10 Best Things to Do in Taormina

You can take in Taormina’s blend of antiquity and modern buzz at this arched stone gateway. It’s also where you can start strolling down Corso Umberto, the main walking street, and reach the viewpoint square of Piazza Aprile midway. Porta Messina is one among 2 of the once fortified town’s portals, the other being Porta Catania that’s around 800 metres on the southwestern end of the Corso. The blue Interbus coach from the train station can take you up to Porta Messina.

This grand Medieval stone fortress-like building’s just a minutes’ walk down from Porta Messina. It has an inner courtyard featuring old Christian reliefs and arched windows with a bit of Arabic influence. Palazzo Corvaja now functions as a museum and art gallery, frequently holding painting and multimedia exhibitions. From the outside, it stands large and tall, retaining much of its ancient architectural features – in contrast to the surrounding modern buildings within the piazza. This partly makes it popular for pre-wedding shoots. 

From either of the town’s 2 stone portals, you’ll find yourself walking along the pedestrian-only shopping haven of Corso Umberto. It’s a pleasant cobblestoned route lined with flowers, but can be get quite busy with the summer crowds. This can be good if you like people watching – there’s plenty of cafés along the course where you can sit and enjoy a coffee. Speciality shops range from fashion to jewellery, while most have displays filled with souvenirs. It’s charming during sunset time, with fewer tour groups. 

Halfway down Corso Umberto, you’ll come across this spacious and beautifully chequered-tiled piazza. It can provide you with a pause and relief from the usually crowded street, with a prize view as its bonus. From the piazza’s southern side, you can take in the sweeping seascape of the Ionian Sea. The other sides are bordered by historical landmarks, namely the baroque San Giuseppe church, the Church of St. Augustine, and the striking fortress-like clock tower. The square’s gorgeous, both day and night.

A 6-minute detour from Porta Messina, Taormina’s ancient Teatro Greco (Greek Theatre) is spectacularly set against the Ionian seascape, with the silhouettes of Mount Etna in the background. It’s a wonderful sight on its own, featuring the intact stadium, terraces and preserved stone walls, together with the ruins of an ancient temple and the stage’s large columns. It still hosts a variety of operas, as well as shows and concerts today. Tickets are from €10, but entry is free if you come on the first Sunday of the month. 

If you’re looking for some serenity to go with the Taormina’s lovely sea views, head down to this small park that’s around 4 minutes’ walk from Piazza IX Aprile. The beautiful Giardini della Villa Comunale offers quiet and lazy strolls, away from the common crowds of Corso Umberto. The well-manicured gardens have bronze sculptures and fountains among flowerbeds and shrubs, and pathways around the cliff edge allow you to take in the views of the bay and parts of the coastal town below. The garden is open to the public. 

A fun way to enjoy an overview of the town and its seascape is from the air – by Taormina’s funivia (cable car). It connects the town’s historical hub to the coastal area of neighbouring Mazzarò. Tickets are inexpensive, and you can hop into a cabin every 15 minutes. Besides enjoying a steady ride with great aerial views, after arriving at Mazzarò you can also easily reach the idyllic islet and beach of Isola Bella within a 10-minute walk down Via Nazionale.

Head down to Isola Bella Beach if you’re looking to spend some time soaking up some rays or wading in the calm blue waters of the Ionian Sea. The beach forms a natural causeway at low tide, connecting to the rocky limestone islet of the same name. It’s pretty, but very gravelly, with large pebbles and practically no sand. Most sections of the beach are public with sun loungers and paddleboards for rent. You can also find a natural museum here to learn more about the beach’s history (entry is around €4). 

This historical chapel is built into rocks above the town. It has a cliff-edge courtyard from where you can take in scenic vistas, with the Greek theatre and bay in view. It’s peaceful and quiet, offering a quiet escape distanced away from the town crowds below. Most buses from town stop here along the way up to the neighbouring commune of Castelmola, and you can even walk up the steps from Corso Umberto (but don’t forget your sunscreen and drinking water in the summer). 

Taormina’s opera house features classics from Madame Butterfly to La Bohème, performed by its troupe of professional singers and pianists. Tickets are around €10, which also gets you a glass of prosecco wine, offered during the show’s halftime interval on their scenic rooftop terrace. You can also check out Taormina Arte, the town’s arts and cultural events rundown of operas such as The Barber of Seville, musicals, sopranos and dance events. It often takes place between the summer months of June and September with venues that include the Greek Theatre. Depending on seating arrangements, tickets range between €23 and €70.