Taormina is one of the most beautiful and most visited places in Sicily.

The historic centre lies high above the Ionian Sea and, within a small area, brings together an ancient theatre, romantic alleyways, views of Mount Etna and the famous Isola Bella beach.

You can easily explore the town on foot, but be prepared for hilly terrain, lots of steps, higher prices and large crowds. In our opinion, Taormina is at its most enchanting in the early morning and in the evening, once the day-trippers have left.

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My tips and info for visiting Taormina

Question	Answer
How much time do you need?	At least half a day, ideally a full day or two nights
What not to miss	The Ancient Theatre, Corso Umberto, Piazza IX Aprile and Isola Bella
Entrance to the theatre	14 eur
The funicular to the sea	8 eur one-way, 15 eur return
The most beautiful beach	Isola Bella
Journey from Catania Airport	About 1.5 hours by direct bus
You’ll need a car	Not for sightseeing in the city, but useful for trips in the surrounding area
Where to park	Lumbi is cheaper, Porta Catania is closer to the centre

Allow about 4 to 5 hours for the historic centre and the theatre alone.

You’ll need a whole day if you want to carry on by cable car down to the sea. Two or three nights make sense for swimming and trips to Mount Etna or the Alcantara Gorge.

Taormina rightly ranks among the top destinations in our guide to what to see in Sicily.

What to see in Taormina

Greek Theatre – Teatro Antico

The most significant monument is the ancient theatre, built in the 3rd century BC. Its basic layout dates back to the Greek period, but most of its present form was created during extensive renovations under the Romans.

The main reason to visit is not just the well-preserved tiers and stage, but above all the view of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. Allow about an hour for the tour.

A standard ticket costs 14 eur. The lowest price is available from the official ticket office, where you can also find opening hours and any restrictions due to concerts. Admission is free on the first Sunday of the month, but free tickets are only issued on the day.

During peak season, we recommend arriving as soon as the site opens. If you’d like an audio guide and wish to skip the queue for tickets, it’s worth booking your entry in advance.

Large items of luggage are not permitted on the premises.

Corso Umberto and Piazza IX Aprile

Corso Umberto is the main pedestrian street connecting the Porta Messina and Porta Catania gates. It is lined with restaurants, cafés, shops, churches and narrow alleyways winding up the surrounding slopes.

Roughly halfway along lies Piazza IX Aprile, the most photogenic square in Taormina. You’ll recognise it by its black-and-white paving, the Church of San Giuseppe and the open-air terraces offering views of the coast and Mount Etna.

You can walk the length of the street itself in less than half an hour, but with detours and stops, you could easily spend several hours there.

Duomo di Taormina

The Cathedral of St Nicholas stands in Piazza Duomo, near Porta Catania. The stone building dates back to the 13th century and, with its battlements, resembles a fortress rather than a traditional church.

In front of the cathedral stands a Baroque fountain featuring the symbol of Taormina – a crowned centauress.

Villa Comunale

The Villa Comunale public gardens are a pleasant place to relax away from the busiest part of the town centre. Here you’ll find exotic plants, unusual structures and several viewing terraces overlooking the sea.

Entry to the gardens is free.

Madonna della Rocca and Castelmola

The best view of the whole of Taormina is from the church of Madonna della Rocca, reached via a steep flight of steps from the town centre. You can continue even higher up to the mountain village of Castelmola.

If you’d rather not walk uphill, the green ASM city bus route runs to Castelmola. A walk through Taormina and Castelmola will take at least half a day.

Taormina in a day

If you only have one day in Taormina, we recommend the following itinerary:

• In the morning, visit the ancient theatre before the large tour groups arrive
• Stroll along Corso Umberto, Piazza IX Aprile and Piazza Duomo
• Relax in the gardens of Villa Comunale
• In the afternoon, take the funicular down to Mazzarò and Isola Bella
• In the evening, return to the historic centre for dinner

If you don’t fancy a swim, swap the beach for a hike up to Madonna della Rocca or a bus ride to Castelmola.

Beaches and swimming

Taormina’s historic centre lies high above the coast and there is no beach right next to it. You can reach the sea by funicular, bus or via long flights of steps.

All the beaches in the area are mainly pebbly. Water shoes are therefore recommended.

Beach	Best for
Isola Bella	The most beautiful scenery and your first visit to Taormina
Mazzarò	A small cove with restaurants and paid beach clubs
Spisone and Mazzeo	More space and fewer tourists than at Isola Bella
Letojanni	A longer beach, more accommodation and generally lower prices
Giardini Naxos	A long beach, restaurants and good transport links

Isola Bella

The most famous beach lies in a small cove opposite the islet of the same name. It is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of pebbles, which may be partially submerged depending on sea conditions.

The beach features both free public sections and paid beach clubs. It tends to get very busy in summer, so it’s best to come in the morning or later in the afternoon.

From the lower cable car station, it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to walk to Isola Bella; the final section is up a flight of steps.

Letojanni and Giardini Naxos

If you’re looking for a classic beach resort, Letojanni, north of Taormina, or Giardini Naxos, to the south, are more practical options. Both places have longer beaches and generally cheaper accommodation.

Letojanni is connected to Taormina by the town’s Beach Bus. Both local and regional buses run to Giardini Naxos.

The best way to see the coast is from the sea. Popular options include two-hour cruises from the port of Giardini Naxos around Isola Bella, the sea caves and the coves below Taormina.

