The Taormina Travel Guide
About Taormina
I've been to Taormina many times, and sometimes you can see Mount Etna erupting at night. So it's a fantastic destination for those looking to explore the different wonders of the world. Now, the population of Taormina is only around 11,000 people. However, I've been during the summer and it can get a lot higher than that.
During the summer seasons when I've been, it can be very hard to move along the main street as it's so busy and restaurants fill up a lot quicker. Taormina is also a very popular town to get married in. I've been for a wedding there, and it's one of the luxury towns to go to in Sicily.
Aside from the views, this Taormina Sicily travel guide highlights how rich the town is in history. It has a lot of medieval architecture, beautiful narrow streets and a lot of palaces and 14th century churches. And with all this, this is why I've made this comprehensive Taormina travel guide.
Why you should read my Taormina travel guide
Why you should read my Taormina Sicily travel guide? I've been to Italy many times for many years. I've been to Taormina multiple times as well, and I have a good understanding of Italian, thanks to Duolingo, but also family.
So I've been able to speak to a lot of local people and also get recommendations from them. I've done many of the activities and walked around from the top to the bottom of Taormina. So hopefully, my Taormina travel guide will fill you with activities and knowledge for your next trip.
Attractions in Taormina
Historical attractions in Taormina
Historical attractions include the Greek theatre or Teatro Antico di Taormina. This was built in the 3rd century BC. You also have the Palazzo Corvaja, a medieval palace that was constructed at the end of the 14th century. Definitely get a few pictures there.
The food was also fantastic in Sicily. It's well known for fresh seafood, which is a favourite of mine. But also, in general, Sicily is known for its cannoli, which you can find at this place.
Resorts and shopping
The resorts and shopping is also part of my Taormina travel guide. Because Taormina is one of those luxury places to go, they do have a lot of shops. So that strip that you can walk down at the top of Taormina is full of luxury shops, like Louis Vuitton. I also purchased some handmade shoes in Taormina.
The beaches
Then you have the beaches. So I stayed at the top of the city, but I also stayed a few days at the bottom. Down there is a pebbly beach with the island that's linked to Isola Bella. Now, you can get there while the tide is down. However, when the tide goes up, you can't get to Isola Bella.
But it's very relaxing. It doesn't really have many waves, so I was just having an amazing time swimming in the beach. Besides it, you'll also have the famous blue grotto or Grotta Azzurra. That is a must see and an essential part of any Sicily beach experience.
Languages spoken in Taormina
In terms of the languages in Taormina, the local Sicilians speak Italian, but it's a bit of a dialect of northern Italy. So it can be a little bit difficult if you don't know Italian. But because this Taormina Sicily travel guide destination is so popular, a lot of people speak English.
I would just brush up if I'm going to more local cuisine or somewhere outside of town. Having some travel essentials for Europe like a translation app, can help.
How to get to and around Taormina
Flying to Taormina
In terms of getting to Taormina, it really depends on where you're coming from. Now, I flew via Dubai and Catania airport was the closest airport to get there. You can also get there directly from the UK to Catania and that takes about 3 hours.
Once you arrive at Catania airport, Taormina is about 67 kilometres away. So you can get there by taxi or car in about 50 minutes.
Getting to Taormina by train
You can also get to Taormina by train. Trains are a very speedy way and cost-effective way to get around Sicily. So the nearest train station to Taormina is Taormina Giardini, and to get there from Catania, it takes about 40 to 50 minutes and costs just over €5.
The only downside is that the train station is a bit far away does take about 20 minutes walk to get into town. And if you're going through summer, going up the hill to get into town is, well, it's a lot. I wouldn't recommend it.
Taking the bus to Taormina
Next are buses. So buses are a great way to move around Sicily and Taormina. However, there can be a lot of delays and cancellations. The main bus companies in the area are Interbus and Etna Trasporti, and it takes about an hour and 25 minutes from Catania to Taormina.
However, it does go into town, so it is a little bit more convenient than the train. You can get a bus at 7 AM, which is great. If you're coming from mainland Italy, you can travel to Taormina. So, from Rome to Sicily takes about just over 11 hours, and there's overnight buses.
