Day 9- Taormina

Reverse course from getting to Lipari. Take the hydrofoil back to Milazzo, at Milazzo port take the bus or taxi back to the train station. At the train station or on the mobile app purchase tickets to Messina. Once you arrive at Messina, you’ll need to change trains and purchase a ticket for Taormina. Once you arrive at Taormina-Giardini train station you’ll need to get up the mountain to the centre of town. Taormina has reliable public transportation from the Taormina‑Giardini train station to the town center. The main option is the Interbus service, which runs frequently and takes about 10–15 minutes to reach Taormina’s bus terminal.

Taormina is a hilltop town on Sicily’s east coast. It has dramatic views with the most notable being Mt Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe and stunning views of the Ionian sea. It’s a stunning town, known as the dolce vita of Sicily and the main filming locations of the show, White Lotus season 2. Taormina is steeply built and is known for it’s many staircases, so take not of this while figuring out where to stay.

We stayed in a beautiful Airbnb set about 360 steps above Corso Umberto, giving us a peaceful perch over the heart of Taormina. From the terrace, we had sweeping views of Mount Etna and the Bay of Giardini‑Naxos, and during our stay we were lucky enough to watch Etna’s lava glowing in the distance — an unforgettable sight right from our apartment.

This day was spent exploring the streets of Taormina and a visit to Villa Communale, a lush and nicely keep outdoor garden with sweeping sea views.

Travel Tip: If you looking to go to the beach the was shown in White Lotus Season 2, the one that is ‘part of the hotel’ in the show, it is not located in Taormina. The beach from the show is actually located in Cefalu.

Day 10 - Taormina

Morning - Visit the Greek Theatre of Taormina. The Greek Theatre in Taormina is one of those places that feels almost unreal when you’re standing in it. Carved into the hillside in the 3rd century BC, it perfectly frames Mount Etna on one side and the Ionian Sea on the other—arguably the most dramatic theatre backdrop in the world.

What makes it special isn’t just its age or beauty, but that it’s still alive. The theatre hosts concerts, opera, and film festivals, just as it did in ancient times, with acoustics so good you can hear a whisper from the stage. As the sun sets and Etna smolders in the distance, it’s hard not to feel like Taormina’s entire history—Greek, Roman, and Sicilian—has gathered in one breathtaking spot.

Afternoon - Beach time, take the cable car down to the Isola Bella and the beach. Isola Bella is Taormina’s little slice of magic—a tiny island that feels half wild, half dream. It’s connected to the mainland by a thin strip of pebbled beach that disappears when the tide comes in, so it sometimes looks like it’s floating in the Ionian Sea.

Once the private retreat of an eccentric English aristocrat, it’s now a protected nature reserve, covered in Mediterranean plants and surrounded by shockingly clear turquoise water. Whether you’re swimming, snorkeling, or just staring at it from above, Isola Bella has that quiet, cinematic beauty that makes you slow down and think, yes… this is why people fall in love with Sicily.

Day 11 - Taormina

A visit to a couple of towns near Taormina:

1. Savoca. Most people know Savoca because The Godfather was filmed here — you can still sit at Bar Vitelli, unchanged and dripping with old-world charm. But even without the movie lore, the town feels timeless: medieval churches, crumbling palazzi, and a peaceful, almost sacred stillness once the day-trippers leave. It’s the kind of place where life moves slowly, bells echo, and you feel like Sicily is whispering its secrets rather than shouting them.

2. Castelmola is a charming, medieval hilltop village located just above Taormina. Renowned as one of Italy's most beautiful villages ("I Borghi più belli d'Italia"), it offers breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Etna, the Ionian Sea, and the coastline. 

This itinerary is currently in progress (Feb/2026), stay tuned for updates.