• Book a cruise with a stop for swimming and snorkelling

Taormina–Mazzarò Funicular

The cable car connects the historic centre with the seaside district of Mazzarò. The upper station is near the bus station and Porta Messina, whilst the lower station is close to the beaches of Mazzarò and Isola Bella.

• A single-journey ticket costs 8 eur
• A return ticket costs 15 eur
• A day ticket costs 20 eur
• Cabins run every 15 minutes

An all-day ticket is worth it if you make at least two return journeys on the cable car on the same day.

Summer operating hours are from 8.00 to 1.30, and winter operating hours are from 8.00 to 20.00. During routine maintenance, the cable car may be temporarily replaced by buses. Therefore, please check the current timetable and fare schedule before travelling.

 

 

Accommodation in Taormina

Taormina is one of the most expensive places in Sicily. The final price is often determined mainly by location – the centre and Mazzarò are the most sought-after areas, whilst Giardini Naxos and Letojanni tend to be cheaper.

Location	Advantages	Disadvantages
Historic centre	Sights, restaurants and nightlife within walking distance	Higher prices, steps and tricky parking
Mazzarò and Isola Bella	Closest to the sea, quick connection by cable car	Expensive hotels and limited space
Giardini Naxos	A longer beach, good transport links and lower prices	Need to travel to the centre of Taormina
Letojanni	A good beach and usually the best value for money in terms of price and location	You have to take the bus to Taormina

On a first visit without a car, we’d opt for the historic centre. For a beach holiday, Mazzarò, Letojanni or Giardini Naxos make more sense.

Find accommodation in Taormina

In terms of specific accommodation, we recommend comparing:

• Villa Schuler for its central location and garden
• Hotel Bel Soggiorno for its quieter location and sea views
• Hotel Isola Bella for accommodation by the famous bay
• Mazzarò Sea Palace for a luxurious stay right by the sea

When staying in the centre, always check whether the hotel offers parking and how much it costs. In summer, book well in advance, ideally with a free cancellation option.

We compare other suitable bases and more affordable parts of the island in the section on where to stay in Sicily.

Day trips from Taormina

Taormina is one of the best starting points for exploring eastern Sicily.

The most popular excursion is to Mount Etna, which you can see directly from the town on a clear day. Without a car, the easiest option is to book an organised tour with hotel pick-up.

A good option is a full-day tour combining Mount Etna, a winery and the Alcantara Gorge. The tour takes you to the lower craters and a lava cave, rather than to the volcano’s highest peak.

• Book a full-day trip to Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorges

You can also easily visit Catania and Messina by train or bus.

How to get to Taormina

From Catania Airport

The easiest way to get from Catania Airport is by direct Interbus coach. The journey takes about 1.5 hours and a ticket costs 7 eur.

Buses run every 30 minutes throughout the day and terminate at the bus station on Via Pirandello, from where you can walk to Porta Messina and Corso Umberto.

You can find the timetable on the official Interbus website. You can also buy a ticket in advance:

• book a bus between Catania Airport and Taormina

By train from Catania and Messina

Direct Trenitalia trains run to Taormina from both Catania and Messina.

• The journey from Catania takes around 45 to 60 minutes
• From Messina, the journey takes about an hour

Taormina-Giardini station is situated by the sea, well below the historic centre. Walking there with luggage is very inconvenient, so take the Taormina Link bus or the ASM green line.

A ticket for the city bus costs 2 eur, two journeys on the same day 3 eur and an all-day ticket 3,50 eur.

Routes, timetables and ticket outlets can be found on the ASM public transport website.

• Taormina Bus Station
• Taormina-Giardini railway station

We describe other travel options in the section on transport in Sicily.

By car and parking

You won’t need a car in Taormina itself. The centre is pedestrianised, the streets are very narrow and access is restricted by the ZTL zone.

A car is mainly useful if you’re combining a visit to Taormina with other destinations on the island.

For a day trip, we recommend the Lumbi car park. It’s cheaper and there’s a shuttle bus running from there to the centre. Porta Catania is more expensive, but it’s situated right by the southern entrance to Corso Umberto.

Higher rates apply from April to October and on selected public holidays:

Car parks	Location and use	Rates
Lumbi	Best for a full-day visit, with a shuttle bus service	13 eur every 4 hours, 19 eur 7 hours, 30 eur for 24 hours
Porta Catania	Best for quick access to the southern part of the city centre	18 eur in 4 hours, 30 eur in 12 hours, 34 eur in 24 hours
Porta Pasquale	Near Porta Messina, but only a few dozen spaces available	5 eur per hour

If you’re only travelling between the airport, Taormina and the beaches, public transport is more practical. For Mount Etna, smaller villages and a longer tour of Sicily, a car is worth it.

• How car hire works in Sicily
• Compare car hire prices at Catania Airport

When to visit Taormina

The most pleasant weather for exploring the town is usually in May, June, September and October. In July and August, expect hot weather, crowded streets and the highest accommodation prices.

In winter, the town is much quieter, but some beach establishments are closed and the funicular may be out of service due to regular maintenance.

Whatever the time of year, we recommend visiting the ancient theatre in the morning and taking a stroll along Corso Umberto in the evening too. For us, the chance to enjoy the town centre without the day-trippers is the strongest reason to stay overnight in Taormina at least once.

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