My Favorite Things to Do in Taormina, Sicily + Handy Travel Tips!
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When I was first planning my 6-week summertime trip to Sicily, I had so many people tell me to skip over Taormina. I can’t even recall how many times I heard that “The White Lotus” had ruined this famous seaside town, that it was far too touristy, too crowded, and too expensive to warrant a visit.
I’m so glad I didn’t listen. And you shouldn’t either!
One look at this unbelievable beauty and I was hooked. Don’t get me wrong – it was insanely crowded when I visited in August, as was most of Sicily. But there’s no denying why visitors flock here year-round. From swimming in the kaleidoscopic blue waters surrounding Isola Bella in summer to watching steam and lava spew from snowcapped Mount Etna in winter, there are so many truly incredible and unique things to do in Taormina, Sicily.
Taormina is most definitely worth visiting. At least that’s what I think! And if you’re anything like me, you’ll leave kicking yourself that you didn’t stay just a few days longer.
Quick Taormina Travel Guide
Getting from Catania Airport to Taormina: Book a private transfer (roughly €100) or bus tickets (€8).
Find epic views: Belvedere di Via Pirandello gives stellar views of Isola Bella and Mount Etna.
Visit Mount Etna: This Half-Day Mount Etna Morning Trek gets you up close and personal with Mount Etna.
Walk, wine & dine: Sip Sicilian wine, sample local food, and learn about Taormina on this Sicilian Street Food & Wine Tour.
Helpful Sicily posts:
~ Charming Cefalù, Sicily: Things to Do, See & Eat!
~ A Guide to Magical Modica: Sicily’s Chocolate Capital
~ Monreale, Sicily: The Cathedral + Other Cool Things to Do!
Amazing things to do in Taormina, Sicily
Gawk at Isola Bella from Belvedere di Via Pirandello
If you’re like me, you absolutely love a good view. You’ll find them in spades in Taormina but one of the most breathtaking is at Belvedere di Via Pirandello (Google Maps location). This is where you’ll find the very best view of Isola Bella – a picture-perfect isle set right off the coast of Taormina – as well as Mount Etna.
Take the Belvedere Staircase down to Isola Bella
Belvedere di Via Pirandello is located at the top of the Belvedere Staircase. This 300-step stone staircase will take you down the steep cliffside to Spiaggia di Isola Bella below and offers gorgeous views along the way. If you want to visit Isola Bella, take the stairs down (it takes around 30 minutes) and ride the cable car back up to avoid the grueling hike back up the Centro Storico!
My travel tip: To relish the views, grab a drink or light bite at L’Oblò Cafè (Google Maps location). This alfresco eatery is perched at the top of the stairs and offers unreal views.
Have a beach day at Isola Bella
Isola Bella is the stuff of dreams and going swimming in the cool, crystal clear waters is one of my favorite things to do in Taormina. Because I visited in the summer, the weather was perfect for swimming. Many visitors choose not to have a beach day at Isola Bella because of the crowds, but I think that’s a huge mistake!
While it does get super packed at Spiaggia di Isola Bella in summer, I think it’s well worth braving the crowds to take a swim at this iconic Sicilian beach. The water boasts unreal shades of blue and is crystal clear! Swimming here is one of my fondest memories of my six weeks in Sicily.
My travel tip: For fewer crowds, head south down the rocky beach and set up shop on the rocks like the locals do. Just be sure to bring your water shoes because the beach at Isola Bella is rocky and sharp (as are many Sicilian beaches!). Picnic supplies and an umbrella are a good idea, too!
Take ‘The White Lotus’ Boat Tour
Admiring the drop-dead gorgeous coastline is one of the most magical things to do in Taormina. If you want to see it for yourself, I highly recommend taking this “White Lotus” boat trip. It’s the perfect way to savor views of the rocky coastline and impossibly blue Ionian Sea while checking out all of the picture-perfect filming locations of “The White Lotus.” Plus, you’ll have the chance to visit Isola Bella, spot dolphins, go swimming and snorkeling, and marvel at the Baia delle Sirene and Grotta Azzurra caves.
