A day trip from Messina to Taormina is one of the most popular day trip options for cruisers arriving at Messina Cruise Port. Taormina is perched upon the cliffs of Monte Tauro, the ethereal “Pearl of the Ionian.” It is a town of breathtaking vistas, ancient theatres, and bougainvillea-draped laneways that have captivated artists, writers, and aristocrats for centuries.
This guide will give you all the tools you’ll need to plan your own DIY day trip from Messina to Taormina. I’ll break down exactly how to get from Messina Cruise port to Taormina by train or bus, what to see and do in Taormina and what delicious Sicilian foods you must try (and where to get them) in Taormina.
This is Part 2 of my Messina Cruise Port guide. Part 1 is about Messina itself – Messina Cruise Port: Astronomical Clock, Beach and Sicilian Food.
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Messina To Taormina Day Trip: Is a DIY Excursion Easy? 😎😎😎😎 Smooth Sailing
If you’re tempted to do travel from Messina to Taormina on a day trip, then you’ll be happy to know that it’s 😎😎😎😎 Smooth Sailing for a DIY shore excursion and here’s why:
- Easy Walk to Messina train station: Messina Centrale is an easy 15-minute walk from Messina cruise port, along the waterfront
- Regular Train Services: Train services to Taormina run approx. hourly during non-peak services. Most cruise lines dock in Messina by 8am, so it’s easy to make the 9:15am train.
- Compact & Walkable Taormina: Taormina’s Main Street, Corso Umberto I, is mostly flat (though there are steps if you start exploring the side streets) and walkable, making it easy to explore the town centre.
Messina Cruise Port to Taormina: Your Transport Options
Taormina is about 50 km (~32 miles) from Messina Cruise Port. Getting there is straightforward with multiple options, depending on whether you’re okay with navigating local trains and buses.
There’s three options to get from Messina to Taormina on a day-trip. And of course, your cruise line will definitely sell a tour (or a “on your own” experience with return transfers) to Taormina!
1. Train from Messina Centrale Station to Taormina
Messina Centrale Station is a 15-minute walk from Messina Cruise Port. From Messina Centrale, you’ll take a train to Taormina and then a quick 10-minute bus ride will take you to Taormina’s town centre.
- Walking Directions: Once you exit the cruise terminal onto the main road, take a left. Follow the road and walk along the harbour front, with the harbour on your left. After about 10 minutes, you’ll notice a big bend around the road and what looks like a ferry terminal. That’s your cue to take a right turn. Then, as soon as you see tram tracks on the road, the station will be on your left. See this route marked on my Messina Cruise Port map, in blue.
- Train Timetables: Trains between Messina <> Taormina typically runs hourly. Check timetables on RailEurope. You’re departing from “Messina Centrale” station, heading to “Taormina Giardini” station.
- Journey Time: Most regional train takes around 45 minutes. Then add another 15 minutes for bus to town centre (see below).
- Tickets: Buy online on your phones or at ticket machines. One way tickets are €5.50. Combined bus/rail ticket is €7.50. Note that all trains are second-class only; no reserved seating.
Insider Tip: Search for “Taormina – Centro” station instead of “Taormina-Giardini” station when you’re at the ticket machine. Taormina-Giardini station is the main rail station but it’s a 10-minute drive from Taormina’s town centre. Purchasing a ticket to “Taormina-Centro” includes a 10-minute bus ride for €2 extra making the trip to Taormina town centre a breeze. (“Taormina – Centro” is, in fact, a bus stop.) Just board the bus outside the station.
Alternatively, you can, of course, pay the €2 ticket with cash onboard to the driver but buying a train/bus combo ticket is easier if you don’t have loose change. Onboard bus fares are cash only in euros (€).
Bus to Taormina Town Centre: I would recommend taking the bus. From Taormina train station, it’s literally a hike to the town centre of Taormina. Save your energy to walk around Taormina instead! You’ll be dropped off at Taormina Centro, close to Piazza IX Aprile, for easy access to the Main Street – Corso Umberto I. Alternatively, you can also take a taxi for about €10 one-way but be sure to agree a price before hopping on, as overcharging tourists happens in Taormina!
