Best Things To Do in Taormina

When you travel to Taormina you shouldn't miss out on the best things to do in the city. It is a town full of history and impressive architecture. The best thing is that most of them are completely free and you can visit them in just one day.

Taormina is a paradise for architecture lovers. In all the buildings you will see beautiful works in Arabic, Nordic and Gothic styles. Each site has a great historical value that will surprise you, but that's not all! In this beautiful area of Sicily you can also enjoy the sea and, if you have time, you can visit Mount Etna. Let's start!

One of the places I recommend you to visit when you go to Taormina is the Greek Theatre of Taormina. It is an iconic site in this city from where you can see the Etna volcano and the town of Giardini-Naxos. It was built in Hellenistic times and rebuilt during Roman rule. Famous events such as the Taormina Film Festival are held here.

Whenever you take a tour of Taormina you should always include this theatre. To visit it you should go to Via del Teatro Greco, 40. You can go any day of the week from nine in the morning until seven in the evening. Sunset can be an ideal time to take the best pictures.

Please note that tickets cost between 10 € and 20 €. You can easily buy them at the box office outside the theatre. When you enter, you will be able to see the different areas, which are the orchestra, the stage, the audience and the porticoes.

Practical information

• Location: Via del Teatro Greco, 1, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy.

• When to go: The best time togo is during the summer.

• Price: between €10 and €20.

• Opening hours: from 9 am to 7 pm.

When you are in Taormina you can take the time to visit the most active volcano in Europe. It is Mount Etna, located just an hour and a few minutes from the city of Taormina. I recommend you to visit it ahead of time on a guided tour. This is the best way to visit it, as you will have the help of an expert guide and the experience will last approximately six hours. It is one of the best excursions to do in Taormina.

Private transport is usually included in this type of excursion and is usually a van with a small number of passengers. Your guide will meet you at a specific point and take you to the height of the Rifugio Sapienza. From there, you will often start the tour on foot. Please note that this is a hiking adventure, so be prepared for that.

Did you know that Mount Etna has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site? All the more reason to visit it and enjoy your experience. On the way, your guide will take you to the upper craters of Monti Silvestri. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful panoramic views that this mountain has to offer.

You can have this experience in different ways. There are guides who offer transportation in a 4x4 jeep type vehicle. This way can be more adventurous for some people. Other tours offer a gastronomic experience where you can even taste different types of wines.

Practical information

• Transport: van, although it depends on the type of tour.
• Duration: around 6 hours.
• Price: approximately €50.

If you are looking for things to do in Taormina at night, I recommend a gastronomic tour. Food is always a good way to get to know a new city. Besides, there are always different options to choose from. Some even offer a variety of wines that I'm sure you'll love.

These tours usually last three hours or more and are led by local guides. This ensures that you will only visit the best restaurants on the tour. It's also a great advantage, as you won't have to search the internet for the best places in the area. Your guide already knows this information beforehand and will take you straight to them.

Typical meals you will eat on this type of tour include traditional fresh fish and bruschetta. If you like desserts, then Sicilian sweet pastries will be your favourite. Also, within the food samplings, you are sure to try other regional specialities. Some of these tours even include cooking classes, so you can recreate the recipes when you return home.

All the dishes you try can be complemented with a delicious glass of red or white wine, prosecco or Italian liqueur. I recommend that for this tour you have not eaten anything heavy before you start. This way you will be able to taste all the samples and dishes without any problem.

Finally, I recommend you to have a look at the transfers between Taormina and Palermo airport, so that once you land you only have to worry about enjoying what will surely be an unforgettable trip. I hope you enjoy it!

Taormina Castle, also known as the Arab-Norman castle or even Castello di Monte Tauro, is located on a rock on Monte Tauro, almost 400 metres above the sea. From there you can enjoy an incredible view, so make the most of it and take the best pictures of your trip!

If you spend a day in Taormina, you should include this visit in your itinerary. This imposing castle was built on an ancient acropolis during the Middle Ages. It has a trapezoidal base and a tower. Today you can only see the courtyard, the surrounding walls, the high reservoir and the remains of a tower.

Getting to the castle only takes about 15 minutes. Just walk from the centre of Taormina until you come to the stairs. These are a bit long, so you might get a bit tired. The good thing is that you can go at any time of the day and without buying a ticket. Its doors are open to the public most of the time.

Practical info

• Location: Via Madonna della Rocca, 9, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy.

• When to go: Any time of the year.

• Price: Free admission.

• Opening hours: from 9am to 8pm.

There is undoubtedly no better place to get to know a new city than its historic centre. In the case of Taormina, this site is located along Corso Umberto. This is the main pedestrian artery of the city. You can stroll freely along it and visit different shops, restaurants and see its beautiful façades.

If you like to take pictures of curious places and beautiful details, I recommend you to walk carefully along this street. In some of its corners you will see very peculiar and colourful ceramic decorations. Keep in mind that this street is crossed by the Porta Catania and Porta Messina, gates of the ancient city walls. If you do not pass through them, your visit to Taormina would be incomplete.

