One Day in Taormina, Sicily: Best Things to Do, See & Eat

Planning to spend one day in Taormina? You’re in for endless coastal views, arancino and gelato on repeat, a whole lot of Sicilian charm – oh, and plenty of crowds.

Nicknamed the “Pearl of the Mediterranean,” this luxe hilltop town, perched above the glittering Ionian Sea, is where ancient history and la dolce vita intersect.

I recently spent a week and a half in Taormina – wandering the bougie boutique-lined Corso Umberto, swimming at Spiaggia di Isola Bella, eating pistacchio-covered everything, soaking up the quiet charm of Castelmola, hiking, and taking cooking classes…

And even though Taormina is as touristy and expensive as Italy gets, I haven’t stopped daydreaming about it since.

That’s why I put together the ultimate one-day Taormina itinerary, just for you! Whether your cruise ship is docking in Messina or you’re road-tripping across Sicily, this is the only Taormina guide you’ll need!

1-Day Taormina Itinerary: A Quick Overview

Short on time? Here’s a quick summary of how to DIY the perfect day Taormina. Read on for all the details and must-know tips!

• 8:00 AM – Enjoy a typical Sicilian breakfast near Porta Messina
• 9:00 AM – Visit the Teatro Antico di Taormina before it gets busy
• 10:00 AM – Stroll along Corso Umberto and explore the historic center
• 12:30 PM – Savor a Sicilian-style lunch at my favorite spot
• 2:00 PM – Stroll through the Villa Comunale Gardens, gelato in hand
• 3:00 PM – Swim at Spiaggia di Isola Bella
• 4:30 PM  – Visit the Isola Bella Regional Museum
• 5:30 PM  – Spend the evening in Taormina OR venture up to Castelmola

Best guided activities in taormina:

If you want to dive deep into Sicilian culture and food, slot in one of my favorite guided activities: 

• Seaside Sicilian Cooking Class – I highly recommend this class; it was so unique and fun!
• Private Etna Wine and Food Tour
• Small-Group Mount Etna Trekking Tour

Essential Taormina Tips:

• Transportation: Traveling by regional train? Book tickets to Taormina-Giardini Naxos station through Trenitalia. Taking the Interbus? Here’s the schedule.
• Cable car (Taormina ↔ Mazzarò): €6 one-way or €10 round-trip. Runs every 15 mins.
• Teatro Antico di Taormina: €14. Opens at 9 AM. Buy tickets at the door.
• Isola Bella Museum: €6. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM until an hour before sunset. Visit at low tide.
• Taormina restaurants: Make lunch and dinner reservations if you’re visiting from May through October. My favorites include Malvasia, Al Saraceno, and Trattoria Da Nino.

One-Day Taormina map:

Use my handy, interactive Taormina map to follow my Taormina itinerary on-the-go!

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Taormina is home to plenty of five-star resorts, like the Grand Hotel Timeo and San Domenico Palace.

But if you only have one day in Taormina, booking somewhere that’s central and convenient is key. I recommend staying at B&B Greco Home ($$), Valentina ($$), or Hotel Villa Paradiso ($$$).

✨ MADDY’S TIP: I stayed up in Castelmola (for 1.5 weeks!) and I’m so glad I did. The views of the surrounding mountains, vineyards, olive groves, sparkling sea, Taormina, and Mt. Etna are unparalleled. Plus, Castelmola is quaint, authentic, reasonably priced, and peaceful – the exact opposite of Taormina. If you have more time, stay in Castelmola at Casa Blandano B&B ($$) or Hotel Villa Sonia ($$).

How to Spend One Day in Taormina

You could easily spend three full days in Taormina – especially if you want to hike Mt. Etna, laze at the beach, visit local Etna wineries (the mineral-rich, volcanic soil produces fantastic wine!), or take a Sicilian cooking class.

But you can still see a lot in just one day! Here’s what I recommend…

Grab a Sicilian-Style Breakfast

Do as the Sicilians do in the summertime… Order granita (Sicilian sorbet) for breakfast!

On the edge of town, near Porta Messina, you’ll find Caffè Forastiero. This cute little café is my top pick, whether you want espresso and a cornetto al pistacchio, a cannolo alla ricotta, an arancino filled with ragù, lemon granita, or an extravagant version of eggs benedict.

Visit the Ancient Theater of Taormina

The Ancient Theater of Taormina (Teatro Antico di Taormina) is the most iconic historical site for miles!

Originally built in the 3rd century by the ancient Greeks, the amphitheater was later expanded to seat 10,000 spectators and Romanized with columns, statues, and even a partial roof. 

My husband and I visited right when it opened at 9 AM and had the whole place to ourselves. And it was magical. Massive tour groups (and the heat!) started rolling in at 10, just as we were leaving. So go early! 

