A Local’s Guide to Visiting Taormina, Sicily
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Perched high upon a promontory dropping 700 feet down to the Ionian Sea, Taormina is a chic, compact town full of medieval palaces, tiny houses, and colorful narrow streets. Despite being a busy, world famous town, Taormina still retains its old charm. And no matter what, you are always guaranteed magnificent views across the Ionian Sea and a sometimes smoldering Mount Etna.
The area around Taormina was originally inhabited by the Siculi, an ancient Sicilian tribe who settled here thousands of years ago. However, the city itself was wounded in the 4th century by the Greeks, after which it passed under Roman, Arab, and Norman rule, the city became a popular tourist destination during the 18th century when European travelers visited it during their “Grand Tour”.
Throughout the 20th century, Taormina became a beloved vacation spot for nobility, the rich, and celebrities and movie stars. And it still is today! Due to its privileged position on Mount Tauro, its charming streets, impressive Greek theatre, and lovely beaches, it continues to attract visitors the world over.
If you’re looking for a bit of glitz and glamor during your time in Sicily, Taormina will provide that in abundance.
More Sicily travel info:
For more info on travel in Sicily, check out our guide to travel in Sicily and our city guide to Catania.
And if you could use some one-on-one help planning your trip, schedule a Sicily travel consultation with one of our Local Experts!
Table of Contents
Why visit?
Where is Taormina?
How to get here
How long to stay
What to see and do in Taormina
1-day Taormina itinerary
Local help with your planning
Taormina presents a bit of a conundrum; it’s stunningly beautiful and very much worth visiting, but it can also be overrun with visitors and very touristy. Like many other tourism hotspots, you have to plan carefully to avoid tourist traps and not get stuck in huge crowds.
So if you could use some help planning an authentic visit to Taormina and Sicily more broadly, consider scheduling a Sicily travel consultation with one of our Local Experts.
These are one-hour Zoom calls where you get to chat with a Sicily-based travel pro about the trip you’re planning and they’ll share their tips and advice, answer your travel questions, and help you perfect your itinerary.
Why visit Taormina
Taormina has long been a popular place to visit and it's the ideal destination in Sicily to taste a bit of la dolce vita (the good life). This hilltop town, with a majestic view over Mount Etna and sweeping Ionian seascapes, offers plenty of charming spots to soak up Sicilian vibes. You can also reach the sea in just a few minutes for a refreshing dip.
Moreover, Taormina spoils you with its little restaurants with tables spilling out onto the city’s many steps and stairways, lively nightlife, and super chic boutiques that are perfect when you want to go on a shopping spree.
Although it can get very crowded during the summer, the city can still surprise you with quiet corners and hideaways. Turn off the main drag and head down a little side alley, turn a corner, and find a courtyard full of plants and charming white-stone houses with no one else around. At other times, you’ll reach the top of a small staircase, and discover a tiny hidden church or lovely viewpoint.
Basically, in Taormina, you need to forget about directions and just get lost in the maze of streets.
Where is Taormina?
Taormina lies on the east coast of Sicily, the southernmost region of Italy and the country’s largest island. The nearest major cities are Catania and Messina, which are both about 50 km away (Catania to the south, Messina to the north). Palermo, Sicily’s capital is 270 kilometers to the west, while Rome, the capital of Italy, is 750 km to the north.
To the immediate southwest of the city is Mount Etna.
The city sits atop hill that rises straight out of the sea directly at the foot of Mount Tauro. High above its surroundings, Taormina provides glorious views over the Ionian sea and surrounding landscapes.
How to get to Taormina
By bus
You can easily and quickly reach Taormina from Catania by taking the direct bus, Interbus, which will take about 70 minutes and cost around 5 euros for a one-way ticket. The bus will let you off in Taormina on Via Pirandello (the bus terminal), just a short walk from the city center.
By train
You can also take a Regionale Veloce train from Catania, which will take around 40 minutes and cost about 6 euros. The stop to get off at is Taormina-Giardini station, which is linked to the city center by a shuttle bus.
