How To Spend 1 Day In Taormina
Where to start with Taormina? It’s Sicily’s Positano. Even if you’re in the early stages of planning a trip to Sicily, you’ve no doubt already come across countless gorgeous photos of Taormina and been told that it is “a must-stop.”
I can’t argue that. It’s incredibly beautiful. The views are spectacular. Even after visiting numerous times and seeing it turn into an “Instagrammable” destination crowded with tourists, I still think Taormina is special.
It was the first place I visited in Italy. My heart melted when I walked into Piazza IX Aprile and saw the view of the coastline and Mount Etna. Taormina’s beauty left such an impression on me that my husband and I ended up moving to Sicily.
While living in Catania, we took many day trips to Taormina. Every time we had visitors, we had to take them. You can cover a lot of ground in a day in Taormina, without feeling exhausted. (Of course, if you can stay for a night or two, you’ll be able to bask and linger in its beauty.)
Now not to brag, but I feel I’ve kind of perfected how to spend one day in Taormina. So let’s cover what you can do, see, and eat during your day trip to this stunning town.
Getting to Taormina
Before we dive into what to do, see, and eat in Taormina, let’s talk a bit about how to get there.
Note: The main town of Taormina is located high above the sea level. There you will find the shops, restaurants, main squares, and the Greek Theatre. A steep walk or drive down from the main town is where you’ll find the beaches and the train station. There is also a funicular to travel between the lower and upper parts of Taormina.
By Car
Taormina is about a 45-minute drive from Catania and a 3-hour drive from Palermo.
Driving in Taormina can be a bit stressful, depending on the time of year you visit. The roads are winding and it can be hectic.
There are several paid parking areas in and around Taormina. Check out Travel Taormina for parking locations, costs, and schedules.
Finding free street parking in Taormina is unlikely unless you're there in the winter.
By Train
We often arrived in Taormina by train from the Catania train station. It costs €5.50 one-way and the ride is between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on the train you catch.
There are no direct trains from the central station in Palermo to Taormina. The simplest route would be to take the train from Palermo to Messina, then Messina to Taormina. The trip can be up to 5.5 hours. It costs about €18.
The Taormina train station is located by the sea, far below the main town of Taormina. It’s not easy to walk from the station to various sights, especially in high season. There are no sidewalks and traffic can be busy.
The easiest way to get to the main town from the train station is by taxi. You can catch one outside the station and the price is standardized. Last I remember, the cost of a taxi was €20.
If you’re not with a group, cut down the cost by taking a taxi with a few strangers.
I love and always use Trainline to book train tickets in advance.
By Bus
Taking the bus in Sicily is typically the cheapest transportation option. It costs about €5 to take the bus from Catania to Taormina, and the trip takes just over an hour.
There are also buses to Taormina from the Catania airport for €6.50.
Coming from Palermo by bus, you would travel to Catania, then take another bus to Taormina. Traveling from Palermo to Catania by bus takes just under 3 hours, and it costs about €14.
The nice thing about taking the bus to Taormina is that you often get dropped off in a more convenient location than the train station.
I also love using Trainline to purchase bus tickets.
What to See and Do in Taormina
Have granita and a brioche at Bam Bar
One should eat granita endlessly while in Sicily. And sure, there are plenty of bars where you can get granita in Taormina, but Bam Bar is different.
Bam Bar is known for its fruit flavors of granita that you won’t find in many other bars. Depending on the season, they have flavors like raspberry, kiwi, peach, and orange.
They also have the typical almond, pistachio, and chocolate granitas, but I highly recommend sticking to the fruit flavors at Bam Bar! They’re insanely delicious.
I will warn you that Bam Bar can be BUSY. Plan to wait a while for a table in the summer months. I suggest having one person in your group do the hard job of waiting in the queue, while the rest explore the nearby shops.
Unfortunately, Bam Bar has turned into an “Instagrammable” hotspot. I’ve even heard of young people setting up shop with their laptops while occasionally spooning a bit of melted granita in their mouths, as if the bar is nothing more than a glorified Starbucks.
You may be able to detect my slight disdain for these modern contributions to Italian villages. Despite this, I still feel Bam Bar is special and well worth a visit. Focus on the wonderful granita and you won’t be disappointed!
Visit the Teatro Antico
One of the highlights of Taormina is the Teatro Antico (Ancient Greek Theatre), which is well worth a visit!
Originally built in the 3rd century B.C., the theatre’s remains are beautiful and have an outstanding backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Etna.
The entry fee to the theatre includes access to the grounds surrounding it. There are stunning views all around the area. It’s an amazing spot for pictures.
The theatre is open to visitors from 9:00 am to 5:45 pm daily. Ideally, visit early or late in the day. You’ll be fighting the crowds there mid-day. If you can arrive in Taormina around 9 am, head to Bam Bar for a granita breakfast, and then make your way to the Teatro Antico. That will help you avoid the crowds in both hotspots.