In total, the walk should only take about 15 minutes. I recommend you bring sunscreen and comfortable clothes for a leisurely stroll through the streets. You can also take the opportunity to eat a good Italian pizza in restaurants such as Pizzeria Villa Zuccaro.

Traveler Tip
Taormina is a city that you can easily get around on foot. That's why I recommend you wear comfortable clothes and shoes to stroll around the historic centre. While strolling along Corso Umberto, try to wander through its alleys and shops. This will make the walk more interesting.

When you are strolling through the historic centre, near Porta Catania, you will find the Duomo di Taormina. It is a cathedral located in Piazza Duomo and if you are an architecture buff, you will love this place. You will also have the opportunity to see the town hall of Taormina.

This cathedral is known for being the main place of worship in the historic centre of Taormina, the sybaritic corner of Sicily, for its exclusive gastronomy. It belongs to the archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela. You can visit it any day of the week and the entrance is totally free.

On its main façade you will see two pointed windows. On each side of the door you will see two fluted columns in Corinthian style. The columns of the main nave are made of pink marble. When you enter, you will notice that it has the shape of a Latin cross with three naves and three apses.

Practical information

• Location: Piazza Duomo, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy.

• When to go: Any time of the year.

• Price: free admission.

• Opening hours: from 9am to 8pm.

Not everything in Taormina is about trips to buildings and architectural works. If you fancy a different atmosphere, I recommend you to visit Isola Bella, one of the most famous beaches in Sicily. It is located right at the foot of Taormina and under Mount Tauron. You will definitely enjoy spending time there during your holiday.

To get to this beach, you can take the bus from Piazza San Pancrazio. This is the fastest and cheapest option, as the average cost of the trip is 1 €. In addition to its good price, I recommend this option, as in high season it is difficult to find a parking space.

This beach is protected from the wind and water currents. It is spread out on both sides of the island. It has no sand, but the pebbles are small so there is no problem to walk along the beach. In the surroundings you can find several restaurants such as Ristorante Magnolia to eat and have a nice time.

Some people prefer to take an excursion to the beach. This usually includes the Capo Taormina and the Grotta Azzurra sea cave. If you head towards these destinations, you will be able to dive in the clear waters of the area.

In Taormina, considered the happy coast of Sicily, there are many architectural beauties worth visiting. Among them is the Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano. And I highly recommend you visit it, as you will be able to walk around it in a short time and the entrance is free, so you can easily include it in your itinerary.

The Palazzo Duchi Di Santo Stefano is considered by many to be a masterpiece of Sicilian Gothic art. It is a fusion of Arab and Norman art styles. The decoration on the upper part of the building, characterised by a wide frieze extending along the entire east and north façade, emphasises the Arabic style of the building.

The square, tower-shaped ground plan and the battlements at the top of the tower are reminiscent of Norman art. The entrance to the ground floor has a pointed arch that was built with white granite bricks, black basalt and lava stone. On the first floor you can see Gothic-style windows through which you can get an unparalleled view of the city and the sea.

In addition to its structure, you can see other works that are usually on temporary display. Around the palace you will see a beautiful garden with a variety of trees. Make the most of your stay here and explore all its nooks and crannies.

Practical information

• Location: Via De Spuches, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy.

• When to go: Any time of the year.

• Price: free admission.

• Opening hours: from 10am to 7pm.

The Greek Theatre of Taormina is not the only one in the city. You can also visit the Odeon Theatre of Taormina, another incredible building built in the Roman imperial period, during the time of Caesar Augustus Octavianus.

This site is located just behind the hill of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, next to Palazzo Corvaja. If you visit it, you will notice that its structure resembles that of the Greek Theatre. However, its dimensions are smaller, as it was built for a select audience of at least 200 people. Musical performances and other special events used to be held there.

You can visit it at any time of the day between nine in the morning and four in the afternoon. Admission is free and allows you to enjoy its different parts. Inside, you will see the cavea or stands, the orchestra (a special area for the choir and musicians) and the stage.

Practical information

• Location: Via Timeo, 31A, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy.

• When to go: Any time of the year.

• Price: free admission.

• Opening hours: from 10 am to 7 pm.

Sicily is a charming Mediterranean island that hides beautiful places, starting with the city of Taormina. In turn, in this city you will find buildings worth visiting such as Palazzo Corvaja. I recommend that you take note of all the buildings that are worth visiting and thus make a very complete walking tour.

Like many buildings in Sicily and Taormina, this palace was rebuilt and different parts were added to it over the years. In recent years it has even undergone maintenance and restoration works. This is why it is now possible to see the mixture of different architectural styles. However, this makes it more valuable for the city.

Its present name is due to the noble family Corvaja, who lived there between 1538 and 1945. The following year, the architect Armando Dillon carried out renovations to improve the appearance of the palace. When you visit it, you will not only be able to admire its construction, but also the works of art it houses. You will find them on the first floor, as there is a tourist information office on the ground floor.

Practical information

• Location: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy.

• When to go: Any time of the year.

• Price: free admission.

• Opening hours: 10am-7pm.