While it no longer hosts gladiator fights, you can catch seasonal concerts here! Imagine watching a show at sunset, with the sparkling sea and Mount Etna as your backdrop.

☀️ MADDY’S TIPS: You don’t need a guided tour to soak up the amphitheater’s beauty and history; just buy tickets on arrival and read the plaques as you go. Skip the overpriced tourist-trap café inside. Bring your reusable water bottle – and don’t forget a sunhat!

Stroll Along Corso Umberto

Next, head to Taormina’s main shopping street: Corso Umberto.

Yes, it’s wildly touristy. Packed with designer boutiques, souvenir shops, and crowds (between 9 AM and 6 PM). But still, it’s worth wandering.

As you stroll, look past the crowds and admire the charming details: the ivy-draped balconies, tiny chapels, sun-drenched piazzas, street performers, medieval architecture, and towering mountains.

Amidst the luxury fashion labels, you’ll find plenty of local goodies, like Bronte pistacchio spreads, Etna D.O.C. wines, olive oil, hand-poured candles, almond wine, and dried pasta.

Don’t miss the handmade ceramic shops either! My favorite was Ceramiche Don Corleone di Antonio Forlin. If I weren’t a full-time traveler, I would’ve happily emptied my wallet there!

Eventually, you’ll land in Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina’s open-air living room. With its checkerboard tiles, baroque churches, and mesmerizing view over the Ionian Sea, it’s the ideal place to sit and people-watch, spritz in hand.

Lunch at Ristorante Malvasia

Ready for lunch? Ristorante Malvasia is your place for homey vibes, unforgettable seafood pasta, and Sicilian classics like caponata and swordfish rolls – all at fair prices. There’s no view here, but I promise, the food makes up for it!

Promise me you’ll order the ravioli stuffed with shellfish, topped with shrimp and a lusciously creamy tomato sauce, and sprinkled with pistacchio. It’s one of the most memorable pasta dishes I’ve had in Italy! So good.

Try to arrive right when they open, at 12:30 PM, to snag a table. Or better yet, make a reservation.

Stroll Through Trevelyan Park

Room for dessert? Grab granita or gelato to-go at Levante Gelato Artigianale, then head straight for some (relative) peace and quiet at the Villa Comunale di Taormina (Trevelyan Park).

Originally the private garden of Lady Florence Trevelyan – an English noblewoman who moved to Sicily in the 1880s – this lush, sea-facing park is now a serene public escape. Meandering flower-lined paths give way to ponds and fountains, quirky monuments and sculptures, epic views of the coastline, and even WWII artifacts.

Plan to spend roughly 30 minutes here, wandering, resting on a shady bench, or grabbing a drink from the little bar.

Relax & Swim at Isola Bella Beach

It’s time to hit the beach! Spiaggia di Isola Bella is Taormina’s iconic pebble beach and nature reserve. It’s absolutely stunning and home to the Regional Naturalistic Museum, but it’s also super busy during peak season.

Another option is Spiaggia Mazzarò, located steps from the gondola terminal. It’s equally beautiful (and busy), offering paid beach clubs – like Lido La Pigna and Lido Il Delfino – along with public stretches of sand.

How to Get Down to Isola Bella

• MADDY’S WAY: I recommend walking down to the beach! From Villa Comunale di Taormina, you can meander Via Bagnoli Croci over to an epic viewpoint (Belvedere di Via Pirandello), then descend the long, scenic staircase (Scalinata per Taormina) down to Isola Bella Beach. This route takes about 20 minutes. You can take the cable car back up instead!
• FASTEST WAY: Short on energy? Take the 10-minute cable car (funivia) that connects Taormina and Mazzarò. It runs every 15 minutes, costs €6 one-way (or €10 round-trip), and drops you about a 5-minute walk from Isola Bella Beach. 

Visit the Regional Naturalistic Museum of Isola Bella

Isola Bella translates to “beautiful island” – and I couldn’t agree more! Once the extraordinary private retreat of Florence Trevelyan – a pioneering early 20th-century wildlife conservationist – the island and her former residence now make up Taormina’s Regional Naturalistic Museum.

The sprawling villa is the definition of luxe indoor-outdoor living. Covered in volcanic stone and coastal flora, it blends right into the rocky landscape. It’s absolutely marvelous. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. And absolutely worth a 15-minute stop!

Buy your ticket on arrival for €6. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 AM until about an hour before sunset.

🌊 MADDY’S TIP: The best time to go is at low tide! Otherwise, you’ll have to wade or swim in! Check Taormina’s tide times and plan your one-day itinerary accordingly.

