Honeymoon in Taormina: A 5-Day Romantic Sicily Itinerary

Taormina sits on a cliff 200 metres above the Ionian Sea on Sicily’s northeastern coast - a position that has made it a destination for Grand Tour travellers, writers, and filmmakers for two centuries. Goethe visited in 1787. D.H. Lawrence lived here. Francis Ford Coppola used the surrounding villages for The Godfather. The credentials are serious.

For a honeymoon, the proposition is specific but compelling: a medieval hilltop town with a 3rd-century BC Greek theatre, views across the sea to Calabria on the Italian mainland, Mount Etna smoking in the background, a cable car to a private beach below, and a Sicilian cuisine - arancini, pasta alla norma, swordfish, Etna DOC wines - that is among the most satisfying in Italy. This 5-day itinerary is built for couples who want all of that, plus a day on the volcano and a boat trip to sea caves, without spending a fortnight.

For a full Italy honeymoon across multiple destinations, see our 10–12 day Italy honeymoon itinerary covering Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, and Venice.

---

Getting There

Fly into Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) - the main Sicily hub with direct connections from London, Amsterdam, Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, and most major European cities.

• Private transfer to Taormina: Approximately €60–€90 one-way, 45–55 minutes. Book in advance through your hotel or a reliable transfer service - this is the most comfortable option on arrival.
• Interbus coach: Runs from Catania Airport to Taormina approximately every 2 hours, approximately €8/person, 1 hour 15 minutes. Leaves you at the Taormina Giardini train station from where a local bus or taxi takes you up to the town.
• Taxi: Approximately €80–€110 from the airport, metered or negotiated.

Important: Taormina town is largely pedestrianised and built on a cliff. Most hotels have baggage-transfer arrangements - confirm this when booking, as some properties require a short walk from the car access point.

---

Where to Stay: Hotels by Budget Tier

Luxury (€500–€2,500/night)

San Domenico Palace, A Four Seasons Hotel - a converted 15th-century Dominican convent set in terraced gardens on the cliff above the sea. The property became legendary before Four Seasons acquired it; the renovation added a pool and spa while preserving the cloister and frescoed ceilings. Sea-view rooms offer one of the most dramatic outlooks in Sicily - Etna to the southwest, the Ionian coast stretching north. Rates from approximately €700–€2,500/night in peak season.

Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo - the hotel that first established Taormina’s reputation as a Grand Tour destination, built in 1873 directly above the Ancient Theatre. The theatre view from the terrace is extraordinary; Theatre Restaurant is excellent. Rates from approximately €600–€2,000/night.

Mid-Range (€130–€350/night)

Hotel Villa Schuler - a family-run property that has been in continuous operation since 1905. The Schuler family still runs it. Gardens with bougainvillea, sea views, Etna views, a morning room that makes breakfast an event. Not a luxury hotel in the amenity sense but exceptional in character and service. From approximately €150–€320/night.

Hotel Metropole - central Corso Umberto location, rooftop terrace with sea views, comfortable rooms. From approximately €130–€250/night.

Villa Fiorita - smaller property a short walk from the Corso with garden terrace and sea views. From approximately €120–€220/night.

Budget-Conscious Without Compromise (€70–€160/night)

Hotel Lido Silemi, Mazzarò - down at beach level rather than up in the town, directly on the water. The trade-off is you take the cable car or bus up to the town for most activities. From approximately €80–€160/night. Good option for couples who prioritise beach time.

B&B Moderno - central Taormina guesthouse with clean rooms and a terrace. No pool or restaurant but excellent value for the location. From approximately €70–€130/night.

---

Day 1: Arrive and Walk the Corso

Check in, leave the bags, and walk Corso Umberto - the pedestrianised main street running the full length of Taormina from Porta Messina to Porta Catania, approximately 1 kilometre. This is Taormina’s spine: the main gate, the Piazza IX Aprile belvedere with its views over the bay, the clock tower, the Cathedral of San Nicola, and the cafes that define the town’s atmosphere.

