The Best Beaches in Taormina, Sicily (and How to Actually Get There)
First, an expectation-setter: Taormina’s coastline is coves and pebbles, not the wide sandy beaches you might be picturing. That’s not a downside — the water is dramatically clear and the setting, with cliffs and the town perched above, is part of the appeal — but pack water shoes and adjust expectations before you go. One more honest heads-up: Taormina itself draws heavy day-tripper crowds, especially on weekends (we visited on a Saturday and found it busy) — worth keeping in mind when you’re picking which day to come down to the coast, not just which beach.
Getting Down to the Coast
The Taormina-Mazzarò cable car is the easiest way down from the old town: a 2-minute ride, running roughly every 15 minutes (though queues commonly add 15–30 minutes at peak times). Current fares are €6 one-way, €10 round-trip, or €20 for a day pass if you’ll be making more than two trips. Hours run roughly 8am–1:30am in summer (mid-April onward) and 8am–8pm in winter (Oct 16–May 15) — but check the current schedule before you go, since it shifts by season. If you’d rather walk, there’s a route from the “Isola Bella” viewpoint down a staircase of about 134 steps.
Isola Bella
A small island nature reserve connected to the mainland by a narrow sandbar, with turquoise water good for snorkeling. The beach and reserve itself are free to access; the small museum inside costs €6 (€3 reduced), open daily 9am until an hour before sunset except Mondays. It’s the most photographed spot on this coast, which means it’s also the most crowded — arrive early if you want the classic shot without a crowd in it. If you’d rather see it from the water, a boat tour around Isola Bella is a popular alternative.
Mazzarò
The cable car’s destination, and a mix of free and private (beach club) sections along the same stretch of coast. Good pick if you want the option to either lay a towel down for free or pay for a lounger and shade without switching beaches.
Spisone
A more balanced mix of public stretches and beach clubs than the more famous spots, and generally less crowded. A reasonable choice if Isola Bella and Mazzarò sound overrun.
Giardini Naxos
The most beach-resort-feeling option on this list, with a longer sandy-ish stretch and a wider range of budget-friendly lidos. Reachable by local Interbus service from central Taormina, or by car. Good pick if you’re traveling with kids or just want more room to spread out.
Mazzeo and Villagonia
Two quieter, more basic alternatives with fewer crowds and simpler facilities — worth knowing about if the bigger names above sound like too much of a scene.
How Sicilian Beach Clubs (Lidos) Work
Most of these beaches mix two things: spiaggia libera (free public beach, bring your own towel) and lido sections (a beach club where you pay for a sunbed, umbrella, and often changing rooms and a bar). The free sections exist at every beach on this list, but they fill up fast in July and August — if you want a guaranteed spot without paying, get there early.
When to Go
June and September give you warm water with noticeably fewer crowds than the July–August peak. If you’re flexible, this is the easiest way to improve the experience at every beach on this list without changing your route at all.
Pack for It
Water shoes are the one thing worth actually packing ahead of time — most of this coastline is pebbles and rock, not sand. A reef-safe sunscreen is worth bringing too, especially around Isola Bella’s marine reserve.
Planning a Full Week in Sicily?
If you’re building a longer trip around this coast, see our 7-day Sicily itinerary for a full road-trip route through Trapani, Favignana island, the Valley of the Temples, and Taormina. And if you haven’t booked a place to stay yet, you can view places to stay in Taormina.
