Under an hour from Catania or Messina for about €5.50 - but the final journey into town catches travellers out. Fares, times, the beaches and hilltop Castelmola.
Last verified: October 2026. Train times, ticket prices and opening hours change regularly. Always check official sources before travelling.
Perched around 200 metres above the Ionian Sea, with Mount Etna on the skyline and an ancient theatre as its centrepiece, Taormina is the one place in eastern Sicily where a car is more of a liability than a help - the old centre is largely pedestrian, parking is limited and paid, and the main coastal railway line runs right below it. However, the railway station isn't in Taormina: so the journey finishes with a short local bus or taxi ride up the hillside.
At a Glance
| 🚆 From Catania | Regional train to Taormina-Giardini - approx. 40-70 min, about €5.50 |
| 🚆 From Messina | Regional train to Taormina-Giardini - approx. 45-65 min, about €5.50 |
| 🚉 Nearest train station | Taormina-Giardini, at sea level in Giardini Naxos - not in the town itself |
| 🚌 Station to town | Local bus, approx. 5-15 min, about €1.10 - or taxi, roughly €15-20 |
| ✈️ From Catania Airport | Direct Etna Trasporti / Interbus coach to Taormina - approx. 80-90 min, €7 |
| 🚠 Cable car | Taormina to Mazzarò beach in a few minutes - €8 single, €15 return (from August 2026) |
| 🏛️ Must-see | Teatro Antico (the ancient theatre), Isola Bella and a walk along Corso Umberto |
| ⏱️ Time needed | One full day covers the highlights - two days adds the beaches and Castelmola without rushing |
| 📅 Best time | April to June and September to October - July and August are hot, crowded and the most expensive |
In This Guide
- Getting to Taormina by Train
- From the Station Up to the Town
- Teatro Antico
- Corso Umberto and the Old Town
- Villa Comunale
- Isola Bella and Mazzarò
- Castelmola
- Day Trips From Taormina
- Food and Drink
- Practical Information
Getting to Taormina by Train
Taormina is served by Taormina-Giardini station on the Messina-Catania line, which runs along the Ionian coast. Trains stop here throughout the day, and a ticket from either Catania Centrale or Messina Centrale costs around €5.50.
| From | How | Typical journey | Approx. fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catania Centrale | Train to Taormina-Giardini | 40-70 min | €5.50 |
| Messina Centrale | Train to Taormina-Giardini | 45-65 min | €5.50 |
| Messina Centrale | Interbus coach (line IN09), direct to Taormina town | 50 min - 1h 40min | €4.30 |
| Catania Airport | Direct coach (Etna Trasporti ET07 / Interbus IN14) to Taormina | 80-90 min | €7.00 |
| Syracuse (Siracusa) | Direct train to Taormina-Giardini | Roughly 3 hours | €12 |
| Palermo | Train with a change at Messina | 4-5 hours | Varies |
If you're coming from the Italian mainland, Intercity services from Rome and Naples to Sicily are carried across the Strait of Messina on a ferry between Villa San Giovanni and Messina, with the carriages rolling on and off the boat, and passengers are free to leave their seats and step out on deck during the crossing. It is a long journey - around nine hours from Rome is typical - so many travellers break it up with a night in Naples or take an overnight Intercity Notte instead. For a full explanation of how fares and operators work across Italy, see our guide to how Italy's train network works.
From Catania Airport the direct coach takes 80-90 minutes and drops you at Taormina's bus terminal on Via Pirandello, right in the upper town, so there is not need to worry about getting up the hill into Taormina.
From central Catania, you can reach Taormina by train or bus. Trains run to Taormina-Giardini station (see below for how to get to Taormina centre from the train station). Alternatively, you can take an Etna Trasporti or Interbus coach from Catania’s Via Archimede bus station.
From the Station Up to the Town
Taormina-Giardini, where the train arrives, is about 200 metres lower than Taormina and roughly 1.3 km from the town's bus terminal. The climb is steep and not worth attempting on foot with luggage. Instead, take one of the local buses from the rail station forecourt up to Taormina's bus terminal on Via Pirandello, next to Porta Messina, the town's northern gate. The ride takes roughly 5-15 minutes and costs about €1.10, and buses run through the day. Tickets are normally bought before boarding, from the terminal's ticket office or inside the station bar. A taxi from the station costs roughly €15-20.
Trenitalia also sells a combined ticket for the last leg, sometimes called "Taormina Link", which adds the shuttle for a small supplement.
