Taormina: the name sounds exotic, dramatic, and slightly snobby.

There is a reason for that: Taormina is one of the most famous places in Italy -and definitely the pearl of Sicily. It actually owes a part of its fame to Goethe. When Goethe arrived in Taormina in the 18th century, he felt stunned. The small city on the rock found a place instantly among his favorite ones, and he wrote about it in the Italian Journey. Goethe was fascinated in general so much with Sicily that even said: “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.” He definitely referred directly to Taormina.

Soon, Taormina started to attract world-famous people. Guy de Maupassant, Paul Klee, Friedrich Nietzsche ( who here wrote the Thus Spoke Zarathustra), Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Marlene Dietrich, Oscar Wilde -the list is endless. Being for decades a destination for the jet-set, Taormina’s fate was obvious: it was a matter of time to welcome loads of tourists.

Nowadays, the picturesque town of Taormina attracts thousands of people. Hence, walking through the beautiful streets, it might be a challenge some times. No matter what, the visitor that spends time either walking around or sitting on a bench will be rewarded: Taormina’s century-long buildings will start narrating their story.

How to reach Taormina

The easiest way is definitely from Catania. Even if you plan to spend all your Sicilian days in Taormina, you should first fly to Catania anyway. The airport of Catania is not that far from Taormina, and buses are going directly there. The distance is approximately one hour. Of course, you have the option of taking a taxi from the airport of Catania but be prepared to spend quite some money.

I highly recommend spending at least a day in Catania before heading to Taormina. Catania might not be as charming, but it definitely has its moments. From Catania, you have two options to Taormina: either the train or the bus. I used both of them, and here is what I found out.

From Catania to Taormina by train

The train from Catania to Taormina takes between 40 minutes and 1 hour and 10 minutes. This is because different trains are serving the line: some of them stop a couple of times while other ones are connecting Catania to Taormina directly (and vice versa). Italian trains always provide a pleasant way of traveling, and they are usually cheap. For most of the journey, you will also enjoy spectacular views of Mount Etna. A one-way ticket from Catania to Taormina, won’t cost you more than 5 euros per person.

The trouble with the train option starts when you arrive at Taormina’s train station. As I’ve written in the introduction, Taormina is located on the top of a hill. However, the train station is by the sea. It’s almost 3 kilometers to the top but don’t let this fact fool you. The way up is very steep, and you will have a hard time getting there, especially on a warm day. Think twice (or maybe don’t think about it at all) the option of walking. Having seen the way up, I don’t recommend it.

The options that you have from Taormina’s train station to Taormina itself are two: the taxi and the local bus.

Option 1: Taxi

It costs 15 euros. I found it a complete rip-off, and I didn’t even bother considering it. For a solo traveler, it’s just too much. If you are a group of 4-5 people you can, of course, consider it.

Option 2: Bus to Taormina

There is a bus connecting the train station of Taormina and Taormina. However, it is totally unreliable. Sure, there is a schedule with the itineraries, but this is pure decoration apparently. I arrived at Taormina’s station at 13:20 and there were supposedly buses at 13:30 (never appeared), at 14:00 (same) and 14:30 (same). Almost 30 people were waiting at the time, and the bus arrived almost full at 14:45. Luckily enough, I was one of the first to embark, because, after me, no one was allowed to enter. The bus driver just said, “Wait for the next one.”

The ride itself to Taormina takes approximately 12-15 minutes, and the roads are full of turns and curves. A one-way ticket by bus costs 1,90 euros and a return ticket will cost you 3 euros. You can buy the tickets from the small bar that is next to the train station. The bus parks shortly before the entrance to Taormina, it’s just 5 minutes walk to the Porta Messina, the gate to the town.

I was totally dissatisfied with the train option, mainly because the bus from the train station was so unreliable. On the way back to Catania, I decided to take the bus.

From Catania to Taormina by bus

The bus station of Catania is, in fact, a big parking lot next to the train station. Therefore, you have to go either by metro or on foot to Catania’s central station.

Now, this is a far better option for Taormina. The bus usually takes slightly more than the train -approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes- but it goes directly to Taormina. In other words, you don’t depend on anything else like with the train option. The ticket costs almost the same money (5,10 euros), and the last part of the journey is quite pleasant: the road runs next to the sea.

Quite obviously, the buses get full quickly, therefore, book your tickets in advance.

Things to do in Taormina

Well, one of the best things to do in Taormina is definitely to wander through the narrow streets. Even if you cross the same street more than two or three times, you will still find something to admire.

While walking in Taormina, you will come across some architectural gems. And these you must actually see them when in Taormina. More specifically:

The ancient theater. This is a Greek theater that the Romans have restored. It enjoys a unique location, and the view is breathtaking. It can only compete with the ancient theater of Syracuse. The Duomo di San Nicola. The Gothic-style Cathedral of Taormina that resembles a fortress. It stands there since ca. 1400 and there are some Arabic details on the ceiling. There is an excellent viewpoint in front of it, too. The church of S. Pancrazio. Another church, but this one is dedicated to the patron Saint of the city. Interestingly enough, it stands on the ruins of a temple dedicated to Jupiter. The Palazzo Corvaja. A beautiful baroque palace that has the shape of a cube. Odeon. Created during the reign of Emperor Octavian but discovered in the late 19th century.

