Best Boat Tours from Syracuse and Ortigia: Sea Caves, Sunset Cruises and the Plemmirio Reserve

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Ortigia is an island, and it looks its best from the water. From a boat you see what the streets hide: the sea walls of Castello Maniace, the freshwater Fonte Aretusa spilling out a few metres from the sea, and the limestone caves cut into the coast north and south of Syracuse. Most boat tours here are short, inexpensive and leave from the Ortigia waterfront, which makes them one of the easiest excursions in eastern Sicily to fit into a stay.

This guide compares the main options, from a one-hour shared loop around the island to a private half day in the Plemmirio marine reserve, with prices, departure points and what to bring.

Which Boat Tour Is Right for You?

Prices below were listed by tour operators and booking platforms in October 2026 and change with the season.

Tour	Duration	Price	Best for
Shared tour around Ortigia and the sea caves	about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes	from about €20 per person	A first look at the island, families, short stays
Private Ortigia tour with aperitif	about 1 hour 30 minutes	from about €95 per boat	Couples, small groups, a relaxed evening
Sunset cruise to the Pillirina with drinks	about 2 hours 30 minutes	about £40 per person	Swimming, golden-hour views, an alternative to dinner on land
Shared snorkelling trip in the Plemmirio reserve	about 2 to 2 hours 30 minutes	varies by operator	Snorkellers, clear water, fewer boats
Private half day in the Plemmirio reserve	about 5 hours	from about €500 per boat, up to 6 people	Several swim stops, a full morning or afternoon on the water

What You See from the Water

Ortigia makes more sense from a boat than from a map. These are the landmarks most tours point out:

• The Porto Grande: the great harbour on Ortigia’s western side, where the Athenian fleet was destroyed in 413 BC during the Sicilian Expedition, a turning point of the Peloponnesian War.
• Castello Maniace: the 13th-century fortress built under Emperor Frederick II at the island’s southern tip, guarding the harbour entrance.
• Fonte Aretusa: a freshwater spring a few metres from the sea, where papyrus grows, tied in legend to the nymph Arethusa.
• The Spanish walls and the Levante promenade: the eastern sea wall of the old town, with Baroque palazzi above it.
• The sea caves: limestone grottoes along the coast north and south of the city, reached at the end of most loops.

Our guide to Ortigia and its harbour tells the full story behind these sights.

The Classic Loop: Around Ortigia and the Sea Caves

The standard tour is a loop of the island followed by a run up the coast to the caves. Boats typically pass the Duomo and the church of Santa Lucia from the water, the Spanish walls and the Levante promenade, Castello Maniace at the southern tip and the Fonte Aretusa on the western side. Some operators also take the narrow channel between Ortigia and the mainland, passing under the Umberto I bridge and through the Porto Piccolo.

After the loop, the boat heads north to the sea caves, where the rock is shaped by water into overhangs and small grottoes. One of them is shaped like a heart. Many tours include a short swim stop of 10 to 15 minutes, so wear a swimsuit under your clothes.

Shared boats are small, often around 12 passengers. If you want to see the island once, at low cost, this is the one to book: shared Ortigia and sea caves boat tour.

Private Tours and Aperitivo Cruises

A private tour follows a similar route but on your schedule, usually with prosecco, wine and snacks on board and a skipper who adjusts the route to the sea conditions. At around €95 for the boat, a private loop for two or four people costs less per person than many restaurant dinners in Ortigia, and it is the better choice if you want a quiet hour on the water rather than a commentary on a full boat.

Sunset Cruise to the Pillirina

The longer evening cruise heads south along the coast past caves and rock formations toward the Plemmirio reserve, stops for a swim in the Gulf of the Pillirina, then returns around Ortigia as the light drops. On the way back you pass the former Bourbon prison, Forte Vigliena, the Spanish walls, Castello Maniace and the Alfeo and Levante waterfronts. Drinks are included; food usually is not, so plan dinner in Ortigia afterwards. Book here: sunset boat cruise with drinks in Ortigia.

