6 Free Things to Do in Taormina: A Budget-Friendly Guide & Walking Route
Originally published in 2018 and updated in September 2026 with current information and additional tips.
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Taormina is a small town perched on the cliffs of Sicily in Italy. From the pedestrian-only city center, you can see Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. The village of Taormina is a popular destination for wealthy Europeans in the Summer and its streets are lined with high-end shops. Fortunately for the more budget-conscious traveler, there are many ways to spend a day in Taormina without spending a penny. Here are our favorite free things to do and see in this beautiful village.
Piazza IX Aprile is a busy square offering one of the best viewpoints of Taormina.
Whether you are visiting Taormina on a budget, you are cruise passenger wanting to see the city without spending a lot of money on tours, or you just want to maximize your one day in Taormina – this article will detail the places to see and how to get between them.
1. The Corso Umberto & Piazza IX Aprile
Corso Umberto is the Main Street of Taormina. While it is home to many high-end shops, it also is filled with smaller antique, pottery, and souvenir stores. Strolling along this short street and doing a bit of window shopping is a good way to spend a morning and view the village's medieval buildings. This is also where all of the main restaurants and bakeries will be.
Piazza IX Aprile is a beautiful large square off of the Corso Umberto. The square has a huge panoramic terrace overlooking the sea and the surrounding hotels and homes along the cliffs. If the weather is right you will also be able to see Mt Etna in the distance. Opposite the terrace is the small church, Chiesa de San Giuseppe, with a beautiful baroque facade. Find a bench and enjoy the atmosphere. On any given day, you might be lucky to catch musicians or entertainers, artists painting the view, or a wedding party leaving the church.
View from Piazza IX Aprile
View from Piazza IX Aprile
2. Public gardens – Villa Comunale
If you are looking for a less crowded place to explore, the public garden is a must see! The garden is not only full of lush vegetation, but also hosts several WWII pieces, statues, caged birds, children's playground, and fountains filled with fish. The gardens were originally part of a private residence of an English noblewoman and is truly a retreat from the rest of the city. There is a panoramic walkway on the cliff's edge in the park to get more views of the calm sea and Mt Etna.
Panoramic Walkway in the Public Garden of Taormina
3. Isola Bella
Just below Taormina is a gorgeous beach and a tiny island called Isola Bella, which translates to beautiful island. The island is connected by a narrow path that gets submerged with the tide. This beach is popular with sunbathers or those up for a little adventure hanging out on the rocks. The actual island is a nature reserved filled with bird and exotic plants. To get down to the beach, you can either pay to take a cable car or walk down the steps in under half an hour. The walk down is a lot better than the walk back up, but manageable both ways.
The beach can be enjoyed for free, but the island itself is a Nature Reserve and is protected. You can access the island and the natural museum for a small admission fee of 4 euro per person.
Isola Bella beach sits just below Taormina
4. Coastal and Isola Bella Lookout
To get an even better view of the coast and Isola Bella, you can walk 5-10 minutes out of the main town to a lookout platform. Regardless if you journey down to Isola Bella or not, this is a great way to see the beach and the whole coast from above. It offers the best views, despite very few people knowing about it.
Location of the lookout can be found on the map below or by searching L'Isola Bella Fotografata da Via Pirandello in Google/Apple Maps. It is right at a curve of the road, and you will have to walk along a narrow sidewalk to get there. However, the actual platform is quite large and will be hard to miss.
View from Isola Bella Lookout
Coastal and Isola Bella Lookout
5. St Nicolas Cathedral of Taormina
Located on the western end of the Corso Umberto, the St Nicolas Cathedral or Duomo di Taormina is a quintessential Sicilian church. The Piazza the church is on has a baroque fountain with centaur (symbol of Taormina) statues and smaller horse drinking fountains off of it. Sit inside the church for a bit to appreciate the medieval statues and architecture and to relax after a day spent walking around the entire village.
St Nicolas Cathedral of Taormina
6. Roman Odeon
This small roman theatre is free to visit and is open from 9:00am to 1 hour before sunset. Unlike the more famous and paid Greek Theatre in town, this smaller theatre is located near the Palazzo Corvajo. You can stop by, read the signs about its history, explore the sight in just 10 minutes or so. This theatre was built by the romans and used for musical and literary recitals for the elite.