Buses and trains run daily, with departures extremely frequently starting at 6:00 AM and continuing until around 9:00 PM.
By car
If you are traveling by car, the journey from Catania takes about 50 minutes, traveling along the A18 highway. Be aware that parking in Taormina is a big issue though. The city center is closed to traffic, so you can’t drive there and will need to leave your car outside it.
Parking stalls are entirely reserved for residents, so you must leave your car in a paid parking lot a bit outside of the center, and then catch a free shuttle into the historic core. There are four paid parking lots: Lumbi, Porta Pasquale, Porta Catania, and Mazzarò.
The nearest to the city center is Porta Pasquale, just a 5-minute walk from Porta Messina, the entrance gate to the old center. Try to arrive early to find a spot.
Where to find a car rental
Taormina has an Avis rental location in the town center and a couple of small local companies as well. Even so, selection is quite limited and you’re better off heading to Catania (1 hour away) or Messina (40 minutes away) to pick up a car rental.
To check prices and book, I recommend using the following two car rental websites:
DiscoverCars includes offerings from all the major international rental companies as well as lots of smaller local agencies, which often have much better pricing. You can often find great deals.
RentalCars is very similar, although they tend to list mostly larger companies. It’s now owned by Booking.com, so is backed by a familiar and reputable brand. Their prices are good too.
Connect with a Sicily travel expert for help perfecting your itinerary, answers to all your travel questions, and fabulous local tips for a better visit!
How long to spend in Taormina
Taormina is small, so how long to spend here really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re staying elsewhere in Sicily and just plan to visit on a day trip, you can comfortably see the main sights and enjoy the town and its atmosphere in as little as half a day – 4 hours or so.
A full day here is better though, as that will give you plenty of time to explore the town and visit some of the nearby sites/attractions. If you arrive relatively early in the day, I’d suggest you start off by taking a stroll through the city center, visiting the medieval palaces, churches, and ancient theatre. As the temperature starts to heat up, head for a dip in the sea at the town’s beach, just down the hill.
In the afternoon, head out to Isola Bella, one of Sicily’s most famous and beautiful beaches, and then head to the charming little village of Castelmola for some more exploring. In the evening, grab a drink somewhere with a terrace overlooking the sea, and if there’s a performance at the ancient theatre, head there for an evening of culture in magnificent surroundings.
Of course, many people fall in love with Taormina and choose to use it as a base from which to explore the surrounding area. In that case, 3 to 4 days is a nice amount of time to stay in Taormina, as it gives you ample time to leisurely explore the town, soak up the atmosphere and energy, and make multiple day trips to nearby places of interest (Etna, Catania, Messina, Isola Bella, etc.).
Where to stay
If you decide to stay overnight in Taormina, you have options at all prices points, but be aware that this is probably Sicily’s most expensive town. If you’re on a budget, I’d recommend staying outside of Taormina in a nearby town.
If you want to live a few nights like the rich and famous, you have 4 absolute luxury options in Taormina, each of which is very different, but almost equally wonderful:
San Domenico Palace, part of the Four Seasons, is genuinely quite something, but be prepared as the eye-watering grounds are matched by the eye-watering prices ($2,000).
The Belmond chain has two options: Grand Hotel Timeo with stunning views of Mount Etna and Villa Sant’Andrea down on the beach in Isola Bella ($600+).
Casa Cuseni is a unique property and a historic home that belonged to the painter Frank Brangwyn, and is far from the noise of the city center but easily reachable in a few minutes’ walk (rooms from $400).
Back on planet earth, you also have a few lovely options, at relatively reasonable prices, right in the city center:
Hotel Villa Ducale is boutique, intimate, and offers many of the benefits of the aforementioned luxury properties, but at more reasonable rates ($350).
Taodomus Hotel is chic, but casual and rooms cost around $250 per night.
Villa Mabel is a pleasant hotel housed in an Art Nouveau building (rooms from $80).
What to see and do in Taormina
1. Go for a stroll along corso Umberto
Corso Umberto is Taormina’s main street, cutting the city in two. It stretches for 1 km between two old gateways, Porta Messina and Porta Catania, and passes by old palaces, little churches, souvenir and artisans’ shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes.
