Taormina is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Taormina works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The nearest airport is in a neighbouring city, and a rental car is the easiest way to cover the rest. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Taormina, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 8 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 3 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Taormina, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.
Accommodation in Taormina starts at around €225 per night, with a typical rate near €573 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.
Well-reviewed hotels: Hotel Villa Ducale, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 329 reviews, from €613 per night; Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina, 5-star, guest rating 9.7 from 293 reviews, from €2476 per night; Hotel Villa Belvedere, 4-star, guest rating 9.6 from 599 reviews, from €566 per night; Atlantis Bay - The Leading Hotels of the World, 5-star, guest rating 9.6 from 450 reviews, from €1950 per night; Villa Sant'Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina Mare, 5-star, guest rating 9.6 from 176 reviews, from €2152 per night.
Day trips & routes: Messina — about 51 km, 42m drive; Palermo — about 262 km, 2h 54m drive; Cinisi — about 293 km, 3h 17m drive. Fastest option is Messina: 42m by car.
Taormina: what to know
Things to see: "Etna : Group Helicopter Flight (including round trip car transfer)", rated 5 from 36 reviews, from €450; "Etna and Wine an experience between nature and aromas with taste.", rated 5 from 25 reviews, from €159; "Private Day Trip to Syracuse from Taormina", rated 5 from 23 reviews, from €500; "Private Godfather and Taormina Tour with Luxury Van", rated 5 from 23 reviews, from €179; "From Volcano to Sea: Private Tour of Etna and Taormina Boat Tour with tasting", rated 5 from 23 reviews, from €300.
Taormina has no direct airport — most travellers fly into the nearest airport city and continue by rental car or transfer. Getting around the city and out to the 3 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Taormina is around €573, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.
To rent a car in Taormina you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 3 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Italy, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.
