Taormina Transportation

As the saying goes: getting there is half the fun! Because Taormina is locating high on top of a rocky bluff above the Ionian Sea, it makes for an interesting drive to get there! We drove from the autostrade A18 almost at sea level and made our way up the switchback two-lane road (How do the tour buses do it!?!) up to the city. There were some nail biting moments but it also had some fun moments as well as the roads wound round and round, tunneling through the rock, up, up, up, higher and higher.

At the top was a covered parking garage so we parked there and walked into town (most of the town is pedestrian only). Parking for several hours came to around €6. There was no problem finding parking in the garage with plenty of spaces, but we came during the off-season. Taormina is a very popular tourist attraction during the spring and summer and during the Christmas season, so parking will be difficult during these times.

On our way back to our hotel in Giardini Naxos, we left the parking garage and went down a narrow road that ran opposite of our initial trip to Taormina. This road was an adventure as it was much narrower and its turns were sharp. It led us into the old part of Giardini Naxos where we followed the road to our hotel.

I have made a Googlemap showing the location of the parking garage. Don’t be fooled by the A18 going through the city – the city is high on the bluff and the A18 is actually a tunnel going through the rocks much lower than the actual city.

The bus station is in the Via Pirandello. On my latest trip I didn't go further than up to Castelmola (2.80 euro return) and down to Giardini Naxos (also 2.80 return), but buses also go further afield to Messina or Catania (including the airport).

The buses have blue 'Interbus' livery.

The cable car (funivia) links Taormina (Via Pirandello) with the beach area at Mazzaro (main car park area). You can of course walk down or up, but on a hot day, it's good to have an alternative option.

Tickets cost 3 Euro one way.

Trying to find a Taxi in Taormina was pretty difficult!

We eventually came to see a group of four Taxi's parked in the old Town, this was good, but their were no Driver's! We looked, and looked, wondering who to ask, when I spotted a group of men sitting on a fence chatting. I asked if any were Taxi driver's and sure enough they all were, but none seemed to want our business!
Eventually one Driver decided to ask what we wanted, which was a Taxi from here, to the Railway station, cost 30 euro for the short distance. I said to expensive, and started to walk away, when he dropped it to 25 euro, which I think was still too expensive. We didn't have any choice but to take the deal.
I believe the rate is between more around 20 euros than 25 euros, so bargain if they want more!

These prices are for 2011

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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.