Return Bus to Taormina Station: For your return bus back to the station, head to the end of the Main Street (Corso Umberto I) in Taormina – the bus stop is at Porto Messina. (There’s also a taxi stand opposite the bus stop.) This is marked in my Taormina DIY Excursion Map below 🗺️📌👇.
Return Trip from Taormina to Messina Cruise Port: The return trip is the same way, in reverse. Catch the train from Taormina Giardini station back to Messina Centrale and then it’s a 15-minute walk to Messina Cruise Port.
2. Bus from Messina to Taormina
Interbus operates an inter-city bus (coach) service that runs from Messina Station to Taormina. It’s not that frequent (and that’s why I put the train option ahead of this bus option) but if you time it right, it’s a good alternative to the train.
- Bus Station: The Interbus bus stop is outside Messina Centrale train station, so it’s the same walking route from Messina Cruise Port
- Timetables: Use Interbus’s English website to do a search. Enter departure point as “Messina Central Train Station” and you’re heading to “Taormina Terminal Bus”.
- Tickets: From €3.70 one-way.
- Journey Time: Takes about an hour, depending on traffic.
- Where to Get Off: Get off at the last stop, called “Taormina Terminal Bus”. This is the main coach station in Taormina for inter-city coach services, a few minutes walk from Porta Messina in Taormina town centre. See this marked in my Taormina DIY Excursion Map below 🗺️📌👇.
3. Return Shuttle Bus from Messina Cruise Port
If you don’t want the hassle of using local trains and buses, then there’s a return shuttle bus service that picks you up (and drops you back off) at Messina Cruise Port. You’ll return by 3pm.
The return shuttle service gives you about 3 hours of free time to enjoy Taormina – in my view, this is sufficient time to visit the Greek Theatre and have a wonder around the rest of Taormina. Pre-book return shuttle bus to Taormina here.
Assuming that your ship is doing the typical Messina Cruise Port schedule and leaving around 6pm, this option will leave you with time to walk around Messina itself if you prefer.
Messina to Taormina: Day Trip Essentials
- Currency: Euros (€)
- You will need some Euros cash to pay for bus fares on this day trip.
- Language: Italian
- Official websites: Visit Sicily.
- Recommended Transport App: Use Google Maps to navigate around Taormina.
- eSIM for roaming in Italy: For a great data connection without the huge roaming fees, use an eSim data pack from Airalo. I always recommend having a smartphone with a valid plan when you’re at port touring independently. Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo when you use ROXANN1666 when you sign up or apply it at checkout
How to Get Around Taormina
Taormina’s town centre itself, especially the historic centre, is best explored on foot.
- Walking: The Main Street, Corso Umberto I, is pedestrianised and relatively flat, making it perfect for strolling between Piazza IX Aprile, Piazza Duomo, shops, cafes and near the Greek Theatre entrance
- Be Prepared for Hills & Stairs: Taormina is hilly! And you’ll notice this as soon as you leave the train station. While the main Corso is flat, you will find stairs if you venture into side streets. There will also be steps leading up the Greek Theatre entrance, as well as inside the Greek Theatre itself. So wear some comfortable walking shoes!
- Cable Car (Funivia): You can easily get between Taormina’s town centre and the Mazzarò beach area for Isola Bella. It runs frequently every 15 mins and takes only a few minutes.
Taormina DIY Shore Excursion Map
- On Desktop | Laptop? Use buttons on bottom left to zoom in/out. Click on the upper right hand corner to see a bigger version.
- On Tablet | Mobile? Pinch your screen to zoom in/out and use two fingers to move map around. If you have Google Maps installed on your tablet/mobile, my map will open in your Google Maps app if you click on the upper right hand corner.
- If map is not loading correctly, click here to see it directly on Google Maps.
Top Things to Do in Taormina
1. Marvel at the Ancient Greek Theatre
The Ancient Theatre of Taormina (Teatro Antico di Taormina) is undoubtedly the town’s star attraction and a truly remarkable site! Its origins are Greek, dating back to the 3rd century BC.
