Taormina, the "pearl of the Mediterranean" and heritage of humanity with Isola Bella and Mazzarò, is the undisputed queen of the summer holidays in Sicily. Pretty and charming town on the eastern coast of the island, Taormina enchants and fascinates visitors from every corner of the village: nestled between Mount Tauro and the Etna volcano, the city of Taormina, in the province of Messina (but very close to Catania), stands at 206 meters above sea level of the Ionian Sea and is known in the world for the natural landscape and the marine beauties it preserves. Known everywhere, thanks to the feathers of numerous international writers who have come to Taormina (Goethe, D.H. Lawrence and Capote), the town hits the visitor by the sea and the majestic monuments that embellish it, like the well-known ancient Greek-Roman theater: the emblem of the city of Taormina and the second largest open-air theater in Sicily.

Isolabella - Taormina (Province of Messina, Sicily) (Source: David Evers - CC BY 2.0)

But Taormina also enchants for the sea and the coasts. Reachable from the historic center on foot or by cable car (recommended route), Isola Bella beach will repay the visitor from the fatigue accumulated to reach it (over 100 steps to walk from the center of Taormina). Among the recommended stretches of coastline we find the Blue Grotto of Capo Sant'Andrea, easily reachable by boat or canoe, which strikes the visitor for the changing and colorful colors that illuminate the natural cave during the course of the day.

Greek-Roman Theater - Taormina (Province of Messina, Sicily) (Source: Akira Takiguchi - CC BY 2.0)

How to reach Taormina

By plane

The town of Taormina is just 47 km from the "Vincenzo Bellini" airport of Catania-Fontanarossa, which offers national and international connections daily with both scheduled and low-cost airlines. From the airport Catania to Taormina, by car, you can reach Taormina by booking a transfer service NCC (rental with driver) that will pick you up at the arrivals and leave you at the address you want. With the bus, the company Interbus has direct connections between the Catania airport and the municipality of Taormina. The ticket office at the Catania airport is located in the Arrivals Terminal Square. Alternatively, you can take the bus AMT Alibus, which leads directly to the Catania train station (one ride every 20 minutes) and from here take the regional train to Taormina.

By train

From the Central Stations of Catania and Messina it is possible to reach the Taormina-Giardini Naxos stop (just over 1 hour from Catania and about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Messina). Arriving at the Giardini Naxos station, for to reach Taormina, Letojanni and the center of Giardini, it is necessary to take a bus of the company Interbus or a private transfer service NCC on our site.

By car

The town of Taormina is located in a strategic place and well connected to the main towns of eastern Sicily, in particular Catania and Messina. From Catania it is possible to reach Taormina with different alternative routes. The shortest route (and recommended) passes through the A18 motorway (with toll) exit Taormina-Giardini Naxos (about 54 km). From Messina the town of Taormina is 53 km and a journey time of about 50 minutes is foreseen. The shortest route is via the A18 motorway towards Catania Nord (with toll), Taormina-Giardini Naxos exit. Beware that the parking in Taormina is limited and paid.

By ship or ferry

Getting to the resort of Taormina by ferry is a recommended choice, especially during the summer. From Italy the fastest (and recommended) destination for "Taurmina" (in Sicilian dialect) is the port of Catania, connected directly to the cities of Genoa, Naples, Salerno, Livorno, Civitavecchia and Malta. Among the companies that perform the service: Tirrenia and Virtu Ferries.

Move to Taormina

On foot, by bike or by scooter are definitely the recommended choices. Getting around Taormina is in fact very simple: the town is rather small and flat and allows you to move easily on foot. To reach the beach of Isola Belle is a convenient cable car and a bus service with connections every 30 minutes. For lovers of two-wheels, the bicycle is recommended, also because of the numerous dedicated pedestrian areas, which is certainly the best way to get around Taormina and its surroundings. In the historic center of Taormina, rental of bicycles and scooters are available for a fee.

Do not miss in Taormina

The ancient village of Taormina offers visitors numerous historical testimonies of the dominations that have occurred over time. But the symbol of Taormina (yesterday and today) is definitely the ancient Greco-Roman Theater. Built by the Greeks in the second second AD in the most panoramic promontory of the town (from the Ancient Theater it is possible to admire an enchanting landscape that from the Etna volcano plunges into the intense blue of the Ionian sea that bathes the coasts taorminesi), the ancient theater soon became the center of the cultural life of the city but also the meeting place for artists from all over the world. The ancient theater can be visited for € 8, or you can access during the numerous international festivals that take place right on the stage of Taormina, such as the Taormina Film Fest, which since 1970 rewards the best cinematographic works of Italian and foreign directors.