Taormina is one of the most beautiful towns in the island of Sicily. Being located on the hillside of the eastern coast of Sicily, the town is renowned for its panoramic views of the Ionian coastline and Mount Etna. With picturesque medieval streets and ancient churches, excellent Sicilian cuisine and beautiful beaches it is no wonder Taormina is one of the most popular destinations in Sicily.
What to Do in Taormina
Have a beach day at Isola Bella
Taormina is close to some of Sicily’s best beaches with the closest one being Isola Bella, also known as The Pearl of the Ionian Sea. Isola Bella itself is a small island and nature reserve connected to the coastline by a narrow strip of sand. The crystal-clear waters and pebble beaches make it a popular spot for having a beach day.
Visit the ancient theatre Teatro Antico di Taormina
Teatro Antico di Taormina is one of the most famous landmarks in Taormina. Not only is it a beautiful and well-preserved Greek-Roman theatre, but it is still used for concerts and operas. It also offers a view of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, making it one of the most scenic archaeological sites of Italy.
Explore Mount Etna
Mount Etna is an active volcano visible from Taormina. Actually it is the most active stratovolcano in the world and the highest Mediterranean island mountain. Thanks to its accessibility, many people take excursions from Taormina to climb and explore the craters and lava fields of Mount Etna. This is a must-do for the adventure traveler.
Shop at Corso Umberto
Corso Umberto is the main street of Taormina and home to multiple shops and cafes. Spend the evening strolling down the street and maybe spend some money as well.
Where to Eat in Taormina
Taormina has a lot of restaurants and it can be hard to choose where to go. Unfortunately the best restaurants book fast, so if you want the best of what Taormina has to offer I would recommend that you stop by the restaurant 1 or 2 days in advance to reserve a table. We noticed this after a few days, so then I did a little reserve-a-table tour and booked the upcoming three dinners.
For the best seafood: Osteria Rosso Divino. The waiter presented the catch of the day and we got to pick one fish and they cooked it for us in the way we had decided. A little bit more pricey but the restaurant setting is really beautiful and the whole experience felt very luxurious.
For the best pizza: Granduca. This is the best pizza in town. You can choose to sit inside or outside on the terrace. Of course I will recommend the terrace. It has an amazing ocean view.
For a cosy atmosphere: Trattoria Tutti Cca. Located in a small alley, this was quite a romantic restaurant. They serve Mediterranean food in general.
For an afternoon drink: Wunderbar. Located on the Taormina town square is Cafe Wunderbar. This is where you go for an afternoon drink while the sun is setting, waiting for dinner.
For ice cream: Bam Bar. Bam Bar is a laid back bar for ice cream or an afternoon drink. However it’s very popular so make sure to be there early.
Where to Stay in Taormina
Grand Hotel Miramare is the one and only place to stay at when in Taormina. I loved everything about this hotel. It was not right in the city centre but only a 5-minute walk away. It is also one of the best located hotels close to Isola Bella with a path running right outside the hotel if you want to walk down to the beach. Otherwise the tram is only a short walk away. All rooms had a balcony with an amazing ocean view and the hotel has a pool, something that can be quite difficult to find in Taormina if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on accommodation. This hotel had very reasonable prices. For the active person this hotel also has a tennis court.
How to get to Taormina
The closest airport to Taormina is Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA). Etna Trasporti and Interbus operate buses hourly from the airport to Taormina bus terminal. The tickets can be purchased right outside the arrivals terminal and cost between €7-10. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours.