If you're heading straight for the beach rather than the old town, there is now an electric bus called the Taormina Sea Line that runs from the station to Isola Bella, Mazzarò, Spisone and Mazzeo, ending at Letojanni. It launched in July 2026 with hourly departures (roughly 08:20 to 19:20 from the station) and a €2 fare, with plans to increase the frequency, so check the current timetable locally.
Teatro Antico
Taormina's ancient theatre is one of Taormina's big attractions. Originally built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC and substantially rebuilt by the Romans, it still stages concerts and festival events, and its stage is framed by the broken brick arches of the backdrop with Mount Etna and the Ionian coast visible through them. It is the defining view of Taormina.
The theatre is a short, flat walk from the bus terminal along Corso Umberto and then a few steps uphill. Entry is around €14 for adults (€7 reduced), with daily opening roughly 09:00, with last entry varying in the season (but roughly varying from 17.00 to 19.00); on selected summer evenings the site stays open late. Go early if you can - the first hour after opening is noticeably quieter than midday, when tour groups arrive. Or go late in the day once they have left.
Corso Umberto and the Old Town
Corso Umberto is Taormina's main street, running about a kilometre between Porta Messina and Porta Catania and lined with shops, cafés and historic palazzi. The centre is a restricted traffic zone, so on foot is the natural way to explore it. Along the way you pass Piazza IX Aprile, the town's terrace-like main square with sweeping views over the coast; the Torre dell'Orologio, the clock tower that opens onto it; the Duomo and its Baroque fountain; and Palazzo Corvaja, a building that blends Arab-Norman and Gothic styles. Elsewhere in the old town you can also find the Odeon, a small Roman theatre, and the remains of Roman baths, both free to visit.
Villa Comunale
A few minutes' walk from Corso Umberto, the Villa Comunale (also known as the Trevelyan Gardens) is a small public park of palms, flowering shrubs and shaded paths that slopes down towards the sea. It was laid out in the late 19th century by Florence Trevelyan, a British woman who settled in Taormina and also bought Isola Bella, and the small decorative pavilions she added along the paths are still there. Benches along the lower terraces look out over the bay, the coastline and, on a clear day, the line of Etna.
It is free to enter. Opening hours are posted at the gate and change with the season, with earlier closing in the cooler months, so check before you plan around it. Allow 30-45 minutes. It is the best place in the old town to sit in the shade and cool down after the Teatro Antico and the crowds on Corso Umberto, and the paths involve some steps and slopes.
Isola Bella and Mazzarò
The best way to reach the sea from Taormina is the cable car (funivia), which runs from near Porta Messina down to Mazzarò in a few minutes. Cars run about every 15 minutes from 08:00, with the last service around 01:30 in summer and 20:00 in winter. From 1 August 2026, the tourist fare is €8 one way or €15 return. The cable car is normally closed for annual maintenance in January, with a replacement bus, and it can be suspended in high winds - in that case a shuttle bus usually links the town and Mazzarò.
From Mazzarò it is a short walk along the shore to Isola Bella, a small islet joined to the mainland by a narrow strip of pebbles that is covered or exposed depending on the tide. The islet was bought by Florence Trevelyan in 1890 and is now a nature reserve; entry has been about €5, and it reopened in June 2026 after a long closure, so check it is open before you plan around it. The bay is pebble rather than sand, so bring water shoes if you want to swim.
Castelmola
Higher than Taormina itself, Castelmola is a small hilltop village crowned by the remains of a medieval castle, with long views over Taormina, the coast and Etna. It is known for its almond wine and almond-based sweets, and its bars are known for their quirky interiors. A local bus runs there from Taormina in around 15 minutes for about €2, with departures roughly every 30-60 minutes in busy periods and fewer in winter. You can also walk the old stepped path up from town, but it is steep, so most visitors take the bus up and walk back down.
The village's most talked-about stop is Bar Turrisi, on Via De Gasperi, the main street. It opened in 1947 as a mix of café and souvenir shop and is still run by the same family, but it is now known for its decor: almost everything inside is phallic, from the lamps, statues and carved wooden figures to the menu and even the bathroom fittings. The theme is usually explained as a nod to ancient Mediterranean symbols of fertility, abundance and good luck, and the whole place is playful rather than seedy. It is worth stopping for a coffee or a glass of local almond wine, although the humour is aimed at adults, so think twice before bringing young children. Opening hours are not published reliably, so check when you arrive.
