3 Days in Taormina
If you only have 3 days in Taormina, this article will give you the things you must see.
And if you love luxurious holiday destinations like St. Tropez and Ibiza, consider the hilltop town of Taormina.
In fact, In 212 BC, Taormina was the St. Tropez of its day.
Just like today, Taormina was the place to see and be seen by the jetset of antiquity.
In more recent times, visitors included Oscar Wilde, Truman Capote, and Frances Ford Coppola.
The German writer Goethe wrote as early as 1787 that “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all.”
Holiday Resort: Past and Present
Taormina is a town in Northeast Sicily, near the coast and about an hour from the Catania airport by car, taxi, or train.
Often called “the pearl of the Mediterranean,” it is a gorgeous part of Sicily with lots of sunshine, history, and luxurious places to stay.
Some compare it to Cinque Terre and Capri in terms of natural beauty.
Since I have been to Cinque Terre and Capri, I would diplomatically say that all three holiday resorts are beautiful.
But they have their own definitive character.
3 Days in Taormina: Shopping and Architecture
Taormina is centered around the shopping street Corso Umberto I, the main thoroughfare.
You can see a mix of Arab, Norman, and Gothic architecture as you walk along its charming narrow streets of this mostly pedestrian, hilltop village.
When to Visit Taormina
I visited in early May.
The prime summer months of July and especially August can be very busy with tourists.
As well as the cruise lines.
When planning your vacation, you should think carefully about the activities that are most important to you in your 3 days in Taormina.
For example, in mid-May, it was possible to sun bathe by the pool the exact day that I arrived.
But the next day, I needed a coat.
Too cold to swim or sun bathe.
But I was there mostly to see the beautiful views, visit the ancient sites, and enjoy the delicious food.
So the weather did not matter.
In July and August, though, the weather might be very hot.
So June seems a great compromise if you would like to enjoy the pool and beach…
…without the crowds of the high summer season.
Getting to Taormina, Sicily
If you come from the USA (like me) you will want to fly directly into the Rome Fiumicino or Milan Malpensa airport.
Both these flights take off from New York’s JFK and land in Italy about the same time.
The price of both was similar at the time of my booking.
Is your objective is to upgrade your flight to business, or just buy a business seat?
If so, the availability of these seats might be a factor in the airports you fly into.
From either of these international airports, you can catch one of many flights a day that land in Cantania Fontana Rossa airport that same day.
Transportation from Catania to Taormina
When you land in Catania at the Fontana Rossa airport, you have several options in terms of traveling to Taormina.
First, you should know that this this is a very busy airport, the sixth airport in Italy for passenger traffic.
And the busiest airport in Sicily, hosting all the major and budget airlines.
Renting a Car From Cantania to Taormina
A lot of people like to rent a car.
This is not a recommended option, as you will not really need a car in the hilltop village of Taormina.
It may be that you need a car for your travel after your Taormina visit.
Overnight parking fees at top resort and even other hotels can be steep.
You can park your car at the Lumbi parking deck and take a free shuttle bus to the center of the city.
But why bother?
Also, only residents with permits can drive in this hilltop city.
Since your objective of coming to Taormina in the first place is to relax, you should consider another option.
Hotel Car or Private Transport to Taormina
The most comfortable way to travel is to ask your hotel to either send the hotel car to pick you up.
Or to recommend a limousine service.
This way, your driver will be waiting outside the arrivals gate with your name on a board or electronic tablet.
You will be quickly whisked away in air-conditioned convenience…
…with a view of the coast along the way.
Online Transport Booking In Advance
A good second choice is to book a form of private transport before your trip.
I did a search on the Internet and came up with XYZ, which was fast and efficient.
Bus and Train (Not Recommended)
Though some people choose to go to Taormina by bus or train, these are not recommended.
In order to take the train, you must first make your way to the train station in central Cantania.
And even get to this train station, you must take the AMT Allbus.
This runs every 20 minutes from 05:00 to 24:00.
Then you would take the train to Taormina.
In summer train travel will be sticky and hot, and the train will deposit you at the base of Taormina.
Once in Taormina, you will need to take a taxi to get to your destination.
What To Do In Taormina Until Your Room is Ready
It’s always a good idea to have a plan of what to do while you wait for your room to be ready.
These days, the check-in time at most luxury hotels is between 3pm and 4pm in the afternoon.
Occasionally they may have the room ready earlier, especially out of season.
So it is a good idea to have a plan of what to do.
I would advise that you call the hotel a few days before your arrival.
Express your preference for an early check in should that option become available.
Then make a “Plan B.”
Some people like to simply enjoy the hotel amenities while they wait for their room to become ready.
At most resort hotels, this can include:
- Basking by the pool (typically the hotel will be able to let guests use changing rooms or the spa and store luggage. This is a great option, so you can rest after your long trip.
- Have lunch poolside at your hotel.
I love the sun, yet I personally prefer to view the pool and/or beach from a safe, shaded, and even air-conditioned distance.
- Use the workout-facilities or spa.
Now splurging on a massage while waiting for your room makes a lot of sense. It is a great way to immediately relax after your long journey and help you get ready to enjoy the afternoon and evening ahead.
Typically, though, it is necessary to book these treatments in advance so be sure to ask the receptionist when you make that advance call.
Exercising in Taormina
Another thing to do while you wait for your room in Taormina is exercise.
