Seductive and chic, Taormina has something of the diva about it. And it is one. Over the centuries, it has stolen the hearts of countless artists, writers and nobility, and today it is besieged by tourists seeking an exclusive location for a dream holiday and theatre and music lovers keen to catch the city’s prestigious cultural events.
What makes it such an irresistible heartbreaker? Its extraordinary position on a terrace of Monte Tauro, with spectacular views of the sea and the Etna volcano, is certainly the main ingredient in the love potion with which it beguiles visitors.
The other ingredients in this magical recipe are a magnificent ancient theatre, an elegant historic centre brimming with beautiful buildings, shops and little restaurants, enchanting beaches bathed by stunningly azure waters, and the chance to undertake unforgettable excursions up one of Italy’s most spectacular mountains.
You’ll stand no chance of resisting the charm of Taormina: surrender to its allure.
The main attraction in Taormina is the Ancient Theatre1, which alone is reason enough to visit. One of Sicily’s largest ancient theatres, it’s certainly the most evocative thanks to its extraordinary location overlooking the sea. Even today it serves as a spectacular venue for theatre, dance and music festivals featuring performers from around the world.
After visiting this unique attraction, keep the magic going by wandering through the characterful alleyways of Taormina’s centre, perhaps indulging in some shopping or an alfresco coffee.
A popular meeting point for the city’s young people is the Cathedral Square2, overlooked by a splendid cathedral dating from the 13th century. For respite from the crowds, visit the sumptuous Villa Comunale3 and its lush gardens.
As you wander through the centre, take a look at the elegant Renaissance palaces overlooking the streets and squares, in particular Palazzo Duca di Santo Stefano, Palazzo Ciampoli and Palazzo Corvaja. The latter houses the tourist information office.
For stunning panoramic views, stop at Piazza IX Aprile, where you can also admire the Church of San Giuseppe4, or venture 5 km to the ruins of the Castle at Castelmola5, reachable on foot along a well-marked trail or by bus.
Taormina’s main beach is Lido di Mazzarò6, easily reached by cable car from the town centre. It’s a characteristic pebble beach with both equipped and free areas.
Taormina’s finest beach is undoubtedly Isola Bella7, an evocative pebble cove with turquoise waters dotted here and there with fishing boats. The namesake islet, a rocky outcrop covered in dense vegetation, is linked to the mainland by a strip of sand that appears and disappears with the tides.
If you prefer sandy beaches, just a short distance from Taormina’s centre you’ll find Spisone8, a spacious sandy beach, or you can head about ten kilometres south to the Giardini Naxos area (approximately 10 km away). Famous for its vibrant nightlife, Giardini Naxos9 boasts an extensive seafront alternating between pebble and fine sand.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
The captivating city of Taormina makes an excellent base for exploring eastern Sicily’s attractions, foremost among them Mount Etna, just an hour away.
There are countless Etna tours departing from Taormina offered by local tour operators: you can choose from easy half-day excursions to more challenging treks of longer duration. Particularly memorable is the sunset tour, which gives you the chance to admire the sunset from the volcano’s craters. An unforgettable experience!
Can you visit Etna without a guide?
Many types of Etna excursions are possible and you can visit some areas without a guide, but having an enthusiastic local resident or expert volcanologist by your side will help you appreciate this natural wonder even more.
To see the active craters and reach the crater mouths, you are required by law to be accompanied by an authorised guide.
Another popular day trip from Taormina is to the Alcantara Gorges, spectacular lava canyons created by the Alcantara river. Along a verdant path you’ll admire impressive vertical cliffs framing the azure waters of the river.
If you have a gourmet side, take advantage of your Taormina holiday to attend a Sicilian cooking or pastry-making course to learn how to make cannoli and other delicious local specialities. Perhaps less typical but equally entertaining is a pizza-making course.
Another fantastic activity for food and wine enthusiasts is to participate in a local wine tasting, whilst a must for film lovers is the Godfather tour, visiting the locations of the cult film starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino.
Taormina is a chic destination and this is clearly reflected in the types and prices of hotels: there’s plenty of choice at the top end with luxury 4 and 5-star hotels or exclusive villas, whilst for the mid-to-budget range you need to search more. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find good 3-star hotels or B&Bs at affordable prices, but booking well in advance is advisable.
Parking in the city is not easy, so if you’re arriving by car or hiring one, before booking your hotel make sure it has guest parking and ask about the tariff. Not all hotels offer free parking, so it’s best to check beforehand.
In July and August, particularly around the Taormina Film Fest dates and the week of Ferragosto, the city is extremely crowded, so booking your hotel in advance is absolutely essential.
We offer a selection of hotels at Taormina to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Taormina, sorted by number of reviews.
If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Taormina. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Taormina are in high demand.
The nearest airport to Taormina is Catania-Fontanarossa, just 70 km away; Palermo Falcone-Borsellino airport is quite far, about 300 km.
From Catania airport you can reach Taormina with a hire car in less than an hour via the E45, or in one and a half hours by bus with Etna Bus (departures roughly every half hour).
Taormina is served by direct trains to Messina and Catania, but note that the railway station is outside the centre, so you’ll need to take a local bus to reach the city. Interbus buses connect Taormina to all the main towns in eastern Sicily, including Messina and Catania.
If you’re arriving from Palermo, we strongly advise against reaching Taormina by public transport as you’d need to make numerous connections. Better to hire a car and reach your destination in just three hours.
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