Traveleriences
The Greek theatre at Taormina with the coast and snow-capped Etna behind

Taormina & Etna, Italy

Ideal: 3 daysBest: Apr–Jun, Sep–OctPrice: Expensive
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In 60 seconds

Taormina & Etna in 60 seconds

Taormina hangs on a terrace above the Ionian Sea, and its ancient theatre has one of the most celebrated views in the Mediterranean: the stage frames the coastline and the smoking cone of Etna. The little town has been a resort since Goethe passed through, and its main street, Corso Umberto, is pretty and busy; climb to Castelmola for a quieter view, or take the cable car down to the bay of Isola Bella. Etna, Europe's tallest active volcano and a UNESCO site, is the real excursion: jeeps and cable cars climb to the craters of the south side, while on the northern slopes the black lava soils make some of Italy's most exciting wines — Nerello Mascalese reds and Carricante whites. Eat granita with brioche for breakfast. Three days.

CoastVolcanoWineHistory

Best for

  • Nature
  • Food
  • Hiking
  • Luxury

Known for

  • The Greek theatre
  • Mount Etna
  • Etna wines
  • Granita

Skip if

You dislike crowds — Taormina is small and fills up with cruise passengers in high season; stay overnight to see it calm.

Your match

Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Taormina & Etna fits them. Choose interests

See

Must experience

The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.

Teatro Antico

Moderate

Greek theatre rebuilt by the Romans

Sit high on the curved seats at sunset, with the sea on one side and Etna framed by the ruined stage.

TaorminaMust-seeView

Etna's southern craters

Expensive

Cable car, jeeps and guided walks

From Rifugio Sapienza a cable car and four-wheel-drive buses climb towards the summit craters; the highest areas need an authorised guide.

Rifugio SapienzaHikingVolcano

Isola Bella

Inexpensive

A tiny island nature reserve in the bay

Walk across a sand spit to the island, then swim in the clear bay below the town; take the cable car back up.

MazzaròBeachSwimming

Etna wineries

Expensive

Vineyards on black lava

Taste Nerello Mascalese and Carricante among old terraced vines on the north slope; estates such as Cottanera receive visitors by appointment.

Castiglione di SiciliaBook aheadWine
Official site for Etna wineries (opens in a new tab)

Eat

Where to eat

A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?

More places to eat

Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.

Tischi Toschi

Moderate

Small trattoria with a seasonal Sicilian menu

Away from the Corso, a little restaurant of honest Sicilian cooking that changes with the market.

TaorminaSicilianSlow food

Bam Bar

Inexpensive

Granita with brioche

Almond, mulberry or fig granita with a warm brioche — the Sicilian breakfast, done well.

TaorminaBreakfastGranita

Beyond the obvious

Hidden gems

Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.

Castelmola

A village on the crag above Taormina

Walk or ride up for the view down to Taormina and the coast, and a glass of almond wine in the square.

CastelmolaViewVillage

Orientation

Neighbourhoods

How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.

Corso Umberto

The main street between two gates

Shops, churches and the belvedere of Piazza IX Aprile; at its best early morning or late evening.

Stay

Where to stay

Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.

Taormina town

Very expensive

Hotels on the terrace above the sea

Stay up in town to enjoy it once the day visitors have gone.

EveningsViews

Giardini Naxos

Moderate

Beach town below

Cheaper and by the sea, with buses up the hill.

BeachValue

Practical

Know before you go

Getting in
Catania airport is about an hour away by bus or car; trains stop at Taormina-Giardini below the town.
Etna safety
Eruptions close areas at short notice; above a certain height you must go with a licensed guide.
When to go
April to June and September to October; the theatre hosts concerts in summer.
Taste locally
Granita with brioche, Etna Rosso and Bianco, pasta alla Norma, pistachios from Bronte and cannoli.
Combine with
Syracuse and Noto to the south, Palermo across the island.

Plan this trip — useful links

Cottanera — Etna winery (opens in a new tab)

Context

History in 5 minutes

Enough to make what you are looking at legible.

  1. 300s BC

    Greek Tauromenion builds its theatre on the hillside; the Romans later rebuild it.

  2. 1787

    Goethe visits and praises the view, and Taormina enters the Grand Tour.

  3. 2013

    Mount Etna is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Further out

Nearby escapes

Worth a day if you have one to spare.

Palermo

Sicily's capital

Better as a stay of its own — Palermo has its own guide.

3 hrs by carCityFood