The top hotels have small gyms.
Or, you could jog around the city.
You can even change into your swimsuit and use your hotel’s pool …
… or go for a swim on the beach.
3 Days in Taormina: Site Seeing
Why you wait for your hotel room to become available, take advantage of this time to go site-seeing.
This option might be more viable for visitors who have already been in Italy for a while, or who arrive from other parts of Europe early in the morning.
Because Taormina is a relatively small town, hitting the key tourist spots while you wait for your room to become ready is a great way to see the lay of the land.
- If snapping pictures of churches and monuments is not your thing, you might find it interesting to hit a café on the trendy Corso Umberto shopping street and watch the world go by.
This is an excellent option because you can see the many types of people who visit Taormina, not just the exclusive set you are apt to see at your luxury hotel itself.
In doing this, you can also pass by the different restaurants, check out their menus, and see the places you will want to go for dinner.
3 Days in Taormina: Day 1
When you stay at a top resort hotel, it makes sense to make as much time there as possible.
This is especially true when you visit a popular destination like Taormina during the hot, crowded summer months.
The relative cool of morning might be a good time to quickly tour the “must view” icons and then spend the rest of the day indulging yourself.
The Greek Theater of Taormina
So the one thing I HAD to do in Taormina was visit The Ancient Greek Theater of Taormina (Teatro Antico di Taormina)
This is a “must do.”
The building is carved out of the rock and constructed to accommodate over 5000 spectators.
It had been used by many civilizations over the past thousands of years.
The theater is believed to be Roman in origin, though the architectural plan is in accordance with Greek more than Roman theaters.
In ancient days it likely featured gladiator performances and theatrical performances.
Today the theater is still active with musical and theatrical performances.
Though parts of the theater are in ruins, it is remarkably preserved.
From the theater you can also see stunning views over the town, across to the Ionian sea, and toward the Calabrian coast.
Next, take a Stroll on the Corso Umberto
This is the main shopping street in Taormina.
It stretches from the city gates Porta Messina to Porta Cantania.
Similar to other resort villages in Spain and Italy, you will find shops, restaurants, cafes, and art galleries.
The window shopping is fun here.
As a big jewelry fan, there is always something unique to catch my eye.
You will find some “tourist attractions” in this area as well, like the Santa Caterina Church, and the medieval palace Palazzo Corvaja.
Here you will also find the Piazza IX Aprile, which is the main square of Taormina.
The square is enclosed by two churches.
These ae the Chiesa di Sant’Angostino on one side and the other is Chiesa di San Giuseppe.
Nearby is the Piazza Duoma, a piazza which is also the site of the Church of San Nicola.
Here you will see a Baroque fountain that features a centaur, the symbol of Taormina.
A centaur is an icon from Greek mythology that is part human, part horse.
This piazza could be a nice place to take a gelato break, before finishing off your list of attractions.
Another place to get some shade and away from the crowds is the Trevelyan Gardens.
This is an English-style garden designed by Florence Trevelyan, who lived in Taormina at the end of the 19th century.
You can also snap some Instagram worthy photos as you walk toward the Madonna dell Rocca chapel which offers views of the amphitheater without having to pay an entrance fee or fight the crowds.
The Rest of your Taormina Afternoon
Personally, having seen the highlights of Taormino …
… I would rush back to the hotel to swim in the pool.
Or I would have lunch overlooking the sea.
Maybe I would just relax in a cool room away from the crowds and sun.
Now I chose to stay at the Grand Hotel Timeo because even though this hotel is in the city of Taormino, guest have the option of taking a shuttle to their sister hotel by the beach, the Sant Angelo.
You can read more details in my devoted article of the Grand Timeo Hotel. LINK
3 Days in Taormina: Hilltop Villages
For many years, my only visual reference to Sicily was from the film, The Godfather.
It is possible to visit the village, Savoca, which is where some scenes were filmed.
You can visit the Bar Vitelli
This is the place where Michael Corleone ( Al Pacino) asked the father of Appollonia for her hand in marriage in the first Godfather Movie.
Personally, I usually avoid tourist places like this.
By most reports, it is “interesting” for Godfather fans, yet expensive for just average food and drinks.
3 Days in Taormina: The Local Taormina Beaches
If you are determined to see MORE of the area, you may want to visit the local beaches.
I personally would only venture to the beaches in the early morning or after the heat of the sun.
Yet there are two pretty beaches in Taormina.
They are Mazzaro and Isola Bella.
Since Taormina is a village high in the hills, you will need to take the Via Pirandello cable car to reach them.
You will reach the Mazzaro beach after 200 meters of walking.
Mazzaro is the smaller of the two beaches, and popular because it is close.
It is also very pretty, but crowded.
Isola Bella Beach
This is the larger, better known beach in Taormina.
Here you can spread out and also visit the Isola Bella Island.
The water is clear, and like most beaches in the Mediterranean you will find pebbles not sand.
Though it is beautiful, during high season consider if you really want to subject yourself to crowds, the hot sun, pebble-sand.
3 Days in Taormina: Final Thoughts
You will love Taormina. I had a great time.
I wanted to see the ancient ruins and also treat myself to some delicious food and shopping.
You can have a great time in Taormina regardless of where you stay …
… yet you might like to see my review of my favorite Belmond Hotels, the Grand Timeo and the Sant’Andrea.
Have fun!
