Taormina, a cliffside town on the east coast of Sicily, is a place of beauty and history. It is a city of art and culture, of luxury and relaxation.
The streets of Taormina are filled with tourists, and the views from the town are simply breathtaking. The town is built on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, and it offers stunning views of Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe.
Taormina is a popular tourist destination, and if you’ve watched the second season of White Lotus, it is easy to see why. The town has something to offer everyone, from rich history buffs to rich art lovers to rich beach bums.
To minimize your risk of going broke, I would recommend spending 1 day in Taormina unless you’re also using it as a base for day trips to Mount Etna.
Here’s my Google Map of the best things to do in and around Toarmina. Hit the “Follow” button to save for later.
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If this is your first stop in Sicily, read my 10 tips for planning a trip to Sicily.
What to See and Do in Taormina
- Visit the Teatro Antico di Taormina: Also known as the Greek Theater, this horseshoe-shaped theater was built in the 3rd century BC and could host thousands of people for ancient Greek performances and later for gladiatorial games. It is now in ruins, but still hosts concerts and film festivals in the summer. Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds and heat or go later to watch the sunset. Admission is €13.50 as of September 2023 and they offer a guided tour for an additional €12. There are a few English language info panels as well as QR codes associated with audio explanations. You can buy a ticket at the gate or skip the line by buying online.
- Explore the medieval old town: The medieval old town is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways. It is a great place to wander and get lost, and to discover hidden gems. If you want a little structure, here’s my Taormina self-guided walking tour.
- Take a walk along the Corso Umberto I: The Corso Umberto I is the main street in Taormina. Spend some time browsing boutiques and wandering from one end to the other starting at Porta Messina and ending at Porta Catania. It is a great place to people-watch and to enjoy the atmosphere.
- Take a cooking class: Taormina is a great place to learn about Sicilian cuisine. There are many cooking classes offered in the town, where you can learn how to make traditional dishes like pasta alla Norma and arancini. Here are a few to consider.
- Explore all that Mount Etna has to offer, whether that be wine tasting or hiking. Here are some tips about exploring Mount Etna.
- Discover Isola Bella: Isola Bella is a small island often connected to the mainland by a narrow path. It has a small pebble beach and nature reserve with diverse plant and animal life. It is a great place to go swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. The island itself is free to visit.
- Take a boat trip to the Grotta Azzurra: Grotta Azzurra is a sea cave named after the blue reflection on the water in the grotto, that completely illuminates the cave. Known as a great place for scuba diving due to the diversity of sea life.
- More ideas:
- For culture: Italian Opera in Taormina
- For pop-culture: Private Tour “The Godfather” from Taormina visit of Savoca and Forza D’Agrò or Godfather vs Mafia Tour & Sicilian Light Lunch (Small Group)
- For relaxation: Taormina Sunset Aperitif on-Board
- For food and drink: Taormina Food and Wine Walking Tour (Small Group)
Getting to Taormina
Fly: Catania Fontanarossa / Vincenzo Bellini Airport (CTA) is the closest airport. It has flights to many destinations across Europe as well as to Dubai.
Train: Trains run every hour or two along the Siracusa – Messina line stopping at Taormina Giardini station. In Messina there are train connections to Palermo and mainland Italy. Check trenitalia.com or their app for routes, schedules, and to buy tickets.
Bus: A number of Etna Transporti or Interbus buses from around Sicily arrive at the bus terminal on Via Luigi Pirandello in Taormina. Check their websites for routes and schedules.
Self-drive: If arriving by car, note that cars are not allowed in Taormina’s historic center. Check with your hotel about where to park. Parcheggio Lumbi is located north of the historic center and offers a shuttle to the bus terminal on Via Luigi Pirandello. Parcheggio Porta Catania is located just south of the historic center. For both parking garages, expect to pay about €2 per hour or €15 for 24h.
