Hotels
Where to stay in Taormina: the best hotels in town and down by the sea
In the evening, once the day-trippers have gone, Corso Umberto grows quiet again. That is when you notice how much it matters to stay in the town itself.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: hotels in Taormina
We have picked eight hotels in Taormina. The town sits high above the sea, and the beaches lie below at Mazzarò and Isola Bella, linked by a cable car. If you want to walk everywhere, stay in the centre. If you want to swim every day, stay down by the sea.
Our first choice: Grand Hotel Timeo. Check availability and prices at Grand Hotel Timeo
How to choose
First visit: Grand Hotel Timeo, right by the Greek theatre.
History: San Domenico Palace, in a convent founded in 1374.
Beach: Mazzarò Sea Palace, down on the bay.
A cove of its own: Atlantis Bay, just south of Mazzarò.
Value: Villa Fiorita, central and easier on the budget.
In the centre, by Corso Umberto and the theatre
Grand Hotel Timeo: next to the theatre
Timeo sits just below the Greek theatre and is known as the town’s first hotel. Its terraced garden faces the bay and Etna, and there is a pool and a spa. Best for a first visit, when you want both the view and the town right outside the gate.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Grand Hotel Timeo
San Domenico Palace: the convent
The Dominican convent from 1374 is now a Four Seasons hotel, with terraces dropping towards the sea and the Michelin-starred Principe Cerami. This is where the guests stayed in season 2 of The White Lotus. Best for those who want the history thrown in.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at San Domenico Palace
Villa Carlotta: the villa with the tower
An old villa with a tower and a roof terrace, ten minutes on foot from Corso Umberto and the cable car. The pool is open in summer, and the Miraggio restaurant serves local dishes. Best for couples who want a smaller hotel with a personal touch.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Villa Carlotta
Metropole: a pool above the coast
A smaller hotel with a pool on the terrace and views down the coast, ten minutes on foot from Corso Umberto. There is also a spa with a hot tub and sauna. Best for those who want to stay centrally and still have a pool to retreat to.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Metropole
A pool above the coast
From the terrace at Metropole you look down the coast south of Taormina.
Down by the sea at Mazzarò
Mazzarò is the bay below Taormina, and Isola Bella, the little island that is a nature reserve, lies right next to it. The cable car takes you up to town in a few minutes.
Mazzarò Sea Palace: in the middle of the bay
The hotel sits down on the bay, a ten-minute walk from Isola Bella, with its own beach and pool. Best for those who want a morning swim and the cable car up to town in the evening.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Mazzarò Sea Palace
Atlantis Bay: the little cove
The hotel sits in its own small cove just south of Mazzarò, ten minutes by car from Isola Bella and the cable car. It has a spa and the Nui restaurant. Best for those who want peace by the water more than evenings in town.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Atlantis Bay
The little cove
Atlantis Bay sits in its own cove, with cliffs around it and the town high above.
The more affordable options
Villa Fiorita: central and simple
A small hotel with a garden and a pool that opens in summer, within walking distance of Corso Umberto and the cable car. Guests give it top marks. Best for those who want to stay in town without paying for the big luxury hotels.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Villa Fiorita
Panoramic Hotel: near the beach
The hotel has a roof terrace and a pool, and the beach at Mazzarò is five minutes away on foot. Best for those who want to be near the water and do not need luxury.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Panoramic Hotel
Getting there
From Catania airport there are buses and taxis to Taormina, and the trip takes about an hour.
Good to know
The cable car between the centre and Mazzarò saves you the steep road down to the water. Several hotels close in winter, and high season is July and August. Read more about the island in our Sicily travel guide.
One caveat: the main street is car-free and the roads in are narrow, so a hire car has to stay in the car parks outside the centre.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Taormina
Where is the best place to stay in Taormina?
If you stay in the centre, Corso Umberto, the Greek theatre and the restaurants are all within walking distance. Grand Hotel Timeo and San Domenico Palace are the best-known hotels there. If you would rather swim every day, stay down at Mazzarò, where Mazzarò Sea Palace sits, and take the cable car up to town.
Is there a beach in Taormina?
Not in the town itself, which sits high above the sea. The beaches are down at Mazzarò and Isola Bella, and the cable car gets you there in a few minutes. Further south, Giardini Naxos has a long sandy beach. Many of the hotels by the water have their own beach with sunbeds.
When is the best time to visit Taormina?
May, June and September are the best months, with warm weather and fewer people than in July and August. Several hotels close in winter and reopen in spring. The sea is warmest in late summer, so if swimming matters most, September is a good choice.
Do you need a car in Taormina?
No, not to stay in town. The main street is car-free, and the cable car and buses cover most needs, including the trip from Catania airport. A car is handy for day trips to Etna, Noto or Cefalù, but it has to stay in the car parks outside the centre.
Enjoy Taormina
Picolo Editorial