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Latest update: 23 May 2025
Taormina is absolutely for the rich and famous, but also for you! This coastal town in Sicily is wonderful to wander through—not just the streets but also the attractions. The Greek theater is impressive because of its location, and then there’s the little island Isola Bella: wow, the perfect picture. So, definitely plan a day for Taormina.
Ignore the crowds and costs
Before I leave for Sicily, other travelers tell me that Taormina is ridiculously expensive and crazy crowded. Not exactly my cup of tea, but hey… I still want to see it for myself. And yes, it really is expensive and crowded, but I still believe it’s a nice town to spend a day. Because there’s a reason it’s so busy: it really is a gorgeous little town.
I’ll warn you, though: in this blog, I’ll probably repeat that it’s very beautiful but very crowded a bit too much. I just think you need to know that, so you can adjust your expectations a bit.
La dolce vita in Taormina
Winding little streets (where you weave through crowds like you’re slaloming) and richly decorated buildings (where a night’s stay costs a fortune). There are chic palazzos, sweeping views, boutiques and designer shops, and so many restaurants. The Ionian Sea is iconically blue and the attractions are centuries old. It’s no wonder film producers want to capture a piece of it. The White Lotus, The Godfather, and countless Italian films used Taormina as their backdrop. The town breathes ‘la dolce vita’ – the good life.
But honestly, I don’t get that good-life vibe because of the crowds. The best time to visit Taormina is definitely not summer. I’m there in September and find one day of this chaos more than enough. The tip is, as always, to get up early—then it’s definitely easier to enjoy the beauty and splendor of Taormina.
Tip! Are you a The Godfather fan? Then you can take various tours in Taormina to see the filming locations. Check your options at Freetour and GetYourGuide.
Beaches of Taormina
The town sits high on the rocks above the coastline. It’s small, cute, and chaotic. Down below along the coast, it’s still chaotic but more modern. Here, you’ll also find the resorts and beaches. Unfortunately, renting a beach chair will cost you an arm and a leg.
From the center, there’s a long, steep staircase down to the beach. These Stairs to Taormina (Google Maps location) take you to the little beach at Isola Bella. Down below, a refreshing dip awaits you. You can walk to the little island of Isola Bella at low tide. When you head back up, expect a climb of about 20-30 minutes.
Another option is Lido Mazzarò beach, which can be reached by cable car. The boarding point is in the center, here. In 2024, a round trip costs €10 ($11).
The most beautiful viewpoint of Isola Bella
Where the stairs to Isola Bella’s beach begin, you also have a fantastic view of the little island. This spot, Belvedere di Via Pirandello, is the best viewpoint in Taormina. Don’t skip it. Here, you can look directly at the green island, which has many rare trees and plants and a small museum. You can visit the museum for free on the first Sunday of the month. Otherwise, you pay a small fee. More info.
The island was bought in 1890 by Lady Florence Trevelyan, a posh British aristocratic woman. After an affair with Edward Prince of Wales, this lady was supposedly kindly asked to leave the country and ended up in Taormina. She had a small house built on Isola Bella and planted unusual plant species. The island changed hands a few more times, and now it’s a protected Natura 2000 area.
Public garden Villa Comunale di Taormina
Here, you can catch your breath. Escape the hustle and bustle of the busy streets and find nice shaded spots, beautiful views, and remarkable old buildings in the public garden of Villa Comunale di Taormina. The garden features various unusual plants and Moorish towers that feel fairy-tale-like.
The park was Lady Florence Trevelyan’s garden until 1922, where she created a little paradise. It’s the same lady from Isola Bella.
A warm-up: the Odeon
Behind the baroque Santa Caterina church, you can see a bit of excavation with a fence around it. This is the Odeon: a remnant from the Greco-Roman period where plays and concerts were once performed. The difference with an amphitheater is that an odeon has a roof. It’s just a small piece of history you can see, but it’s a perfect warm-up for Taormina’s impressive amphitheater.
Teatro Antico
The Teatro Antico is the superlative of the Odeon. In Sicily, the amphitheater in Syracuse is the only one that is bigger. The construction dates from the third century BC, but it was rebuilt in the second century AD. Then, it served as an arena. This really is a place full of history. But what makes it so special to the untrained eye (read: my eye) is the location. The theater is still pretty intact and offers fantastic sea views. The high wall behind the stage was restored in the 19th century. You can still see the two outer ‘doors’ now; the middle one has collapsed. Too bad, but because of that, you now have that beautiful view.
