Things to do in Taormina – 10 tips and attractions

Updated: September 2026 | Taormina is dramatically situated on a hillside above Sicily's east coast, with views of the Ionian Sea and the volcano Etna. Here, ancient ruins, beautiful squares, narrow alleys, beaches and gardens await. When we visited Taormina, we were also treated to a heavy downpour and a long-awaited meeting with a Swedish blogger who lived in Sicily.

Taormina in Sicily

Located on the east coast of Sicily, high above the sea and the seaside resort of Giardini Naxos, Taormina is one of Sicily's most famous destinations and has been attracting travelers for centuries. And we can see why.

When we arrived here during our motorhome trip to Sicily in 2015, Taormina quickly became one of our favorite cities. The location is spectacular, but it's just as nice to walk through the center among old stone houses, balconies, small squares, and outdoor cafes.

Plus, the city is small enough to explore on foot. It's perfectly fine to ignore the map sometimes and just see where the next alley leads. Here are ten things to see and do in Taormina.

1. Visit the Ancient Theatre of Taormina

Ancient Theater is Taormina's major attraction and one of Sicily's most impressive ancient buildings. The original theatre was built during the Hellenistic period, probably in the 3rd or 1st century BC. It was later rebuilt and greatly expanded during Roman times. Much of what you see today comes from the Roman reconstruction in the 1st century AD.

With a diameter of around 109 metres, the theatre is the second largest in Sicily after the Greek theatre in Syracuse. But it is the location as much as the theatre itself that makes the place special. Through the openings in the stage building, you can see the landscape, the coast and Mount Etna.

Moreover, the Teatro Antico is not a dead ruin. The theater is still used for concerts, theater and other events, just as it has been used for performances during various periods of its long history.

2. Stroll along Corso Umberto

Corso Umberto I is the main street through the historic center of Taormina and stretches between the city gates of Porta Messina and Porta Catania. Here you will find shops, restaurants, cafes, churches and historic buildings. But above all, there are people.

During high season it can be quite crowded and Taormina is hardly the place for those looking for an unknown Sicily beyond the tourist trails. At the same time, the people life is part of the experience.

We also think you should leave Corso Umberto at regular intervals. Turn off onto a staircase or a narrow side street, look at the balconies and see where you end up. That's how we liked Taormina best.

3. Enjoy the view from Piazza IX Aprile

In the middle of Corso Umberto, the city suddenly opens up at Piazza IX Aprile. The square is often described as Taormina's living room and is home to outdoor cafes, churches and the characteristic clock tower Torre dell'Orologio. But the big draw is the view. From the terrace you can look out over the coast, Giardini Naxos and Etna.

The name of the square has a rather funny story. On April 9, 1860, a rumor spread in Taormina that Giuseppe Garibaldi had landed in Sicily to start the fight against the Bourbons. The only problem was that the rumor was wrong. Garibaldi did not arrive until later. Apparently, the people of Taormina thought that the incorrect news was worth remembering anyway, and the square was allowed to keep the date.

4. See Piazza Duomo and the Cathedral

Continuing along Corso Umberto you will come to Piazza Duomo, another of Taormina's beautiful squares. Here is the city's cathedral, Taormina Cathedral, which is dedicated to San Nicola. The church has medieval origins and its rather austere, almost fortress-like appearance differs from many of Sicily's more lavish Baroque churches.

In the middle of the square stands a 17th-century fountain with the symbol of Taormina at the top. The symbol is usually depicted as a female centaur, a figure that is part human and part horse. Older descriptions also use the name minotaur for Taormina's emblem, so the confusion is actually not completely incomprehensible. Regardless of zoological or mythological classification, Piazza Duomo is well worth a stop.

5. Stroll through Villa Comunale

If you need some shade after all the paved streets, you can go to Villa Comunale, Taormina's public garden. Here you will find exotic plants, walkways, strange little buildings and great views of the sea and Etna. There is also a fascinating history behind the park.

It was created by the English noblewoman Florence Trevelyan, who came to Taormina in the 1880s. According to the Taormina municipality, she had grown up connected to Queen Victoria's court and left England in 1884 after allegations of an affair with the Queen's eldest son, the future King Edward VII.

Florence Trevelyan settled in Taormina and eventually married the doctor and mayor Salvatore Cacciola. The couple bought land and she created the garden that later became the Villa Comunale. Regardless of what actually happened at the British court, it can be said that Taormina got a very nice park as a result.

6. Make your way down to Isola Bella

Below Taormina lies Isola Bella, a small green island just off the coast. At low tide, the island can be connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand and rocks. The area is known both for its nature and for its dramatic location below the cliffs of Taormina.

Florence Trevelyan also appears in history here. She bought Isola Bella in the late 19th century and developed the island with vegetation and buildings. Today, Isola Bella is a protected area and one of Taormina's most photographed places.

The beaches here are more rocky than soft and sandy, so swimming shoes might be a good idea. During the summer you can also expect a lot of people.

7. Ride the cable car between Taormina and Mazzarò

Since Taormina is located high above the sea, there is a small logistical problem: The beach is down there. The solution is cable car between Taormina and Mazzarò, which makes it much easier to combine city life with swimming.