Another incredible option for visiting the theatre is to go to an outdoor concert there on a summer night. From June to September, there are several musical performances. You couldn’t ask for a more enchanting location!
Check out the shops
Taormina is for you if you love shopping (or just window shopping). You’ll find plenty of shops with high-end clothing and bags, gourmet Sicilian products, and souvenirs.
All the shops are on Corso Umberto, the main street of Taormina. It’s hard to miss. Just follow the sea of people. It can be fun to spend a bit of time strolling past the shops on your way to the next Taormina sight.
Personally, I love the food boutiques. Sicily provides endless delicious ingredients and food products. You’ll see plenty on offer in Taormina. If you’re going to bring home some souvenirs, edible ones are the best kind.
Eat a simple lunch at Rosticceria Da Cristina
If you only have one day to spend in Taormina, skip a time-consuming, sit-down restaurant meal, and opt for a quick tavola calda lunch.
Tavola calda is Sicily’s “fast food.” You can find these savory bites all over any Sicilian town. Some of the best in Taormina are at Rosticceria Da Cristina. They have a variety of arancini flavors, baked pizza slices, and stuffed savory pastries, all at reasonable prices for Taormina.
Rosticceria Da Cristina has two locations in Taormina, here and here. Whichever end of town you’re in come lunch, you won’t be far from one of the locations.
Also Read: Best Tips To Travel Italy on a Budget
Wander the public gardens
After lunch, take time to stroll through the Villa Comunale di Taormina (Taormina’s public gardens).
It’s another great spot to take in the gorgeous views. You’ll find beautiful flowers throughout, Mount Etna in the distance, and plenty of pretty photo opportunities.
Walk the stairs from the town to the beach
You’ll notice when you’re in the main town of Taormina that there’s quite a drop and distance to the beach areas below. You could take a taxi, use the funicular, or walk to get down there. If you have the energy, I suggest walking!
Next to Belvedere di Via Pirandello, a scenic lookout spot, there is a stair path that goes all the way down to the waterfront. The beautiful path is filled with bougainvillea, lemon trees, and gorgeous views.
It’s certainly easier to walk down than it is to walk up. Either way, ensure you have water with you in the hot months.
It is about a 25-minute walk from the start of the path to Isola Bella beach.
Swim or lounge by Isola Bella
After walking down from the center of Taormina, you’ll no doubt be ready for a swim or a refreshment. Of course, the perfect place to head to is the Isola Bella beachfront.
Isola Bella is a tiny island with a narrow path that connects it to the mainland beach. The island and the area surrounding it are stunning and have become a symbol of Taormina.
Of course, that means that it can be very crowded in the summer months. Personally, I wouldn’t even attempt to go to that beach in July or August. But if you happen to visit in April, May, or October, you’ll relaxingly enjoy an afternoon swimming or just lounging in front of Isola Bella.
There are bars along the beach where you can eat a full meal, enjoy a snack, or savor a cocktail.
I suggest bringing water shoes if you plan on swimming. It’s very rocky under the water around Isola Bella. Before you think about getting that “perfect shot” of yourself in the sparkling sea, know that getting in and out of the water isn’t terribly glamorous. You have to watch your step.
I once witnessed a social media photoshoot in front of Isola Bella that ended in bloody hands and knees for the photographer. Ah, a real sacrifice for beauty. But the lesson I took from it was to stick with my nerdy water shoes and save the photos for later.
Other Points of Interest Around Taormina
Castelmola
Castelmola is a beautiful village above Taormina. It’s on the list of i borghi più belli d’Italia (Italy’s most beautiful villages). The views from Castelmola are incredible.
You can reach the village by car from Taormina in about 15 minutes. Several buses go to Castelmola daily from Taormina’s Interbus Terminal. And the third option is to walk. The walk takes under an hour from the center of Taormina, but it is vigorous. Bring water and good shoes!
Laboratorio Pasticceria Roberto
I had the tradition of grabbing a cannolo or two from Laboratorio Pasticceria Roberto each time I visited Taormina. The bakery makes many wonderful, traditional Sicilian treats. Do yourself a favor and pop in for some top notch sweets!
Nove
Novè is a fun, themed food boutique in Taormina. They sell tons of tempting pistachio products and you can try pistachio liqueurs, granita, gelato, arancini, and even pistachio coffee. Sicily is the land of pistachios, so be sure to indulge while you’re there!
Giardini Naxos
Taormina’s neighbor, Giardini Naxos, is a hopping seaside town. If you visit Taormina in the peak tourist season and feel you need some breathing space, Giardini Naxos can give you some air.
The town has plenty of great restaurants, a long beach, and more affordable accommodations than Taormina if you want to stay the night.
And that’s how to spend your one day in Taormina! Be warned: the visit may result in subsequent trips and constant daydreaming. Taormina’s beauty has a way of staying with you.
Do you have more questions about visiting Taormina? Share them in the comments below.