💱
Currency
Euro (EUR)
🗣
Language
Italian
🕐
Time Zone
CET (UTC+1)
☀️
Best Time to Visit
Mar–Oct
🚢
Typical Duration
7-14 nights
💰
Price Range
From $459 pp
⚓
Port Type
Departure & Port of Call
🚤
Tender Port
No
Gateway to Sicily's rich history and culture, offering easy access to ancient Greek ruins, baroque architecture, and the vibrant Strait of Messina strait crossing experience.
Build Your Day in Messina
Cruise calls are short. Set your ship's arrival time, pick the stops you care about, and we'll show whether they realistically fit before departure.
Ships typically depart around 6:00 PM
Usually about 10 hours ashore
🛳 Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Getting around:
Basilica Cattedrale "Santa Maria Assunta"
Chill bell tower with giant gears on different floors.
🕐 Closed · Opens 7:30 AM Thu
Centro Commerciale Tremestieri
Good selection of shoes
🕐 Closed · Opens 9 AM Thu
Il Siciliano
Sat outside, stellar service, the food was exquisite.
Astronomical Clock of the Cathedral of Messina
This is amazing, only at 12pm many things move.
🕐 Closed · Opens 10 AM Thu
Centro Commerciale Maregrosso
Pretty small mall but the prices of shops are really affordable
🕐 Closed · Opens 9 AM Thu
Fontana di Nettuno
I expected a little more but it is ok to have seen it
Zio Angelo – Cocktail Bar & Apericena Messina
Excellent service and lovely cocktails and ambience.
🕐 Closed · Opens 6 PM Thu
Bar Torino
The staff is pleasant and prices are very reasonable.
🕐 Closed · Opens 6:30 AM Thu
Museo Regionale Interdisciplinare di Messina
Great medieval art section!
🕐 Closed · Opens 9 AM Thu
Passeggiata a Mare Messina
You can also watch the boats from here and watch people fishing.
Bar Pasticceria Messina
Friendly staff, clean and nice bar.
🕐 Closes soon · 11:30 PM
Orion fountain
It is very artistic and meaningful to me.
Tempio di Cristo Re
they’re really worth seeing.
🕐 Closed · Opens 9 AM Thu
Eden
They have some tables outside to sit and enjoy the view of the streets.
🕐 Closes soon · 11:30 PM
Casa & Putia Ristorante
The pasta with pistachio pesto is to die for... Best experience ever
🕐 Closed · Opens 12 PM Thu
Ristorante Arcadia
The seafood was outstanding - fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection.
🕐 Closes soon · 11 PM
M'inchìa!
Attentive service, complex flavors, excellent house white wine.
🕐 Closes soon · 11 PM
'A Cucchiara
Fantastic food, delicious wine and great service.
🕐 Closes soon · 11 PM
Docker's Pub
Beautiful staff, perfect guinness, fantastic service.
Mari & Muddichi
It was unique with fresh seafood, burrata and wonderful bread.
🕐 Closed · Opens 12 PM Thu
I Parenti Family Cocktail Bar & Ristorante
Cool place!Delicious cocktail and food, friendly staff!
Discover Messina Sicily
🕐 Closed · Opens 9 AM Thu
I Ruggeri
Lovely dinner, with very tasty food and service, thanks to the team
🕐 Closes soon · 10:45 PM
Port of Messina
Some nice buildings but not too much to do.
Beer Bang
Relaxing, comfortable place with a good selection of beers and food.
BAR Garibaldi Lounge
Amazing service and quality cocktails and drinks for a great price.
Rosso DiVino
Delicious food, great service and a very Zen atmosphere!
🕐 Closed · Opens 11:30 AM Thu
Ristorante Marina del Nettuno Yachting club Messina
Great food and Great Atmosphere.
Shopping Chinatown
🕐 Closed · Opens 8:30 AM Thu
Carducci Ristorante / Cocktail bar
Cozy atmosphere, excellent food, and flawless service.