The lower station is located at Mazzarò, close to the beaches and Isola Bella, while the upper one is near Porta Messina and the historic city center.

This means you can start the day among churches and alleys, go down to the sea for a swim and then make your way back up to town. Much more pleasant than climbing all the way in the Sicilian summer heat.

8. See Palazzo Corvaja and the Roman Odeon

Near Porta Messina is located Palazzo Corvaja, a building where several layers of Taormina's history come together. The oldest parts of the palace date back to the Arab period, and the building was altered and expanded in later centuries. The result is a mix of Arab, Norman and Gothic influences, among others.

Very nearby there is also a much lesser-known ancient relic: Odeon. The small Roman theatre was first discovered in the 19th century and is partly hidden behind the Chiesa di Santa Caterina. Compared to the Teatro Antico, it is of course modest, but that is precisely what makes it a bit funny.

In Taormina, an almost two thousand year old theater can be found tucked behind a church in the middle of town.

9. Get lost among alleys and balconies

Now comes our perhaps most advanced activity: Walking around. It was actually one of the things we enjoyed most in Taormina. Every house, window and balcony seemed to have its own personality and the entire center is full of stairs, alleys and small passages.

No special attraction is needed here. Stop at an outdoor café, order a drink and watch the people go by. Turn off the main street when an alley looks tempting. Look up at the facades of the houses. Taormina is of course touristy, but it is also very beautiful.

10. Take a trip to Castelmola

Above Taormina lies the small mountain village Castelmola. From here you get even more dizzying views of Taormina, the coast and Etna. At the top are the remains of an old castle and down in the village, narrow streets and small squares await. Castelmola also has an unexpected Swedish connection.

Here, somewhere, Bamse's world begins... Rune Andréasson traveled to Sicily in 1964 and was inspired by the dramatic landscape around Taormina when he created the environments where Bamse and his friends would live. Castelmola is especially associated with Grandma's High Mountains. Suddenly, the landscape looks a little familiar.

And as if the Bamse connection wasn't unexpected enough, there's also Bar Turrisi, which has become famous for a completely different type of decoration: phallic symbols in more or less every conceivable form. From Bamse to penis bar in a few minutes' walk. Castelmola has a wide …

Our visit to Taormina

When we came to Taormina in the summer of 2015, we had already seen several fantastic cities in Sicily. Yet Taormina stood out. We thought it was the most beautiful city we had seen on the island so far. The location high above the sea, the alleys, the facades of the houses and all the outdoor cafes did their job.

The weather, however, was not kind. During the visit, we were drenched in a heavy downpour. But even that didn't really ruin the impression. In addition, we had a very special meeting scheduled.

A blog meeting in Sicily

Several years before our trip, I had started following Johanna and her blog. Living in Sicily. It was actually one of the first blogs I started reading regularly. Now we had the opportunity to meet over a glass of wine in Taormina.

Johanna lived and ran a business in Sicily and it was incredibly interesting to talk to someone who actually lived here. As a tourist you see beautiful houses, beaches, restaurants and landscapes. It is much harder to understand the everyday life and culture behind all that.

We talked about life in Sicily, entrepreneurship and differences between Sweden and Italy. After all the sights and beautiful views, that meeting actually became one of our strongest memories from Taormina.

Taormina or Giardini Naxos?

Taormina and Giardini Naxos are close to each other but offer quite different experiences.

Taormina Especially suitable for those who want a historic environment, restaurants, shopping, beautiful squares, views and attractions.

Giardini Naxos is located down by the sea and is more of a classic seaside resort with hotels and beaches.

When we travelled here by camper van we stayed down in Giardini Naxos and drove up to Taormina from there. This worked well for us and is an option if you want to combine beach life with sightseeing.

More to see and do in Taormina

There is of course more to discover if you have plenty of time.

Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano is located near Porta Catania and is a fine example of Taormina's medieval architecture, with influences from several of the cultures that have characterized Sicily.

Church of San Pancrazio stands on the site of an older ancient temple and is dedicated to the patron saint of Taormina.

Church of San Giuseppe is located at Piazza IX Aprile and is a beautiful Baroque church with a characteristic double staircase.

If you want to make longer excursions from Taormina, of course Etna one of the major destinations. The Alcantara Gorge, Savoca and Forza d'Agrò are also popular excursions in the area. The latter two are particularly famous for the locations used in the filming of the Godfather films.

Is Taormina worth a visit?

Yes, we think so. Taormina is one of Sicily's most famous tourist destinations and during high season you can expect both crowds and a large selection of tourists. This is not the place for those who want to feel alone in their discovery.

But there's a reason why so many people want to come here. The ancient theater, the view of Etna and the sea, Piazza IX Aprile and all the little alleys together create a very special city. It was raining when we were here, but we still thought Taormina was amazing. That's a pretty good rating.

More to see in Sicily

Sicily is both a beautiful and historically interesting island. Here you will find more reports with tips:

• Things to do in Trapani
• Marina di Ragusa
• Things to do in Noto
• Things to do in Syracuse