Walking route to see all of the Free sights
The historic downtown of Taormina is largely car free. The Corso Umberto, the Main Street and the small lanes connected to it are solely meant for pedestrians. The rest of the walk down to the sea is pedestrian friendly. If you want to reach the beach without walking all the way down (and back up), you can take the Taormina-Mazzaro Cable Car that is marked on the map. The cable car takes just 2 minutes each way and cost 10 euros for the round trip or 6 for a single ride. You could take this walking route down to the sea and take the cable car back up to town when you are done. This route itself will take you about 35 minutes or 2.2km (1.4 miles) if you do not make any stops. However, you will want to spend some time and explore each of the places listed. Plan for this free walking tour to take you a few hours at least.
Here are my estimates for how long I’d spend at each stop, however feel free to adjust these times depending on your interest and your own time constraints.
Duomo di Taormina – 15 minutes
Corso Umberto & Piazza IX Aprile – 30-60 minutes
Roman Odeon – 15 minutes
Villa Comunale – 30-45 minutes
Isola Bella Viewpoint – 10 minutes
Isola Bella – 1-2 hours
Popular Taormina Attractions that aren’t free
What would you be missing out on if you only visited Taormina’s free attractions? Here are all the most popular paid attractions in Taormina. If you are willing to spend a bit of money while on Sicily, consider these:
Ancient Greek Theatre, Teatro Antico di Taormina – this beautiful Ancient Greek theater dates back to the 3rd century BC. At one point it held 10,000 people. You can explore the theatre and see how it has transformed over time. Along with its impressive history, the theatre also has a spectacular view of the Bay of Naxos and the coast of Sicily. Tickets to enter are 16 euros and free for kids under 18. There are occasionally free entry days including the first Sunday of the month and during some of their national holidays.
Trying out many of the famous Sicilian foods. For a relatively small island, Sicily is home to dozens of famous dishes including Arancini, Panelle, Pasta all Norma, Granita & Brioche, and of course Cannoli. Maybe one of the best ways to enjoy all the foods Sicily has to offer is a food tour, so you are guaranteed to get some excellent authentic bites along with a better understanding of the culture.
If you want to explore this area via the sea, there are sailing tours you can join that take you to Isla Bella and other spots – some of which allow you to swim and snorkel from the boat.
Tips for visiting on a cruise
We visited Taormina on a cruise ship coming from Rome (Civitavecchia) that stopped at Messina (Sicily). The cruise port in Messina is located centrally in downtown Messina. You could walk off the ship and be at the city center in less than 10 minutes. While Messina is a nice city, with a nice cathedral, astronomical clock and fountain – I’d highly recommend leaving Messina. There are a couple ways to get from Messina to Taormina:
Shuttle excursion directly from your cruise company. There are some benefits buying an excursion directly from the cruise company, including if the shuttle bus is delayed for whatever reason, the cruise ship will wait for you. The cost is typically higher but occasionally when you book cruises, they give you deals with money you can use towards excursions.
Shuttle bus transfer to Taormina from a private tour company. These transfers are often cheaper and typically very reliable. Their times usually match the average time that cruise ships are in port.
Taxis. You can get a taxi when your ship lands in Messina to take you to Taormina. It is private and you can choose where it drops you off, but it is the most expensive option.
Train. You can also take the train from Messina to Taormina, which is likely the cheapest option. The trains run about every hour and take as low as 45 minutes to get to Taormina, which is actually quicker than the shuttle bus. If you want more of a DIY option, this is a great choice – however there are a few extra steps. Once you are at the Taormina train station, you will likely want to take the public bus to the city center.
Our shuttle bus gave us 4 hours in Taormina (from 1-4pm) after the travel time. If you take the train or taxi, you can give yourself more time in the city. While we were able to do a lot in 4 hours, it would have been nice to have more time.
What to read while in sicily
I love reading books that fit the destination I am visiting – whether they were set there, were inspired by it or just give off similar vibes. The following books come from a variety of genres and would be perfect reads either before, during or after your trip to Taormina. Taormina has such a captivating atmosphere from the ancient ruins, the sea views, threat of volcanic eruption, romantic feeling, and beautiful gardens.
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood: Romance book that takes place in Taormina at the female protagonists’ brother’s wedding.
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano: a mystery novel that details a murder investigation set in Sicily.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante: named one of the best books of the century, this book follows two women as they go through life as kids, women, mothers and leaders. It takes place in Naples, Italy and is a beautiful novel perfect for any Italian trip.
A House in Sicily by Daphne Phelps: a memoir of a woman who welcomes a variety of writers and artists to her home in Taormina.
Taormina is a small town perched on the cliffs of Sicily in Italy. From the pedestrian-only city center, you can see Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. The village of Taormina is a popular destination for wealthy Europeans in the Summer and it's streets are lined with high-end shops. Fortunately for the more budget-concious traveler, there are many ways to spend a day in Taormina without spending a penny.