Syracuse, founded by the Greeks, has the island of Ortigia at its heart, and Noto, the baroque town to its south, is often paired with it. On Viator, two highly rated tours are built for different bases. If you are staying in Ortigia, a three-hour street food walk rated 5.0 across 654 reviews costs about $60. If you are staying in Catania, a small-group day to the archaeological park of Neapolis, Ortigia and Noto costs about $124.
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The verdict
The street food walk stays in Ortigia for three hours, with food that adds up to a meal, water, wine and an English-speaking local guide, for 12 people at most. Its stops include the Temple of Apollo, the Fountain of Diana and the Ortigia market. It is rated 5.0 across 654 reviews, with 99% of travelers recommending it, and 634 of those reviews are five stars.
The day from Catania is a small-group trip for eight people at most, with return transport, a multilingual guide and the entrance ticket to the archaeological park of Neapolis. The itinerary lists an hour at the park, then the Fountain of Arethusa, the Cathedral, the market and the Temple of Apollo in Ortigia, and the cathedral of San Nicolò in Noto. It is rated 4.8 across 308 reviews.
Our pick depends on where you sleep. If you are staying in Ortigia, take the street food walk: it is rated 5.0 across 654 reviews and works as a first-day introduction to the island. If you are staying in Catania, take the day trip: it is the only one of the two that brings you there, and it adds Noto.
The day trip includes the ticket to the archaeological park of Neapolis, but a tourist guide inside the park is not included and is available only on request. One reviewer in August 2025 wrote that the guide “did not join us in Syracuse Archeological park which was the main reason we booked this tour”. Ask for a park guide when you book if the Greek theater is why you are going.
Which one is for you?
Take the street food walk if
- You are staying in Ortigia or Syracuse.
- You want a food tour that stands in for a meal, for about $60.
- You want a first-day introduction to Ortigia.
- You want the higher rating: 5.0 across 654 reviews.
- You have no severe food allergies.
Take the day trip from Catania if
- You are staying in Catania and want Syracuse without driving.
- You want the archaeological park of Neapolis, with the ticket included.
- You want Noto in the same day.
- You want a group of eight at most.
- You are fine with a guide who may speak more than one language.
What each price covers
The street food walk, from about $60
Included: food that adds up to a meal, water, alcoholic drinks and an English-speaking local guide. The stops listed include the Temple of Apollo, the Fountain of Diana, the Ortigia market and Largo Antonello Gagini.
Not included: gratuities. The group is capped at 12. The guide may speak both English and Italian. The listing does not accept guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies. It is not wheelchair accessible.
The day from Catania, from about $124
Included: a return shuttle, a multilingual guide, the entrance ticket to the archaeological park of Neapolis, and a baby seat for infants.
Not included: a tourist guide inside the Neapolis park, available on request. The group is capped at eight. The tour may be run by a multilingual guide. It is not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for travelers with walking difficulties.
Where each one starts
- Street food walk: in front of the main entrance of the church of San Paolo Apostolo, two minutes on foot from the Temple of Apollo. It ends at the same point.
- Day from Catania: from Catania; check the pickup details on the listing when you book.
- Neither is wheelchair accessible.
- Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, local time.
Side by side
| Ortigia street food | Day from Catania | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 from 654 | 4.8 from 308 |
| Recommended by | 99% of travelers | 96% of travelers |
| Price | from about $60 | from about $124 |
| Length | 3 hours | 8 hours |
| Group cap | 12 | 8 |
| Food | Enough for a meal, with wine | Not included |
| Neapolis park | No | Ticket included, guide on request |
| Noto | No | Yes |
| Transport | On foot | Return shuttle from Catania |
| Starts | San Paolo Apostolo, Ortigia | Catania |
What travelers say
On the street food walk
Would recommend for a first day in ortigia to get to know it before doing more exploring on your own.
Michelle_L, June 2026, via Viator
Do not eat a breakfast or lunch prior to the tour!
Tim_S, June 2026, via Viator
On the day from Catania
Excellent way to experience three important sites in one day.
Pat_G, October 2025, via Viator
other couples spoke a different language so half the time is spent in translating.
Laura_E, October 2025, via Viator
The street food walk has almost nothing but five-star reviews. On the day trip, the reviews that fall short describe the same two things the listing warns about: a guide who may switch between languages, and no guide inside the Neapolis park unless you ask for one.
How either fits a Sicily trip
From Catania, the other classic day is Mount Etna: compare the Etna tours from Catania, or the Etna wine tour from Taormina. In Palermo, the street food tour is the one to book. The rest of the island is in the Sicily travel guide.
Questions travelers ask
Which Syracuse tour should I book?
If you are staying in Ortigia, the three-hour street food walk for about $60, rated 5.0. If you are staying in Catania, the day trip with the Neapolis park, Ortigia and Noto for about $124.
Can you visit Syracuse and Noto as a day trip from Catania?
Yes. The day trip from Catania lasts about eight hours, with return transport, an hour in the archaeological park of Neapolis, time in Ortigia and a stop in Noto.
Is the Neapolis archaeological park included?
On the day trip, the entrance ticket is included, but a guide inside the park is not; ask for one when you book. The street food walk does not go to the park.
What do you eat on the Ortigia street food tour?
The listing includes food that adds up to a meal, with wine and water, at stops that include the Ortigia market. Reviewers advise skipping the previous meal.
Is the Syracuse day trip in English?
It may be run by a multilingual guide. One reviewer found that translating for other languages took time.
Can I cancel a Syracuse tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, local time.
Book the street food walk if you are sleeping in Ortigia, on your first day there; book the day trip if you are based in Catania and want Syracuse and Noto without a car. Either way, bring a hat: most of both tours is outdoors.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, itinerary and stop lengths, guide arrangements, group caps, dietary conditions, meeting points, accessibility, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 51159P50 and 19933P3), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either itinerary.