Coffee and granita: Bam Bar on Via di Giovanni is the institution for Taormina granita - a Sicilian semi-frozen dessert made with coffee, almond, lemon, or pistachio. A granita con brioche (served with a sweet bun for dipping) is approximately €4–€6/person. This is mandatory.

Afternoon: Rest and acclimatise. Walk down to Piazza IX Aprile to watch the sunset over the sea - the belvedere here is one of the best viewpoints in Taormina for golden hour.

Dinner: Tischi Toschi, Taormina - a small trattoria on Via F. Paladini known for excellent Sicilian street food and local wine. Arancini, pasta alla norma (aubergine, tomato, salted ricotta - the signature Sicilian pasta), grilled swordfish. Approximately €30–€50/person. No reservations - arrive early or expect a queue.

---

Day 2: Ancient Theatre and Isola Bella

Morning: The Ancient Theatre of Taormina (Teatro Antico) opens at 9am. This is the defining monument - a 3rd-century BC Greek theatre later modified by the Romans, 109 metres in diameter, set on the cliff with a backdrop that frames Mount Etna perfectly through the stage columns. Entry approximately €13/person (as of 2026). Allow 90 minutes to walk it properly, read the information panels, and photograph the view from the upper rows.

Late morning: Cable car down to Mazzarò beach (approximately €3 one-way), then a short walk or water taxi to Isola Bella - a small island connected to the mainland by a thin sandbar. The marine reserve around it has clear water for snorkelling (equipment hire available on the beach, approximately €10/person). Kayak rental for the caves and grottos around the island: approximately €15–€20/hour.

For a more guided experience, several operators run boat tours of the Isola Bella grottos - approximately €20–€30/person for a shared small boat tour of the sea caves, or €80–€150 for a private boat for two hours. Highly recommended; the caves are genuinely impressive from the water.

Lunch: On the beach at Ristorante La Baia, Mazzarò - grilled seafood with your feet effectively at the water’s edge. Approximately €35–€60/person.

Evening: Cable car back up, evening walk along Corso Umberto, aperitivo at Caffè Mocambo on Piazza IX Aprile - Aperol spritz or Sicilian Amaro with the bay below and Etna catching the last light.

Dinner: Ristorante La Capinera, Spisone (10 minutes by taxi from Taormina centre) - one Michelin star, chef Pietro d’Agostino, Sicilian seafood at its highest level. Tasting menu approximately €100–€140/person, à la carte approximately €80–€120/person. Reserve well in advance; this is the most celebrated restaurant in the Taormina area.

---

Day 3: Mount Etna

Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe - 3,357 metres, still erupting regularly (the summit craters are monitored by INGV volcanologists). A day trip from Taormina is one of the most memorable experiences in Sicily.

Getting there: Most couples take a guided Etna tour from Taormina - typically including hotel pickup, minibus to the cable car station at Rifugio Sapienza (1,900m), cable car to 2,500m, then a guided hike to approximately 2,900–3,000m. Total cost approximately €70–€100/person for a half-day tour including cable car (as of 2026). Full-day tours with more hiking reach higher: approximately €90–€130/person.

What to bring: Hiking shoes or trainers (the lava field is uneven), a jacket (it is cold and windy above 2,500m even on warm days), sunscreen, and a water bottle.

The cable car: Funivia dell’Etna, approximately €13 one-way or €21 return/person if booking independently. The guided tours include this.

Wine: On the descent, stop at one of the Etna DOC estates on the volcano’s northern or eastern flanks - Benanti, Cornelissen, Passopisaro, or Terre Nere all offer visits and tastings. Book in advance; most require a reservation. Tasting approximately €20–€40/person (as of 2026). Etna Rosso from Nerello Mascalese is among the most talked-about Italian wines of the past decade.

Dinner back in Taormina: Al Saraceno - seafood restaurant with terrace views. Grilled local fish, pasta with sea urchin, reasonable house wine. Approximately €40–€70/person.

