April 2024

Perfect 3 Day Itinerary for Taormina, Sicily

After our amazing trip to Sardinia last year, we were hooked on Eurosummer. We had wanted to visit Sicily for a while and this solidified it for this year. I did not realize how enormous this tiny island is – there is so much to see and do. We had a week for this vacation so we did not have time to do a romantic road trip around the island. We had to make giant cuts from typical Sicily itineraries – including the major cities of Palermo and Catania. I considered planning the entire trip in one area and seeing as much as possible but I was ultimately swayed by the beaches in the west and the beauty in the east to spend four days in each area – 4 days in Trapani and 4 days in Taormina. This itinerary was perfect for summer travel focusing on the coasts, beach destinations, and relaxation. We adored our time in Taormina so much and even though it was high season and crowded, we had the best time. With enough planning in advance, the crowds are manageable and you can have a wonderful summer holiday in Taormina.

Know before you go

• Getting to Sicily is very easy. Flight routes exist into the major cities of Sicily – Palermo and Catania. For getting to Taormina, fly into Catania and take a bus that regularly shuttles between the airport and Taormina.
• Unlike mainland Italy and the rest of Europe, the public transit in Sicily is not great so make sure you have a car. We opted to rent a Vespa and it was honestly the perfect destination to scooter around.
• Make sure if you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fee – highly recommend getting one if not – that will be fine for your trip. You can also take out euros to use as you will find some places that are cash only, but almost everywhere accepts credit cards.
• Learn basic Italian phrases as a respect to the country you are visiting but you will not have an issue with finding English in the larger towns.
• Keep an eye out for festivals throughout the year in this reason – many food and wine festivals occur and festivals are a great way to experience a town.
• Sicily is a popular travel destination so start planning in advance. Booking the accommodations, transportation, and dining should be secured ahead of your trip.
• Starting in 2025, if you are traveling international to any country in the Schengan Zone, you will have to complete a form prior to arrival, including a 7 euro application fee, for the ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorization System.

Where to stay?

While it certainly felt cliche post White Lotus season 2, we had the best time in Taormina and it is a must do, especially for a summer trip to Sicily. You can make your stay as luxurious as you desire but for us, we went with Airbnbs that were perfect for our trip. We cannot recommend the Airbnb we stayed at more as it was perfectly located and had a wonderful space. And while we did not stay here, we did meet the owner of B&B Porta del Re and we would definitely stay there in the future.

How to Get Around

There are multiple airports that you can utilize when traveling to Sicily by plane. We had a layover from the USA regardless and it actually opened up more options for our arrival in Sicily. To visit Taormina, flying into Catania is the easiest and most straightforward route. Then take a bus at Catania Airport to Taormina. I booked with Etna Trasporti and the route from Catania Airport to central Taormina was over an hour and only cost 7 euro.

Sicily is not the easiest to navigate without a car and if you plan on exploring on your visit, the sites along the coast will require some assistance. Public transit in general is not the best in terms of getting across the island, especially to destinations that are not the major cities of Palermo or Catania. If your trip is exclusive to Taormina, then you can get away without having a car but if you plan on extending the trip to explore more of Sicily, then a car is helpful.

What is there to do? 

This trip is what you want to make it. Want to sit on the beach all day? Want to charter a boat and stay on the water? Want to explore the nearby islands? Want to learn more through the numerous historical sites? Want to see an active volcano? It is up to you! Mix and match to make your perfect trip.

Taormina is one of the most popular spots to visit in Sicily and has recently been on the global stage for the location of White Lotus Season 2. This town sits atop the mountains overseeing the beautiful ocean below and Mt Etna in the distance. It is a stunning destination and definitely worth the hype.

• Taormina has so much to offer so make sure to dedicate enough time to see it all. There are sites to see at the top and at the bottom of this cliff side town.
  • Teatro Antico di Taormina not only has centuries of history but is also an active location to see a show. If you are lucky to be visiting when there is one, consider an evening at the theater. There are also absolutely epic views from the top – we went right at sunset and wow, we were simply amazed.
  • Explore Villa Comunal di Taormina which provides a tranquil garden stroll, beautiful views of the coastline, and live shows and performances.
  • Isola Bella is located at the bottom of the cliff and depending on the tide, can appear as an isolated and separate island. It was once a private garden and is now open for all for a small fee.
  • Corso Umberto is the main pedestrian path that has so many shops and restaurants. From there, many paths lead to far more to explore so take the opportunity to get lost taking in everything Taormina as to offer.
  • Climb to the top of Taormina to Castello di Taormina and the Chiesa Madonna della Rocca. While it is a bit of a stair master at over 500 stairs, the view from the top is exceptional.
  • Do not miss the opportunity to relax beach side at one of the many beach clubs at Taormina. We spent an entire day at one and it was incredible! These range in price and amenities to do a little research before booking on in advance.
• Day trips outside of Taormina
  • Wine tasting in the Mt Etna Wine Region is world renowned with spectacular wines and views. Either arrange a do-it-yourself itinerary or book with a tour group to take care of everything for you. We rented a Vespa for the day and we had the most amazing time driving through the vineyards.
  • How often do you get to explore an active volcano? Climbing Mt Etna was a must-do for us. Since we were packing light, we did not have the proper gear and in order to summit Mt Etna, you have to go with a guide so we booked with a tour company. It felt like we were on another planet! Happy to have checked this off of the bucket list.
• Have more time?
  • Head north to Messina and hop on a boat to explore the Aeolian Islands. I really wanted to incorporate this into our trip but we simply ran out of time. Or make the cross island journey to explore the west coast and the beautiful scenery there.

Where to eat? 

While there are some differences between Sicilian and mainland Italy, the food is just as amazing. Here along the coast, there is focus on seafood and different spices from the African and Arab influences. Street food culture is also prominent and oh-so-delicious. Taormina specifically boasts fresh and delicious seafood – the best benefits of being along the coastline.

• There are so many restaurants in Taormina and since it is a popular tourist destination, do a bit of research ahead of time to dodge tourist traps. And definitely have reservations ahead of your trip to ensure you do not get stuck. I recommend Liola Osteria and Bar, Trattoria Tiramisu Mimmo and Son, and Teatro 44.
• If you do not go Bam Bar at least once a day, you are doing it wrong! Grantia is a Sicilian specialty and Bam Bar is one of the best spots on the island to get it. Want to stick to gelato? Head to Gelatomaina.
• Head to Re di Bastoni Pub for aperitivo of drinks and bruschetta – grab a sit on the street to enjoy the pulse of the town.

Itinerary

This itinerary works very well as a stand alone trip or as part of a loner trip exploring Sicily. There is so much to see in Sicily so if you have more time to explore, I highly recommend it! You can mix and match days or double up in activities you really want to do.

See our complete itinerary here!

Read all the details of our trip to Sicily – here!

My complete packing list for Sicily – here!

See all blog posts for Sicily – here!