Guide to Taormina, Sicily

In this guide to Taormina, Sicily, I highlight my time in the east region of Sicily underneath Mount Etna. This is a touristy region of Sicily and many cruise ships dock here like we did in Catania. In this guide, we visit the small town of Taormina and the larger city of Catania.

Map of Sicily:

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A Map of Sicily

Itinerary:

Coming on a cruise, we docked at the port of Catania. It was a beautiful morning, and we got a full view of Mount Etna. Our original plan was to go to the interior part of Sicily to an ancient Roman villa, but our ship canceled the tour. We could have gone, but a private tour would have been too pricey.

So in a bid to salvage our plans, we decided to go to Taormina, an ancient village located at the base of Mount Etna. From Catania, the drive to Taormina is about an hour.

I would have to say that the one annoying part about taking a cruise tour was that they forced us to return much earlier than what we wanted. So not a great start but we made the most of what time we had. Taormina is a small city, and most of it can be “conquered” in a couple of hours. The bus ventures up the top of the hill that Taormina sits on and parks in a large garage made for buses.

Taormina itself is gorgeous and highly recommended. It is touristy, but the views alone make it worthwhile. Taormina is set up as a single street village. It has a main street in the city with little side streets that either go up or down the mountain. This makes it super easy to navigate around.

Probably the best stop at Taormina is the ancient amphitheater. Built in the 3rd BC, it was left in ruin and then buried until about the 1800s when it was excavated. The amphitheater is dramatic, and it is certainly worth a visit to get a fantastic view of Mount Etna and the ocean below. Take your time here and enjoy the natural breeze this area receives.

The amphitheater was the only attraction we decided to pay to get into, and we left our remaining time to explore, eat, and drink. Like I said earlier, Taormina has a cute main street filled with shopping and cafes. One thing I can recommend that is native to this part of Italy is limoncello. It’s highly alcoholic and can be bought in many of the touristy shops.

From the amphitheater to the right on the main street, there is the east gate of Taormina. My advice is to walk from this gate to the other side of Taormina. This gives you the chance to snap photos, sit down to eat and drink, and take in all of Taormina.

We only had a short time in Sicily and had to be rushed back to the ship, unfortunately. However, we spent about an hour and a half roaming the street in Catania to explore. I think what surprised me the most was how dirty this city is. The buildings looked aged and rundown, and the city itself feels somewhat sketched. We ended up going to the local H&M to find more clothing.

Favorite:

Some of my favorite restaurants, spots, pictures, and videos of Sicily!

Restaurants

One of the cafes on Taormina’s main street.

Spots

Taormina Amphitheater

Sicily – Mount Etna from Taormina ampitheater

What to Wear:

Men’s Sicilian wear is much like the rest of Italy but perhaps a little more relaxed. This is an island after all, and attitudes in Sicily are more chill. Your western style is certainly acceptable, and you’ll see a European flair while in Sicily. Keep it modern with an easy-going look.

Shirts

In the summer, keep the Mediterranean casual look. Italian look is more form-fitting, much like Europe but in the summer it’s okay to have looser clothing to stay cool. Linen and cotton work well for this. Colorful shirts or light color shirts are ideal in the summer sun.

Note if you’re traveling to Mount Etna bring a jacket. It can be chilly to cold near the peak.

Pants/Shorts

It doesn’t get that cold in Sicily except if you venture on Mount Etna. Even then shorts are probably okay if you’re traveling in the summer months. Like your shirts, you’ll be most comfortable with cotton and linen material as it can be pretty hot during the day. Perhaps at night if you feel like dressing up, bring some slacks.

Shoes

Sandals, flats, or sneakers would be the ideal shoes to bring. Remember that you’ll probably be walking a lot, so comfort is vital. Leather is a good look with sandals and canvas material for shoes are pretty comfortable. I wore a pair of Toms that are stylish and comfortable.

Accessories/Gear

You don’t need too many accessories, but perhaps a watch or bracelet would be stylish. As a traveler, you may need to carry a backpack to store your valuables. Theft is more common in Sicily, but it’s not that much of a concern.

Design

Sicily is more relaxed in general, so you won’t find that clothing is too constraining compared to the mainland of Italy. Men still wear stylish clothing, but it’s more of a relaxed Meditteranean vibe. It’s easy to feel more “resort” style here. But always keep it classy, you want to look good.

Your materials should be simple, and I would choose simple designs, nothing too elaborate. Prints are perfectly okay, and I encourage them if they are paired well. Below I have an example of the ideal look.

An Ideal Look:

What I Loved:

We didn’t see much of Sicily, but it is a beautiful land. Mount Etna dominates the landscape, and it’s what makes Taormina so visually stunning. Above all, it was the scenery that blew me away.

What I Disliked:

I think what I disliked about Sicily was how dirty the more prominent cities were. I have been to Messina, and now Catania and both showed a lack of care for their buildings. There is a striking difference in Italy from north and south, and Sicily seems pretty behind the more prosperous north. It didn’t make me feel all too comfortable walking around the city.

Ideas and Tips:

Taormina is a great city to start if you’re new to Sicily. It is touristy but no denying that it’s also beautiful.

There is not much to offer in Catania and Messina. I don’t think I would even bother staying there.

Perhaps try to get into more inner parts of Sicily. It’s a vast region, and you’ll need time to explore it all.

Thoughts:

I can’t say I loved Sicily having been there twice now. I did like Mount Etna and Taormina, but the major cities do lack some of the allure. Also, because Sicily is so large, it would take time to explore other regions like Syracuse, Palermo, or inner Sicily. For me, it’s nice to visit once and yes there is a lot of history there, but it isn’t as exciting as other Italian regions for me.