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If you’re dreaming of a gorgeous Sicilian seaside getaway, I bet you’re thinking of the town of Taormina, Italy. Taormina is a spectacular town home to beautiful piazzas, an Ancient Greek theater, and rocky cliffs that plunge into the bright blue sea.
Taormina is also where season two of the hit HBO series The White Lotus was filmed. If you’re looking for lush surroundings, beautiful beaches, and some of the best food and wine you’ve ever tasted, you’re going to love Taormina.
Even before The White Lotus, Taormina was already a popular tourist destination. Now it’s perhaps the most touristy place in all of Sicily, and it gets incredibly busy as a result. Hotels get expensive in the summer, and cruise ships bring in lots of day-trippers.
And that can be a lot to take in. For that reason, Taormina is not my personal favorite destination in Sicily – but I do think it’s an essential place to visit if you’re exploring the eastern side of the island.
But if you’re a photographer, a coastal guru, or just a lover of all things beautiful — you will fall in love with Taormina. This town is seriously eye candy in Italy, a country that knows beauty better than almost anyone else.
Whether you come to Taormina for a day trip, or stay a few days and visit Mount Etna, you will absolutely enjoy your time here. I’m excited to show you the best things to do in Taormina, Sicily.
This post was published in April 2025 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Dale Peterson.
Best Things to Do in Taormina, Italy
Explore the Old Town and Corso Umberto
Just walking around beautiful Taormina is a nice way to spend your day. The piazzas are the heart of the city, and perhaps the most beautiful one is Piazza IX Aprile, with its signature black and white tiles. As in other Italian cities, you won’t want to miss Piazza Duomo, either.
Corso Umberto is the lively main street of Taormina. It stretches from Porta Messina to Porta Catania, two ancient gates of the city. The present-day street follows the ancient Greco-Roman thoroughfare of Taormina.
This pedestrian-only street is lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants. If you’re looking to do some shopping in Taormina, this is the place to do it — just know that prices can be high in this ever-popular destination. The street is often filled with live musicians in the evening, making it perfect for a stroll.
Visit the Ancient Greek Theater
One of the top things to do in Taormina is visit the Ancient Greek Theater, the Teatro Antico di Taormina. This amphitheater in the heart of Taormina was constructed in the third century BCE and could seat up to 10,000 spectators!
Greek ruins are found all over Sicily, which is one reason why I love visiting this island. There’s an even larger ancient theater in Siracusa, but the ruins in Taormina offer the most remarkable views, overlooking Mount Etna and the Mediterranean.
Tickets are 14 EUR ($15 USD) per person, but this is one of the most popular attractions in Taormina for a reason and it’s worth the price of entry. I recommend going early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat and beat the crowds. Avoid visiting in the midday sun if you can.
There’s also a small, free museum on the grounds that you can visit.
Take in the views from the Belvedere di Via Pirandello
In a city of spectacular views, Belvedere di Via Pirandello offers one of the best viewpoints in Taormina. This panoramic viewing platform gives you a dramatic view of Isola Bella and sweeping views of the Mediterranean coastline. You’ll want this for your phone’s lock screen!
Accessing the viewpoint is free, but know that you’ll have to climb about 300 stairs to get there. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, and again, I recommend avoiding this climb during the heat of midday. Go later in the afternoon, closer to sunset, and the light will be perfect on the view.
If you’re not up for the climb, there are plenty of nice viewpoints just from strolling through the town.
Go on a day trip to Mount Etna
A day trip to Mount Etna is one of my personal favorite things to do in Taormina! The town makes a great base for climbing this active stratovolcano, which sometimes feels like THE symbol of Sicily, and whose dramatic peak can be seen throughout the east of the island.
Although Mount Etna is an active volcano with regular small eruptions, don’t worry — it’s safe to visit. Sicilians have been welcoming tourists here for decades, and they know how to keep you safe. If you’ve always dreamed of walking on a volcano, this is one of your best opportunities in Europe.
Your best bet for visiting Mount Etna is taking an organized tour with a guide, which is what I did. This half-day tour includes pickup and dropoff in Taormina, trekking through lava fields, and a visit to lava caves, followed by lunch and wine. Don’t forget that there are fabulous wines grown right on Mount Etna!
Explore Isola Bella and the Beaches
Isola Bella is the star of many a photo of Taormina — an enchanting little island connected to Taormina by a narrow strip of sand. You’ll often find this small stretch of beach packed during the summer months, along with the nearby beaches.
Once privately owned and then abandoned, Isola Bella is now a conservation area. You can walk to the beach from the historic center of town (a steep 30-minute downhill walk involving many stairs), or take the scenic Mazzarò cable car, which puts you just a 10-minute walk away.
Visiting the island is free, although part of it is owned by a local museum and closed to tourists.
