The Ultimate Guide to Taormina, Sicily

Taormina, Sicily…where do we even begin? We’re not sure what comes to your mind when you think of Sicily, but Taormina exceeded all of those expectations. You can see Mount Etna from all angles of the city. From the food, to the people, to the views it was truly spectacular!

To get to Taormina, you must fly into the Catania airport which is located about 1 hour away. You have the option to take a bus, train, or rent a car from the airport. As of now there is currently no Uber in Taormina, so don’t bet on that as a ride option. We opted to rent a car and we are SO glad that we did! It enhanced our trip by allowing us to explore where we wanted, when we wanted, and the experience of driving on the curvy mountain roads was exhilarating to say the least.

We chose a nice Airbnb that overlooked the water in Mazzaro, a district Taormina. It was incredible and affordable! We were able to walk to the beach which is always a perk for us water lovers! Our host gave us a tip about downloading the Taormina app in the Apple or Android stores to find sites, bus schedules, etc. There were also a plethora of restaurants to choose from each night for dinner. You have to try the seafood here! Enough rambling about the views and the food, let us share with you what you can do in this amazing place!

Visit Taormina

Mazzaro is at the bottom of a mountain, so to get into the main city, you must take a cable car to the top. It runs every 15 minutes and in the summer is open from 8 am-1 am, with the exception of Monday opening hour being 9 am. It is a short ride to the top, and again the views are breathtaking! We did a lot of walking, eating, and exploring in the town square. We would definitely recommend trying cannolis, a traditional Sicilian desert, and Arancini, a fried risotto ball.

Ancient Theater of Taormina

Once you’re in the main part of the city, it’s worth it to walk to the Ancient Theater. It was built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC. Be prepared for walking up a lot of steps, so wear comfortable shoes! If you’re a citizen of the European Union you can get a discount upon entering, so be sure to have supporting documents.

Isola Bella

Isola Bella is a small island in walking distance from Mazzaro. It is now a nature reserve, and is very beautiful! There is a small fee to enter, but totally worth it. We added this to our beach day when we wanted to get up and walk around before lunch.

Gole Alcantara Botanical and Geological Park

If you rent a car, it is worth the drive to make it out to this gorge. There is an entrance fee, but the experience was incredible. There are tall cliffs with waterfalls, rapids, and spots for sunbathing. It was a fun day trip, suitable for people of all ages. Definitely bring a towel!

Castelmola

You can take a bus here, but if you rent a car this is where you put your Italian driving to the test. This drive is not for the faint of heart, but can be quite exciting-just look out for the buses zooming around the corner! This town has so much to offer. Stop by the famous Bar Turrisi to try their Almond Wine. It is a sweet, dessert wine. We should caution that there is a certain level of humor necessary to go to this restaurant, but some may find it offensive.

Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions about Taormina, Sicily!

Xoxo,

Brit+Belle