Taormina, Sicily – a beautiful, picturesque town

My itinerary Food Excursions / Tourist Spots Shops

Nightlife Accommodation Travel Conclusion

The island is culturally renowned as a partial (but integral) backdrop to ‘The Godfather’ films and book, which inspired my trip here, and more recently served as a setting for the TV show ‘The White Lotus’. 

I recently decided to take a short solo trip to Taormina, Sicily, a beautiful, picturesque town that offers rustic architecture, tantalising cuisine, and awe-inspiring views. The island is culturally renowned as a partial (but integral) backdrop to ‘The Godfather’ films and book, which inspired my trip here, and more recently served as a setting for the TV show ‘The White Lotus’.

I’ve done things alone before, including solo cinema trips (which can feel awkward when walking up to the ticket attendant), and dining solo in a restaurant (this also felt quite weird), but this was my first fully solo trip, giving me a chance to have time for myself and choose my own itinerary.

While a little daunting at first, from my first day, it seemed to become completely natural to be on my own. Here, I’ve included a breakdown of each of my days (in case you’d like to follow in my footsteps), along with details on a list of places to try out if you ever venture to Taromina for a slice of ‘la dolce vita’.

My Itinerary

DAY 1:

1. Messina Gate 

2. Palazzo Corvaja a. (1 min walk from Messina Gate) (not much to see, a couple of paintings but quite bare inside) 

3. Chiesa di Santa Caterina a. (less than 30 secs from Palazzo Corvaja) 

4. Piazza IX Aprile a. (5 min walk from Chiesa di Santa Caterina) 

5. Chiesa di San Giuseppe (by the piazza) 

6. La Napoletana 

7. Bam Bar (1 min walk from P. Corvaja) 

8. Gardens of the Villa Communale 

DAY 2:

1. Isola Bella Beach & Nature Reserve 

2. Al Paladini 

3. Villa Zuccaro (pizza) 

4. Morgana Lounge Bar 

DAY 3:

1. Teatro Antico di Taormina 

2. La Focaccia 

3. Le Delizie di Sergio Gift Shop 

4. CaffÈ Forastiero 

5. Bar - Bistro - Pizzeria "Gallodoro" 

6. Castello San Marco / Lido Syrah relax beach

Now you’ve seen a brief rundown of everything, here are some more detailed thoughts on the food, excursions, and travel I encountered… 

Food

La Napoletana

As a pizza lover, I found this restaurant after a quick research; it was only a short walk from the Piazza IX Aprile (2 minutes), just on a quiet back street off of the main Corso Umberto street, with plenty of outdoor seating. 

There is a large selection of options, with over 30 pizzas to try, alongside starters, salads, and desserts; I chose the ‘Montanara’, topped with provola cheese, porcini mushrooms, local pork sausage, and burrata cheese; it had a thin, airy dough, with plenty of cheese.

I did wish I’d ordered differently as I fancied a tomato base (the ‘Scilla’ probably would’ve been a better option), but that’s not their fault; the pizza was still great. 

Bam Bar (1 min walk from P. Corvaja)

Known for their granitas and brioche (they have flavours including Coffee, Kiwi, Melon, and more), I went for a mix of Lemon, which was very sweet, and Peach, which was more subtle and offset the sweetness.

There was a queue outside, so it took around 20 minutes to get in, but once I’d ordered, I was served very quickly, probably only a minute after ordering! 

Villa Zuccaro

This restaurant boasts a stunning setting, with a massive tree towering above the 17th-century villa, and ample seating available outside.

There is a large selection of Starters, Salads, and Pizzas made in a large rotating pizza oven; mine was crispy thin, topped with creamy mozzarella, salami, and sausage, and I finished with a Tiramisu (which I’m a sucker for). The cream was thick and the coffee strong (but not overbearing), although I’m not sure if it had alcohol in it, as I couldn’t taste any. 

Overall, I spent €40/£34.56, including an Aperol Spritz, so you can certainly get good value for money here. 

Al Paladini

On my way back from the beach, I craved a quick something to boost my energy and give me a rest. The price was only €3 for a Melon and Lemon granita, and this one didn’t disappoint with another mix of great flavours. 

La Focaccia

Specialising in Focaccia sandwiches, I came across this small shop one afternoon. They have a large set of options, catering to meat-eaters, pescetarians, and vegetarians, and I chose the ‘Trevellyan’, which included Roasted Provola, Potato Cream, Confit Tomatoes, Arugula, and Lime-Flavoured Balsamic Reduction.

The bread was extremely light and crisp, and the flavours within complemented each other nicely. At €12 for my option, I would say I’d have liked more filling inside, but it was still a lovely place to try.  

CAFFÈ FORASTIERO

Just a short walk from the Messina Gate, I came to this beautiful café for a rest after gift shopping. Continuing my granita trend, I tried a Strawberry and Lemon combo, and the two flavours together were amazing, and a much-needed refreshment, again at a good price of €4/£3.46. 