Getting to Taormina by car
Then you have car. A rental car is a very cost effective way to get around. This was actually what I did. But be warned, in Italy, they drive on the right-hand side, so you have to be a confident driver. Also, getting off a flight and driving, which is what I did, I was a bit nervous the first time. A lot of people were speeding there.
However, it's convenient if you just want to explore everywhere else. So it does take about 50 minutes. Obviously, you have to wait and get the car, line up, and that takes a bit of time as well. It's also very convenient from mainland Italy to get to Taormina by car, and there's a simple ferry from San Giovanni Port to Messina, and that takes about 30 minutes.
Also note, if you do rent a car, most cars are manual. It's hard to find automatics, especially during the summer, so be prepared, especially during peak season.
Taxi to Taormina
And then my last one for travelling around is taxis. So taxis is a very convenient way. However, they'll probably be the most expensive option. I'd recommend if you find a taxi, getting that person's number, because if you go anywhere else, it can be hard to get a taxi back.
So take note of that person's number if you can. It is very convenient to get from the airport to Taormina. The cost is about €90 one way, so it's probably more valuable to go when you're in a group. A reputable company is called Taxi Taormina.
Getting around taormina
So moving slightly to my Taormina travel guide for getting around Taormina, apart from the bus, car, and train to get to some other places, you've also got the Taormina cable car. Now this is gonna save you a lot of stress.
Remember when I was talking about how you have the high bit of Taormina and then you go all the way to the bottom, and you've got the beach? To get there is a long, windy road, which does take a lot of time. So it's really fun to do a couple of times going down, but going back up is super steep.
So what they have is a Taormina cable car. Tickets go from €3 or €10 for a day trip last time I was there. They run every 15 minutes from 8 AM to 8 PM. I would highly recommend taking that. You get some beautiful views, and if you're especially tired or you're with people or family that are unable to walk, this is what you need to get.
Parking in Taormina
Let me tell you about the parking in Taormina. In general, parking in a new country is a pretty daunting task. I had to do a lot of research into this. And something to note is it's very hard to find free parking. Most of the time it's not free, so always carry cash with you.
During the summer season, parking in Taormina can get even more difficult. If you park on the street, be sure to check the signs as carefully as you can. Quick note, white lines are resident parking, so do not park there. And then you have blue lines, this is pay parking.
If you park in a pay parking area, look for a parking meter or a local news agent to purchase a parking ticket and display the ticket clearly on your dashboard. Avoid being late because there are a lot of parking wardens around.
Parking app
You also have the Easy Park app. Now, this is the best thing to do, download this app because it works in most places around Sicily, and you can pay directly from your phone without having to find a ticket machine or newsagent.
And you can usually pay for just a few hours, but if you do come back early, you can stop the timer and pay less. You're not overpaying. Now, when I went there, I had to enter a random Italian phone number as my local number didn't actually register.
Another note, EasyPark does charge a small fee, but the convenience of not having to find somewhere and avoiding getting a fine is worth it. Another thing to note is that pricing for parking can depend on the location and the time of year. During the summer season, the rates are a little bit higher compared to other months.
Parking garages and hotels
My tip would be to find a property with its own car park and a bonus if it's free. Now, there are some car garages. So if you do find a taormina hotel that has a car park, check the price. If not, there are big local garages.
There's Parcheggio Lumbi, that's the northern part of Taormina town. Quite large, and that costs about €2 an hour or €14.50 for 24 hours. On the south, there's another one, and then there is a third on the northeastern part of Taormina, but that's a bit smaller. So you've got to think about the price and distancing into town.
You can also park pretty close to the sea at the Mazzaro parking, a mixture of covered and uncovered, but it's hard to find a space down there. Up towards the centre of town, there are some smaller car parks, but I've parked there before and they are legitimate. They're just owned by a private owner, and you can get pretty close to the town in one of those car parks.
Now, if you're staying at a property in Taormina, as I said, this is probably the most convenient option for parking. Now, I stayed down at the bottom, parked my car there, which was free, and then I just took the cable car up into town when I wanted to go into town.
