Taormina: A Day Trip From Catania

Situated near Mount Etna, the hilltop town Taormina is an easy day trip from Catania by bus or train. It is better to take the bus as you will not have to change. However, the area surrounding the bus stops in Catania seems dangerous. Be careful if you travel alone.

That quote by Lawrence is quite right. During my trip to Sicily, the place that gave me the most nostalgia was the ancient theater of Taormina. I went from the multicultural Palermo to explore the east coast of this vibrant island. On the contrary to the dodgy Catania, the classy Taormina feels like a heaven on earth. When the sky is clear, you can enjoy a perfect view of the great Etna.

The ruins of the ancient theater are impressive. It would be wonderful if you can attend a concert there. Also in Taormina, you can visit Garden of Villa Comunale, which is tranquil and free to enter. Walking around the small streets in the town center is delightful. The town is pretty artsy, so have a look at some cool art stores.

For lunch, I highly recommend Trattoria Tiramisu. The dishes I tried were swordfish, fish pasta, and tiramisu, which were all delicious. For a snack, do not miss the cannoli at I Dolci di Nonna Rosa. Even though it was a rainy day, the delicious food in Taormina cheered me up.