Calabria district, Calabria, Italy

Places to visit near Messina

Messina is a city in Calabria district, Calabria, Italy, home to about 219,948 people. Within 50 km by road there are 86 places to visit — 32 forts & heritage, 28 churches, 0 hill stations & viewpoints and 8 beaches & coast. The must-see places are Palazzo del Monte di Pietà (1 km), Monte di Pietà (1 km) and Castellaccio (1 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Messina on the map

Messina, Calabria
Messina, Calabria district, Calabria, Italy. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Messina at a glance

Location
Calabria district, Calabria, Italy
Population
about 219,948
Coordinates
38.1939° N, 15.5526° E
Places within 50 km
86 (51 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches

Top places to visit near Messina

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Messina: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Messina

Things to see near Messina, by type

Forts & heritage near Messina

62 forts & heritage within 100 km of Messina. The closest is Palazzo del Monte di Pietà (1 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Calabria →

Churches near Messina

52 churches within 100 km of Messina. The closest is Chiesa di San Francesco Dei Mercanti (1 km); the best-known is Monte di Pietà (0 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Sicily →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Messina

18 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Messina. The closest is Rocca Novara (52 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Rocca Novara · viewpoint · Messina · ~52 km · Must-see
  • Montagna Grande · viewpoint · Messina · ~53 km · Must-see
  • Monte Mojo · viewpoint · Messina · ~68 km · Must-see
  • Monte Poro · viewpoint · Vibo Valentia · ~69 km · Must-see
  • Vulcano · viewpoint · Messina · ~71 km · Must-see
  • Vulcanello · viewpoint · Messina · ~72 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Sicily →

Beaches & coast near Messina

14 beaches & coast within 100 km of Messina. The closest is Riviera del Ringo (3 km); the best-known is Faro di Punta Pezzo (11 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Calabria →

Museums near Messina

9 museums within 100 km of Messina. The closest is Pinacoteca Civica di Reggio Calabria (16 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Calabria →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Messina

8 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Messina. The closest is Orto Botanico "Pietro Castelli" (1 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Sicily →

A one-day trip from Messina

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 7 km on the road.

  1. Start in Messina
  2. 2 km Forte Gonzaga · heritage site, Calabria
  3. 1 km Castellaccio · heritage site, Messina
  4. 1 km Monte di Pietà · church, Messina
  5. 1 km Palazzo del Monte di Pietà · heritage site, Calabria
  6. 1 km Forte del Santissimo Salvatore · heritage site, Calabria
  7. 1 km Back to Messina

Plan a longer trip from Messina — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Messina

No traveller has reported from around Messina yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Messina

    All places near Messina by distance

    Within 15 km of Messina

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Messina by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Forts & heritage3262Palazzo del Monte di Pietà (1 km)
    Churches2852Chiesa di San Francesco Dei Mercanti (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints018Rocca Novara (52 km)
    Beaches & coast814Riviera del Ringo (3 km)
    Other attractions1113Fontana Falconieri (1 km)
    Museums29Pinacoteca Civica di Reggio Calabria (16 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens28Orto Botanico "Pietro Castelli" (1 km)
    Caves24Grotta Acquatica (1 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves04Isola Bella (55 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs11Fontana Senatoria (1 km)
    Waterfalls01Cascata del Catafurco (86 km)

    Messina: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Messina?

    Palazzo del Monte di Pietà (heritage site, about 1 km), Monte di Pietà (church, about 1 km), Castellaccio (heritage site, about 1 km), Forte del Santissimo Salvatore (heritage site, about 1 km), Forte Gonzaga (heritage site, about 2 km), Faro di Punta Pezzo (beach, about 11 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Messina?

    86 places on Spotwander: 32 forts & heritage, 28 churches, 8 beaches & coast, 11 other attractions, 2 museums.

    Which is the nearest fort to Messina?

    Palazzo del Monte di Pietà, about 1 km by road; Mategriffon (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest church to Messina?

    Chiesa di San Francesco Dei Mercanti, about 1 km by road; Monte di Pietà (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Messina?

    Rocca Novara, about 52 km by road; Montagna Grande (53 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Messina?

    Start in Messina, visit Forte Gonzaga, then Castellaccio, then Monte di Pietà, then Palazzo del Monte di Pietà, then Forte del Santissimo Salvatore, and drive back — about 7 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Messina?

    October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches.

    Towns near Messina

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Messina’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Messina on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.