Best things to do in Taormina
Now, some of the things to do in Taormina, there's quite a lot. It's surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, it's rich in history. Here are some of the things to do according to this Taormina Sicily travel guide.
Go to the beach
So, go to the beach. Taormina has a lot of great beaches, like the Mazzaro Beach and the famous Isola Bella Beach. And those waters are turquoise, it's beautiful. I'd recommend bringing some shoes or rock shoes as it is a pebbly beach and you don't want to hurt yourself. I've had a bad experience before where I cut myself pretty deep.
Take a boat tour
Taking a boat tour is a fantastic thing to do in Taormina. So you can book day tours or a boat tour or even see the blue grotto, which is quite an amazing experience. I would say taking a cable car from the beach up to the top and vice versa is a brilliant thing to do. In Taormina, you'll see a lot of beautiful views and for just three euros, very cost effective.
Visit Mount Etna
Visit Mount Etna. Now, I went to Mount Etna with some friends. It's about an hour away. I've been here actually twice, once when I was a lot younger, now more recently. You can take a cable car to 2500 metres. Last time I was there, the cost was €50, and you can take a guided tour for 78 euros. Has probably changed now.
It's open from 8:30 till four, but this is something you should definitely do if you're not shy going up to Mount Etna. I've actually been there when it started to erupt, but that was when I was a lot younger.
Explore historical sites
There's also all the historical sites, so like the palaces and churches, such as Palazzo Corvaja, the Duomo di Taormina, and Chiesa di San Giuseppe. Also, the Teatro Antico di Taormina, which was a famous Greek theatre from the 3rd century. That is a must-see and do.
Visit the shops
Visiting the shops. Like I said, there's a lot of luxury there, so a lot of boutique shops. So I found some really nice Italian handmade shoes that I've never been able to see anything like it before.
Enjoy the restaurants
You also have restaurants. Restaurants in Taormina are incredible. Like I said, the seafood, the Sicilian dishes are a little bit different to mainland Italy. Some great dishes I've been to are Trattoria da Nino, Osteria Rosso DiVino, and for dessert, I went many times to La Pignolata Guinness Cannoli Taormina serving cannoli.
Taormina has some of the best cannolis I've had in Sicily. For more options, check out the best restaurants in Sicily.
Go wine tasting
Another good thing to do is go wine tasting. With the volcanic soil, you can get some of the most amazing wines by going on a wine tour. Well, you don't have to go on a wine tour, but I love going on wine tours in different regions in the world.
Try water sports
If you're into water sports, go visit Gole dell'Alcantara and go body surfing or even go for a nice walk and take in the views around there.
Top 5 properties in taormina
So the top 5 property in Taormina is part of my taormina travel guide.
- You've got the Grand Hotel Timeo, this is a 5 star Belmond property in the centre of Taormina.
- You have Villa Sant'Andrea, this is on the Taormina beachfront, again, another 5 star place.
- You've got the Hotel Metropole Taormina, this is closer to the town but with amazing sea views.
- San Domenico Palace, this is a 5 star Four Seasons property, very close to the beach with amazing ocean views.
- And then Atlantis Bay, this is a 5 star world-class service property and has a private beach. So if you're into your privacy, great place to go.
For more accommodation options, you can also explore where to stay in Taormina.
How much should you budget for a trip to Taormina?
Now, as part of my Taormina travel guide, I'll talk to you a little bit about budget. I would suggest setting aside just over €300 per day per person for budgeting purposes. Now, it's probably a little bit more than some of my other travel guides, but this is what I'd say.
Breakfast is usually about, I'd budget about €20, so you can also look to see if your accommodation has it. Lunch, €30, dinner, €50. Touristy activities, probably about €30 to €70, going out €30, accommodation can really range, and this is going up every year, but about €150 a night. So I'd set aside about 300 plus per day.
For tips on managing costs, check out how to save money on a trip.
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Breakfast (sometimes included in accommodation) | €20 |
| Lunch | €30 |
| Dinner | €50 |
| Tourist Activities | €30 |
| Going out | €30 |
| Accommodation | €150 |
| Total cost per day | €310 |
Best travel card to use on holiday
In terms of a travel card to use, I recommend Wise card for transferring money to during your holiday. It's one of the best cards I've used, and I've used a lot. Avoid having to go to the post office, convert money into cash, waiting in line. You can even use Wise with Apple Pay and Google Pay before even receiving the card.
