Taormina
A clifftop town on Sicily's east coast, known for its Ancient Theatre, views of Mount Etna and the sea below.
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Taormina is a hilltop town on Sicily's east coast, in the Metropolitan City of Messina, with the Ionian Sea below. It has drawn visitors since the 19th century and was a stop on the 18th-century Grand Tour. The main sights are the Ancient Theatre, which still hosts opera and concerts, the medieval Duomo and the Saracen Castle, which stands on a steep rock above the bay. From the town, Mount Etna is visible to the south.
Taormina suits a short stay built around the sea, views and old streets. Mount Etna is about a 45-minute drive away, and boat tours leave from the coast for the Capo Sant'Andrea grottos. An aerial cable car links the town center with Mazzarò, the beach area below. Trains stop at Taormina-Giardini, and buses serve the town, so plan the last stretch to your hotel. Summer is the busiest season, with many exhibitions, concerts and performances.
Taormina in five
- Go to the Teatro Antico at opening or sunsetThe theater is the town's top sight, with Etna and the coast behind the stage. Check the official page for hours and tickets, and avoid midday when tour groups arrive.
- Use the cable car to the beachesA cable car runs between the town and Mazzarò bay, with Isola Bella and Lido Mazzarò below. Check the operating hours, and expect a short walk and queues in July and August.
- Take a bus from Taormina stationThe railway station is in Giardini-Naxos, well below the town. Local buses and taxis climb to the center, so plan a transfer when you arrive by train.Giardini-Naxos
- Pair it with an Etna tripEtna day tours leave from Taormina and Catania, with the volcano's access rules depending on activity. Check the official pages and the weather on the morning.Etna day trip
- Visit outside the summer peakTaormina is crowded and expensive from July to mid-August, and cooler and cheaper in May, June and September. Syracuse is a calmer alternative if the town is full.Syracuse
Things to do in Taormina
See all attractions in Taormina
Need to know
- Airport
- Catania Fontanarossa (CTA), about 45 to 60 min by bus or car
- Getting there
- Bus from Catania, or train to Giardini-Naxos and a local bus
- Getting around
- Walking on the main street; cable car and buses to the shore
- Best base
- Near Corso Umberto or by Isola Bella for beach access
- Time needed
- 1 to 3 nights
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, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Almond bloomMarchRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Almond bloom
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Spring, EasterAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, Easter
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Green, mildMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Warm, beachesJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, beaches
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Hot, crowdedJulyClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Hot, crowdedAugustClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Warm sea, calmSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calm
- 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, lightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, lights
Average daily high and low in Taormina, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Taormina
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Taormina
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°12°100%Monday: Rain. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue18°13°30%Tuesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 30%.
- Wed17°12°25%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Thu15°13°63%Thursday: Rain. High 15°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Fri15°14°65%Friday: Rain. High 15°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 65%.
- Sat17°12°35%Saturday: Rain. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Sun18°13°38%Sunday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 38%.
Updated 06:52 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Day trips from Taormina, the full guide- Mount Etnaabout 1.5 to 2 hours by tour or carA volcano with craters and lava fields; access depends on activity.Read the guide
- Syracuseabout 1.5 hours by carGreek theater, Ortigia and baroque streets.Read the guide
- Cataniaabout 1 hour by busFish market and baroque center with Etna views.Read the guide
Before you go to Taormina
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Rules for Taormina, checked
- Italy is in the Schengen area. Check whether you need a visa or travel authorization for your passport on esteri.it before you book.
- Declare cash and goods above the EU limits when you arrive. Check the current rules with the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli before you travel.
- Fresh food, plants and animal products face checks when you enter the EU. Declare them on arrival or leave them at home.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy. Cover shoulders and knees when you enter churches, including the Duomo.
Plan around Taormina
The whole island, bases and routes
Read the guideGiardini-NaxosThe beach town below Taormina
Read the guideCataniaAirport city beside Etna
Read the guideCatania vs Taormina vs SyracuseWhich east-coast base fits
Read the guideEtna day trip from CataniaGuided and self-guided options
Read the guideAll of ItalyRegions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideTaormina FAQ
Is Taormina worth visiting?
Yes for the theater, the views and the Corso, but it is busy and pricey in high summer. A night or two works best, and May or September give calmer streets.
How do you get from Catania airport to Taormina?
By direct bus in about 1 hour, by taxi or rental car in about 45 to 60 minutes, or by train to Giardini-Naxos and a local bus. Buses are the simplest and cheapest.
Do you need a car in Taormina?
No. The old town is largely pedestrian, buses run to the beaches and cars face parking limits. A car helps only for villages inland and Etna.
Is Taormina better than Catania?
Taormina for views, a resort mood and the theater. Catania for a real city, a market and cheaper rooms. Many visitors sleep in Taormina and visit Catania on one day.
Is Taormina expensive?
It is one of the pricier towns in Sicily, particularly in July and August. Stay in Giardini-Naxos for lower rates and ride the bus up for the evenings.