We are stopping in Taormina in about a week on our Crystal Cruise, port is Naxos (not Messina). I'm having a hard time figuring this one out! I don't feel a guide is necessary EXCEPT I know you should take the cruise motor coach to Taormina. But then if I want to go to Castelmola, how do you get there? Taxi? Also, had read beaches are very pretty and I want to see Isola Bella. Is that near Naxos? Should we do the half day motor coach and go back to Naxos and explore from there in afternoon?
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Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Isola Bella can be reached by funivia or bus from Taormina, but the beach is quite pebbly. I imagine the half-day tour will hit the highlights of Taormina. You could then take the funivia to Isola Bella (the funivia stop is a short walk from the beach), have lunch at one of the beach restaurants, then take a bus or taxi to Naxos. The beaches there may be nicer, I don't know. Naxos is very close to Taormina (they share a train station). Naxos has some archeological sites and a museum, but I've only passed through it so I can't offer you much about it. Castelmola is up above Taormina - bus or taxi, great views and some interesting sights.