So you don't have to order a card, even though I do, but you can just tap on your phone. The fees are a lot lower than the banks and they provide the current exchange rate without any of those inflated bank rates. They put on like a really, really small fee.
You should always carry cash in Taormina as well. Not every place accepts card. However, Taormina specifically, it's very luxurious, so there is a lot of card acceptance, but always bring cash. I've used Wise for probably about 8 or 9 years now. I used to use the banks; I've saved so much money. Also, I use Wise to transfer money to properties as well in advance.
And the app also shows you how much of a charge banks may charge, so you can see the savings, and you can use it repeatedly for every international holiday or business trip.
How long should you stay in Taormina?
In terms of how long you should stay in Taormina, I would suggest at least 2 to 3 days. However, if you do a lot of activities and visit all the sites, you might want to stay longer, like 7 days. Also, it just depends on your preferences and trip. If it's a family holiday, a solo trip, or a romantic getaway, but 2 to 3 days, you can go to the beach, you can go to historical sites like Palazzo Corvaja and the amphitheatre.
If you're into more activities and you have time, Mount Etna during the day, see some nightlife and restaurants, they have some of the best restaurants, very well worth exploring. Odd note, Taormina is very popular, especially during peak season, so book your flights and accommodation early as they tend to fill up quickly every year.
Pro tip, I would book your holiday 6 months to a year in advance or just before Christmas because they usually put up the prices the next year. If you're planning to explore more of Sicily, consider visiting Palermo, Agrigento, or Trapani.
Taormina Travel Guide FAQ's
Is Taormina worth visiting?
Absolutely, Taormina is worth visiting. It's one of Sicily's most stunning destinations with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Etna. The town offers a perfect blend of history with its Greek theatre and medieval architecture, beautiful beaches like Isola Bella, luxury shopping, and incredible Sicilian cuisine. I've been multiple times and it never disappoints.
What is the best time to visit Taormina?
The best time to visit Taormina depends on your preferences. Summer is the busiest season when the main street can get very crowded and restaurants fill up quickly. If you want to avoid crowds while still enjoying good weather, I'd recommend visiting in spring or early autumn. However, if you don't mind the crowds and want the full beach experience, summer is perfect.
How many days do you need in Taormina?
I would suggest at least 2 to 3 days in Taormina to see the main attractions including the beach, historical sites like Palazzo Corvaja and the Greek theatre. However, if you want to do more activities like visiting Mount Etna, exploring nearby areas, wine tasting, and trying all the best restaurants, you might want to stay longer, like 7 days. It really depends on your travel style and what you want to experience.
Do they speak English in Taormina?
Yes, many people speak English in Taormina because it's such a popular tourist destination. The local Sicilians speak Italian with a bit of a dialect compared to northern Italy, but you'll find that most people working in hotels, restaurants, and shops speak English. I would just brush up on some basic Italian if you're planning to visit more local places or areas outside of town.
Is parking difficult in Taormina?
Yes, parking in Taormina can be quite difficult, especially during the summer season. Free parking is very hard to find, and most parking requires payment. I highly recommend downloading the Easy Park app which works throughout Sicily and lets you pay directly from your phone. There are also several parking garages like Parcheggio Lumbi. My best tip is to find a property with its own car park, ideally free, which makes everything much more convenient.
What is Taormina famous for?
Taormina is famous for several things. It's known for the Greek theatre or Teatro Antico di Taormina built in the 3rd century BC, the stunning views of Mount Etna and the Mediterranean Sea, beautiful beaches like Isola Bella and the blue grotto, medieval architecture including Palazzo Corvaja, luxury shopping, and incredible Sicilian food, especially fresh seafood and cannoli. It's also a popular destination for weddings and is considered one of the luxury towns in Sicily.
I hope you enjoyed my taormina travel guide. If you have any other tips for my readers, feel free to leave them in the comments below. Enjoy reading and happy travels!