Masterfully craved directed into the hillside of Mount Tauro, the natural slope is used to make stadium style seating! What we see do though is the result of extensive Roman rebuilding and expansion, probably in the 2nd century AD.
The large, semi-circular seating area can seat around 4,500 spectators. It’s the second largest classical theatre in Sicily, after the one in Syracuse. But perhaps even more famous than the theatre itself is the absolutely spectacular panoramic view from the main seating area.
On a clear day, you can see the often snow-capped and smoking peak of Mount Etna dominating the horizon.
- How to Get There: Easily walkable from Taormina’s Main Street, Corso Umberto I. See this marked on my Taormina DIY Shore Excursion map above.
- Opening Hours: Open daily, 9am to 7pm during summer months. Starts to close progressively earlier from end September (6pm). Closes at 4pm during winter months
- Tickets: €14 for adults, €7 for kids.
- Guided Tour: You can join an English guided tour (on the hour) at the box office too – an additional €12 fee on top of your entry ticket
- Self Guided Tour Map: Download the PDF here
2. Stroll Along Corso Umberto I
Taormina’s Main Street, Corso Umberto I, runs along almost the entire length of the town centre – from the ancient stone gates of Porta Messina to Porta Catania.
Corso Umberto is relatively flat and easy to walk and passes two of Taormina’s main squares: Piazza IX Aprile and Piazza Duomo. The street itself is full of boutiques and artisan shops, with cafes and pasticcerie for your cannoli fix.
p.s. if you need a bus back to the Taormina station, Porta Messina is near the bus terminal as well as the cable car station to Mazzarò, so this is a good landmark to remember.
3. Soak in the Views from Piazza IX Aprile
Piazza IX Aprile (April 9th Square) is known for its panoramic terrace, overlooking the Ionian Sea, the Bay of Naxos below and the coastline stretching towards Calabria. On a clear day, you can see a spectacular view of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, in the distance.
You’ll recognise the Piazza with its distinctive black-and-white checkerboard tiles. There’s three buildings that frame the square:
- Church of San Giuseppe (St. Joseph): Baroque church with a striking double staircase and pink/yellow facade, dominating one side of the piazza
- Church of Sant’Agostino (St. Augustine): Former 15th century Gothic church with a bell tower, now used as the town’s library
- Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower): Medieval tower that acts as a gateway arch leading from the piazza into the older, medieval part of Taormina along Corso Umberto I.
4. Experience Historic Piazza Duomo
Piazza Duomo is the other main square you’ll encounter along Corso Umberto I, located towards the western end (closer to Porta Catania).
The Cathedral of Taormina (Cattedrale di San Nicola di Bari) is dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari. The outside looks more like a medieval fortress than a church, with a solid stone facade. The inside is also relatively simple, at least compared with traditionally grand Italian cathedrals.
In the centre of Piazza Duomo is the Baroque fountain dating back to the 17 the century. Made of marble, you’ll see mythological figures including a centaur, holding an orb and sceptre – a symbol of Taormina.
5. Take Cable Car Down to Isola Bella & Mazzarò Bay
Mazzarò Bay, is the name of the picturesque cove nestled at the foot of the cliffs below Taormina. It’s known for its stunningly clear, turquoise waters, making it a very popular spot for swimming and snorkelling. Note that the beach itself is primarily pebbles, not fine sand, so if you intend to go into the water, bring water shoes!
Isola Bella ⛱️ , meaning “Beautiful Island” is a tiny, rocky islet that sits just offshore within Mazzarò Bay. Known as the “Pearl of the Ionian Sea“, it’s connected to the mainland pebble beach at Mazzarò Bay by a narrow strip of sand and pebbles. Depending on the tide, this strip is either slightly submerged or easily walkable, allowing you to walk directly onto the islet.
Isola Bella is now a protected Nature Reserve and the paths are public, so you can just go explore in between time on the beach.
- How to Get There: The easiest way to reach Mazzarò Bay is via the Taormina Cable Car (Funivia). The upper cable car station is near Porta Messina – see it marked on my Taormina DIY Shore Excursion Map above. It runs frequently and the ride itself is only 2-3 minutes. Return cable car rides are €10.
