Taormina in Sicily: Tips for Your Visit

May 30, 2025, 8:33 am | Read time: 4 minutes

One of the most beautiful cities in Sicily is undoubtedly Taormina. Overlooking Mount Etna, it boasts ancient Greek and Roman theaters, a magnificent old town accessible by cable car, and nearby picturesque bays and beaches perfect for a beach vacation. However, like many places around the world, such beauty also has its downsides.

Taormina is considered not only one of the most beautiful towns in Sicily but in all of Italy. About 11,000 residents live here near Mount Etna on the east coast of the largest island in the Mediterranean. Evidence shows that the Siculi settled here around 2,700 years ago before the Greeks turned the terraces of Monte Tauro into their city. Later, the Arabs completely devastated the town, and today, the old town is mainly characterized by medieval squares and palaces. And, of course, by breathtaking views of Mount Etna and the Mediterranean with the nearby Isola Bella.

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Attraction for Tourists

Such beauty did not remain undiscovered for long. Germany’s famous poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe traveled to Taormina in 1787 and dedicated several pages to the town in his renowned report “Italian Journey.” By the end of the 19th century, tourism was already experiencing its first boom. Emperor Wilhelm II and Austria’s Empress Sissi vacationed at Mount Etna, as did Oscar Wilde and Richard Strauss. In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant also basked in the sun in Taormina.

The Roman Theater

In the second century B.C., the Romans remodeled a theater originally built by the Greeks in Taormina to accommodate up to 10,000 spectators. A similar theater can also be found in Arles in Provence. The 120-meter-long and 50-meter-wide arena was almost exclusively used for gladiator spectacles. Today, tourists can visit the theater as well as the nearby Antiquarium, a remarkable museum with valuable archaeological finds.

Stunning View of Isola Bella

Taormina, Isola Bella — Aerial view of Isola Bella, also known as the Beautiful Island

The beautiful view over the Gulf of Giardini-Naxos and the nearby Isola Bella, with its picture-perfect beaches, is one of Taormina’s attractions, along with the charming old town featuring medieval architectural gems like the Palazzo Corvaja, Palazzo Duca di Santo Stefano, Palazzo Ciampoli, the Corso Umberto with its two city gates, and the Giardino Pubblico.

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A Cable Car Ride to Mazzarò

A highlight of any visit to Taormina is the cable car ride from the traffic-calmed old town to the district of Mazzarò, offering a magnificent view of Castelmola and the Bay of Letojanni. This is also the way to Taormina’s beaches on Isola Bella. Other attractions include the 16th-century Castello Sarazeno, the archaeological site of Gardini Naxos, and the Alcantara River Gorge, which provides refreshment with its crystal-clear cold water, especially during the hot summer months.

Text contribution: Jasmin Zacharias

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.