Day Trips From Taormina
Taormina works well as a base for car-free exploring along the eastern coast, because most of the useful places are on the Messina-Catania railway line or on Interbus routes.
- Giardini Naxos and Letojanni - the neighbouring seaside towns are a few minutes away by bus or train, and good for a swim away from the Isola Bella crowds.
- Catania - about 40-70 minutes by regional train, with a fish market, a Baroque centre and a lava-stone old town.
- Syracuse (Siracusa) - a direct regional train runs from Taormina-Giardini in roughly 1.5 hours. Ortigia is connected to Siracusa by a small bridge, and is a beautiful place to spend a day.
- Mount Etna - there is no direct public bus from Taormina. The usual public transport route is to go to Catania first, then take the AST bus to Rifugio Sapienza (at last check, about 2 hours, departing from Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII opposite Catania Centrale station in the morning and returning in the late afternoon), then continue by cable car and guided hike. Confirm times with AST before you travel. For most visitors based in Taormina, a guided Etna excursion is the less stressful option.
Food and Drink
Sicilian breakfast in Taormina means granita with a brioche - a semi-frozen coffee, almond or lemon ice eaten with a soft, sweet bun. For lunch, look for arancini (fried rice balls), pasta alla Norma (tomato, aubergine and salted ricotta, a Catania classic) and anything with swordfish or fresh anchovies. Cannoli and cassata are the sweet staples, and Castelmola's almond wine is the local digestivo. Wines from the slopes of Etna, particularly the whites and the mineral-rich reds, are worth ordering a glass.
Corso Umberto is lined with restaurants aimed at visitors, and prices are higher than in Catania or Messina. For better value, walk a street or two away from the main drag, or eat in Giardini Naxos or Letojanni, both a short bus ride away.
Practical Information
Taormina is hilly and cobbled, so wheeled luggage is awkward - pack light if you can, and ask your hotel whether they can arrange pick-up from the bus terminal. Corso Umberto and the surrounding streets are largely pedestrian, which is why a car adds little: you will not drive into the centre anyway, and parking is limited and paid.
July and August are hot, crowded and expensive. April to June and September to October give you the same views with easier walking, quieter streets and better prices. If you can, stay a night rather than rushing in as a day trip - the old town is at its best in the evening, after the tour groups have left.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get to Taormina by train?
Yes. Taormina-Giardini station is on the Messina-Catania line, with regional trains from both cities taking roughly 40-70 minutes and costing around €5.50. The station is at sea level in Giardini Naxos rather than in Taormina itself, so you need a short local bus or taxi to reach the centre.
Where is Taormina's train station and how far is it from the town?
Taormina-Giardini station sits on the coastal SS114 road in Giardini Naxos, about 200 metres below Taormina and roughly 1.3 km from the town's bus terminal on Via Pirandello. The climb is steep, so most visitors take a local bus (about 5-15 minutes) or a taxi rather than walking.
How do I get from Catania Airport to Taormina without a car?
The simplest option is the direct Etna Trasporti / Interbus coach from the airport arrivals area to Taormina's bus terminal, which takes about 80-90 minutes and costs €7 one way. Alternatively, take the Alibus to Catania Centrale and then a regional train to Taormina-Giardini.
Can you visit Taormina as a day trip from Catania?
Yes. Regional trains take roughly 40-70 minutes each way and cost around €5.50, and there are regular departures through the day. Allow time for the bus up from the station and plan your return train in advance, because the last trains run in the evening.
How much does the Taormina cable car cost?
From 1 August 2026, the cable car between Taormina and Mazzarò costs €8 one way or €15 return for tourists. It runs about every 15 minutes from 08:00, until around 01:30 in summer and 20:00 in winter.
How do I get to Castelmola from Taormina?
A local bus runs from Taormina to Castelmola in around 15 minutes for about €2. You can also walk up the stepped path, but it is steep, so most visitors take the bus up and walk back down.
Can you get to Mount Etna from Taormina by public transport?
Not directly. There is no public bus from Taormina to Etna, so the usual public transport route is to go to Catania first and take the AST bus to Rifugio Sapienza, then continue by cable car and guided hike. Check AST timetables before travelling, or book a guided excursion from Taormina.
How do you get to Taormina from Rome by train?
Intercity trains run from Rome to Sicily and are carried across the Strait of Messina on a ferry, then continue to Taormina-Giardini. The journey takes about nine hours, so many travellers split it with a night in Naples or take an overnight Intercity Notte. Check Trenitalia or Trainline for current times and fares.
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