Messina Cruise Port Guide & Review with Kids - Free DIY Walking Tour Itinerary from MSC World Europa

This Messina cruise port guide with kids features free things to do in Messina, a full walking tour from MSC World Europa, the Messina Cathedral (Duomo di Messina), the Astronomical Clock Show and top Messina attractions. This video shows exactly what to expect when you step off your cruise ship in Messina, Sicily, Italy. This includes how to navigate the port, deal with hawkers and taxi sellers, and explore Messina for free on foot with a family of kids. We visit the Messina Cathedral / Basilica Cattedrale Santa Maria Assunta, home to the world famous Orologio Astronomico di Messina, the largest and most complex mechanical astronomical clock ever built. At 12:00 noon, the Campanile del Duomo comes alive with its iconic 12 minute show - one of the best things to do in Messina on your cruise port day. Our free walking route also shows the Church of the Annunciation of the Catalans (Chiesa Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani), one of Messina’s oldest surviving Arab Norman Byzantine churches. We explore the Monte di Pietà, the Falconieri Fountain (Fontana Falconieri), and the medieval Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montalto (Santuario Parrocchia S. Maria di Montalto) with the Shrine of Christ the King (Sacrario di Cristo Re) . Then the Tower of Macalda (Torre di Macalda) and the the panoramic viewpoints at the Temple of Christ the King (Tempio di Cristo Re) overlooking the Strait of Messina and the cruise port. We finish with gelato and a look at the best free views in the city. This is the easiest DIY cruise port in Sicily — everything is walkable, family friendly and perfect for travellers with kids looking for a relaxed day ashore. This Messina port guide is prefect for anyone who cannot afford the MSC World Europa excursions, or wants to continue to explore once their back to the cruise ship. Many cruise passengers search for Messina cruise port tips, especially first timers arriving on large ships like MSC World Europa, and this guide answers the most common questions travellers have before stepping ashore. Messina is one of the closest cruise ports to the city centre in Italy, and the walk from the terminal to the Piazza del Duomo takes only a few minutes, making it ideal for anyone researching how far the Messina cruise port is from town or whether you need transportation. Everything in this video is filmed in real time to help families understand the walking distances, terrain, and accessibility for strollers and younger kids. Travellers often ask “Is Messina worth visiting?”, and this guide shows why the answer is yes — especially if you want a relaxed, low cost day in Sicily. The route includes some of the best views in Messina, from the waterfront to the hilltop terraces near the Tempio di Cristo Re, giving you a complete Messina in one day itinerary without needing to book an excursion. We also cover practical details like safety around the cruise port, how to handle hawkers and taxi sellers, and what to expect in terms of heat, shade, and weather during summer Mediterranean sailings. Food is another major search category for cruise passengers, so this guide also highlights where to find gelato near the Messina cruise port, plus easy family friendly stops along the walking route. Whether you’re planning a DIY Messina shore excursion, looking for a Messina Sicily travel guide, or simply want to explore at your own pace, this walkthrough gives you everything you need for a smooth, stress free day ashore. Now you know how to do a self guided Messina itinerary, a DIY Messina shore excursion or a simple Messina walking tour, you’re set for the best things to do in Messina from a cruise. Contents: 0:00 Messina Cruise Port 0:52 Port Map and Itinerary 2:29 Town Hall 2:44 Astonomical Clock 3:52 Messina Cathedral 5:00 Monte di Pietà 5:14 Falconieri Fountain 6:07 Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montalto and Shrine of Christ the King 6:53 Tower of Macalda and Temple of Christ the King 7:40 Shops and Gelato Ice Cream 8:20 Church of the Annunciation of the Catalans 9:57 MSC World Europa This video is part of the Motivated Travel Show Cruise Series, created by award winning travel journalist and cruise specialist Chris Stead, whose work spans decades of professional travel writing and family focused destination reporting. The series delivers evidence based cruise port walkthroughs, real world family travel testing, and deep dive reviews designed to help travellers make confident, informed decisions. Across the channel, you’ll also find a full long form MSC World Europa review, ship tour, cabin breakdowns, dining guides, kids’ club insights and port day strategies for every stop on the itinerary. #messina #mediterranean #mscworldeuropa #cruisewithkids #MotivatedTravel