Admire the natural beauty and old-world wonders of Ortigia Island from the water on this boat tour from Siracusa. See a heart shaped sea cave and the Arethusa fountain.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details. Learn more
Duration 2 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: Italian, English, Spanish
Wheelchair accessible

Highlights

See the ancient buildings on Ortigia Island from the water
View the legendary Arethusa Spring
Take pictures at the Cave of Love
Spend time snorkeling

Full description

Embark on a boat tour of Ortigia with this tour from Siracusa. View the historic center of Siracusa from the water. Travel along the coast to admire Maniace castle and several sea caves.

Push off from Siracusa and pass under the Umbertino bridge. Take in sweeping views of the entire port. Go by the luxurious yachts at Foro Italico, and catch a glimpse of a cathedral dome. Observe the legendary Arethusa fountain.

Exit the port and see the immense Maniace castle. Head out to the northern coast of Syracuse. Have some fresh fruit and juice as you travel to a spot where you can get out and have a 10 minute swim.

Enter Capuchin cave, Coral cave, a stalactite cave, and the heart-shaped Cave of Love. Snap souvenir photos with the heart behind you.

Includes

Boat tour
Prosecco, juice, and seasonal fruit
Skipper
Snorkeling time

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You must present either proof of full vaccination, proof of a Covid-19 infection in the past 3 months, or a negative test taken no more than 24 hours before the activity starts

Meeting point

Please arrive 15 minutes before the departure time. Please look for the Ortigia Island excursion office. To find the boat, please look for the Ortigia Island boat.

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Important information

Know before you go

The roof may not be accessible in bad weather
You can request the photos that are taken on board at the end of the tour

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 162 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.6/5
Transportation
4.8/5
Value for money
4.6/5

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Very pleasant trip. The captain was very jovial but it was a shame his English was limited because he couldn't explain all the sights to us very clearly. Drinks were a bit limited, and I was a bit concerned about the failure to indicate the presence of any life jackets for safety - the sea got quite rough at times.

September 8, 2022

The boat trip itself was a lot of fun. We were a total of 15 people and everyone still had enough space. Unfortunately it was very windy that day and that's why we only looked at one grotto, but nobody could do anything about that. Unfortunately, the guide hardly spoke any English, so we didn't understand anything. So if you're doing the tour for the experience rather than knowledge of the area, it's highly recommended.

August 28, 2022

Helpful and very professional team. Experience recommended for those who want to visit the marine and landscape beauties as well as the architectural ones of the island of Ortigia. A particular note goes to Gaetano, captain of the boat, a hospitable, professional person and a great connoisseur of the places, history and little secrets of the whole city.

August 23, 2022

Siracusa: Ortigia Boat Tour with Marine Grotto

Siracusa: Ortigia Boat Tour with Marine Grotto

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