Taormina is a place that has to be seen to be believed. It is truly one of the most stunning towns we visited in the world, not just in Italy. Every street, corner, shop, and alleyway are incredibly beautiful. However, too many people day trip here and I truly believe you need to stay to really experience it. 48 hours was a perfect amount of time for us and visiting in the Spring we were able to enjoy mild weather for all of these activities. If you’re visiting in summer, you’d like be spending a lot more time down in the beach areas than we did on this trip. Overall this town has enough to keep you busy for a few days, no matter the season.
Getting to Taormina
By car
We did a road trip around Sicily and we drove to Taormina. I’m not going to lie, the switchback roads going uphill all the way to town were not for the faint of heart. But as long as you’re a confident driver and you have patience you’ll be absolutely fine. It is essential that you plan where you will park before visiting. If we hadn’t arranged parking with our hotel I believe we would have been very stressed about figuring out where to put our car. We drove here from the Catania airport and it took about an hour, we then drove onward to Cefalu which took about 3 hours. Overall we found a car to be the best and most flexible way to get around Sicily.
By Bus
We saw signs at the airport for the bus to Taormina and I have to admit that sounded appealing. It was also VERY cost effective. It was something like under 10 euro per person for the bus. The ride is a bit over and hour and it takes the stress out of things for you. Make sure to check bus schedules and understand that things with public transport aren’t always perfect.
The Train
You can also take the train to Taormina from a number of places in Sicily. From Catania it is quick and direct. Make sure to note that the train station is BELOW the town and down by the water. If you arrive by train you will need to arrange transport to actually get up into the town. There are public busses that run this route and I am sure your accommodation could/would also help you to arrange transport.
Where to stay
Hotel Condor
We stayed at Hotel Condor and found it to be a lovely choice. The hotel was just outside the town gate making it walkable yet quiet (the perfect combo). Our room had a balcony with a view of the sea and a window with a side view of the town. It was bright and airy as well as clean and comfortable and I was really glad we stayed here. The staff were very kind and helpful, there was parking in a nearby lot for our car (paid per night), and the breakfast on the terrace was fantastic. They had a good selection for breakfast (both American & European) and the views from breakfast are unbeatable. This hotel was good value for what you get and we were very happy we stayed here.
Click here to view and book —–> Hotel Condor Taormina
San Domenico Palace (A Four Seasons Hotel)
I would be a fool not to mention this hotel, although I 1000% at this time in my life can not afford to stay here. This hotel was recently made famous by the show “White Lotus” but the hotel holds its own with or without the fame. It is absolutely one of the most stunning properties I’ve ever seen. It is right in the center of everything, yet so discreet and private. It is ACTUALLY the Italian dream realized and if you can afford it, you should book it!
Click here to view & book —–> San Domenico Palace
UNA Hotels Capotaormina
I did a ton of research on hotels before visiting and this was honestly my top spot! The only reason we didn’t stay here, is that we were traveling in the off-season and we knew we wouldn’t be spending a ton of time at the beach. This property is absolutely gorgeous, has a position right on the water, and has access to easily reach the town and enjoy everything that Taormina has to offer. If you’re traveling in the summer season and want to enjoy to the fullest, this would 100% be the spot!
Click here to view & book —–> Una Hotels Capotaormina
Places to eat
Le Quattro Fontane
This was our first meal in Sicily and we sat down here on a whim, so you can imagine how thrilled I was when it was DELIGHTFUL! My husband had a pizza & I had cacio e pepe scampi and when I ordered the waiter said “wow”. I didn’t know what to expect when he said that, I wasn’t sure if I made a wrong order, or if he was just surprised by it, but I was a little nervous. When the food came I was impressed. It was absolutely delicious! This was my first taste of the delightful wonder that is raw shrimp in Sicily and it did not disappoint! It was so nice to sit out on the square with a view of the Duomo and people watch while having a lovely lunch, it was a perfect arrival to Taormina.