And if you’re looking for the beach from The White Lotus, I hate to break it to you, but the beach scenes were actually shot in Cefalù, far away in northern Sicily. The beaches in Taormina are nice, but narrow — not very conducive to filming!
Visit the Palazzo Corvaja
Palazzo Corvaja is a fascinating historic palace in Taormina. While the town has some ruins dating back to Ancient Greek times, this palace is a little newer. Constructed in the medieval period at the end of the 14th century, Palazzo Corvaja was home to the Sicilian Parliament throughout the 15th century.
It’s a unique mixture of architectural styles, including Gothic, Moorish, and Norman. Kind of like Sicily’s architecture in a nutshell.
Nowadays, Palazzo Corvaja houses the Taormina tourism office and a small free museum. It’s worth popping inside to admire the architecture and see what’s on exhibition.
Take the Mazzarò cable car
For a scenic view over Taormina and the Mediterranean Sea, take the Mazzarò cable car from the historic center of town down to the beach. The journey takes about five minutes, with four little cars in a row, and the views can’t be beat.
From the point where the cable car drops you off, it’s just a 10-minute walk to Isola Bella and other nice beaches.
Tickets for the cable car are 6 EUR ($7 USD) one way, or 10 EUR ($11 USD) round-trip. The cable car runs every 15 minutes from 8 AM until 1:30 AM during the summer, and from 8 AM until 8 PM the rest of the year.
Wander through the Taormina Public Garden
The Taormina Public Garden is a hidden gem tucked away in the historic center of town. This beautifully landscaped garden is the perfect respite from the mid-afternoon sun if you want to go for a quiet stroll or sit on a bench in the shade.
You’ll find the entrance to this free public garden just a few minutes away from the city center, just before you reach Grand Hotel Timeo.
Not only is the garden itself very pretty, but you can also enjoy amazing views overlooking the sea from terraces throughout the garden.
Climb to Chiesa Madonna della Rocca
Up for a hike? Climb to the Chiesa Madonna della Rocca for impressive views over Taormina. This humble hilltop church is built directly into the rocks and offers a beautiful view of the town and the Mediterranean Sea from above.
Although Google Maps will tell you that it takes about 20 minutes to get to Chiesa Madonna della Rocca from Porta Messina in the historic center of town, that’s overly optimistic — you should plan for it to take a little more time. It’s a steep climb, including many steps.
However, the views from the top make this hike worthwhile. Once again, this is another activity that I’d recommend avoiding during the midday sun and doing later in the afternoon, closer to sunset.
Alternatively, you can take the IN10 bus from the historic center, which drops you off a few minutes from the church (although the drive takes you up some winding hairpin turns too!).
Visit the Castello Saraceno
While you’re at Chiesa Madonna della Rocca, don’t miss Castello Saraceno too. The ruins of this ancient castle are located just a short walk up some stairs from the church. As you can imagine, the castle also offers incredible views.
Originally, the castle was likely the site of an ancient acropolis during Greek times, before being taken over by the Romans and then the Byzantines. After Sicily fell to the Moors, the castle was totally reconstructed in 902 AD.
You can visit what remains of the castle, tickets are 10 EUR ($11 USD). Since there isn’t much to see within the ruins, and since the view is pretty much the same as what you’ll see climbing up, I don’t think it’s necessary to buy a ticket unless you’re really interested in the site.
Take a boat trip along the coast
One of the best things to do in Taormina is to take a boat trip. Taormina’s dramatic, rocky coastline is even more impressive when seen from the water! And if you’re a White Lotus fan, even better!
On this boat tour inspired by The White Lotus filming locations, you’ll visit places including Giardini Naxos, Sicily’s Blue Grotto, and several spectacular sea caves. You’ll also include refreshments including fruit, snacks, and drinks onboard.
Another option for a boat trip is this half-day sailing tour from Taormina. You’ll feel the sunshine on your face and the wind in your hair as you sail along the coast, stopping to swim and snorkel at various points along the way. This tour also includes Sicilian snacks (local cheese, meats, and bread) and wine.
If you’d prefer a sunset boat trip, this is the perfect excursion. You can take in views of Taormina from the water as you watch a spectacular sunset, enjoying an included aperitivo.
Eat Granita at BamBar
Granita is a staple of the Sicilian diet. Granita is similar to slush — it’s a frozen treat that is often topped with whipped cream, and Sicilians love to eat it for breakfast with brioche!
Taormina is home to my favorite place to eat granita in Sicily — BamBar. People line up to eat at this little cafe, and trust me, you will fall in love with their smooth, delicate granita.
My personal favorite granita flavor is caffe (coffee) with a dollop of panna (cream) on top. I also recommend trying mandorla (almond) at least once when you’re in Sicily. Other popular Sicilian flavors are fragola (strawberry), limone (lemon), pistacchio (pistachio, which you should pronounce pees-TAK-kee-o, the Italian way) and mandarino (mandarin orange).
