First time to Taormina
Feb 21st, 2011, 09:03 PM
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First time to Taormina
We are Australians who will travel to Europe and are very excited about 5 days in Taormina. Have heard it's very 'touristy' so wonder if anyone can recommend day trips to see a little more of the real Sicily? We won't have a car so will rely on public transport or a guide/hire car. Have booked the 5 days accomodation in Taormina so need just day trips to make our holiday a memorable experience. Thank you for your kindess in helping us.
Feb 22nd, 2011, 01:08 AM
#2
Hi from another Australian. We had about 10 days in Sicily a few years ago and stayed in Taormina for 4 nights. We really liked it, it is touristy but tourists go there for a reason! There are wonderful views and it's quite picturesque. We saw views of Mt Etna from our hotel on one morning, it is often obscured by cloud.
Apart from wandering about Taormina and enjoying the cafes and shops etc, we liked the walk uphill to Castelmola. It's quite a steep walk but worth it for the fabulous views over the sea and land once at the top.
From our hotel we booked a day tour by bus to Agrigento and to see the mosaics at Piazza Armerina. It was a very long day, we had to be at the bus stop by about 6am and got back around 9pm. Agrigento was just OK but we loved the mosaics. Unfortunately we spent ages at Agrigento and had to rush through Piazza Armerina. That's the thing with tours, your time is not your own.
There is also a cable car from Taormina down to the beach area, I think it's called Giardini Naxos.
One other thing, we did find restaurant prices pretty high but if you wander around the back streets, away from the main tourist area, you'll find prices more reasonable.
Have fun.
Kay
Apart from wandering about Taormina and enjoying the cafes and shops etc, we liked the walk uphill to Castelmola. It's quite a steep walk but worth it for the fabulous views over the sea and land once at the top.
From our hotel we booked a day tour by bus to Agrigento and to see the mosaics at Piazza Armerina. It was a very long day, we had to be at the bus stop by about 6am and got back around 9pm. Agrigento was just OK but we loved the mosaics. Unfortunately we spent ages at Agrigento and had to rush through Piazza Armerina. That's the thing with tours, your time is not your own.
There is also a cable car from Taormina down to the beach area, I think it's called Giardini Naxos.
One other thing, we did find restaurant prices pretty high but if you wander around the back streets, away from the main tourist area, you'll find prices more reasonable.
Have fun.
Kay
Feb 22nd, 2011, 02:28 AM
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You should really trip to take a trip to Mt. Etna! I had a car in Taormina which made it easier, but, there are plenty of daytrips. How often do you have the opportunity to check out Europe's largest volcano? Once there you take a funny bus up as far as they will let you go, and the landscape is like what you would imagine the moon to be like. Very cool stuff. Plus with a car we went to Savoca, where they filmed some of the godfather. A scenic little place.
Feb 22nd, 2011, 02:53 AM
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We are planning a three (3) day stay in the area; already rented a place in Castelmola. We plan to explore from there and places above are already on the list of MUST SEE. You may want to split the 5 days in Toarmina and spend a couple of days in Castelmola.
Feb 22nd, 2011, 04:56 AM
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We loved Taormina. The main street is a bit "touristy" but, as noted above, for a reason. The weather was exquisite and the views from almost everywhere were marvelous. We walked up to Castlemola and down again. The vista was amazing. Taormina has a beautiful Greek Theatre from which the view of Mt. Etna and the sea are amazing.
There is a lovely public garden donated to the city by an Englishwoman who lived in Taormina - we spent an hour there and were almost the only ones in the garden. We asked our hotel for restaurant recommendations and ate at a number of delicious places "off the beaten path". We took the cable car to the beach and walked a bit but didn't find the beach very inviting. Sitting on the terrace of our hotel with a blood orange juice and prosecco and overlooking the sea and Mt. Etna was a lot more enjoyable.
There is a lovely public garden donated to the city by an Englishwoman who lived in Taormina - we spent an hour there and were almost the only ones in the garden. We asked our hotel for restaurant recommendations and ate at a number of delicious places "off the beaten path". We took the cable car to the beach and walked a bit but didn't find the beach very inviting. Sitting on the terrace of our hotel with a blood orange juice and prosecco and overlooking the sea and Mt. Etna was a lot more enjoyable.
Feb 22nd, 2011, 05:25 AM
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Feb 22nd, 2011, 06:25 PM
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Bob....Thank you so much for the great photos and information. You truly are exciting me. We are actually booked to stay at the Hotel Schuler so your good report re this hotel and beautiful photos of the area all combine to make me feel very happy about our choice. Thank you all for your advice and information.