🕐 Closed · Opens 11:30 AM Thu
Chiesa Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani
Beautiful architecture and photographer's dream!
🕐 Closed · Opens 9 AM Thu
Palazzo del Monte di Pietà
It happened to be opened and used as a gallery for art and sculpture.
Le Roi Emotional Drinks
Monumental place to drink delicious and exotic coctels, drinks and shots
Centro Commerciale Arcieri
There is a parking on the minus 1 floor and outside too.
🕐 Closed · Opens 8:30 AM Thu
Hops Pub
Hands down the best PUB in Messina.
Campanile del Duomo di Messina
Only stairs but very comfortable.
🕐 Closed · Opens 10:30 AM Thu
Piazza Duomo
The 12 noon tower show was fascinating.
Messina Cruise Dock
Does what is built to do.
Quattro fontane
Worth the visit but keep your eyes open for pick pockets and false sellers.
I Love Messina
Lovely place
Shopping Center
40c plenty shops for women just a few for men.
🕐 Closed · Opens 9 AM Thu
La Via degli Artisti
🕐 Closed · Opens 10 AM Thu
Scritta Messina
Centro Shopping
🕐 Closed · Opens 9 AM Thu
Opening hours are indicative — always confirm before you go. Travel times are estimates from Google Maps.
Messina
is an embarkation port. Many cruises start or end here —
it's worth arriving a day early or extending your stay to explore beyond a single port day.
About Messina
Messina stands as a vibrant Mediterranean port of call, welcoming passengers from ten major cruise lines including MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line. With over 1,400 upcoming cruises calling here, this Sicilian destination serves as a popular stop on seven-night Mediterranean itineraries that also visit Barcelona, Marseille, Civitavecchia, Naples, and Valletta. The port experiences peak activity during spring and autumn months, making it a bustling hub for cruise travelers exploring the region.
As a port of call, Messina offers cruise passengers the perfect opportunity to experience authentic Sicilian culture and history. The city's iconic Strait of Messina views and charming waterfront create an inviting atmosphere, while the nearby Cathedral and its famous astronomical clock provide fascinating glimpses into the city's rich heritage. Whether you're looking for a few hours of exploration or a full day of discovery, Messina delivers the Mediterranean charm that makes cruising through this region so memorable.
As a port of call, Messina offers cruise passengers the perfect opportunity to experience authentic Sicilian culture and history. The city's iconic Strait of Messina views and charming waterfront create an inviting atmosphere, while the nearby Cathedral and its famous astronomical clock provide fascinating glimpses into the city's rich heritage. Whether you're looking for a few hours of exploration or a full day of discovery, Messina delivers the Mediterranean charm that makes cruising through this region so memorable.
Cruise Lines at Messina
- MSC Cruises (572 cruises)
- Viking Ocean Cruises (457 cruises)
- Oceania Cruises (78 cruises)
- Celebrity Cruises (61 cruises)
- Holland America Line (51 cruises)
- Norwegian Cruise Line (46 cruises)
- Royal Caribbean International (24 cruises)
- Explora Journeys (9 cruises)
- Aurora Expeditions (3 cruises)
- Disney Cruise Line (2 cruises)
- Atlas Ocean Voyages (1 cruise)
Cruises Departing From Messina
Cruises Visiting Messina
Ship Schedule at Messina
Messina Location
Other Cruise Ports in Italy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Messina known for?
Messina is home to the Museo Regionale and features two Caravaggio paintings; historically it was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Sicily.
Where is Messina located?
Messina is a port city in Sicily, Italy, facing the Strait of Messina.
What are must-see sights in Messina?
Messina Cathedral and its astronomical clock, plus the Museo Regionale and Caravaggio paintings.
How can I visit Messina?
Messina is accessible by road, rail, and sea, with ferries across the Strait and connections to Sicily and the Italian peninsula.