We are planning a trip to Italy in Sept with about 4 nights/5 days in Sicily. We plan to be based in Palermo for a few days but I’m wondering if we could try to see Taormina.
What is the best way to get there without renting a car?
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
By the winter schedules there are no direct trains and it takes 4 hours and 30' to go from Palermo to Taormina-Giardini.
I'd wait for the summer train schedules to be released on June 10 and check again. If they do not improve, you'll have to take an Intercity bus. In winter there are no direct buses, either. You have to change in Catania.
Posted by
Washington DC
28249 posts
Trains in Sicily just are not particularly fast. Are you already planning a side trip (less than a full day) to Monreale? What about Cefalu?. They are much closer than Taormina.
In addition, Taormina is built on the side of a hill. The train runs down at sea level, so when you get off the train at Taormini-Giardini, you still have to take a local bus (or taxi) up the hill.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Yes we will do day trips to Monreale and Cefalu from Palermo. Sounds like going to Taormina is probably not realistic with limited time in Sicily so we’ll focus on the western side of the island.
Thanks for the responses.