Hotels near Taormina

Taormina sits on a Monte Tauro spur 200 m above the Ionian Sea, the most photogenic small town in Sicily and the destination that put the island on the international tourism map in the 19th century. The Teatro Antico - a 3rd-century BC Greek theatre rebuilt by the Romans - frames Mount Etna and the coastline through its broken stage wall, and is one of the most-photographed views in Italy.

The pedestrianised Corso Umberto links Porta Catania to Porta Messina, lined with palazzi, granita cafes, and the cake shops where you should try a cassata siciliana. Piazza IX Aprile gives the classic balcony view over the bay. Below the cliff, the small Isola Bella nature reserve is reachable by a steep stair from Via Pirandello or by the Funivia cable car (3 EUR each way) to Mazzarò beach. Greek Theatre entry costs 14 EUR. HBO's The White Lotus filmed its second season here in 2022, sending visitor numbers up sharply.

Pro Tip: Book the Greek Theatre online to skip the entrance queue, then take the Funivia cable car down to Mazzarò beach in the afternoon - 3 EUR each way and dramatically faster than the switchback footpath. Drivers should park at Lumbi or Porta Catania (around 20 EUR for a full day) since Taormina's old town is car-free.