Gaze at Mount Etna from Piazza IX Aprile
You’re going to get incredible views of Mount Etna around every turn in Taormina, Sicily. But one of the most famous viewing spots is from the terrace along the black-and-white-checkered Piazza IX Aprile. This piazza is another one of the most famous Taormina attractions and it’s located along Corso Umberto in the city’s Centro Storico. Weather permitting, the view is incredible at any time of day, but in my experience, it’s all the more magical just before sunset.
The square is also home to the 17th-century Church of Saint Joseph and the Torre dell’Orologio clock tower, two more of the top Taormina attractions that everyone should visit.
My travel tip: If you want to soak it all in, the always-buzzing Caffè Wunderbar is set right along the terrace and offers beautiful views of the piazza and Mount Etna. I suggest making reservations if you want one of the coveted “front-row” tables with unobstructed volcano views.
Savor all the classic Sicilian dishes
This is Sicily, which means one of the very best things to do in Taormina is to try all of the most iconic local dishes. From pistachio-infused granitas and cannoli to conical Mount Etna-shaped arancini, pasta alla Norma (eggplant and salted ricotta pasta), and seafood-centric dishes like pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines), eating is one of the most fun things to do in Taormina. Oh, and don’t forget the local wine!
Taking a food tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with the island’s culinary classics. I tend to prefer street food tours versus fancy restaurant excursions, so I suggest this Sicilian Street Food & Wine Tour. You’ll get to sample an impressive selection of Taormina’s greatest hits while sipping local wine and being guided around the main drag of Corso Umberto and beyond.
Explore the Villa Comunale Public Gardens
When it comes to free things to do in Taormina, the Villa Comunale Public Gardens can’t be beat. This hidden gem is just a 10-minute downhill walk from the hustle and bustle of Piazza IX Aprile and Corso Umberto, but it feels like a true oasis – even in the height of summer!
This place once belonged to a Scottish noblewoman who moved, under somewhat scandalous conditions, to Taormina in 1889. Here, she created these wonderful gardens filled with beautiful brick buildings, flowers, trees, and many curiosities. The gardens were later given to the city and are now free to visit.
My travel tip: Villa Comunale Public Gardens is also home to some of the best views in Taormina. Walk to the cliffside and you’ll glimpse unreal vistas of Mount Etna, the Ionian Sea, the Bay of Naxos, and beyond. Pictures don’t even do it justice!
Get high in the medieval village of Castelmola
If you think Taormina is set high along the cliffs, look up and you’ll spot Castelmola towering above you. This place is easily reachable via the bus. You can hop on at the Taormina bus station, and it’ll drop you off in Castelmola for just a couple of euros. The journey is a windy one and takes around 15-20 minutes. Alternately, you can take a taxi but taxis really are expensive in Taormina (at least that was my experience!).
The town is small but it’s well worth wandering the historic streets, glimpsing the castle ruins, popping into the cute shops, sampling some almond wine at Bar Turrisi, and taking in the unreal views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea from this hilltop vantage point.
My travel tip: Grab a casual meal and drink with a sea view at PierdeCat Sicilian Bistrò, you won’t regret it. Oh, and get the arancini.
Visit the Teatro Antico di Taormina
I’m so ashamed that I didn’t get a chance to visit the Teatro Antico di Taormina during my all-too-quick few days in town. This is easily one of the top Taormina attractions but I was just having way too much fun doing all of the other things. However, I do seriously regret not getting to the archaeological gem.
In case you don’t know, the ancient theater of Taormina was built by the Greeks in the 3rd century. It could seat a whopping 10,000 people and is still used for concerts and events to this day. The hilltop location of this ancient theater is also a huge draw due to the killer views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna in the distance.
If you’re wondering what to do in Taormina, learn from me and don’t skip over this place!
