Explora Journeys in Giardini Naxos (Sicily)

Giardini Naxos is the seaside town that serves as the tender base for Taormina, the cliff-top resort town that earns this day. Taormina hangs above the Ionian coast with a Greek theatre framing Mount Etna, a single pedestrian spine of shops and terraces, and views down to a small offshore island. The beach town below is pleasant but ordinary; the reason you are here is the climb to Taormina.

What to do on a day in Giardini Naxos (Sicily)

• Teatro Antico di Taormina, the 3rd-century BC Greek theatre built into the hillside, with Mount Etna and the sea framed through the ruined stage wall
• Corso Umberto, the pedestrian street running the length of Taormina between Porta Messina and Porta Catania, lined with shops, gelaterie, and cafes
• Piazza IX Aprile, the open terrace square partway along the Corso with a panoramic drop to the coast
• Villa Comunale, the public gardens laid out on a terrace above the sea with shaded paths and folly structures
• Isola Bella, the small island nature reserve and pebble cove below Taormina, reachable by the Mazzaro cable car
• Taormina Cathedral (Duomo), the fortress-like 13th-century church near the Porta Catania end of the Corso

Getting ashore

Ships anchor in the bay and tender passengers to the Porto Scaro Nuovo pier on the Giardini Naxos waterfront; there is no real terminal, just a small covered waiting area. Taormina sits above on the cliff, a 15 to 20 minute bus or taxi ride up the switchbacks plus a short uphill walk through Porta Messina, so one day is comfortable for Taormina itself but tight if you also want Mount Etna, which adds three or more hours on the road.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• May to June. Typically warm and largely dry, daytime highs around the low to mid 20s C climbing toward 30 C by late June, low rainfall. Strong sun on the exposed theatre and gardens.
• September to October. Typically still warm in September, highs in the mid 20s C, then cooling through October. October is the wettest of the calling months, with rain on roughly a third of days, so pack a layer and light rain protection.