Visit the Ancient Odeon
Just up the street from the famous Ancient Greek Theater, the Ancient Odeon is another ruin in Taormina that’s worth checking out. This smaller theater was constructed by the Romans around 21 AD.
It’s not as impressive as the Ancient Greek Theater, but seeing as admission is free to this archaeological site, it’s worth visiting to take a look around.
Take a cooking class
Sicilian cuisine is a little different than what you might picture when you think of typical Italian cuisine. And it’s often quite different from Sicilian American cuisine as well. Even the specialties of Eastern Sicily and Western Sicily can vary quite a bit!
Some of its most popular specialties here in the east include arancini, breaded and deep-fried risotto balls, and caponata, a delicious eggplant-based antipasto. When it comes to pasta, pasta alla Norma is a famous dish with tomatoes, eggplant, garlic, basil, and ricotta.
A great way to experience Sicilian cuisine is through a cooking class. This cooking class with a local chef will allow you to learn how to make traditional dishes including caponata, fresh pasta, and pesce spada alla ghiotta, a popular local fish dish.
Another option is this pizza and cannoli cooking class. You’ll visit a local pizzeria and learn the secrets of making Sicilian pizza (which is very different from thin-crusted Neapolitan pizza). You’ll also learn how to prepare cannoli, the quintessential Sicilian dessert.
Read More: What to Eat in Sicily
Go to the opera
In the mood for something fancy and cultural in Taormina? Spend a night at the opera! Sicily’s most iconic opera house, Teatro Massimo, is located several hours away in the city of Palermo. However, you can enjoy an opera performance in Taormina at the small local opera house, Teatro Nazarena.
Evening opera performances are held five nights a week, and you can book a ticket here. Tickets also include a complimentary drink you can enjoy at the venue’s panoramic outdoor terrace overlooking Taormina.
Go on a wine tour
What’s a trip to Italy without a wine tasting? As with Italian cuisine, Italian wine varies greatly by region. Within Sicily, there are quite a few unique wine regions, with one of the most well-known being based around Mount Etna.
You can visit three of the best Mount Etna wineries on a day trip from Taormina with this half-day tour. With its unique volcanic landscapes, you’ll learn about the wines of the Mount Etna region, tasting local reds, whites, and rosés at family-run Sicilian wineries.
The tour also includes pickup and dropoff at your hotel in Taormina, a knowledgeable local guide, and snacks or meals at each of the three wineries.
Visit the Alcantara Gorge
The otherworldly landscapes of the Alcantara Gorge make for a great day trip from Taormina. It can also be combined with a visit to Mount Etna.
The gorge consists of basalt columns formed by rapidly cooling lava, giving it a distinctive appearance. You can swim in the cool, clear waters of the river that runs through the gorge, or try activities like rafting.
It’s possible to visit the gorge on your own by driving (it’s about a 35-minute drive) or taking the IN10 bus from Taormina (which takes about 50 minutes). You can also visit the Alcantara Gorge as part of an organized tour.
This top-rated tour is a great option if you want to combine a visit to the Alcantara Gorge with Mount Etna. You’ll do an easy trek on Mount Etna, visit some lava caves, and finish off the day with free time at the Alcantara Gorge to swim or relax.
Go on a Godfather tour
Several scenes of the iconic 1972 movie The Godfather were filmed in Sicily, and you can visit some of them on a tour from Taormina. You’ll also learn about the true history of the Sicilian mafia, which is known as Cosa Nostra or “Our Thing.”
This half-day tour from Taormina will take you to two Sicilian villages, Forza d’Agrò and Savoca. Pivotal scenes from the movie were filmed in these villages, including the scene at Bar Vitelli where Michael Corleone met the father of his future wife Apollonia, and the scene at a nearby church where they got married.
You’ll be accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide who will also share the history and stories of the mafia in Sicily. Keep in mind that the mafia isn’t just entertainment here — while it’s much less of a problem today than even 15 years ago, it’s still a painful subject for many Sicilians.
Take a day trip to the Aeolian Islands
The Aeolian Islands are a volcanic archipelago off the northeast coast of Sicily and one of my personal favorite places in Italy. I recommend spending at least one week in the Aeolian Islands if you can, but if you’re short on time, it’s possible to visit on a day trip to Taormina.
This full-day tour will allow you to visit two of the islands, Lipari and Vulcano. Lipari is the most developed of the islands, with a lovely little city; Vulcano is a stunner, with a smoking volcano crater and some of the most spectacular views in the islands.
Keep in mind that it’s a long day — you’ll be spending several hours in transit (first by bus to the port, then by boat to the islands) to have two hours of free time on each island. And you won’t see my favorite islands, Salina and Stromboli.