Raya Taormina
This was such a hidden gem and you wouldn’t even find it if you didn’t make the effort to get into the smaller alleys off the main drag. I only noticed it because I was on the hunt for raw red shrimp and they happened to have a menu posted in the main area of town. I am SO thankful that we saw this sign, because it was wonderful. We ate outside on their heated terrace and it was so beautiful and peaceful. This was more “high end” dining, and it was a slightly higher price, but it was so worth it. I had some raw red shrimp here that were presented so beautifully and tasted amazing. I also had a seafood pasta that was delightful. My husband had the pork and he was very pleased with it as well. The staff here were incredibly professional and kind and you could tell they really aimed to please.
Bam Bar
This is 100% a DO NOT SKIP! This place is iconic in Taormina and if you’ve been doing any research at all on the town you’ve probably seen or heard about it. This is the OG spot for Granita which is essentially an Italian Ice treat! In Sicily, it is actually eaten often for breakfast with a brioche bun! We tried a fruity flavor and we also tried the chocolate flavor with milk. The Granita with milk was SO delicious and creamy we were both in LOVE with it! Of course, as usual, the Italians have life figured out, and the brioche bun with the Granita is the absolute perfect combo. We tried a few other Granita spots during our trip, but Bam bar truly was the best. It can be crowded mid day when all the day trippers are in town, but if you stay (which you should) you can find a more offbeat time. Don’t be discouraged if there is a small line, it moves fast.
Caffè Maikano
This is a perfect spot for a pastry, a drink, and some people watching. It is right on the main walking street of Taormina. I loved this spot because you could have delightful treats right alongside an aperol spritz and enjoy watching everyone bustle around.
Ristorante Pirandello 2.0
We did an arancino making class here and it was absolutely fantastic. It was led by the chef/owner of this spot and he was so welcoming and kind. While sitting here making our arancino I was able to get a peak into the kitchen and to see a ton of dishes coming out and heading to tables. Everything here looked AMAZING, the seafood looked so delicious and fresh, the pastas looked SO good, and we LOVED the arancini we made. I would have loved to go back here to have a full meal if we had more time in Taormina. It was also the most charming and delightfully decorated spot!
Novè – Pistacchio per tradizione
You could miss this place if you’re not paying attention, but try not to! It looks like a store front initially, but if you go around the side or head through to the back you’ll find a delightful little patisserie with all things pistachio! They have so many excellent treats and all of them involve pistachio. Pistachio is incredible in Sicily and unless you have some sort of dislike for it, you should try as much as you can!
Things to do
Arancino making class
This was such a fun experience in Taormina and I highly recommend it. We arrived and everything we’d need was laid out for us, this made things go a lot faster, which I appreciate. We learned about the arancino, the restaurant, the kitchen, and some of the history and then we got right to it. We got to create our own arancino any way we wanted and use our own ingredients. We got to shape, fill, cook, and then eat what we created! If you’re confused about why I’m saying arancino instead of arancini, they’re essentially the same. But due to a fun food feud between different areas of Sicily, in Taormina they are called arancino and are pear shaped. We got to taste some delicious house white wine along with the food. The restaurant was so lively and lovely and well decorated! We also loved that the extra food didn’t go to waste! The leftover from our efforts was made into a delicious looking meal for the staff of the restaurant. I can say with certainty that we’ll be making arancino at home now that we are experts!
If you want to do the same class we did, you can check it out here —-> Arancino making class in Taormina
Visit Castelmola
If you arrive to Taormina by car you will likely see Castelmola from the road and probably be as mind blown as we are. It appears to be a little village that looks like it could just roll right off the side of a cliff. We were stunned when we realized we could walk up there and visit. The walk up is not for the faint of heart and would be tiring in summer heat. You can also take a bus ride up from town. Visiting in Spring we still sweat on the way up, but it was worth it. This little village is built around the ruins of a castle and it is very neat and absolutely worth a visit. It is small but incredibly beautiful. We had lunch up here in the little square by the church, we tasted almond wine and a bunch of nice Sicilian liquors, and we admired the views from up above Taormina.
