The Best Hotels in Taormina: An Insider's Edit for 2026

Taormina has been seducing travellers since Goethe came through in 1787 and wrote of it with rapture. Two centuries on, the question is no longer whether to go, but where to sleep. Perched on Monte Tauro with Etna smoking to the south and the Ionian Sea glittering below, the town offers an embarrassment of addresses — former monasteries, Belle Époque villas, clifftop palazzi and, down at sea level, hotels and residences with their toes in the water.

This is our edit of the hotels in Taormina that are genuinely worth the journey, chosen by people who live here. We have grouped them by what matters most when you book: are you here for the theatre and the passeggiata on Corso Umberto, or for the beaches of Mazzarò and Isola Bella?

First, choose your Taormina

The single most important decision is altitude. Taormina town sits roughly 200 metres above the sea: this is where you will find the Teatro Antico, the boutiques, the evening crowds and the famous views. Taormina Mare — the bays of Mazzarò and Isola Bella — is the seafront below, linked to the centre by a cable car that takes a few minutes. Stay up top for culture and nightlife; stay below if your idea of luxury is a morning swim before breakfast.

Further south, Giardini Naxos offers a long sandy beach and gentler prices but less of Taormina’s magic. For a first visit, we would always choose between the town and Mazzarò.

The grand hotels in town

01San Domenico Palace, A Four Seasons Hotel

The most storied address in Taormina occupies a medieval Dominican convent just off the main street, its cloisters and gardens dropping in terraces towards the sea. Reborn under Four Seasons, it became a global name after starring in the second season of The White Lotus. Expect a large outdoor pool facing Etna, serious fine dining and service that runs like clockwork.

Best for: the full grand-hotel experience; celebrations; travellers who want to be steps from Corso Umberto.

02Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel

Timeo sits right beside the Greek theatre, which tells you everything about its view. Opened in the 19th century as Taormina’s first hotel, it still feels like a private villa: bougainvillea, old-world salons and a terrace bar that is the town’s most coveted place for an aperitivo at sunset.

Best for: romance and history; couples who want the theatre on their doorstep.

03The Ashbee Hotel

A Belle Époque villa dating from 1908, set in gardens a short walk from the historic centre. It is known for its fine-dining restaurant and an atmosphere that feels more like a private house than a hotel.

Best for: gourmets; travellers who prefer understated elegance to a grand lobby.

04Hotel Metropole

Set directly on Corso Umberto, the Metropole puts you in the very heart of the passeggiata, with a panoramic terrace and pool looking out over the bay. Few hotels let you step from your room into Taormina’s living room quite so easily.

Best for: location above everything else.

05Hotel Excelsior Palace

A Moorish-style palace on the edge of the old town, the Excelsior is beloved for its generous gardens and a pool with sweeping views of the Bay of Naxos and Etna — a rarity among the more compact hotels of the centre.

Best for: pool lovers; travellers who want space in the centre.

In Taormina, the view is the true amenity. Ask for it by name — Etna, the bay or Isola Bella — when you book.

By the sea: Mazzarò and Isola Bella

Below the town, the coastline curls into two of the most beautiful bays in the Mediterranean. Mazzarò is a sheltered cove of clear water and pebbles; next door, Isola Bella — the “pearl of the Ionian” — is a tiny island and nature reserve joined to the shore by a thin sandbar. Staying here means swimming before the day-trippers arrive and dining by the water after they leave.

06Villa Sant’Andrea, A Belmond Hotel

Originally built as a private villa for an English family, Villa Sant’Andrea sits right on Mazzarò Bay with its own private beach, infinity pool and gardens. Guests can use the shuttle to its sister hotel, Grand Hotel Timeo, in town — the best of both worlds.

Best for: classic seaside luxury; honeymooners.

07La Plage Resort

A relaxed, whitewashed resort set among the pines of the Isola Bella reserve, with its own beach club facing the island and a spa. It feels more like a chic Mediterranean beach house than a hotel.

Best for: beach days; a barefoot, design-led mood.