---

Day 4: Alcantara Gorge and a Free Afternoon

Morning: The Alcantara Gorge (Gole dell’Alcantara) is a 15-minute drive from Taormina - a narrow basalt canyon carved by the Alcantara River through a lava flow. Entry approximately €5/person (as of 2026). In summer, it’s possible to wade through the river in the gorge - equipment hire available. The canyon walls are 25 metres high; the geological formations are extraordinary.

For a fully led experience, canoe and gorge guided tours are available from operators near the gorge entrance: approximately €35–€60/person.

Afternoon: Return to Taormina and take the afternoon without a schedule. The Villa Comunale gardens (free entry) run along the cliff edge north of Piazza IX Aprile - 19th-century English-style gardens with bougainvillea, fountains, and sea views, entirely crowd-free compared to the main Corso.

Alternatively, take a cooking class in Taormina - several operators run 3-hour Sicilian cooking experiences (arancini, pasta alla norma, cassata) for approximately €80–€120/person. Cooking Together Sicily and Time to Cook are well-regarded.

Evening aperitivo: Terrace at your hotel or at one of the bars above Piazza IX Aprile.

Dinner: Otto Geleng at Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo - the hotel’s restaurant is open to non-guests. Terrace with Ancient Theatre and Etna in the near distance. Sicilian cuisine with serious technique. Approximately €90–€140/person. Reserve ahead.

---

Day 5: Giardini Naxos and Departure

Morning: Take the cable car down to Giardini Naxos - the beach town at the foot of the Taormina cliff. Less dramatic than Taormina itself, it’s a genuinely pleasant seafront town with a long beach, good seafood restaurants, and the site of the first Greek colony in Sicily (founded 734 BC; archaeological site open, entry approximately €5/person).

Walk the archaeological site, take a last swim, and have a leisurely lunch on the seafront - Ristorante Aequa, Giardini Naxos, approximately €30–€55/person - before the transfer back to Catania Airport.

---

Activities & Costs Summary (as of 2026)

Activity	Cost per person
Ancient Theatre of Taormina entry	approximately €13
Cable car Taormina–Mazzarò (return)	approximately €6
Isola Bella boat tour (shared)	approximately €20–€30
Isola Bella private boat (2 hrs)	approximately €80–€150 for the boat
Kayak/snorkel hire, Mazzarò	approximately €10–€20
Etna guided half-day tour	approximately €70–€100
Funivia dell’Etna cable car (return)	approximately €21
Etna wine tasting	approximately €20–€40
Alcantara Gorge entry	approximately €5
Sicilian cooking class	approximately €80–€120

---

Practical Notes

Getting around in Taormina: The town is pedestrianised and walkable. The cable car (Funivia) runs between the Corso and Mazzarò beach - approximately €3 one-way, approximately €6 return. Taxis are available for day trips; negotiate the price before departing.

Crowds: Taormina’s Corso Umberto is extremely crowded between 11am and 7pm in July and August. Most of these are day-trippers from Catania and Sicily’s beach resorts. Book accommodation in town and be out on the Corso early morning or after 8pm for the best experience.

Sicilian cuisine notes: The Sicilian breakfast - granita with brioche - replaces the continental croissant entirely and is substantially better. Don’t skip it. For dinner, arancini (rice balls, either traditional or contemporary varieties) are a Sicilian institution. Pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines, raisins, pine nuts, and fennel) is unusual and exceptional.

Film location: The town of Savoca and nearby Forza d’Agrò, 20 minutes by taxi from Taormina, were used for the Corleone village scenes in The Godfather. Bar Vitelli in Savoca still operates. A half-day excursion for cinema-interested couples.

Book Before You Go

• Taormina tours and experiences - Etna day trips, boat trips, and private guided tours
• Car hire in Italy - useful for reaching Etna and the quieter parts of the Sicilian coast
• Private airport transfers - from Catania Fontanarossa Airport to Taormina
• Travel insurance for Italy

Book Your Trip

• Flights - Find the best fares to Italy
• Travel Insurance - Get covered before you go
• eSIM - Stay connected from landing
• Airport Transfers - Door-to-door from Catania Airport to Taormina
• Car Rental - Compare prices across providers
• Tours & Activities - Browse Taormina tours on GetYourGuide