Al Paladini

On my way back from the beach, I craved a quick something to boost my energy and give me a rest. The price was only €3 for a Melon and Lemon granita, and this one didn’t disappoint with another mix of great flavours. 

Bar - Bistro - Pizzeria "Gallodoro" 

I came here on my last night and started with bruschetta, which had a good mix of tomato, onion, olive oil, and rocket. For the main, I decided to go for a pasta dish (I’m not the biggest fan usually), choosing Pasta alla Norma, which wasn’t too strong on the ricotta, and had a nice eggplant and tomato sauce, but in my opinion it wasn’t mind-blowingly good, as it didn’t taste like fresh pasta to me.

However, I came back the next day in the early afternoon for a pizza, which was great; no Italian sausage this time, but I really enjoyed it with just onion, mozzarella, and the tomato base. One very nit-picky note was that I ordered bruschetta again as a starter, and received 3 slices rather than 4 this time; thankfully, my inner Karen was silenced by the flavours I’d enjoyed. 

Excursions / Tourist Spots

Messina Gate / Porta Di Mezzo / Catania Gate

This gateway into the north side of the Corso Umberto street has been standing tall since the 12th century, going through restoration over the years (notably in 1808, when it was named Porta Ferdinanda after Ferdinand IV of Bourbon).

Just past the Piazza IX Aprile stands a clock tower, which had been destroyed in 1676 during an attack by French troops and rebuilt 3 years later.

Past this, on the other side of the street, Catania Gate (built in 1440) gives entry to the south of the Corso Umberto, with a notably larger wall surrounding the gate. 

All 3 monuments were a part of the town’s protective fortifications, and are worth checking out if you appreciate old stone-work and want a good picture under some historic architecture. 

Piazza IX Aprile

The Piazza is a huge open square, boasting an amazing view of the sea, making it one of the hotspots for tourist photos, and thankfully, it wasn’t crowded when I got there at around 12.20 pm. If you want the chance to eat and drink with a view, Caffe Wunderbar can be easily found near the clock tower. 

Teatro Antico di Taormina

As a lover of ancient architecture, such as the Roman Colosseum, and being of half Greek-Cypriot heritage, I had to go and see Sicily’s ‘Greek Theatre’, gaining this name after being built by the Greeks in the 3rd Century BC.

While not as large as its Roman counterpart, this amphitheatre is still huge and is even host to musical performances to this day.

You can take guided tours for EUR 12 each, or buy a single self-guided ticket (which I did) for EUR 14. Once inside, you can you can read about the history of this monument, alongside samples of carved Roman marble and engraved stones with Greek lettering.

It boasts views of the coast from the top, and Mount Etna can be seen and captured in pictures through the central opening. Anyone looking for a trip into the past should check this out! 

Gardens of the Villa Communale

I came across these Gardens unexpectedly one day on my walk back to the hotel (my phone died, so I didn’t get a chance to take many pictures, which was sad). It caught my eye straight away, with a tropical feel due to the palm trees, some old-looking buildings/structures, and great views overlooking the sea. 

Narrowest Street in Taormina

While not as culturally significant as the Teatro, the VICOLO STRETTO is less than 50cm wide, and clearly a unique part of the town. Was it made this thin to prevent unwanted visitors from accessing what lies behind it? Who knows. 

Pro of visiting = good place for a cool photo; Con of visiting = not enjoyable for claustrophobes. 

Isola Bella Beach

Whilst a beautiful setting under the blue skies, this beach is very stony (think Brighton beach), immensely busy, and you’d have to rent out a sunbed privately if you want to sit comfortably. There were food establishments available on the walk down to the beach, so there are options for refreshments too.  

Nature Reserve

Connected to the beach, the Reserve is on a small island and costs €6 to enter, which doesn’t seem a bad price, but there’s not much to see in honesty. There’s a building structure that infuses the natural rock of the island, but I wouldn’t say it’s anything special. 

I would say it acts as a good viewing point of the sea, and another place for pictures. 

Il Padrino (The Godfather) Tour

Whilst I unfortunately didn’t get onto a tour or get to see any of the Godfather locations due to my own unorganisedness, there are options either online or in the town to find tours.

You can be taken to the towns of Savoca, Sant'Alessio, Santa Teresa, and Forza D'Agro, getting a chance to see iconic settings from the movies such as Bar Vitelli, and some tours should include a trip to the Castello Degli Schiavi, a privately owned castle used in all 3 of the Godfather movies (of course, each tour will be different, so make sure to read all the fine print of what’s included). 

Mount Etna

Still an active volcano, Etna is accessible via tour guides, which can include experiences in cable cars, Jeeps, or quad biking. It’s 2 times larger than Mount Vesuvius, and the highly fertile soil is a source of many crops and produce. Whilst I didn’t experience this excursion, a trip here would take up at least half a day, if not most of the day, but is sure to be a trip to remember. 

Shops

Le Delizie di Sergio Gift Shop

This small gift shop packs in loads of great food products, oils, vinegars, and seasonings to bring home, along with friendly and helpful staff. I found they were reasonably priced and definitely better value than shops on the main road, with small hand-decorated 100ml bottles of Limoncello at €9 each (normal bottles were a lower cost at €6, but the €9 ones are nice as a keepsake). Definitely check this shop out for good deals (found down Via Naumachia)! 

