Giardini-Naxos
A seaside town on Sicily's Ionian coast with a bay, free and private beaches, Greek ruins at Capo Schisò, and Taormina in the hills above.
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Giardini Naxos is a seaside resort and comune in the Metropolitan City of Messina, on Sicily's Ionian coast. It sits in a bay between Cape Taormina and Cape Schisò, with Taormina in the hills above. The town was a quiet fishing village until the early 1970s. People come for the bay, the beaches and the hill views, and for the ruins of ancient Naxos, a Greek colony founded in 734 BC near Capo Schisò. The archaeological park lies around that cape.
Beaches alternate between free public stretches and private lidos, or beach clubs, so you can choose either for the day. Hotels, small pensions, restaurants, pubs and discos line the seafront. The town is a regular cruise ship stop, and a small harbor ferries passengers ashore. Taormina is easy to reach by car or bus. Summers peak in July and August, near 28°C, while spring and autumn average about 18°C.
Giardini-Naxos in five
- Sleep here, visit Taormina by bus or taxiLocal buses and taxis link the bay with Taormina in about 15–20 minutes. Check the last bus back before you stay for dinner on the hill.Sicily
- Visit the Naxos archaeological park earlyThe ruins of the Greek settlement sit on the cape at the south end of the bay. Check the official site for opening hours and any ticket rules before you go.
- Add Etna and the Alcantara Gorge with a guideEtna is about 1.5 hours away by road, and the Alcantara Gorge is closer. Rules for high Etna routes change with volcanic activity, so choose an operator who checks the official status.
- Use Taormina-Giardini station as your rail stopThe station on the Messina to Catania line is in Giardini-Naxos, a bus ride from Taormina's old town. Trains reach Catania and Messina along the coast.
- Park at the edge of Taormina, not in the centerParking inside the hilltop town is scarce and traffic is restricted at times. Use a car park on the edge, or leave the car in Giardini-Naxos and take a bus.
Things to do in Giardini-Naxos
See all attractions in Giardini-Naxos
Need to know
- Airport
- Catania (CTA), about 45–60 min by bus or car
- Getting there
- Train on the Messina–Catania line, or bus from Catania airport
- Getting around
- Walking, local buses to Taormina, a car for Etna
- Best base
- Giardini-Naxos for the beach and price; Taormina for views
- Time needed
- 2–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Mild, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Mild, rainFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Spring startsMarchRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°WildflowersAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wildflowers
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Beach opensMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach opens
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Warm seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Ferragosto, hotAugustClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Ferragosto, hot
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Warm seaSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberRain11 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Mild, quieterOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 168 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°Rain, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 167 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Mild, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Giardini-Naxos, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Giardini-Naxos
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 14°
- Humidity
- 49%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Giardini-Naxos
09:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°14°100%Monday: Rain. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue22°14°33%Tuesday: Rain. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Wed20°13°25%Wednesday: Fog. High 20°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Thu18°16°94%Thursday: Rain. High 18°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Fri18°17°80%Friday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Sat20°14°35%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Sun20°15°38%Sunday: Fog. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 38%.
Updated 06:19 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Taorminaabout 15–20 min by busThe Greek theater and old town above the bay.
- Mount Etnaabout 1.5 hours by carCraters and lava fields. Check the official status first.
- Cataniaabout 45 min by train or busBaroque streets and the fish market.Read the guide
Before you go to Giardini-Naxos
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Rules for Giardini-Naxos, checked
- Many non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check the rules for your nationality on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance. The number is the same across Italy and the EU.
- Churches such as the Chiesa Madre Santa Maria Raccomandata on Corso Umberto are places of worship, so dress modestly when you go inside.
- Private lidos are beach clubs with paid loungers. Free public stretches also run along the seafront, so check the sign before you sit down.
Plan around Giardini-Naxos
Sicily's east coast in a wider Italy route
Read the guideSicilyPalermo, Etna, the south-east and the islands
Read the guideCataniaThe airport city under Mount Etna
Read the guideMessinaStrait of Messina gateway for the mainland
Read the guideAgrigentoGreek temples on the south coast
Read the guideItaly by train, off-peakFrecciarossa and regional trains to Sicily
Read the guideGiardini-Naxos FAQ
Is Giardini-Naxos better than Taormina to stay in?
For price and beach access, yes. Giardini-Naxos has a long bay, more rooms and lower rates, while Taormina has the views and the evening scene. Taormina is a short bus ride up, so many visitors sleep below.
How do you get from Giardini-Naxos to Taormina?
By local bus or taxi, about 15–20 minutes. The Taormina-Giardini station is on the coast, not in the old town, so you need a bus or taxi either way.
How many days do you need in Giardini-Naxos?
Two days gives you the beach, the ruins and an evening in Taormina. Four days adds Etna and the Alcantara Gorge without rushing.
Is there a beach at Giardini-Naxos?
Yes, a long curved bay of pebbles and coarse sand with many lidos. Beach clubs charge for loungers in summer, and free public stretches are busy in August.
Can you visit Etna from Giardini-Naxos?
Yes, as a half or full day by car or guided tour. Check the Etna park and guides' offices for current access rules, since eruptions and weather change what is open.