the ship’s time in port.
Taormina
About 1 hr each wayTime at destination About 7 hr
NeighborhoodsCastelmolaA small village above Taormina, with a viewpoint over Mount Etna, the sea, and Taormina.
SightsTeatro Antico di TaorminaA theater built in the 3rd century BC, with views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna from the upper seating.
The ancient theater gets crowded around noon and the on-site ticket queue may be long, so visit in the morning or buy your ticket online in advance.
NeighborhoodsIsola BellaA small limestone island that connects to land by a narrow sand-and-pebble strip when the water recedes. It is a protected nature reserve.
SightsDuomo di TaorminaA small medieval cathedral on Corso Umberto, near Porta Catania, with a fountain in front.
SightsPalazzo CorvajaA palace directly in front of Porta Messina, combining architectural styles, including Arab-style tower battlements, a Norman hall where the Sicilian Parliament met in the 15th century, and Gothic bifora windows. The interior is currently closed to visitors.
Reviews say it was closed at 4 p.m. despite the hours posted online, so check the day’s operating status if you plan to visit the interior.
Food and cafésBam BarA granita café popular with locals and travelers. Granita is described as a Sicilian specialty eaten with brioche.
SightsVilla ComunaleA free public garden overlooking the sea, with a playground.
Food and cafésOsteria da RitaA home-style restaurant in Taormina's old town, serving its signature spaghetti da Rita, combining sun-dried tomatoes with crisp toasted breadcrumbs, and traditional pasta alla Norma.
SightsChiesa Madonna della RoccaA small chapel carved into the rock, with views of the town including the sea and ancient theater.
Walking up to the church requires climbing about 100–120 m in elevation on stairs, so consider taking a taxi or car if walking is difficult.
SightsBelvedere di Via PirandelloA viewpoint with views of Isola Bella and Mount Etna.
Some curved sections of the road to the viewpoint have very narrow pedestrian space and passing large vehicles, so watch for traffic if walking.
SightsPiazza IX AprileA scenic square on Corso Umberto, with black-and-white patterned paving and views of the sea and Mount Etna.
Food and cafésI Giardini di BabiloniaA restaurant on Via Timoleone, noted for its garden beneath lemon and orange trees.
ActivitiesFunivia di TaorminaIt connects central Taormina with Mazzarò Beach. Isola Bella is a short walk farther from the lower station.
Reviews say the cable car runs about every 15 minutes, so allow for waiting time in your round-trip schedule.
SightsChiesa di San GiuseppeA Baroque church on Piazza IX Aprile.
Food and cafésLe Bar Louis VuittonA rooftop bar above the Louis Vuitton store on Corso Umberto, described as a place for cocktails with views of Mount Etna.
ActivitiesTaormina boat tripA boat trip to see caves, Isola Bella, and the Taormina coastline from the sea.
NeighborhoodsCorso UmbertoA pedestrian street connecting Porta Messina and Porta Catania, lined with shops, ceramics stalls, gelaterias, and cafés.
NeighborhoodsMazzarò BeachA beach reached by cable car from central Taormina.
Mount Etna
About 2 hr each wayTime at destination About 5 hrLong full-day trip · About 4 hr round trip · Check the time available to return to the ship
NeighborhoodsMount EtnaYou can see the craters of an active volcano and terrain formed by past and present lava flows. Tours departing from Messina are listed.
Cruises calling at Messina
858 sailings are grouped into 227 cruises by ship and route.
MSC Cruises2 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2026.11Mediterranean cruises · 7 nights
Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta
Barcelona departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 734
MSC Cruises2 departure dates1 sailing available to book
Sailing 2026.11Mediterranean cruises · 7 nights
Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona, Marseille
Genoa departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 669
Celestyal Cruises2 departure dates1 sailing available to book
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2027.11Mediterranean cruises · 26 nights · Long cruise
26N Combination Cruise Athens to Tarragona
Lavrion → Tarragona
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 2,289
MSC CruisesSailing 2026.11Mediterranean cruises · 7 nights
Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa
Naples departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 879
MSC CruisesSailing 2026.11Mediterranean cruises · 7 nights
Messina, Valletta, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples
Messina departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyCheck with the booking provider
Celestyal Cruises3 departure dates2 sailings available to book
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2028.02Mediterranean cruises · 22 nights · Long cruise
Grand Mediterranean Discovery (22 Nights)
Piraeus → Tarragona
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 1,259
Celestyal Cruises2 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2027.11Mediterranean cruises · 8 nights · Mid-length cruise
Mediterranean Rivieras: Italy, France & Spain (Westbound)
Piraeus → Tarragona
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 749
Celestyal Cruises2 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2027.11Mediterranean cruises · 7 nights
Mediterranean Rivieras: Italy, France & Spain (Westbound)
Kusadasi → Tarragona
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 749
Celestyal CruisesSailing 2026.11Mediterranean cruises · 21 nights · Long cruise
Grand Mediterranean Discovery (21 Nights)
Kusadasi → Tarragona
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 1,719
MSC CruisesBook now
Sailing 2026.11Mediterranean cruises · 7 nights
Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona
Marseille departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 768
MSC CruisesBook now
Sailing 2026.11Mediterranean cruises · 6 nights
Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa
Naples → Genoa
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 643
MSC CruisesBook now
Sailing 2026.11Mediterranean cruises · 4 nights · Short cruise
Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona
Naples → Barcelona
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 367
227 cruises call at this port.
Ships calling at Messina
Explore cabin types, dining and deck facilities for each ship.
MSC Cruises · 335 sailings
MSC World Asia
29 cabin types · 19 dining venues · 61 entertainment options · 17 decks
Explore the ship
Princess Cruises · 118 sailings
Sun Princess
7 cabin types · 10 dining venues · 17 entertainment options · 17 decks
Explore the ship
Princess Cruises · 67 sailings
Enchanted Princess
8 cabin types · 16 dining venues · 29 entertainment options · 15 decks
Explore the ship
MSC Cruises · 65 sailings
MSC World Europa
27 cabin types · 18 dining venues · 65 entertainment options · 17 decks
Explore the ship
About Messina
Home to the Museo Regionale of Messina, known for featuring two of Caravaggio's paintings, the city is also famous for having been the capital of the ancient kingdom of Sicily.
Cruise lines calling here: 9 places
Celebrity CruisesCelestyal CruisesDisney Cruise LineHolland America LineMSC CruisesNorwegian Cruise LinePrincess CruisesRegent Seven Seas CruisesRoyal Caribbean International
Ports frequently visited before this one
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