The Residences at Cohen House Taormina

Taormina · Isola Bella

Up to 10 guests

Taormina · Isola BellaBOHO

Three bedrooms, a terrace facing Isola Bella and room for the whole family.

3 bedroomsView residence

Up to 8 guests

Taormina · Isola BellaVINTAGE

Two bedrooms, sea-view terrace, bicycles and water-sports gear on hand.

2 bedroomsView residence

Up to 8 guests

Taormina · Isola BellaCasa dei Sogni

Two bedrooms and a balcony that frames Isola Bella like a painting.

2 bedroomsView residence

Boutique and intimate

08Hotel Villa Ducale

A romantic, family-run villa on the hillside above the centre, with frescoed walls, a garden pool and a rooftop terrace looking across the bay to Etna. The walk into town is part of the charm.

09Hotel Villa Carlotta

On the clifftop a few minutes’ walk from the historic centre, Villa Carlotta pairs suites with private terraces and a pool garden. Polished, peaceful and very Sicilian.

10Casa Turchetti

A handful of rooms in the heart of town and a roof terrace with panoramic views. If you prefer a host who knows your name to a concierge desk, start here.

11Hotel Villa Angela

Created by Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr, Villa Angela clings to the hillside above the old town with sweeping views of the Ionian and Etna. A rock-and-roll origin story, but the mood is pure Sicilian calm.

How to choose: a quick comparison

What to look for when you book

Rooms in Taormina are rarely large, and availability in high summer is tight, so a few details matter more here than almost anywhere else in Italy:

• The view, in writing. “Sea view” can mean a sliver of blue. Ask whether the room or suite faces Etna, the Bay of Naxos or Isola Bella.
• Room versus suite. In the historic hotels, a junior suite often buys you the terrace — and the terrace is the point.
• Pool, spa or beach club. Hotels in town rely on pools and spas; for real swimming, you will want a hotel with a beach club or a stay down at Mazzarò.
• Restaurant and service. Several of Taormina’s best tables are inside its hotels. If dinner matters, book the restaurant when you book the room.
• Families and groups. Interconnecting rooms are scarce. For four or more, a villa or residence with separate bedrooms usually works better than two hotel rooms.

When to go and how to book

May, June and September are Taormina at its most beautiful: warm sea, long evenings and fewer crowds than July and August, when the best rooms sell out months ahead. Many hotels close or scale back between November and March, so check opening dates before you plan a winter escape.

Book directly with the hotel whenever you can. Rates are often the same or better than on booking sites, and you are far more likely to secure the room with the view, an early check-in or a table on the terrace. And whatever you choose, reserve a morning for the boat ride around Isola Bella — the grottoes along this coast are best seen from the water.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best area to stay in Taormina?

For a first visit, stay in the historic centre if you want the Teatro Antico, Corso Umberto and evenings out on foot; stay at Mazzarò or Isola Bella if you want to swim every day. The cable car links the two in a few minutes.

Is Taormina expensive?

Taormina is one of Sicily’s most sought-after destinations, and its five-star hotels are priced accordingly in summer. Shoulder months, boutique hotels and private residences offer far better value — especially for families and groups sharing a single home.

How many days do you need in Taormina?

Three to four nights is ideal: one day for the town and the theatre, one for the beaches and a boat trip around Isola Bella, and one for Mount Etna or the Alcantara Gorge.

Is Taormina hilly? Do I need a car?

Yes, the town is built on a steep hillside, with many steps and lanes. You do not need a car within Taormina — parking is limited and the centre is largely pedestrian — but a driver or rental car is useful for day trips.

How do I get to Taormina from Catania airport?

Catania Fontanarossa is the nearest airport, roughly an hour away by road. Choose a private transfer, a rental car or the direct bus to Taormina’s bus terminal.

Planning a proposal, honeymoon or simply the photographs of a lifetime? Taormina’s lanes, terraces and bays are made for the camera — VanSky Studio photographs couples and families across the town and coast.

Disclosure: Cohen House is a partner of this guide. Some links may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Hotel details change; always confirm facilities and opening dates with the property before booking. All photography by VanSky Studio, Taormina.