Starting from Porta Messina, your first stop is the medieval Palazzo Corvaja, right next to the church of Santa Caterina, built on a former Greek temple. Behind it, you can see a tiny Roman Odeon.
Continue your walk to Piazza IX Aprile and enjoy the view. In the same piazza, you can admire the Baroque church of San Giuseppe with its yellow and pink façade.
After crossing the 12th-century clock tower, head up to Piazza Duomo. A small medieval church stands in front of a pretty Baroque fountain. While strolling, you can also see the 14th-century Palazzo Ciampoli and the 12th-century Palazzo Duca di Santo Stefano.
2. Savor the views over Etna from Lady Trevelyan's garden
Taormina’s Villa Comunale (public garden) was created in the 19th century by Lady Florence Treveylan. She left England in the 1800’s and settled here, where she fell in love and remained for the rest of her life.
This was her private garden, where she spent the hottest hours of the day among exotic plants, birds, and curious buildings called Victorian Follies (you can still see them). From the gardens, you can enjoy a majestic view over Mount Etna.
Photo: Chiara Ievolella, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
3. Attend a show at the Greek theater
Imagine attending a show in an ancient theater overlooking a volcano. It’s a double show of sorts: one on stage, the other in the background, especially if Etna erupts!
The well-preserved Greek theater was built in the 3rd century and then renovated later by the Romans. During the summer, it still hosts concerts, operas, movies, and festivals, but you can also visit it during the day.
4. Climb up to Mount Tauro
Looking for the best view over Taormina? You’ll find it at Mount Tauro, where the ancient Greek Acropolis once stood. Today, at the top of the hill sit the ruins of a medieval castle.
Take the stairs at Via Circonvallazione following the sign saying “Salita Castello”. At the top of the staircase, you’ll stumble upon the Santuario Madonna della Rocca, a small church built in a cave during the 17th century. The walk-up takes about 30 minutes. Along the way, you’ll be rewarded with a heavenly view.
Castello di Mola. Photo: Effems, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
5. Go for a dip at the beaches down the hill - walk down or take the cable car (!)
When the heat becomes unbearable during the summer, the only solution is a dip in the sea. Walk along the path starting at the Belvedere on Via Pirandello and in less than 1 km, you’ll be on the beach. Being only partially shaded, you may want to avoid peak hours.
The best spots to swim and sunbathe around Taormina are the small pebble beach in front of the Isola Bella, Mazzarò, and Spisone.
Alternatively, you can take the cable car (3 minute ride, leaving every 15 minutes) from Via Pirandello. During the ride, you will have a great view from above.
6. Tour Isola Bella
Remember Lady Florence, who built the current public gardens in Taormina? She also owned the small island just down the hill from Taormina. She bought the rocky outcrop in 1890 and named it Isola Bella (beautiful island). She built a house on it and filled it with plants, promoting its conservation.
After her death, the island was bought by the Bosurgi family, who dug a swimming pool and additional rooms into the rock. Today it is a protected nature site that is open for visits.
The island is linked to the mainland by a thin sandy isthmus that can be easily crossed. At the end of your tour, take a dip in the crystalline waters surrounding the island or hop on a boat and explore the nearby caves.
Isola Bella. Photo: Solomonn Levi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped from original
7. Eat a granita at Bam Bar
You’ll recognize Bam Bar immediately due to its outer wall and the outdoor tables covered in colored tilework. The bar serves many excellent granita flavors as well as gelato, coffee, and alcoholic drinks. Between May and June, ask for the mulberry flavored drinks - you won’t regret it!
Although it’s a little hidden away, this is still a popular spot, so sometimes you have to wait 10-15 minutes to get an outdoor table. It’s worth the wait.
8. Reward yourself with some treats at D’amore pastry shop
Indulge in a sweet treat at D’amore, tasting the best cannolo in town. There is no comparison anywhere else! You can watch the pastry chef freshly fill your canolo through a little window. Besides the ricotta, he adds chopped pistachios and candied orange pieces.
