How to get to Taormina

Closest Airport: Catania
Closest Train Station: Giardini-Naxos

By Plane

The nearest airport is Catania “Fontanarossa” (about 45 kilometres away from Taormina). There are weekly scheduled flights from many European cities and several daily flight connections from Rome, Milan, Napes Bologna, etc. In addition, there are also several “charter” flights.

From the airport to Taormina, there are several public buses. Some go directly from the airport, via highway, to Taormina and takes approximately 90 minutes. Alternatively, there are local buses leaving from the Central Railway Station in Catania and it takes approximately 2 hours to go via the inner roads. To get to the Central Railway Station in Catania you must take a city bus called Alibus, which leaves every 20 minutes from the airport to the Central Station Square (Piazza della Stazione). From there, several buses or trains go to Taormina daily.

The Taormina bus station is a 10-minute walk from the center of town, while the Taormina Railway Station is located in Giardini-Naxos, along the coast.

Taormina is high atop Monte Tauro and in order to arrive in Taormina from the Giardini-Naxos train station, you must take a local bus or taxi (a 10-minute drive).

Getting from the airport

By bus: There is a bus service from the airport to Taormina that takes approximately 90-minutes and costs 4 euro ach way. Tickets may be purchased at the airport or at the bus station and buses leave nearly every hour during the high season and obviously less during low season.

By taxi pick-up service: The Italian language school offers an airport pick-up service from the Catania Airport to Taormina. This service must be reserved at least one week in advance of arrival. All flight changes or late flights must be immediately communicated directly to the service. Direct contact information to be provided. This service is not cancellable within 48 hours of your arrival. Taxi airport pick-up is available for both individuals and groups. Larger groups may be accommodated on request and with appropriate advanced notice.

By Train: There are many direct trains leaving for Sicily from all the main towns of Italy. The station for Taormina is Giardini-Naxos, directly on the coast. Taormina is a 10-minute drive from the station and you can take a local bus or taxi.

By car from Rome: It takes approximately 8 hours to drive from Rome to Taormina. Take the highway to Reggio Calabria and exit in Villa San Giovanni. Take the ferryboat here to Messina (ferries go every 20 minutes and it takes approximately 20 minutes to cross the Straits of Messina). From Messina take the highway toward Catania, exit at Taormina.

By car from Genoa: If you do not want to drive through all of Italy, you can take a ferryboat from Genoa to Palermo (an overnight trip). Then from Palermo, take the highway to Catania (crosses inland) and from Catania (you do not need to enter the town), take the highway towards Messina and exit at Taormina. It takes about 3.5 hours to drive from Palermo to Taormina.

Car Rental

Car Rental is available in Taormina or from the Catania airport. Rates vary slightly from one company to another.