Ceramiche Don Corleone Art Workshop

Found on a street named ‘SALITA GUGLIELMO MELIVIA’, off of the Corso Umberto, this colour-popping, vibrant store hosts a range of handmade pottery and art, some of which may be difficult to transport home due to the sheer sizes of the pieces, but there are smaller pieces which could easily be bought and enjoyed. 

Nino & Friends

Drawn in by the huge chocolate fountains on display, this store had a huge selection of olive oils, vinegar, pesto, pasta sauces, and chocolate.

They offer a range of tasters which were amazing, especially the vinegar, oil and salt combos; taking those small bites of goodness made me feel like that rat fellow Remi in ‘Ratatouille’ when he ate the strawberry and cheese together.

One taster I had of the balsamic was €82 for a bottle (which I definitely wasn’t purchasing), and there was a mix of aged balsamic products, with some up to 25 years old, so if you like expensive balsamics that have a wine-y taste, this shop could be for you.

Side Note: The Corso Umberto street has a range of designer shops including Tom Ford, Guess, and Louis Vuitton, along with local clothes shops, jewellery stores (Rolex’s on display), restaurants, cafes, and ice cream stores. 

Nightlife

Although I didn’t take in much of the nightlife, there were a couple of places I tried out:

Morgana Lounge Bar

Whilst this bar had a beautifully decorated, chic interior, I would recommend that a booking be made to fully enjoy the bar. I arrived before 23.00, and even though it was largely vacant, sitting down was basically not an option (unless by chance you could grab one of the few bar-side seats).

It’s probably best to come here after midnight, but I got bored and couldn’t be bothered to wait around for things to liven up. The drinks are also pretty pricey here, with my cocktail costing €20/£17.28, so be ready for this if you visit. 

Il Teatro Della Notte / Lido Syrah relax beach

This event was recommended to me by one of the ladies who worked at my hotel; the venue was practically on the beach. 

I spent €20 on entry, which I thought would only get me 1 cocktail, but when I went up for another, I was pleasantly surprised to not be charged, and so it was with my 3rd drink.

The theme was a white party, with dancers and fire performances sprinkled throughout the evening, and a great mix of House music. One difficulty I had was getting home afterwards, as again, getting a taxi or Uber at 2.00 am wasn’t easy.

(can be found on Instagram @ilteatrodellanotte) 

Accommodation

Hotel Bay Palace

My room was simple but lovely, with a view of the coast from the balcony, along with air-conditioning included and breakfast too (which can come at an extra cost depending on booking type - I personally feel it could have been better). The pool was great, with a good amount of sunbeds available surrounding it to chill and read, taking in the view of the coast too. The staff were also really nice and welcoming, and on hand to give tips for nearby excursions. I will say if you want to hire a car whilst staying here, it does sit on a steep hill, so be wary of this. 

Travel

Trains

Once I’d arrived and collected my bags, I took around a 10/15 minute walk to the Train station, Catania Fontanarossa, which would take me to Taormina Giardini.

It was meant to leave at 21.07, but arrived late at 21.36; very annoying, not a great start… I then arrived at my stop at 22.37. Despite the lateness, it was well air-conditioned, had charging points throughout, and only cost me €6.50 for an hour’s journey.

Buses

Once I’d got off the train, the bus from the station only cost €1.90 for a ticket, which I believe wasn’t limited to my end destination, and took around 5/10 minutes. I would recommend having an Italian translator on your phone, as I could only depend on another passenger to help translate my English to the driver.

Taxi / Ubers

Getting Ubers in Sicily is possible, but they are expensive and not very common, especially late at night/after midnight, with wait times stretching to around 30 minutes, so it’s better to choose a local taxi service, which your hotel should hopefully be able to help with.

Saying that, I had requested a taxi one evening before going to the Teatro, and it didn’t turn up for some reason (I waited for over 20 minutes until frustration kicked in, at which point my hotel ordered another).

This cab however, only accepted cash (even though I was told card payment was accepted), so he had to pull up to a cashpoint at the end of my journey. I would recommend making sure that taxis are booked in good time, and that you have cash handy to avoid unnecessary charges at a cashpoint. 

Conclusion

Over the space of 3.5 days, I feel that I managed to pack in a fair amount of sightseeing, food, and tiresome travel adventures. It was enough time to see the majority of the town and Corso Umberto, but as with any town, there’s always something or somewhere else to experience and discover.

If I were to go back to Sicily one day, I would definitely have to see the sights made famous by the Godfather, exploring the villages and quieter areas, along with going to Palermo, the island’s bustling capital. Whilst on a solo trip, I found it to be quite liberating and enjoyable, I would still want to come back here with company next time.

If you’re thinking of visiting Taormina or Sicily generally, maybe give some or all of my suggestions a try, or if you’ve already been, let us know what your own suggestions are!