GENERAL INFORMATION
Taormina can be easily reached by any mean of transportation from all over the world suiting any budget traveller.
PLANE: Catania Fontanarossa International is the nearest and most convenient airport at some km. 50 from Taormina . It features several flights from the major Italian cities such as Milan Malpensa , Rome , Naples , Venice , etc ( Alitalia , Meridiana , Air Europe , Alpi Eagles , Air Sicilia ) and many international direct flights from important european cities such as Bruxelles (by Sabena) , Munich (by Lufthansa) , Barcelona (by Meridiana) , Athens (by Alpi Eagles), Malta (by Air Malta), London (British Airway), Paris ( and many more . Lots of charter flights from all over the world land to Catania too . From Catania airport you can reach Taormina in one hour drive by very convenient direct highway A 18 (direction Messina , exit TAORMINA ) . Direct bus to Taormina centre are available at 08.30 - 11.30 - 13.30 - 16.30 - 18.30 - 20.30 every day at about € 5.00 per person . By Taxi approx cost € 80.00 (about 1 hour).
CAR: Sicily features excellent highways (look for green road signs ) and Taormina can be reached by car from every main italian cities. From Northern Italy , one can drive along the highway A1 through Naples and Salerno; then from Salerno (Amalfi coast & Capri area) drive along the panoramic free of charge highway A3 direction Reggio Calabria. Take exit "Villa S.Giovanni - Sicilia " , then get to the harbour where very frequent ferries (company "Caronte" most recommendable - please just lock your car and enjoy a fantastic ride from the ferry sun-deck, it is very safe ) connect the mainland to Sicily 24 hours a day (city of Messina) . Once in Messina , take highway A18 direction Catania , drive enjoying the beautiful coastline on your left for about 30 minutes , then take exit "Taormina" and .... You 've made it !!!
If you come from Catania , just take highway A18 direction Messina and take exit "Taormina" and if you come from Palermo take highway A20 to Messina , then highway A18 direction Catania and take exit Taormina.
TRAIN: Taormina 's railway station is considered one of Italy 's most beautiful for its elegant charming Sicilian Liberty style decor ; every train arriving from Northern Italy to Sicily stops here . One has a large choice of trains, from de-luxe Eurostar down to simple but very efficient "Espresso train" normally departing from Milan , Turin and Rome through Naples and the Amalfi & Capri area.
• SHIP: Some people enjoy coming to Taormina by ship ; from Northern Europe & Italy , it is possible to take a confortable fast ship from Genoa harbour (company Tirrenia) and reach Palermo in about 17/18 hours . From Palermo , Taormina is at about 2 hours drive by highway A19. Frequent ferries from Naples to Milazzo (one hour drive to Taormina) and one daily from Ravenna (adriatic northern coast ) to Catania as well as modern speed boats and catamarans daily from Malta To Catania and Pozzallo are available too.
BUS: Travelling in Sicily by confortable buses is a very smart idea : they are fast, reliable and cheap and can take the traveller almost everywhere. Taormina has its own modern bus terminal right in the town centre . Frequent buses (Company "Interbus") run from Palermo, Catania (airport included) and Messina. Moreover there are easy connections from Rome and Amalfi (company Interbuisness), Bari, Brindisi (ferries from Greece) and Taranto (company Etna) .
SEASIDE: To reach the seaside from Taormina it is very easy by the cableway just few minutes or by mini-bus or bus from the city centre not more than half an hour.For further information visit: www.taohotels.com (hotel search), www.gate2taormina.com (touristic info) , www.interbus.it (bus), www.taoarminaservizipubblici.it (cableway) o ask Milena Privitera (press office secretary tel. +39 942 21142; e.mail m.privitera@taoarte.it )
