Taormina is a swoony seaside town located on the eastern coast of the island of Sicily. Perched atop a hill overlooking the Mediterranean, it is known for its stunning views, pastel-hued buildings, picture-perfect squares, and ancient ruins.
Like the rest of Italy, it has a devastatingly charming atmosphere, and there’s a very good chance you’ll never want to leave.
Utterly picturesque in every way, Taormina combines the very best of Italy, Sicily, and the Mediterranean.
In addition to its many historic attractions, Taormina is also home to gorgeous, crystal-clear waterfronts, sweeping vistas, and an abundance of lively restaurants, cafés, and shops. Get your fill of world-class Sicilian cuisine, browse local shops for souvenirs and handicrafts, or simply relax and take in the beauty of this picturesque town.
Taormina has a long and rich history dating all the way back to the ancient Greeks, who founded the town in the 4th century BC. During the Roman period, Taormina continued to thrive, and many of its most famous landmarks, like the Greek Theater, were built during this time. As time passed, Taormina was conquered by various entities, including the Byzantines, Arabs, and the Normans, prior to becoming part of the Kingdom of Sicily in the 12th century.
During the Renaissance, Taormina experienced a similar period of cultural and artistic growth to other places in Italy, and many of its churches and palaces were rebuilt in the Baroque style that you see today. In the 19th century, the town became a popular destination for wealthy travelers, who were drawn to its beautiful scenery and mild climate.
Today, Taormina is a thriving tourist destination and a popular location for cultural events and festivals. Its rich history is reflected in the many ancient ruins and historic buildings that can be found throughout the town.
Curiously, it has always been a popular vacation destination, whether in Greek or Roman times or as a stop along the road for the European crème de la crème during the era of Goethe, Byron, and the tradition of the Grand Tour.
Getting There
You will likely fly into the international airport at Catania to get into Taormina– this is definitely way closer than Palermo. The bus journey takes about 1.5 hours between the Catania airport and Taormina. Just exit the airport and buy your bus ticket from the kiosk.
Note: If you choose to take the train, you may recognize the Taormina train station from the third installation of The Godfather, and you’d be correct! If you’re keen on the area’s organized crime history, consider taking a Mafia tour or a more specific Godfather filming locations tour. While admittedly a bit cheesy, it’s a fascinating subject and the perfect place to learn more.
A note about the location of the train station: technically, it’s located in Giardini Naxos, the next town over. It’s both quite a distance away from the city center, and also at the bottom of the hill. We’d recommend taking the bus up to Taormina instead. Tickets are on sale at the airport for €6 per person and it saves you a pretty tough, 45-minute walk or a pricey taxi from Giardini.
Traveling to Taormina via public transport is assuredly your best bet, particularly if you’re staying in the city center– parking is nightmarish and the tight corners make driving not-exactly for the faint of heart.
The Perfect Weekend in Taormina
While small in size, Taormina is packed with fun things to do. Here are our top tips for a wonderful visit to this swoon-worthy place.
Visit Taormina’s ancient attractions:
One of the most famous landmarks in Taormina is the ancient Greek Theater, which dates back to the 3rd century BC. The theater is still used today for concerts, plays, and other events, and its location offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and coastline. Taormina also has a number of other historic buildings and landmarks to explore, like the 10th century Palazzo Corvaja or the Cathedral of Taormina, which was built in the 13th century.
Explore the city center and Corso Umberto:
Taormina’s historic town center is filled with narrow streets, charming cafes, and historic buildings. Wander through the town center to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the local architecture. If you only remember 1 street name, remember Corso Umberto: it bisects Taormina for about a kilometer between the town’s two arched gateways at Porto Messina and Porto Catania.
Don’t miss the Piazza IX Aprile, one of Taormina’s most-Instagrammable spots and absolutely cute as a button. The 18th century Chiesa di San Giuseppe is also here, in addition to the simple Duomo di Taormina.
