5 activities you don’t want to miss in Taormina

The weather is starting to change in Amsterdam which means that several months of rain are in my future. So I was inspired to write one last homage to sun & summer travel! The year I relocated to Amsterdam, I visited Taormina – a little oceanside town on the Italian island of Sicily. It’s a peaceful paradise that offers amazing food, beautiful views, and a local feeling you just can’t get in the well-traveled provinces of Italy. Read on for the 5 activities you don’t want to miss in Taormina, Sicily.

A note on when to visit

I recommend traveling to Sicily in early fall, around September. Italy can be unpleasantly crowded in peak summer, and Taormina is rainy and deserted in winter. September is the perfect balance of good weather and fewer tourists. And when temperatures start to get cooler in Northern Europe, Sicily is still the perfect place to soak up the sun!

Capotaormina sits right below the old town of Taormina. It’s my favorite place to stay in Sicily because it offers peaceful ocean front hotels and is a short distance the old town. I’ve had the opportunity to stay at two hotels along the water, both of which were incredible. Both of these hotels also offer a shuttle service, so it’s easy to pop into Taormina to eat and explore.

Best hotel on a budget

We traveled with my friend Kelsey, who found the first hotel we stayed in – Unahotels Capotaormina. This hotel is perfect for families or groups of friends. The rooms are a little outdated, but the views and location really make up for it. The entrance to the hotel’s private beach is truly unique – you take an elevator through the cliff and emerge right on the sand. The hotel also has a pool on the opposite side of the property, so you can take in the views of Mount Etna. Be sure to select a room that comes with access to the beach.

Best hotel to splurge on

If you want something really romantic and glamorous, I recommend the Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea. The rooms have incredible ocean sunset views from their balconies, and the elegant private beach is worth every penny. The service and facilities are also top notch. You can also take a free tram to the sister property in Taormina, the Belmond Grand Timeo (also a great option if you want to stay closer to town).

As much as I love Greece, Italian food is my favorite cuisine. I had the most incredible pasta of my life at the family owned Trattoria Tiramisu. In fact, it was so good we went back two nights in a row!

The place was recommended by my friend’s Italian coworker, and it’s a favorite among locals as well as tourists. The Pennette di Mimmo (pictured below) is a must order!

Mount Etna is just outside of Taormina, and one of the most popular attractions to visit. It’s still a live volcano – in fact, we saw it erupting from our hotel bar in the evening! Check out this photo below that was taken that night.

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A post shared by Saro -> Etna Nature Guide (@bigsaro)

We didn’t get a chance to hike the mountain, but my good friend Kelsey wrote a full guide to hiking Mount Etna. It can be difficult to figure out how to get there and since the volcano is active, she recommends having a guide. Check out her blog post for all of the details on her experience. It’s definitely on my list for our next visit!

Isola Bella is a romantic little island just off the coast of Capotaormina. It’s a nature preserve, which makes it the perfect spot for a hike or swimming. There is a path of sand that allows you to walk directly to the island from the shore. However, it’s only accessible during low tide – so make sure you plan your visit accordingly.

Sicilian wine is truly unique. Because the soil of the island is volcanic, grapes grown on the island have a signature smoky flavor. Etna Rossas (reds) and Etna Biancas (whites) are equally delicious and can be found on all of the wine menus in Taormina. If you want a full experience, you can visit a few of the wineries at the base of the volcano (a 45 minute drive). I recommend Gambino vineyards, and the pairing lunch at Emilio Sciacca.

I’m really passionate about wine (I recently received my WSET Level 2 certification!), so if you’re interested in an easy intro guide to selecting wine check out this post.

Anyone who know me knows how much I love sweets. So I couldn’t write this travel guide to Taormina without mentioning cannoli, the sweet treats that originated in Sicily. We sampled a few different spots, but the best cannoli we had was at La Pignolata. I’m partial to the chocolate (super decadent) but I also like the classic pistachio versions, which are filled with ricotta and dipped in nuts. La Pignolata always has a line, but it’s open until 11pm so you can stop by after dinner.

That’s it for this guide, but if you’re looking for more tips for your trip to Italy check out this guide for first time visitors to Lake Como.