Taormina is a charming hillside town on the east coast of Sicily, Italy and is one of the island's main tourist resorts. Whilst Taormina can be hot and busy during July and August, crowded with Italian tourists, it is far more pleasant and (slightly) less busy during the rest of the year.

 

How to arrive to Taormina from Catania, Palermo or Messina by bus, taxi or train

 

How to get from Catania Airport to Taormina

The airport of Catania is the most important one in the Eastern part of Sicily and is usually the starting point that leads you to Taormina and its surroundings.You can arrive by taxi, bus or train. There are six buses a day to Taormina's centre.

 

From Palermo or Catania to Taormina by taxi

Using the taxi to get from Catania Airport to Taormina is the most convenient way. Besides the latest bus from Catania to Taormina leaves Catania airport at 07:45 p.m. After this hour you can only get a bus which brings you to the train station or you get a taxi.

As the taxis you find at the airport of Catania ask you at least Euro 100,00 one way from Catania to Taormina we offer our clients an economical airport transportation at Euro 65,00 for 4 persons. Please inquire your personal rate for a ride from Catania to Taormina by taxi.

 

Transportation from Palermo, Messina or Catania to Taormina by bus

Having arrived in Catania in order to get to Taormina you should catch the bus from Catania to Taormina. This is the right bus if you want to go to Giardini Naxos and Taormina. If you are going to Letojanni you can easily change in Taormina at the bus station. The bus from Taormina to Letojanni takes about 10-15 minutes.

There is also a direct coach tour from Catania to Messina which also passes Letojanni. But this country bus needs much more time, but in exchange for that you will see the picturesque villages around the Etna and the coastal towns.

These bus services are also suitable for those visitors who arrive in Catania harbour by ship. Taking the city bus you can go easily from the harbour from where you can change to one of the buses mentioned above.

Please find all the bus timetables on our web page.

Regular buses to and from Messina.

Ticket for express bus from Catania Bus Station costs around 3,70 Euros. Catania airport to Taormina bus station at Via Luigi Pirandello is € 7.90 per person. A taxi to the center of Taormina, which is uphill is approx € 10.00

There is also a direct bus service between Catania and Taormina provided by the Etna Trasporti bus company. In the morning and late afternoon there runs 1 bus per hour. Around noon and during the siesta, the frequency is lower. A ride from Catania to Taormina takes about 1h10min and costs € 4.90 per person (one way).

 

From Palermo or Catania to Taormina by train

Alternatively you can use the inexpensive train from Catania to Taormina-Giardini, but then you need to change over to the bus or a taxi at the station of Taormina-Giardini.

Regular trains to and from Messina and Catania. However the station (called Taormina-Giardini) is on the seafront 2km below the centre. There are some buses taking you to Taormina(cost is around 1,70 euros), but it's often more convenient to take a long-distance bus from the centre straight to or from your destination. Walking from the station is scenic but exhausting.

 

How to get to from Messina to Taormina

Those who travel with their own car arrive in Sicily via the Strait of Messina. Again it is recommendable taking the motorway A18 Messina-Catania instead of tollfree roads. Taormina is about 40 km from Messina and can be reached within less than 1 hour. The fee is about 1.80 €.

You can also get easily from Taormina to Messina via bus or train. However our recommedation is catching the bus as it stops in Letojanni, Taormina and Giardini Naxos.

 

Arriving by ship

Cruise ships occasionally visit, but must anchor/moor offshore. Passengers bus or taxi up to the town.

How do I get to the bus station on Via Liberta from the cruise port in Catania?

The bus station on Via Liberta is not far from the train station. You can walk there, take a taxi or go by subway. From the metro station F.S. Stazione Centrale it's only 200 meters away on foot.

 

Arrival to Taormina with a rental car

A more comfortable possibilty of getting to Taormina, Letojanni or Giardini Naxos from Catania is renting a car.
You can also book a rental car online via our web page (our rental cars).

The Highway A18 Catania-Messina is the fastest and easiest way of travelling to Taormina and surroundings. Travelling time for the 60 km journey to Taormina is approximately 1 hour. You are obliged to pay a toll for using the motorway which for going to Taormina is about 1.50 €. Those going to Letojanni should take the exit of Taormina, to Giardini Naxos the prior exit (Giardini Naxos).

You can travel to Taormina tollfree by taking the road S114 which is, however, not recommendable as this can be very time-consuming.