While we were there, there was a gorgeous display of “Taormina in Miniature” made by local artist and devoted native son Gino Castorina. Gino recreated the city in a mini-version and it is both sentimental and breathtaking. We got a chance to chat with the artist and his family and really recommend taking a peek in the Church Del Carmine (right by the Piazza IX Aprile) to check it out. They’re trying to make the installation permanent, and it’s really more than worthy! Check it out!
Go for a swim or seaside walk:
Taormina’s sheer cliff faces drop down to gorgeous sandy beaches. Isola Bella in particular is very popular with visitors. Technically in the next town of Mazzarò, Isola Bella is accessible by foot or by cable car. To get there by foot, there is a stairway that goes to Via Bagnoli Croci and then down to Mazzarò, with splendid views of the panorama below. The Mazzarò cable car departs every 15 minutes and gets you down to Isola Bella in about 5 minutes. You can also go to Isola Bella on the hop-on, hop-off bus.
Walk up to Chiesa Madonna della Rocca, or check out Castelmola
A pretty well-kept secret is the Salita Castello Trail, located about a 5-minute walk from the city center and leading you up to the gorgeous Chiesa Madonna della Rocca, carved into the rock of Monte Tauro. The walk is a bit steep, but only takes 20-30 minutes and the rewards are well-worth the cardio: sweeping, panoramic views over Taormina. Bring bottled water with you!
If this is a bit too much for you, you can also take the hop-on, hop-off bus up to the tiny comune of Castelmola for swooning views of Taormina and the sea below. Built up around the ruins of a Norman fortification, it’s considered one of Italy’s “Borghi Più Belli”, or most beautiful villages.
Recommended Reading
Visit the Villa Comunale di Taormina:
Taormina’s public garden, the Villa Comunale di Taormina, is a great place to escape the crowds and go have a little break. Full of landscaped gardens, aesthetically-ruined “follies”, and sweeping views of the city, it’s a little more off-the-beaten-path and absolutely wonderful to explore. The lush garden is largely due to Lady Florence Trevelyan, a Scottish noblewoman who left a bit of scandal behind at home and moved to Taormina in the 1880s, eventually marrying the town’s mayor and making a life there. You’ll likely hear her name often on your visit, and it’s worth reading up on her adventures a bit.
Bonus: Take a day trip to Siracusa and Ortigia:
One of the big draws of the region is a visit to the archaeological ruins at Siracusa (Syracuse.) Located about 2 hours by train from Taormina, it’s a bit of a long day trip but worth it to see the gorgeous Archaeological Park at Neapolis, one of the most important historical sites in all of Sicily. You may remember Archimedes from middle-school math class– he was born in Siracusa.
The island of Ortigia, the historical center of Siracusa, has a gorgeous old town in its Città Vecchia and is connected to mainland Siracusa by 3 bridges. Don’t miss the absolutely breathtaking town square with its Cathedral of Syracuse, formerly a Doric-style Greek temple dating back to at least the 5th century BCE (but it could be even older!) Some Greek mythology suggests that Leto gave birth to Artemis on Ortigia, and the name comes up time and time again through history. The town is absolutely picture-perfect, with tiny winding streets, laundry hanging to dry, and lots of places to grab a bite or a snack.
Bonus: Take a day trip to Mount Etna
The stunning natural wonder of Mount Etna is located pretty evenly between Catania and Taormina, and there are a few options for exploring. Most popular is a tour via 4×4, but there are also food and wine tours and half-day hikes available as well.
Etna is truly an other-worldly place. The day tour we chose picked us up at our hotel and lasted about a half-day– the van drives you up to a winery, where you can borrow hiking boots and poles, and you do get to do a fair bit of nice hiking as well along the Monte Fontana trail and the Valle del Bove. You’ll see volcanic craters, lava flows, and lava caves along the way. The tour ends at Piano Provenzana, the site of Etna’s last big eruption in 2002.