The theater still hosts performances. New tribunes and a wooden stage have been placed for extra seats and comfort. You can still see through them quite well to give you a good idea of what it must have been like ages ago.
It’s smart to visit the theater first thing in the morning because then you can still take some photos without hordes of tourists. If you like, you can buy a ticket with an audio guide. I didn’t do that and found the signs sufficient.
Tip! Parking in Taormina’s center is difficult because it’s so busy and narrow. I therefore park at Parcheggio Lumbi. This parking garage costs €15 ($16) per day, and from here, you either take the long stairs to the center or take the free shuttle bus.
Google Maps location.
Follow the Corso Umberto
The Corso Umberto is Taormina’s main street. Almost a kilometer (0.6 miles) of designer shops, boutiques, souvenir shops, stately buildings, beautiful squares, and nice eating and drinking establishments.
If you follow this Corso Umberto, you will automatically walk past several attractions in Taormina. For example, the beautiful square Piazza IX Aprile with its checkerboard tiles and viewing platform. Framed by fantastic views and beautiful old churches.
You’ll find the Duomo di Taormina a bit further down the street. This medieval church is also called the fortress cathedral because, with its stark, blocky shape, it looks more like a fort than an elegant church. I find the duomo fairly simple inside, but it is really typically a church.
The Corso Umberto runs from Porta Messina to Porto Catania. When you’re at Porta Messina, walk through it, and on the corner, you’ll find Don Diego. This is a gelateria where they also make their own ice cream flavors, like the Taormina with raspberry and the Don Diego with pistachio. I order my ice cream on a brioche here because that’s typical for Sicily. It was fun for once, but I’ll stick to a cup or cone from now on. What a mess, haha.
Learn to make cannoli in Taormina
Across from gelateria Don Diego sits Ristorante Pizzeria Porta Messina, which cleverly offers cooking classes. I want to learn how to make cannoli, so I join this cooking workshop where we have to do everything ourselves. We make the dough, knead it endlessly, and then cut circles out of it to wrap around an iron tube. Then, the cookie goes into the fryer, and someone else in the group has already made the filling. Fill, dip in pistachio, and done!
We get to taste the result on the spot – with a glass of wine for those who want it. Meanwhile, our certificates are being written, and the remaining cannoli are packed to take home. And yes, I admit I tried really hard to make as many as possible. Pro tip: don’t make them too small; take a slightly larger dough ring.
I thought this cannoli workshop in Taormina was super fun, but it is a bit commercial with larger groups lined up. Fortunately, there was also an assistant cook with whom we could ask many questions and chat extensively during the frying. So, ultimately, I think it’s one of the most fun things you can do in Taormina.
Tip! Get a focaccia or arancini at stritFUD (Google Maps location)—perfect for a quick lunch. Around the corner is Mediterraneo Café (Google Maps location), where you can enjoy your aperitivo in the shade with a nice breeze.
From Taormina: breathtaking Alcantara gorge
About half an hour’s drive from Taormina, you’ll find the Gole Alcantara, the Alcantara gorge. This really is a beautiful natural phenomenon. The ice-cold Alcantara river flows here along high lava walls. You can wade through it, but watch out: more people want to do that. So get up early and have it to yourself. According to the website, you can enter the park daily from 8:30 AM. Want to know more? Then I’d love to tell you about my visit to the Alcantara gorge.
Accommodation in the mountains of Taormina
Hotel prices are pretty high in Taormina. I therefore decide to stay in the mountains and thus leave Taormina in the evening for what it is. I find a nice location with Rosario who rents various small apartments on Airbnb. The road to the apartment is somewhat challenging, so I’m glad I had already decided to cook for myself and not have to drive back to town in the dark. By the way, Rosario also cooks for her guests on request for a reasonable price. And your stay includes breakfast on your terrace.
Check out the accommodations here.
More Sicily travel inspiration
Useful links for your Sicily trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. Book the best tours and activities at GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. Book “free” walking tours at Freetour or GuruWalk , and for bike tours, Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare prices and insurance coverage at DiscoverCars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Definitely Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Bol.com and Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Start your search at Expedia or CheapOair.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Yoga retreat. Or join a yoga retreat in Sicily.
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