Castello di Taormina & Chiesa Madonna della Rocca
We actually visited this area before heading ALL the way up to Castelmola. It was a nice pit stop along the way, you could also stop on the way down. To visit this castle you have to pay to enter and you can do the small tour with an audio guide or you can just read the signs. It was neat to see and had lovely views of the entire surrounding area. You can also visit the Church of Madonna della Rocca which is built right into the side of the rocks and is truly beautiful. There is a path leading from this area right into the main town of Taormina. You can also get some great views of the Greek Amphitheater in Taormina from up here!
Head down to the beaches
Taormina is a mountain village so you wont be able to just stroll right out of your accommodation and onto the beach if you stay in town. Your options include walking (could be considered hiking), driving, taking public busses, or a cable car (which was not in operation at the time of our visit) to get down to the beach. There are also a number of options for beaches in this area, so you have to find which one suits you best. We went straight down the hill to the beach near the Isola Bella. This is a little island outcrop right off the beach that you can walk or swim to depending on the tides. This was a lovely little area to have a drink and relax during the Spring. I can imagine it gets quite crowded in the summer, although still enjoyable! The water here was so incredibly clear and beautiful and we loved sitting by the waves and enjoying the scene. There are also options for much longer beaches that you can also reach by car or bus.
Do some shopping & check out the ceramics
Taormina and Sicily are known for having the most stunning ceramic products. You will see them EVERYWHERE you turn, they are used for planters, home decor, street signs, storefronts, tables, you name it, it can be a beautiful ceramic creation. It would serve you well to bring an extra suitcase just to bring everything home! Taormina is also home to a number of high end shops like Dior, and many boutiques and speciality shops as well. Truly, you could leave here loaded up with anything and everything you could want. Personally, we really are just window shoppers as we have quite a tiny home, but we loved going in and out of stores and checking out all of the beautiful things on offer.
Villa Comunale di Taormina
This is an absolutely lovely and surprisingly large park right on the edge of the village. The gardens here are fantastic to take a stroll around the views over the surrounding area are stunning. This is a perfect little spot to relax or take a break from the crowds of town and enjoy a peaceful stroll and views.
Aperitivo
You’re likely not ever going to find a blog post from me about Italy that doesn’t mention the most lovely time of day that is aperitivo. Find a spot in town before dinner, sit and have a drink with some complimentary snacks, and socialize, enjoy the vibes, and people watch as the town gets ready for meal time.
My pro tip for this time of day is simply to walk around and look at what other people have got. Eye up a couple spots and see what kind of little snacks they’ve got with their drinks. When you spy a place that looks good, enjoy!
We enjoyed Caffè Wunderbar as a more “fancy” option. It is right in a main square area and there was some live entertainment across the way, it was also great for people watching.
We enjoyed Al Grappolo d’Uva for a more relaxed setting and some excellent wine!
Visit the Greek Ampitheater
I have to be completely honest, we didn’t do this. We found 15 euros per person to be a little steep. But we were able to peek at it from above when we hiked up to Castelmola. If you’re really interested in history, this spot is right in town so its easily accessible.
Final Thoughts
There is so much more to do in Taormina than we could have ever done in 3 days or included in this post. It is just Italian perfection and the dreamiest place. I strongly urge you not to day trip here. It is a tempting day trip, especially being only about an hour from Catania. I know that many people do day trip here, but I even overheard day trippers walking around town complaining that they wished they had more time. There is such a wonderful peaceful aspect to having a “day trip” town to yourself in the mornings and evenings and Taormina has so much to offer that it’s 100% worth the stay.
If you’re interested in other Sicilian towns, check out my post here —-> 48 Hours in Ortigia, Sicily.
If you’re looking for more information on where to stay in Italy, check out my post here —-> FREE Guide to my Favorite Stays in Italy
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