Taormina Transportation

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We didn't do a set tour of Taormina, instead, did our own thing, and that was arriving by public Train from Messina.

Before we walked out the Station, we had a look at this old building. They had a few old pieces of pottery on display, but what was nice, was the ceiling's done in a creative style of painting, it was lovely! So, take time for a quick look before heading out the station to the Bus Stop which is right there!
This is where the Shuttle bus stops and takes passengers to Taormina.
We waited a long time, and I don't know why, as after our Bus, there was a queue of them.
The Bus driver filled the Bus with passenger's until it was nearly breaking at the seams!

Thank-goodness, the trip wasn't long, but it was hot and stuffy! We could see out the window, and the view was fantastic. The road is very windy with many switchbacks, some of them so sharp, that the Bus needed two attempts to go around the corner. It doesn't take you all the way to the top, but to the Bus stop and turn around point. From here, there is an uphill walk to Taormina.

The fare in 2011 was Adults...1.5 euro

Taormina ’s narrow streets can really drive an inexperienced driver crazy. Not because they are difficult to pass, but because many of them look like dead end. The driver assumes there is no way to go further and turns around or turns too early. Actually, Taormina , being built on three different levels of the ground, has rather complicated plan of winding roads. Thank God, it is not a big city. The streets leading from above toward the sea are just stairs.

I got lost using map and GPS while looking for my hotel. I gave up and told my husband to “just drive, eventually we’ll get there”.

Technically, the closest airport distance-wise to Taormina is the airport at Reggio de Calabria, which is on southernmost tip the mainland of Italy. However by the time you land, get your luggage, get to the ferry dock, ferry over, and get transportation once on Sicily, you're better off flying into Catania or Palermo. Catania is closer to Taormina than Palermo. The airport is about 1-1.5 hours away from Taormina. I have never driven in from Palermo but I have heard it is about a 3 hour drive.

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From Catania-take the A18 highway Northbound towards Messina and use the Taormina exit.

From Palermo-take the A20 Eastward to Messina. Then take the A18 Southwards towards Catania and use the Taormina exit.

You can also take a ferry to get to Toarmina from Reggio de Calabria on Italy's mainland. However, I believe it actually docks in Messina. Once arriving, it's then a modest drive south on the A18.

The actual ferry time is about 45 minutes.

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You'll be taken aback by the dramatic scenery and the street scenes. But bear these things in mind:

1. The roads are much more narrow than in countries like the US.

2. Sicilians drive very aggressively.

3. The roads leading up the mountains are curvy and can be slippery when damp.

So drive cautiously! Take your time, and be on the lookout for cars, trucks, and motorscooters zipping around the corners. And if you feel like taking pictures, pull over and stop in the many parking areas and at lookout points.

You see these little 3-wheelers very often round Taormina. There are mostly elderly people driving them, i think you don't need a license to drive them.
they are used to transport all kind of things and are even used to go to church or shopping.

You an hear them from miles away when they crawl up the hills as their little engine havn't got much power.

If you go there with your own vehicule you will have big problems finding somewhere to park it!!!

Like in most of these villages the streets weren't built for all the cars and the money to build parkings is not existant and if so the locals wouldn't use them anyway.....

So cars are parked everywhere and obviously sometimes get forgotten (see pic..)

If you need to go there by car park it in the big parking (called "Parcheggio Lumbi") shortly after the motorway exit. It's well signposted. From the parking there is a shuttle bus up to the village.