City Center

The historic center of Taormina is located on a saddle in the hills high above the sea. The old town was once walled and fairly narrow, with a town gateway (still standing) at each end of the long main street. This picturesque street, Corso Umberto, is still the most important and lively thoroughfare. Largely pedestrianized, it`s beautifully lined with shops, cafés, restaurants and galleries. Staying in the historic center is the best way to enjoy the charming and lively resort atmosphere and get the full experience of Taormina. Once the daytrippers have gone, the lanes become much less crowded, with a more `exclusive` feel, as residents and those spending the night in Taormina mingle in an evening passeggiata.

Staying in the city center will allow easy access to all the city`s main attractions: Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina Cathedral (Duomo), Italian Opera Taormina and a short distance to famous island of Isola Bella, Mazzaro and Giardini Naxos beaches and resorts area. A lot of bars and restaurants can be found in the immediate vicinity as well.

The drawbacks of staying in the immediate city center are that it`s less convenient for driving and for public transport (you`ll have to walk out of the town gates to pick up buses and taxis), the old buildings and narrow lanes mean you won`t always get balconies with great views and you might hear noise from restaurants and bars. There are not many hotels right in the heart of the historic center; there are more B and Bs and apartments. Although this is generally the most expensive area to stay in, there are cheaper options as well.

Outskirts

Modern Taormina sprawls along any available bit of slope that`s not too steep either side of the historic center. Roads wind off through residential areas, and you`ll find larger, more modern hotels in these areas as well as B and Bs. Many are still in comfortable walking distance of the historic center. Others are a further distance, and it`s a good idea to both look at the location map provided in hotel listings, and read the comments of previous guests to get an idea of how convenient the location really is. Some roads are busy and routes may be steep, which will make a difference to getting around. A location at the north-eastern end of town (outside the Porta Messina town gate) will be more convenient for public transport, getting around the surrounding areas of Taormina and for taking the cable-car down to the beach.

Staying down by the seaside will allow you a very different type of vacation, more of a beach holiday with the opportunity to pay visits to Taormina city center taking the bus, cable-car or taxi. There are walking routes between Giardini Naxos (the station area) and Taormina and Mazzarò and Taormina, but only suitable for visitors that have more energy.

The beach resort of Giardini Naxos is an established seaside town with its own character, a long narrow beach, cheaper places to stay and buses up to Taormina. More directly below Taormina, there are headlands and a couple of small bays, with hotels and other buildings grouped around them. The Isola Bella cove is pretty with its little island and beach, and a short walk to the north is Mazzarò, a settlement around another bay. Staying along this stretch of shore will give you easy sea access, the possibility of picturesque sea views and proximity to the coast road. Although these bays aren`t big and are pebbly, they have the best access to Taormina via a cable-car from Mazzarò, and by bus.