The Plemmirio Marine Reserve

South of Syracuse, the Maddalena peninsula is protected as the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area, created in 2004 and stretching for just over 14 kilometres around the peninsula. The reserve is divided into zones. In Zone A, in front of the Capo Murro di Porco lighthouse, swimming, stopping by boat, fishing and diving are not allowed at any time. Zone B covers most of the reserve and allows swimming and diving, and it is where you find the best-known caves, including the Grotta del Formaggio, named for the cheese-like holes in its walls, the Grotta delle Stalattiti and the Grotta delle Corvine.

Shared snorkelling trips to the reserve leave from the small harbour at Ognina, south of the city, and usually take up to 15 passengers with masks provided. Private half-day charters leave from Syracuse and make several swim stops in coves where swimming is permitted; operators generally run them from April to mid-October, depending on the weather. For more of this coastline, see our guide to Sicily’s best bays and coves for swimming, yachts and boat trips.

Where the Boats Leave From

• Foro Vittorio Emanuele II, Ortigia: the waterfront along the Porto Grande, the meeting point for many shared and sunset tours.
• The bridges between Ortigia and the mainland: some shared tours start and end here.
• Ognina harbour: the departure point for shared snorkelling trips into the Plemmirio reserve.

Operators usually ask you to arrive 15 minutes before departure. Check the exact meeting point in your booking confirmation, as it varies between companies.

Practical Tips

• Season: the main season runs from spring to mid-October. In July and August, book a day or two ahead, especially for sunset departures.
• What to bring: swimsuit, towel, sun cream and a hat. Snorkelling gear is included on some trips and not on others.
• Weather: tours are cancelled in rough seas. Most operators then offer a full refund or a new date.
• Morning or evening: book a morning tour if you want the rest of the day for Ortigia; book an evening departure for the sunset.

Families, Seasickness and Accessibility

The short loop around Ortigia stays close to shore and is usually calm, which makes it a good first boat trip for children and anyone unsure about the sea. On windy days the open water beyond the harbour can be choppy; if you are prone to seasickness, choose a morning departure, sit towards the back of the boat and keep your eyes on the horizon. Boarding usually involves stepping from a quay onto a small boat, so tell the operator in advance if anyone in your group has limited mobility.

Getting to Syracuse

Catania Fontanarossa is the nearest international airport, about an hour from Syracuse by car. A pre-booked private transfer from Catania Airport takes you straight to your hotel in Ortigia without a car to park, which is useful because most of the island is closed to non-resident traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a boat tour around Ortigia?

The classic shared loop with the sea caves takes about an hour to an hour and a quarter. Private tours with an aperitif last around 90 minutes, and the sunset cruise to the Pillirina about two and a half hours.

Can you swim on the boat tours?

Most shared tours include a short swim stop of 10 to 15 minutes, and the sunset cruise stops in the Gulf of the Pillirina. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes.

Which is better, the sea caves tour or the sunset cruise?

For a quick, inexpensive overview, the sea caves tour. For a longer evening with drinks and a swim, the sunset cruise.

Where do Ortigia boat tours leave from?

Most leave from the Foro Vittorio Emanuele II on the Porto Grande or from near the bridges to the mainland. Snorkelling trips to the Plemmirio reserve leave from Ognina.

Can you snorkel in the Plemmirio reserve?

Yes, in the zones where swimming is permitted. Zone A, in front of the Capo Murro di Porco lighthouse, is closed to swimming and boat stops.

Make More of the Coast

For the history behind what you see from the boat, read our guide to Ortigia and its harbour. If you are sailing further along the coast, Marzamemi and Marina di Ragusa are the next stops south, and our overview of the best yacht spots in Sicily covers the rest of the island. For where to stay, see the best luxury hotels in Sicily and our wider Sicily travel guide.

Related guides: read our articles on getting from Catania Airport to Taormina and Syracuse, a baroque road trip through Noto, Modica and Ragusa, Taormina boat tours and the Aeolian Islands by boat.

Heading to western Sicily? See our guide to the Egadi Islands: Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo.

Hungry in Sicily? See our guide to Sicilian food.