If you’re planning a trip to Sicily, make sure you put Taormina on your list. In this Taormina Travel Guide you’ll learn all about this enchanting hilltop town, and why it’s a must-visit destination.
Taormina is the perfect mix of history, culture and coastal views. The town overlooks the Ionian Sea and on a good day you can see Mt Etna from here.
In this guide to Taormina you’ll learn what to see in Taormina, how to get here, and the best time to visit.
We visited Taormina in December 2024, which is of course, the off-season. However, we found plenty to do. We really enjoyed Taormina without too many tourists and the Christmas celebrations were an added bonus.
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How to get to Taormina
Taormina is on the east coast of Sicily, in between Messina and Catania. The main part of the town is actually located up a very steep hill, so bear that in mind if you don’t have your own vehicle.
By Air
The closest airport is Catania Fontanarossa. You can either hire a car here or take a shuttle but into the Catania Centrale railway station and then a train. A taxi from the airport would cost you at least €100.
By Car
If you are driving, you’ll arrive in Taormina on the A18 motorway. As of late 2024, this is the only motoway in Sicily that has tolls. The toll was only a couple of Euros.
By Train/Bus
There is a train station (Taormina Giardini) which is down the hill from the old town. From here you can catch a local bus up the hill to the old town.
Buses run to Taormina from nearby towns, and also from cities Messina and Catania.
By Cable-car
There is a small Funivia (cable-car) that connects the historic town centre with Mazzaro Beach. In December 2024 a one-way ticket cost €6 and return was €10
Where to park in Taormina
There are several small carparks around the old town, and many more spaces at the bottom of the hill, especially around the train station and the cablecar station at Mazzaro Beach.
We parked our campervan in a small free carpark at the trail head of a steep path that climbs up to the old town.
When to visit Taormina
Peak season in Sicily is in the summer, and it gets especially crowded in August when northern Italians take their holidays. You can expect crowds and higher prices at this time.
The best time to visit Taormina is probably in the Spring and Autumn, there will be fewer people, but everything will be open and the weather will be warm and not too hot.
We visited Sicily in the winter (December-January), we had three weeks of pleasant warm sunny days, with only one or two cloudy days. I think it rained the day we arrived, and on one other day.
While not all the restaurants were open in Taormina in December, the town was way less crowded. We also really enjoyed the Christmas decorations and festivities – especially this Presepe (nativity scene) in the Fiat Bambino!
Where to stay in Taormina
As we were travelling in our campervan, we don’t have any hotel recommendations from first-hand experience. We stayed at a camper stopover about 15 minutes down the road. You can find this on Park4Night.
For hotel room rates and availability, we recommend booking.com
Best things to do in Taormina
Ancient Theatre of Taormina
The Teatro Antico di Taormina was built in the 3rd century BCE by the Greeks. Most of what we see today is from the re-modelling done by the Romans in the 3rd century CE.
This is the second largest Greek theatre ruin in Italy (after the one in Syracuse), and we think it is way more impressive. The views from the upper seats, looking out over the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna (when it’s not covered in cloud) are some of the best in all of Sicily.
Opening hours for the theatre vary depending on sunset times. We visited the theatre just before sunset and it was just beautiful. Entry is now €14 per person, last entry is 45 minutes before closing.
Corso Umberto
The “main street” of Taormina is a cobbled pedestrian street, lined with shops and boutiques. You’ll find a mix of fashion shops and stores selling local artisan products (for the tourists).
All along the street are small stepped alleyways leading up or down the hill to other shops and restaurants.
The main shopping section of the street is between the two ancient gates, the Porta Messina and the Porta Catania.
Piazza IX Aprile
The main square of Taormina is named after events that took place on 9 April 1860. During Mass in the nearby cathedral, the rumour spread that Garibaldi had landed on the west coast of Sicily to liberate the island from Bourbon rule.
Today the square is a popular meeting point, and the views from here looking over the coast are breath-taking.
Taormina Cathedral
The Duomo di Taormina (Cathedral) was built around 1400 although it has undergone several renovations. The cathedral is not very elaborate on the inside, but from the outside it is quite beautiful. In the piazza outside the cathedral you’ll see the “Four Fountain”. This baroque fountain dates from 1635, and was so named as water used to come out of the mouths of the four horses at the corners.
Hike the Sentiero dei Saraceni
The Sentiero dei Saraceni is an ancient trail that leads uphill from Toarmina to the hilltop village of Castelmola.
This hike is moderately challenging, climbing uphill on ancient stone pathways with lots of steps. We loved looking out over the Ionian Sea, and catching glimpses of Mt Etna when the clouds cleared.
You could do this hike as an out-and-back (or up and down!), or you could hike one way and catch the bus the other way. During winter the bus only runs a couple of times each day.
We chose to walk back down the other side of the hill – the path was much steeper this way.
Visit Castelmola
The village of Castelmola welcomes you with with charming streets, cafes and restaurants. Above the town are the ruins of a 10th century Norman castle.
We stopped here for lunch at the ancient Caffe San Giorgio – apparently this café is known for inventing Almond Wine. We had the most delicious winter bean soup here, we wish we’d gotten the recipe!
Isola Bella
All the way back down at the coast is the pretty Isola Bella. You can walk to this island (or hop, skip and jump) dodging the waves. There are also boat tours from here around the island and to the nearby grottos.
Best Day Trips from Taormina
Taormina is located close to several other Sicilian hotspots, and makes a great place to base yourself for day trips. Mt Etna is visible from Taormina (if the clouds aren’t in the way), and from here you can take a day trip up the north side of Europe’s tallest active volcano.
In the early 1970s, the Sicilian scenes of the Godfather movie were filmed in the towns of Forza d’Agro and Savoca. Filming around Palermo wasn’t possible at this time due to local Mafia demands for “pizzo”. You can take a day tour to these two villages to see some of the key filming locations.
FAQs
Is Taormina worth visiting?
Taormina is one of the prettiest towns in all of Sicily. It has a beautiful mix of small town charm, coastal views, history and culture.
How long do you need to visit Taormina?
Taormina can be visited on a day trip (indeed many cruise ships docking at Messina offer day trips to Taormina). However, the town is beautiful at night, so we would recommend spending at least one night there.
Is Taormina a tourist trap?
Taormina is undoubtedly popular with tourists, and the presence of so many shops selling “typical Sicilian products” proves that. However, it’s worth looking beyond that – once you step beyond the Corso Umberto you’ll see more of the local charm.
Is Taormina a walkable city?
While the old town, centred around Corso Umberto, is fairly flat, remember that Taormina is situated on the side of a steep hill. If you want to go beyond the town centre, you’ll be walking up and down hill. But remember, that hillside means beautiful views!
What TV series was filmed in Taormina?
Season 2 of the HBO series The White Lotus was filmed in Taormina. The town also features in the movie Mighty Aprodite, and nearby towns were filming locations for The Godfather.
Watch our Taormina travel film
Taormina was our first stop on our Sicily Road Trip, and we produced this film around the town. You can see more of our Sicily adventures on our YouTube Channel.
Where to next?
Continue your Sicily Road Trip with a visit to Syracuse, or head straight for the mighty Mount Etna!