Exploring Taormina: Sicily’s East Coast Gem
Taormina rises above the Ionian Sea on a shoulder of rock beneath Mount Etna, a medieval hilltop town whose stone lanes spill down toward the water in tiers, past attractions and places to visit that have drawn travellers for centuries.
What to do in Taormina comes down to five experiences that anchor any stay: the Ancient Theatre, Isola Bella, the evening passeggiata along Corso Umberto, a proper Sicilian table, and a day trip to Etna or Castelmola. Two or three days ashore are enough to take in the theatre, the coastline and the kitchens without rushing. Seen first from the sea, the town reveals itself gradually, terrace by terrace, long before visitors walk a single street.
The Ancient Greek Theatre: Taormina’s Crowning Landmark
The Ancient Theatre of Taormina is where most visits here begin, and the view from the top tier explains why. Greek builders carved it into the hillside in the third century BC; Roman engineers later enlarged it to hold an audience of 10,000. Its stage needs no backdrop; Mount Etna smokes gently to one side, the Bay of Naxos curves away on the other. The climb up from town is short, and most visitors head first for the middle tiers, where the framing of Etna and the sea is most complete. The theatre still works for a living, hosting the Taormina Film Fest and a season of open-air concerts each summer, so the tiers that once held Greek and Roman crowds now hold a modern one. Travellers keen to see how a day ashore here connects to the wider coast can discover Explora Journeys’ Mediterranean Destination Experiences.
Isola Bella: The Pearl of the Ionian Sea
Off Taormina’s shore sits Isola Bella, a green knoll tied to the mainland by a narrow pebble isthmus that all but disappears at high tide. Isola Bella has been a nature reserve since 1998. Its waters are clear enough for snorkelling, and its coves make for a delicious swim on a calm day. Most visitors reach it through the Belvedere staircase, close to 300 steps that drop from the town to the sea. A cable car also links Taormina to Mazzarò, from where small boats also cross for those who would rather arrive by water. A short walk along Via Pirandello leads to a viewpoint with one of the clearest outlooks over the bay, useful for anyone who would rather look than swim. Among Taormina’s attractions, this is the one that photographs best from above and feels best from below.
Corso Umberto and Piazza IX Aprile: The Heart of the Town
Corso Umberto is Taormina’s pedestrian spine, and by early evening it fills with the unhurried rhythm of the passeggiata. Ceramics shops and boutiques line the way, alongside artisans worth seeking out: Lorenzo Camarda’s handmade shoes, Antonio Lo Turco’s red coral jewellery, Il Sandalo Caprese’s leather sandals made while you wait. Midway along, Piazza IX Aprile opens onto a checkerboard terrace with Etna on one horizon and the sea on the other, arguably the finest free view in town, especially as the evening light turns the stone gold. Among Taormina’s places to visit, this square asks little and gives plenty back.
A Taste of Sicily: Dining in Taormina
Taormina dining rewards a simple approach: order what the region does best and let the ingredients speak. Caponata, pasta alla Norma and pasta with fresh alici anchor most menus, paired with a glass of chilled Sicilian white. For something sweeter, BamBar’s granita con brioche remains the standard by which locals judge every other. Diners after a more formal evening will find heritage hotels and Michelin-recognised tables tucked along the same streets, among them Otto Geleng at the Grand Hotel Timeo. It is proof that this coastline’s culinary range runs from market stall to white tablecloth, with local Nerello Mascalese reds from Etna’s volcanic vineyards often poured alongside. The same instinct for honest, well-sourced flavour carries through to dining on board Explora Journeys’ ships, where regional ingredients guide much of the menu, and authenticity is non-negotiable.
Beyond the Town: Etna, Castelmola and the Coast
A short drive elevates visitors from sea level to the black slopes of Mount Etna, where guided hikes and tastings of Etna DOC wine reveal a very different side of the island. Castelmola, perched higher still, offers a quieter version of Taormina’s own panorama and a glass of the village’s almond wine in the main square. The cool basalt channels of the Alcantara Gorges make for a sharp change of scenery inland, their walls carved by lava meeting river water centuries ago. Back at sea level, boat trips trace the coast at its best, with routes running to the Blue Grotto, Baia delle Sirene and around Isola Bella itself, threading Taormina’s beaches and hidden coves from the water.
Experiencing Taormina by Sea with Explora Journeys
Arriving by sea shows Taormina at its most theatrical, the town rising in tiers above the Ionian coast before a single step is taken ashore. Explora Journeys brings that perspective to life through EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II, whose Mediterranean Journeys call at Giardini-Naxos, a short transfer from the town centre. From the deck, the same coastline that shapes every list of Taormina attractions becomes a single, unbroken view: theatre, isthmus and hilltop village, all visible before breakfast. Guests can discover EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II to see how each ship builds a day in Taormina around this approach from the water. Each pairs the port call with Destination Experiences that Guests can discover ashore.
Yes. Taormina pairs a genuine ancient landmark with an easy coastal setting, which is rare in Sicily. Its theatre, its viewpoints and its dining scene reward even a short stay.
The most direct route is on foot, down the Belvedere staircase, a descent of close to 300 steps from the town to the shore. A local bus, taxis and the Mazzarò cable car also run down to the waterfront, from where Isola Bella is a short walk along the coast.
Two to three days allow time for the theatre, Isola Bella and the town centre, plus one day trip to Etna or Castelmola. A single day still takes in the theatre and Isola Bella comfortably, the two experiences most worth the climb.
Late spring and early autumn bring warm, settled weather without the peak-summer crowds. Midsummer suits travellers keen to catch the Taormina Film Fest and the season's open-air concerts, though the town is busiest then. Winter has its own following too, with mild days and quiet streets drawing travellers to winter Mediterranean Journeys.
Local dishes worth ordering include caponata, pasta alla Norma and pasta tossed with fresh alici, all suited to a chilled Sicilian white. That same regional pantry follows guests onboard, where Explora Journeys dining draws on each port of call, Taormina included.
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