Plan your Taormina trip

Teatro Antico (Greek Theatre)

A Hellenistic theatre rebuilt in grander Roman brick, still framing one of the great views in the Mediterranean — the coast, the sea, and Mount Etna…

Tip Arrive right at opening; by mid-morning coach groups fill both the seating and the view.

Isola Bella

A small nature reserve island linked to the mainland by a narrow sandy strip, reached directly from the Mazzarò cable car station — swimmable water…

Tip Take the Funivia down from town rather than the road; it's faster and the descent itself is part of the view.

Corso Umberto I

The pedestrian spine of the old town, running gate to gate past Palazzo Corvaja, the Duomo and a steady run of shops, bars and side-street surprises.

Tip Walk it twice — once at midday for the shops, once after dinner, when the crowd thins and the lighting improves.

Piazza IX Aprile

A checkerboard-paved terrace roughly halfway along Corso Umberto, open on one side straight out over the sea — Taormina's most famous spot to simply…

Tip Come for sunset and expect to share the view; it's worth it anyway.

Villa Comunale (Public Gardens)

A lush clifftop garden laid out in the late 19th century, scattered with eccentric faux-Gothic follies locals still call the 'beehives' — a shaded,…

Tip The lower terraces have the best uninterrupted sea views and the fewest other visitors.

Duomo di Taormina (San Nicolò)

A fortress-faced medieval cathedral on its own small piazza, anchored by a Baroque fountain topped with Taormina's odd civic mascot, a centauress.

Tip Step inside for the quiet alone — it's one of the few genuinely cool, hushed spaces on a hot afternoon.

Castello Saraceno (Taormina Castle)

Ruined fortifications on the peak above town, built over earlier Greek and Arab defences, with a steep path or a short drive up and arguably the…

Tip Go for sunrise or late afternoon; there's no shade and midday heat on the climb is no joke.

Castelmola

A tiny hilltop village further above Taormina, with its own ruined castle, a lazy main piazza, and the famously eccentric, fertility-themed Bar…

Tip Go by local bus or taxi rather than on foot unless you're genuinely fit — the road climbs hard.

Mount Etna

Europe's most active volcano is visible from Taormina on clear days and reachable for a guided hike or cable-car-and-jeep tour among lava fields,…

Gole dell'Alcantara (Alcantara Gorges)

A dramatic basalt gorge carved by a fast, cold river inland from Taormina, with walkways and wetsuit rental for wading into the narrowest sections.

Savoca & Forza d'Agrò

Two hill villages a short drive up the coast, both used as filming locations for The Godfather, including the bar scene shot in Savoca's tiny Bar…

Siracusa

A longer day trip south to one of the oldest Greek cities in Sicily, with a sprawling archaeological park and the beautiful, café-lined island…

Everything to do in Taormina

Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours and day trips, all in one place on Booking.com.

Getting around

Taormina's historic centre sits on a terrace roughly 200 metres above the sea, and it is built almost entirely for pedestrians — Corso Umberto and most of the lanes branching off it are closed to cars, and a restricted traffic zone covers much of what isn't.

Flights

Compare fares into Taormina and pick dates that suit the days you planned.

Airport transfers

Book a private or shared ride from the airport so the first evening starts at your door, not at a ticket queue.

Car hire from Taormina

Only worth it for day trips beyond the city — in town, the plan above works on foot and public transport.