How to Spend Your Evening in Taormina (2 Options)

Now, you have two equally dreamy options to finish off your day in Taormina. From the beach, ride the cable car back up to Taormina, then choose between staying in town or venturing up to Castelmola

Option 2: Dinner & Unbelievable Views in Castelmola

• Head up to the quaint, mountaintop village of Castelmola for dinner over the most incredible views in Sicily, bar none. From Taormina, take a 15-minute taxi ride or hop on the Interbus.
• Explore the tiny town on foot. Take in the views from Piazza Sant’Antonio, walk up to the Castello di Mola, and meander over to Piazza Chiesa Madre. 
• For dinner, snag a table on the rooftop terrace at Pizzerina Nina. You’ll delight in the dreamiest views imaginable, plus pizza, pasta, and seafood dishes. I’m obsessed with the pennette with pistacchio cream and pancetta, oh, my goodness. A slightly fancier (but equally fab) option is La Taverna Dell’Etna.

One Day in Taormina: My Favorite Guided Activities

If you have more time up your sleeve – or just prefer a well-planned experience for your day in Taormina – these are my favorite guided activities!

Cook Sicilian Cuisine with a Local Chef (4 Hours)

In Sicily, I fell in love with the agrodolce (sweet-and-sour) flavor of caponata – a classic local eggplant dish. So naturally, I had to learn how to make it from a Sicilian!

This seaside Sicilian cooking class with Chef Mimmo and his mamma was the perfect opportunity. 

After picking up fresh ingredients from a small, traditional market, we went back to Mimmo’s family-run trattoria for a hands-on cooking experience I’ll never forget.

We learned how to make six Southern Italian pasta shapes (including busiate, orecchiette, cavatelli, and maccheroni al ferretto) and four delicious Sicilian dishes:

• Trapani-style pesto pasta
• Pasta alla norma
• Caponata
• Messina-style Swordfish rolls (stuffed with fennel, olives, and parsley!)

In my experience, most Italian cooking classes teach the same cliché dishes (like bolognese sauce, fresh pasta, and tiramisù). I loved this class because the dishes were unique and deeply rooted in Southern Italy! It reminded me a lot of the incredible week-long cooking class I took in Lecce, Puglia. 

The overflowing local wine and limoncello were welcome bonuses! Click here to book your Taormina cooking class!

Trek Around Mount Etna (6 Hours)

This small-group Mount Etna trekking tour is your chance to get up close to Sicily’s iconic 11,165-foot active volcano!

During the one-hour commute from Taormina, your guide will share stories of Mt. Etna’s explosive past – from lava flows and ski slopes to the volcanic origins of granita (gelato’s nonna).

When your guide hands you a helmet and a flashlight, you’ll know the adventure has officially begun!

Hiking boots on, you’ll trek across Etna’s lunar-like landscapes, exploring craters and lava caves, soaking in the stunning scenery. This is an experience you won’t soon forget – promise!

The experience peaks with Sicilian-style sandwiches, local Etna wine, traditional cakes, and traditional almond wine at a quaint mountainside chalet. Bellissimo!

Click here to book your Mount Etna half-day tour from Taormina.

❄️ MADDY’S TIP: It snows atop Mount Etna in the winter! Even in peak summer, be prepared with a warm layer; it can be significantly cooler up there.

Visit Three Local Etna Wineries (6 Hours)

If you’re craving a vino-focused adventure, then book this private Etna wine and food tour.

You’ll visit three family-run wineries to try 10+ different wines – from bold reds to crisp whites to mineral-rich rosés. All of the wines are delicious, and all thanks go to the region’s prolific volcanic soil!

At each stop, generous pours and regional specialties (like cheeses, olives, caponata, and fresh pasta alla norma) await. And so do gorgeous views and warm Sicilian hospitality!

Round-trip transportation from Taormina, Catania, or Messina is included, so all you have to do is show up thirsty.

This intimate, authentic experience is perfect if you want to dive deep into Sicilian food and wine culture. (And trust me, you do.)

Click here to book your private Etna wine and food tour!

How to Get to Taormina

Taormina is one of Sicily’s most popular destinations, so it’s pretty easy to reach by rental car, regional train, or local bus!

• Cruising from Rome? From the cruise ship port in Messina, you can take the regional train (direct, 40 minutes) from Messina Centrale station to Taormina-Giardini Naxos station, then take the local bus or a taxi up to town. Otherwise, you can take the Interbus to Taormina, book this full-day guided tour of Taormina and Castelmola from Messina, or arrange private transportation to Taormina.
• Traveling around Sicily by land? From other popular destinations like Palermo, Cefalù, and Syracuse, you can take the regional train to Taormina-Giardini Naxos station or rent a car and drive yourself to Taormina. If driving, having a well-thought-out plan for parking is essential. I highly recommend booking a Taormina hotel with parking included.
• Flying in? From Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport, you can take the regional train (direct, 1 hour), take the Interbus, or book a private transfer to Taormina.