Taormina is a charming Sicilian town perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. Its narrow streets wind around ancient buildings and charming cafes, perfumed by the scent of sweet citrus and the salty ocean breeze. Despite its idyllic location, Taormina is not immune to misfortune. The town has been visited by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and invasions throughout history. But, like a noble protagonist in a tragic tale, Taormina endures with stoic resilience, a beautiful and proud survivor of life’s many calamities.
Taormina is small enough to walk past almost all of the sights of interest in an hour so it’s a great idea to start off with a walking a tour before deciding what you want to explore more deeply. That said, I do have some recommendations on where you might want to spend your time in Taormina.
Read on for a free self-guided walking tour that you can do on your own time, using my outline. I’m including a Google Maps link for each of the stops to help you follow along and also so that if you want to enter any of the sites, you’ll be able to see when they’re open. Here’s the full map so you can see what you’re getting into before you start.
Don’t miss out on this! This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Taormina.
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Where to Start
Here’s more information about how to get to Taormina, getting around Taormina, where to stay, where to eat, and what else to do in Taormina.
Once you’ve made it to Taormina, dropped off your luggage, and maybe had a good sleep and/or something to eat, make your way to Porta Messina to officially start your tour.
- Hungry? Try Pasticceria Gelateria D’Amore for the freshly filled cannoli before you start your tour.
1. Porta Messina
This is a historic gate through the old Taormina town walls, located on the north end of Corso Umberto.
2. 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.
3. Palazzo Corvaja
The next stop on your Taormina walking tour is this medieval palace that was built around the 10th century by the Arabs. It now houses a tourist office and folk art museum which might be worth a visit if you stay in Taormina for a few days.
4. Odeon
This small Roman theater was built in 21 BCE on the ruins of an ancient greek temple likely erected in honor of the goddess Aphrodite. It is free to visit.
5. Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
This Baroque church built in the first half of 1600 on the ruins of the Odeon. It’s open daily from 9am to 8pm and free to visit.
- Hungry? Try Osteria Villa Zuccaro for inventive seafood pastas and beautiful terrace views or Bam Bar to enjoy a granita at an outdoor table.
6. Naumachie
The Naumachie is the remains of an old Roman wall built in the first century BC. It is 130 meters long with 18 niches that surround a gymnasium.
7. VIlla Comunale
Vear off the main path to take a break from the crowds and for breathtaking views of Mount Etna.
8. Piazza IX Aprile
As you continue your Taormina walking tour, you’ll come across this square named after the 9th of April, 1860, when Taormina heard that Garibaldi had landed at Marsala (on the far side of the island) to begin his conquest of Sicily that made it part of Italy.
It is lined with cafes, filled with tourists and caricature artists, and known for the breathtaking view of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna.
- Hungry? Try La Napoletana for Neapolitan style pizza, salads, and beer.
9. Corso Umberto
The Corso Umberto I is the main street in Taormina. You’ve already been walking along it, but spend some time browsing boutiques as you wander from one end to the other. It is a great place to people-watch and to enjoy the atmosphere.
10. Duomo di Taormina
This medieval cathedral resembles a fortress more than a church.
- Hungry? Try Pizzeria Villa Zuccaro for great pizza or Rosticceria Da Cristina to pick up arancini, pizza, and other quick takeaway food.
11. San Domenico Convent
This is a Dominican monastery founded in 1374. It was eventually abandoned by the monks and converted into a luxury hotel in the late 1800s. This is the hotel featured in White Lotus.
- Hungry? Try Osteria Nero d’Avola for fresh, local, seasonal dishes.
12. Church of San Michele Arcangelo
This is a small baroque church built around 1600 and dedicated the the Archangel Michael. It was heavily damaged by bombing in 1943 and only reopened in 2011. It is free to visit but hours are limited.
13. Palazzo dei Duchi di Santo Stefano
This palace was built between the late 1200s and the early 1300s with a combination of Sicilian Romanesque and Gothic style with Arabic-Norman elements. It was destroyed during the second world war, restored in the 1960s, and now houses the Fondazione G. Mazzullo, showcasing sculptures of Giuseppe Mazzullo.
- Hungry? Try Osteria Rosso Divino for excellent fish and good wine served al fresco.
14. Porta Catania
This is another historic gate through the old Taormina town wall, located on the south end of Corso Umberto.
If you’re parked at the Porta Catania parking lot this is a great place to end your tour, otherwise, make your way back up Corso Umberto stopping anywhere that intrigues you.
Extra Stops
15. 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.
To get to Isola Bella, catch the cable car outside of Porta Messina and then walk the rest of the way.
- Hungry? Try Bell’Assai for typical Sicilian food or Il Barcaiolo for great seafood.
16. 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.
To get to Grotta Azzurra, head to Isola Bella and join a boat excursion for about €25.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Taormina self-guided walking tour. If you’re looking for more, here are all of my posts about Italy.
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