Getting Around Taormina
From the Catania Fontanarossa / Vincenzo Bellini Airport:
- Etna Transporti or Interbus buses to Taormina generally run every hour and take about 90 minutes. Find buses to the right upon exiting the terminal. Buy a ticket from the kiosks on the sidewalk; A round trip ticket is €7. You arrive at the bus terminal on Via Luigi Pirandello in Taormina.
- A 1 hour taxi ride will cost about €80 https://www.traveltaormina.com/en/how-to-reach-us/how-to-get-to-taormina-by-plane.html
- If you choose to rent a car, note that cars are not allowed in Taormina’s historic center. Check with your hotel about where to park or see above for general parking information.
From the Taormina Giardini train station.
- Take a local Interbus to the bus terminal on Via Luigi Pirandello or another stop around town for approximately €1.90. Use Google Maps to check routes and schedules.
- A taxi from the train station should cost €15 to any Taormina area hotel. Confirm the price before getting in.
Local bus service is provided by Interbus (€1.90 per ride, buy tickets from the bus terminal on Via Luigi Pirandello, check routes on their website or with Google Maps) and ASM (€1.10 per ride, pay the driver, check routes on their website).
There is a cable car that runs from Mazzaro on the coast to Taormina up the mountain. The cost is €6 for a one-way trip, or €10 for a return trip. You can also walk steep trails or drive steep winding roads between the two.
Once you are in the historic center of Taormina, walking is really the only viable option for getting around. In Mazzaro, you may be able to take a taxi around, but it’s probably not worth the trouble.
Where to Stay in Taormina
When it comes to accommodations in Taormina, the sky is the limit. You may choose to either stay in Taormina proper, or in the elegant Mazzarò area below, which has direct access to the beaches but requires the cable car (or steep walkways) to access Toarmina.
Find a hotel that’s in your price range, with the amenities you want, in your preferred area. Here are a few options:
- Atlantis Bay – VRetreats is in Mazzarò and is an affordable option. It’s a 14 minute walk to Isola Bella and 18 minute walk from the bottom of the Taormina cable car. It has stunning views, beautiful rooms, amazing staff, excellent turn down service, and a lovely pool and beach area.
- Taormina Palace Hotel is in Taormina, just outside the historic center and is moderately priced. It is a 2 minute walk from the top of the cable car and offers a shuttle to the beach. It’s a modern, clean hotel with stunning shoreline views, beautiful rooms, a high quality breakfast, and a convenient location.
- The Ashbee Hotel is a luxury option. It is a historic hotel with a rooftop restaurant and stunning sea views. It offers luxurious rooms, a beautiful pool and lounge area, and accommodating staff.
- San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel is a splurge option in historic Taormina. It’s a 12 minute walk from the top of the cable car. It boasts an exceptional concierge team, stunning Mount Etna and sea views, a large pool, well maintained furnishings, and luxurious plunge pool rooms.
Where to Eat in Taormina
Make reservations for dinner, even in the off season.
- At Osteria Nero d’Avola, expect fresh, local, seasonal dishes like cannolo di limone Interdonato (thinly sliced Interdonato lemon with roe, tuna, tomato, and chives).
- Go to Osteria Rosso Divino for excellent fish and good wine served al fresco.
- Il Barcaiolo is purported to serve the best fish in town.
- Osteria Villa Zuccaro is known for inventive seafood pastas and beautiful terrace views. Not to be confused with Pizzeria Villa Zuccaro.
- Bell’Assai offers typical Sicilian food with great terrace views of Isola Bella.
- La Napoletana offers a peaceful setting for Neapolitan style pizza, salads, and beer.
- Pizzeria Villa Zuccaro serves what’s supposedly the best pizza in town.
- Rosticceria Da Cristina is a good place to pick up arancini, pizza, and other quick takeaway food near Pizza Duomo.
- Bam Bar is a nice spot to enjoy a granita at an outdoor table before or after visiting the Greek-Roman Theater.
- Try Pasticceria Gelateria D’Amore for the freshly filled cannoli.
Here’s my full Sicily food guide.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Taormina travel guide. If you’re looking for more, here are all of my posts about Italy.
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