IT · Sicily · 37.85°N 15.29°E

taormina

An ancient theatre above the sea, Etna on the horizon and granita for breakfast.

Best time
April–June and September–October are warm and good for both sightseeing and swimming. July–August is hot and crowded; winter is mild but quieter, with some hotels closed.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Catania, usually via Istanbul or Dubai, about 16–18 hours all in. Airport coaches reach Taormina in about 1.5 hours. Italy is 6 hours behind KL in summer and 7 in winter.
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IT · Sicilytaormina37.85°N 15.29°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,An ancient theatre above the sea, Etna on the horizon and granita for breakfast.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTaorminaIT, Sicily
KLtaormina
≈ 9,477 km from KL, as the crow flies
Aerial image of the coast of Taormina (view from the southeast)

Photo: Carsten Steger · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A hill town perched above Sicily's east coast, with an ancient theatre looking out to sea and the smoking cone of Etna behind. Spend the morning at the theatre and the afternoon swimming at Isola Bella below.

Makan

  1. Granita con briocheAlmond, lemon or coffee ice with a soft brioche bun for dunking, the Sicilian summer breakfast.Map ↗
  2. Pasta alla NormaFried aubergine, tomato and salted ricotta, a Catania classic.Map ↗
  3. Pistachio sweetsPistachios from Bronte, on Etna's slopes, go into gelato, granita and pastries.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Ancient TheatreA Greek-built, Roman-rebuilt theatre whose broken stage frames the sea and, on clear days, Etna.Map ↗
  2. Corso UmbertoThe pedestrian main street, linking old gates, churches and small squares with sea views.Map ↗
  3. Isola BellaA tiny wooded island joined to a pebble beach by a sandbar, just below town.Map ↗
  4. CastelmolaA village on the crag above Taormina, with an even wider view of the coast and the volcano.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The cable car from town down to Mazzarò saves the steep walk to the beaches.
  • Etna is a day trip. How close you get to the top depends on the volcano's mood, and ash sometimes closes Catania airport for a few hours.
  • Halal meat is rare; seafood, pasta alla Norma and granita are easy choices.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.