There is also a cable car in Taormina that runs every 15 minutes. It actually connects the city with its coastal part, called Mazzaró. A one-way ticket costs currently 3 euros, daily ticket costs 10 euros, and if you are there for several days, you might consider the weekly one (30 euros). The distance it covers is approximately 700 meters. It is a fun thing to do in Taormina -and the view is spectacular. From Mazzaró you can also visit the famous Isola Bella, which nowadays enjoys the status of a Nature Reserve.

Where to stay in Taormina

Although I didn’t spend a night in Taormina, I thought of checking some hotels. The reason is that a) I wanted to make the Taormina guide as thorough as possible and b) I wanted to know the price range. The town is expensive -no surprise-, so if you’re going to spend a night or two there you should budget accordingly. Here is what I found:

Maison Blanche Taormina . A modern hotel with dramatic views of the cliffs. The location is unique, but it’s not in the city center. Endless sea view and definitely quiet -and pricey as well.

. A modern hotel with dramatic views of the cliffs. The location is unique, but it’s not in the city center. Endless sea view and definitely quiet -and pricey as well. Villa Le Terrazze Charming Rooms . Stunning views of both Mount Etna and the sea. Also not at the heart of the town but close enough. Equally expensive and one of the most luxurious options for accommodation in Taormina.

. Stunning views of both Mount Etna and the sea. Also not at the heart of the town but close enough. Equally expensive and one of the most luxurious options for accommodation in Taormina. B&B L’Attico . A slightly cheaper option and just off of Taormina’s center, this Bed & Breakfast offers spacious apartments with a view.

. A slightly cheaper option and just off of Taormina’s center, this Bed & Breakfast offers spacious apartments with a view. Hotel Casa Adele . A hotel situated in the old town, offering nice rooms, although they feel a bit old-fashioned.

. A hotel situated in the old town, offering nice rooms, although they feel a bit old-fashioned. Hotel Villa Ducale . A luxurious boutique hotel. It’s probably the most expensive hotel I saw in Taormina -and the nicest one, too. Just off of the center.

. A luxurious boutique hotel. It’s probably the most expensive hotel I saw in Taormina -and the nicest one, too. Just off of the center. Casa Lanfranchi. Last but not least, this is one of the most decent options to stay in town. Not that far from the center, this B&B offers a pleasant environment and competitive prices.

For all other options for accommodation in Taormina, please check here.

Rent a car for your trip to Taormina

If you would like to see more things during your journey to Taormina, you can consider renting a car. This would only make sense for traveling a bit more around the area, or if you’d like to visit the nearby beaches. If you plan to visit Taormina and just spend the time there, then you won’t probably need it. Everything is within walking distance in Taormina.

You can find the best prices for renting a car in Sicily here.

What I think of Taormina

After arriving at the bus stop, I followed the street signs pointing to the center. When I crossed the Porta Messina (there is one on the other side too, called Porta Catania), I started walking the narrow streets. I won’t lie: it took me some effort to deal with the crowds. In general, this is a no-go for me, but having seen pictures of Taormina made me want to visit the place. After all, Taormina has a world-famous film festival, and for me, this was a good reason to visit it.

After dealing with the full streets, my time there became more enjoyable. The town is really beautiful, and it has some beautiful viewpoints -especially the one in front of the Duomo. However, I must point out that the shop owners looked a bit bored. I don’t know if this was because I visited at the beginning of the season (such attitude usually happens in the end though) or if it’s just a matter of “style.”

Taormina is one of these places that have an instant impact on you. The scenery is dramatic, the view to the nearby beaches outstanding and the atmosphere nice. However, it is so crowded that it’s hard to enjoy a moment of peace. One should have patience when visiting solo Taormina and should avoid the train option.

For me, Taormina was one of the nice things to do in Sicily. Was I disappointed? No, not at all. But I wasn’t fascinated either. While the landscape and the architecture are both fantastic, something is missing in the vibe of Taormina. I would return to Taormina, but only for a daily excursion. I’d rather see more of Catania, which is a really underrated city.

Selected Tours in Taormina

I’m also adding here a couple of selected tours in Taormina.

Two-hours private sightseeing tour of Taormina . As the name suggests, this is a fast and private tour around the city. You can book it here.

. As the name suggests, this is a fast and private tour around the city. You can book it here. Sicilian cooking class in Taormina . Lots of people have a thing for Italian cuisine, therefore taking a class in Italy sounds great. Book your cooking class here.

. Lots of people have a thing for Italian cuisine, therefore taking a class in Italy sounds great. Book your cooking class here. Food and wine walking tour. Check it out here.

*Some of the links are affiliate links.

More about Sicily: A travelogue from Catania, Visiting Etna, I dreamed of Syracuse, Extra photos from Taormina & What to do in Catania

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Last Updated on March 31, 2020 by George Pavlopoulos