Highlights & Hidden Gems of Ortigia in Syracuse - Syracuse_HHG_WLYW5.jpg
5.0

Highlights & Hidden Gems of Ortigia

  • 2 hours
  • City Highlight Tours
  • Syracuse
User image
User image

Choose one of 2 locals available

Experience hosted by Paolo & Annalisa

  • Private Tour
  • Carbon Neutral

Want to see the best of Syracuse? It’s all waiting in Ortigia! And as in every Withlocals experience, the real excitement is the hidden gems of this area. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour in Ortigia, so you can say: I experienced the real Syracuse!

Destination
Syracuse, Italy
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
2 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, Italiano
Included
  • Private Guide
  • Local Snack or Drink
  • All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
Excluded
  • Entrance to Attractions

6 reasons to book this tour

  • Explore the best of Ortigia in only 2 hours
  • Spot classics like Castello Maniace
  • Discover hidden gems away from the tourist paths
  • Experience the city from a local’s perspective
  • Can be 100% personalized to your wishes
  • Privately guided by a local expert

What you can expect

Highlights & Hidden Gems of Ortigia in Syracuse - Syracuse_HHG_WLYW5.jpg

Syracuse, is a magical place, especially Ortigia! And with the local host of your choice, you are going to experience it all. So get ready; culture, history, and local lifestyle await!

Dive into the origin of Syracuse and the area you’ll explore as you see the main landmarks like Castello Maniace and Syracuse Cathedral. And how about the hidden gems? Oh, you’re in for a surprise! Every host has its own story to tell, so pick your favorite, and you’ll discover the city through their eyes. Experience their Syracuse to the max based on their passions and expertise. They’ll make sure you have fun enjoying a unique and local perspective of Syracuse.

Want to take a break and catch up with your local host? Leave it up to your host! This is the perfect opportunity to visit that special eatery where only the locals come and your chance to enjoy a local treat hand-picked by your host. Feel free to ask your host more about their life in their city or get recommendations about the top things to do in Syracuse. Remember, the locals know best.

The best part of any city tour is definitely the unique stories. Everybody has a story to tell, especially your host. Each one of the local hosts has a different background ranging from arts to history. They can’t wait to share their knowledge with you and exchange ideas and perspectives! Feel like changing the route a bit? No problem, the hosts will be happy to personalize the tour to your wishes and make their Syracuse, your Syracuse!

Choose your local

Get to know these 2 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

  1. Meeting point

    Meet at At the fountain Diana - Syracuse to start your journey

  2. Itinerary

    This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

  3. Ortigia & Neapolis Exploring

    This Syracuse tour takes you to explore Ortigia, where you can see another area of the city. Check out its highlights and hidden gems and its many interesting insights that will show you Ortigia & Neapolis at its best!
  4. Area Highlights

    See from Castello Maniace, Syracuse Cathedral, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Syracuse so unique
  5. Hidden Gems

    Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience
  6. Magical Storytelling

    Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!
  7. Special Treat

    Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions
  8. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Feel confident booking

    Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

  • Change of plans?

    Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

  • Loved by travelers worldwide

    Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

User image
Cassie🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 September 2025
Annalisa was amazing! She was very well versed in the history of the area and her expertise is archeology. She also gave us a flavor of local traditions. One of the most interesting aspects of our tour was when she took us to a small shop where papyrus is used to hand make paper. Truly facinating! Highly recommend her for your tour in Ortigia and Siracusa. Great tour!!
User image
Pauline🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
25 July 2025
Paolo meet us exactly on time at the appointed location. He was very friendly and helpful from the start. His knowledge of the area was excellent and his English was very good. We had a very pleasant walk around ortigia, sticking to quieter and shadier routes which was very much appreciated. I asked to be dropped off at a good local restaurant when we finished for lunch and he was very happy to do this. Chilled walk around ortigia
User image
Bryan🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
16 July 2025
Paolo was extremely accommodating with our schedule and flexible with our delayed flight. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about the city. He was fun, energetic, and provided us with a many recommendations for local eats. He is an exceptional guide and we highly recommend a tour with Paolo. Excellent guide
User image
Michael🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
23 May 2025
Mirco hat uns durch Gassen geführt, die ein wenig abseits der touristischen Pfade lagen und hat uns tips gegeben, die wir nicht auf dem Schirm hattenEntspannter Stadtrundgang
User image
Malcolm🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
7 May 2025
We spent half a day with Mirco passing through the less travelled alleyways and secret corners of this wonderful city. Mirco obviously enjoys passing on his knowledge and his absolute love of all things Sicilian. His English is perfect which combined with his enthusiasm for the local history meant this was an engaging, informative addition to our stay in the city. Thank you Mirco and good luck to you and your girlfriend.Marvelous Mirco’s Magical Excursion
User image
alberto🇲🇽 Mexico
(About local )
11 September 2025
Annalisa rebasó las expectativas: su formación como arqueóloga es un regalo de profesionalismo.. pero su amor a su tierra, Sicilia, rebasa toda expectativa y convierte el tour en excepcional. Absolutamente recomendable, por su seriedad y sencillez a la vez.Una guía profesional y acuciosa
User image
Steven🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
13 July 2025
If you want to learn about history of Syracuse/Ortigia while blissfully sampling all of the delicious food options along the beautiful and historic sites traversed, then Paolo is your guide. Paolo is knowledgeable, friendly and most importantly respectful of you and your fellow travelers. An unbelievable experience you will not regret. Thank you Paolo!!!Wonderful experience with Paolo
User image
Áróra🇮🇸 Iceland
(About local )
23 April 2025
Annelisa was a wonderful guide and took care to tailor our trip to our interests. Do not hesitate to book with her 😊What a great guide!
User image
Jean
(About local )
24 January 2025
Really enjoyed having Paolo as a guide in Syracuse and Ortigia. We were so glad we took the time make this stop on our Italy trip. The way the Greeks and those that followed engineered and built was fascinating. Ortigia was beautiful and would be a lovely place to return. Highly recommend this tour!Highly Recommended!
User image
Marcia
(About local )
11 January 2025
Paolo did an excellent job showing us Syracuse on a walking tour and his English is excellent. He readily adapted the tour to our specific interests, which is always a big plus for us. On time pick up and return to cruise port.Adaptable and Flexible
User image
Daniel
(About local )
28 December 2024
Paolo was great. We would never have understood the history of Ortigia and the Neapolis without him. Paolo has a good sense of humor and is easy to understand.Great Tour
User image
Moanica
(About local )
14 December 2024
Paolo met our cruise ship promptly as arranged. We made the short ride to the archeological park. His narration made everything come to life. And he also knew all the best photo spots! Our walk in Ortigia was equally nice. Just a beautiful day spent with a knowledgeable and easy-going guide!Beautiful Day in Syracuse
User image
Michael
(About local )
7 December 2024
Paolo was an excellent guide and was able to show us around Syracuse and we learned a lot about the history and various cultures. In addition to seeing the main sites on this tour, Paolo graciously took us to see the nature park where we got to see flamingos and a wide variety of other birds, ancient ruins that are some of the oldest in Europe and carved into the rock-- this was a highlight of our entire vacation-- along with some WWII fortifications. We are still talking about it weeks later.Excellend Guide - Must Book
User image
Bronwynne
(About local )
28 November 2024
Paolo was right on time and kindly squired me around Siracusa and Ortigia in his own car. He was most informative, fun, and warm - a thoroughly enjoyable experience. His expertise made my trip so much more enjoyable, I can't imagine why anyone would want to see these things without the services of a knowledgeable guide such as Paolo!Better than we imagined
User image
Fredric
(About local )
26 November 2024
Paola was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the Greek and Roman ruins and then drove us for the Ortigia part of our walking tour. The experience was both informative and enjoyable.Syracuse half day: Greek Theatre and Ortigia
User image
Emily
(About local )
11 November 2024
Paolo was a warm and engaging tour guide. He was both informative and receptive to our needs during this warm day. We learned a lot and Paolo was so great! Highly recommend.Highly Recommended
User image
Dina
(About local )
28 October 2024
I recommend Paolo without any hesitation. He is a wonderful tour guide and customized our tour to suit my family. He is knowledgeable and fun! He always responded promptly before our trip. I wish I could give him a higher than a 5 star rating!Amazing Syracuse with Paolo
User image
Anarkawee
(About local )
26 October 2024
Great experience with Paolo. We went to Neapolis and Ortygia. Paolo is very helpful and knowledgable. Thanks for giving us great experience!!Great Experience with Paolo
User image
Paris
(About local )
6 October 2024
Really nice guy, very knowledgeable, very flexible. Had a good tour, would recommend.Had a good tour, would recommend.

Withlocals experiences
are always

Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.

Other things to do in Syracuse

€68.02per person