- Hike Down: It’s possible to hike down via a dedicated pedestrian path with lots of steps! But beware, it’s steep. Going down takes roughly 20-30 minutes at a reasonable pace. You’ll need decent footwear with grip! The starting point is near Belvedere di Via Pirandello viewpoint, close to the upper cable car station – see this marked in my Taormina DIY Shore Excursion Map 🗺️📌👆
Taste of Taormina: What & Where to Eat
If you’re already read Part 1 of my Messina Cruise Port guide, you can jump straight to “Where to Eat in Taormina” below. If you haven’t, then here’s a summary of the unmissable Sicilian flavours to try while in Taormina:
1. Unmissable Sicilian Flavours to Savour
- Granita con Brioche: The quintessential Sicilian breakfast or mid-afternoon refreshment. Far from simple shaved ice, a proper granita has a smooth, creamy texture that melts on the tongue. It is traditionally served with a warm, fluffy brioche bun. Classic flavours include almond (mandorla), coffee (caffè), and lemon (limone).
The Bam Bar in Taormina was featured in Season 2 of the HBO series The White Lotus. It’s an iconic spot, even before its HBO fame, known for its seasonal flavours and prime people-watching terrace. So if you choose to go there, know that it’s a beloved local spot but it’s definitely not a secret anymore!
- Cannoli: A cannolo (singular) is a crisp, bubbly, fried pastry tube filled with a lightly sweetened, fresh sheep’s milk ricotta. The best are filled to order, never in advance, to prevent sogginess! Then the ends are garnished with chopped pistachios, candied orange peel, or chocolate chips.
- Arancini: These golden, deep-fried rice balls are the perfect savoury snack or a light lunch. (Or you can eat a few for a more substantial lunch!) The name, meaning “little oranges,” refers to their shape and colour. In Messina & Taormina, they are often shaped conically to resemble Mount Etna. The most traditional filling consists of a rich ragù (meat sauce), mozzarella cheese, and peas but you can get so many different flavours!
- Pesce Spada: Swordfish is a local specialty and it can be prepared simply grilled, as carpaccio or in pasta dishes.
2. Local Food Spots in Taormina
Now that you know what local specialties are on offer, here’s a few suggestions on where to enjoy them – all are marked on my Taormina DIY Excursion Map above 🗺️📌👆:
- Rosticceria Da Cristina: Around the corner from the Duomo, this is the place to pick up some snacks after your trip from Messina. Considered a local institution, you’ll find arancini under €5 each, pizza slices around €4. Also serves main course / entree sized pasta plates for about €10 each. There’s seating to eat in but you can also get takeaway to enjoy.
- Bam Bar: As above, it’s famous for its granita and brioche. Both the almond and pistachio ones are fabulous. Expect a queue! (This is on the way back to Taormina town centre from the Greek Theatre, so this is a good spot to stop to get a pick-me-up after your visit there.) Typical granita & brioche is about €6. Too busy & can’t be bothered to queue? Then head to Novè up the street. It’s famous for its pistachio version.
- Villa Zuccaro Pizzeria: Want pizza for lunch? Then this pizzeria is only a slight detour from Piazza Duomo. Outdoor seating available in a 17th century stone villa. English menu & Gluten free pizza available. (Obviously cross-contamination is possible). Menu is very well marked with all common allergens, so suitable for those with food allergies. Reasonably priced from €10 (Margherita) to €20 (seafood) per pizza.
- Osteria Rosso Divion: Want to splurge for lunch with wine? Typical Osteria vibe; mains/entrees around €35-40. There’s actually quite a few fine dining places in Taormina but they are usually open only for dinner. But this Osteria is open for lunch.
- Laboratorio Pasticceria Roberto: Heading to the bus stop back to the station? Then stop at this pasticceria to pick up sweet treats for your train ride back to Messina. Good place to get cannoli.
Featured Image by Guy Rey-Bellet from Pixabay
If you’re considering taking a day trip from Messina cruise port to Taormina, I hope that this guide has helped you plan your day trip and given you some highlights on how to spend your time in Taormina. I hope you’ll get to enjoy some wonderful Silicon food on your trip. Happy cruising as always! Zana