But if you’re dying to see some of the Aeolian islands and don’t have the time right now for a longer trip, this tour might be a good option for you.
Visit other Sicilian cities
Some people visit Taormina on a day trip from a larger city, but you can also do this in reverse! If you’re basing in Taormina for a few days, you can take a day trip to a larger city like Catania or Siracusa.
Catania is the easiest city to visit on a day trip, being about 50 minutes from Taormina by car, train, or bus. This lively, multicultural city isn’t as picturesque as Taormina, but it does have a few beautiful Baroque buildings. The morning fish market is especially worth visiting.
Siracusa is a bit further from Taormina (about 90 minutes by car) but it’s one of the prettiest destinations in Sicily. Ortigia, an island home to Siracusa’s historic old town, is a a delicately beautiful spot, and you can also visit the impressive ruins of Neapolis Archaeological Park. The town’s patron saint has a dagger through her throat. Badass!
If you don’t have your own car, you can visit Siracusa on a private day trip from Taormina.
While the city of Messina is close to Taormina, I don’t think it’s worth visiting — this gritty city doesn’t have much value for tourists.
How Much Time to Spend in Taormina, Italy
How much time should you spend in Taormina? Some people visit Taormina on a day trip from another city in Sicily, like Catania. If a day trip is all you have, that’s perfectly fine! One day can take in lots of beautiful sights, if not absolutely everything.
It’s possible to visit Taormina on a day trip and climb Mount Etna in the morning and afternoon, then spend a couple of hours in the evening exploring the town. This is best done by tour.
Taormina also makes a good base for several days. If you’re basing in Taormina, I think it’s good to have three days here, one of which to be spent on a day trip to Mount Etna. You can spend another day in Taormina, and the final day relaxing on the beach or doing another day trip.
How to Get to Taormina, Italy
The best way to get to Taormina is by flying into Catania. There are direct flights to Catania from all over Europe, and there’s even a seasonal nonstop flight from New York to Catania.
From Catania, you can take the train or the bus to Taormina, which takes just under an hour. Taormina’s train station is down below the town, by the coastline, so you’ll probably want to take a taxi into town to avoid dragging your luggage uphill.
You can also rent a car in Catania and drive to Taormina. I think that Sicily is best explored on a road trip, but I recommend figuring out where you’re going to park before you go to Taormina. You definitely don’t want to drive from place to place in Taormina; this town is designed for pedestrians.
If you’re staying overnight, you’ll want to make sure you book hotels that provide parking, or research nearby parking lots where you can keep the car.
Where to Stay in Taormina, Italy
Where should you stay in Taormina? There are hotels in Taormina for every budget, from luxurious splurge-worthy properties to basic and affordable accommodations.
One thing to keep in mind when booking a hotel in Taormina is the location. Although it’s a small town and very walkable, Taormina is very hilly. Some hotels may be located up steep, narrow, uneven streets. Although these hotels offer great views, you might consider staying in the historic center of town if you don’t want a steep uphill or downhill walk every day.
Here’s a look at the best hotels in Taormina, Italy:
- Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Taormina: San Domenico Palace is where The White Lotus was filmed! You won’t find a more beautiful and luxurious place to stay in town. Overlooking the Bay of Taormina, this is an incredible place to stay on your trip to Taormina.
- Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Taormina: Taormina Garden Hotel is an excellent option if you’re looking for a more affordable mid-range hotel in Taormina. A major perk of staying at this nice hotel is that you’re just steps away from the beach.
- Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Taormina: For a budget-friendly option, check out Hotel Pensione Cundari. It’s a bit outside town, but it offers low prices and simple, clean accommodations.
Find deals on places to stay in Taormina here.
Best Time to Visit Taormina, Italy
When should you visit Taormina? Taormina gets incredibly busy during the summer months of June through September. In fact, since Sicily is warmer than mainland Italy, it gets a lot of shoulder season tourists in May and October as well.
You can enjoy swimming in the sea from May through October — though keep in mind Italians tend not to go to the beach unless it’s summer according to the calendar!
I recommend visiting Taormina in April, May, or October if possible. You’ll get lovely weather, avoiding the extreme summer heat, and pretty much everything will still be open. Many businesses in Taormina, including hotels, shops, and restaurants, close from November through March, since this town runs on summer tourism.
If you’re looking for a winter visit somewhere in Sicily, I recommend a city that is more local-oriented and active year-round, like Palermo, Catania, or Siracusa.
Is Taormina, Italy Worth It?
I loved my time in Taormina, and I think visiting here is a must if you’re going to be exploring Eastern Sicily. Taormina is a wonderful destination for sunset fans, photographers or people who appreciate beauty anywhere in the world.
I hope you have a wonderful time in Taormina!
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