On Sunday, he prepares the zeppole di riso, a fried rice-based dessert sprinkled with honey and cinnamon. Delicious!
9. Discover the village of Castelmola
Spend a couple of hours strolling around Castelmola, a small village perched high above the sea, just 4 km from Taormina. You can get here by walking along a path for about 45 minutes or via a 15-minute bus/car ride.
Get lost in the charming cobbled streets, discover the magnificent Mother Church, climb its Norman castle, then stop at Piazza Sant’Antonio and enjoy the views overlooking the Ionian coast. Grab a seat at Caffé San Giorgio and sip the almond wine they’ve been preparing here since 1907.
At sunset, ask for a table on the rooftop at Bar Turrisi, a rather strange bar decorated with phalluses of all materials and sizes. In Greek tradition, they were (and still are!) symbols of abundance.
Looking up at Castelmola from Taormina. Photo: Arnoldius, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
10. Hike the Sentiero dei Saraceni
Keen for a short hike? Take the path connecting Taormina to Castelmola. Starting near Piazza Goethe, it is called Sentiero dei Saraceni and takes about 45 minutes (about 3 km). On your way up, you’ll have a magnificent view and see fields of prickly pears, an Iron Age necropolis, and the ancient wall gate through which the Arabs entered Taormina in 902 AD.
Stop at the small church of San Biagio dating back to the 1st century.
11. Eat a traditional Sicilian lunch next to a medieval palace
Enjoy a typical Sicilian lunch (or dinner!) at an outdoor table on an intimate staircase just 10 meters away from Corso Umberto (the main drag in Taormine). While tasting local delicacies, you'll enjoy a splendid view of the medieval Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano, a few steps from the restaurant.
If you’re on a budget, head to the nearby Da Cristina, a family-run restaurant where you can try delicious freshly fried arancini.
11. Take a day trip to Mount Etna
Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano is constantly in your view on the horizon when exploring Taormina and is well, well worth a visit.
About an hour away, you can hike or mountain bike among its woods, explore its caves, or even ski during winter. Scaling and walking the crater is however only permitted accompanied by a licensed guided tour.
Just remember to bring a jacket and closed-toe shoes because it can get cold even in summer.
One-day Taormina itinerary
Morning
Start your day with breakfast at Bam Bar. Sit at an outdoor table and order a granita and a warm brioche. Then explore the old town, strolling along the pedestrian Corso Umberto full of artisans’ shops, boutiques, tiny churches, and medieval palaces.
Stop at Piazza IX Aprile for a great view over the Ionian Sea. Be sure to head down the tiny side alleys that sprout off the Corso. They are less crowded and hide secret churches and little courtyards.
If the walk has made you peckish, stop at the D’Amore pastry shop for a freshly filled cannolo. Then take Via Teatro to visit the ancient theater, which appears to hang over the cliff, balancing precariously between sea and sky. If there's a summer festival happening during your trip, book a ticket while here and then come back later to watch the show while the Ionian coast sparkles before you and Mount Etna smokes in the distance.
Before lunch, take a break inside Taormina’s lush public gardens, just below the theater. Have your lunch at Osteria Rosso Di Vino, on an intimate staircase.
Afternoon
After lunch, climb Mount Tauro and visit the tiny Santuario Madonna della Rocca built inside a grotto. Along the way, enjoy the view over Taormina.
Then visit the nearby clifftop village of Castelmola (as mentioned in the “things to do” section above, you can walk here in under an hour, or catch a bus).
Return to Taormina, and if you’re feeling tired of walking, take the cable car down to Isola Bella. After a refreshing swim, hop on a boat to explore the nearby caves or visit the island - it is a nature reserve and hosts a villa carved into the rock.
Evening
In the evening, have an aperitif on Piazza IX Aprile or head to Sky Rooftop Bar inside the Hotel Continental. The bar offers good cocktails and great views.
Another popular spot for a drink is Bar Turrisi in Castelmola. Ask for a seat on the rooftop, order a glass of almond wine, and enjoy the sunset.
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