On the Eastern side of Sicily is one of the prettiest Italian towns I’ve ever seen. Perched high up on Monte Tauro, Taormina has some of the most amazing views. Think sparkling blue ocean during the day and sunset behind Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano. It’s a town frequented by tourists being dropped off by their cruise ships for a day in town. Yet, it is 100% worth at least a few days stay in town to really experience the city.
Taormina is quaint and charmingly Italian. Still it boasts some of the most amazing blue waters, cliffside views, and incredible Italian food. I regularly find myself dreaming about returning to this magical coastal town. We were lucky enough to visit for the first time in September of 2020 while Europe was open for summer. We were so enamored with the town that we spent four days there on our minimoon after our wedding in Tuscany.
If you’re looking for an escape to Italian bliss, keep reading for my complete guide to Taormina, Sicily. You won’t be disappointed if you book a trip!
Xx, Kelsey
WHEN WE WENT
Personally, I find that September or October are the best times to squeeze in summer travel in Europe. Europeans all take August off, so the south is very busy during that time. In September, the crowds have thinned and by October things are much quieter. Yet the weather is still ideal. Our first trip was at the end of September and the second at the end of October. Both were absolutely perfect. I thought October might not be warm enough, but the days were in the mid 70s and perfect for lounging by the beach. The locals we spoke to let us know that the season has extended far longer in 2023 than in past years largely due to so many Americans traveling again post-covid.
HOW WE GOT THERE
The first time, Jon and I flew from Amsterdam to Palermo because we wanted to spend a few days there before relaxing in Taormina. The second trip, we were coming from Florence and flew directly to Catania airport and booked a car (or rent) to get to Taormina. The drive from Palermo was pleasant and gave us an opportunity to stop in Cefalu for lunch.
WHERE WE STAYED
When I wrote this guide to Taormina, Sicily I was so excited to talk about our first hotel. Just below the town of Taormina is Capotaormina, which is where you’ll find Unahotels Capotaormina. The hotel is in the most prime location. It’s the only hotel on the scenic cliffs and features both a rocky beach and incredible pool with views of Mount Etna so you can catch the sun all day long. We were so impressed with the views from our balcony too. The hotel was also featured in the popular show, White Lotus. It’s where many of the beach and pool scenes take place.
The hotel also provides a regular shuttle service up into town which makes it super easy to pop into Taormina for dinner or drinks. The hotel also has a fabulous restaurant with some of the best fish I’ve had in a long time.
The second time we visited Taormina, we were looking for a luxury stay for our minimoon. We booked Mazzaro Sea Palace, and I cannot say enough good things! The concierge was incredibly helpful and left us a bottle of prosecco in our room on arrival. We booked one of the rooms with a private pool, and it was absolutely heavenly after the stress of our wedding.
One of the main selling points of this hotel is that it’s right on the beach in Mazzaro Bay. This beach is less rocky than the beach at Unahotels Capotaormina, and has a ton of beach loungers just for hotel guests. The hotel is also just across the street from the funicular that takes you up to Taormina town, which was super convenient.
WHERE WE ATE
Boy, did we eat! Half the reason we love going to Taormina is the food. It’s worth indulging in pizza and pasta, but you’ll also find some amazing fish in Taormina.
Trattoria Tiramisu – Jon’s Italian coworker recommended this mom-and-pop restaurant, and it did not disappoint. The pasta is the best I’ve ever had. In fact, we went back TWICE on our second trip. All of our friends also rave about it when they visit Taormina. Order the Pinette de Mimmo, and you will not be disappointed.
Pizzeria Villa Zuccaro – Damn good pizza in a garden setting. We ate ourselves silly and drank some delicious Sicilian wine. The garden setting is incredible and perfect for covid times.
Caffe Wunderbar – The perfect spot for a spritz while people watching in Taormina’s piazza.
Ristorante le Grand Bleu – This is the cliffside restaurant at Unahotels Capotaormina that had some of the most amazing white fish. It’s a bit pricey, but worth it for the great food, wine, and service. This was our last meal before flying home and totally worth it.
Armonia Restaurant – This restaurant at Mazzaro Sea Palace was wonderful. We went our first night after traveling and another night after our boat day because we wanted something easy. Both times the fish was amazing. It’s super fresh and caught right in the bay.
Louis Vuitton Cafe – The LV store wasn’t open when we visited Taormina the first time. It was really fun to see this bar and grab one (very pricy) cocktail. The details, like LV molded ice cubes, are exactly what you’d expect from a luxury bar. Just a heads up, they don’t take reservations, and they definitely size you up at the door, so go here when you’re a little more dressed up.
Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo – While I would absolutely DIE to stay at this hotel, it’s way out of my price range. However, it is absolutely worth swinging by for a drink. The hotel is impeccable and the view over the gardens and sea is totally worth it. Plus they make a fabulous aviation.
La Cambusa – We did a boat day on our most recent trip and were dropped off here for lunch. It’s actually owned by a Dutchie, but the seafood and pasta was perfect. I had spaghetti and clams and a refreshing glass of Etna Bianco.
WHAT WE DID
Sunbathing at the hotel – Both times we traveled to Taormina, we knew that we wanted to spend a good amount of time lounging in the sun. Both hotels have great pool/beach options for maximizing time in the sun.
Hiked Mt Etna – This one required us to leave Taormina for a day but was the highlight of our trip, especially when we saw the volcano erupting from the hotel bar the following night. I wrote a full guide to hiking Mount Etna here.
Explored the town – Taormina town is adorable. We spent a good amount of time wandering down the narrow streets and popping into shops. It’s the perfect break from all the sea and sun.
Private boat tour – After living in Europe, I’ve become a huge fan of Click-and-Boat for renting boats on our trips. You can easily search for boats in your area and communicate with the captain for things like drop off and pickup. We rented a boat with a skipper for the day, and it was so fun. We stayed in the Taormina area so we didn’t incur and extra fuel charge, which ended up being perfect. All we wanted to do was lounge around and jump into the ocean. We did get to see some cool caves and do some snorkeling.
Teatro Antico di Taormina – The ruins of this Ancient Greek theater are one of the major highlights of Taormina. We spent about a half hour walking around the theater, and I’m really glad we saw it. Book tickets ahead to avoid the line, and avoid going during peak sun unless you want to completely melt.
Rented a vespa – I don’t recommend this unless you’re truly comfortable driving a scooter. Thankfully Jon is, so we rented one on an overcast day to zip up to the town Castemola above Taormina. We just rented from a local tourist location near Mazzaro Sea Palace. It was only $40 for the day and a super fun way to see the area.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Each time we’ve gone to Taormina, our goal has primarily been relaxation so we didn’t overpack our trip with things to do. In order to make this a complete guide to Taormina, Sicily, here are a few additional things I’d do if we went back.
Isola Bella – This island is an incredibly beautiful nature preserve with a house museum built into the rocks that you can visit. During low tide, a stretch of white sand connects the island to the mainland. It’s supposed to also have some great snorkeling.
Wine tours – We had some incredible Sicilian wines, and in the future I’d love to do a wine tour. This is probably similar to what we did with Mt Etna where you have to book a tour and leave the city.
