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Second guessing parking in Taormina

Hello all

We are planning our trip to Sicily and thinking of flying into Catania, renting a car and driving up to Taormina. I realize there are two parking garages and ZTL’s in the area. I was thinking we would drive over to Etna and the vineyards around it one day and another day drive to Savoca and Forte.

Am I being realistic with these goals or should we just bus up there (from the airport) and use public transportation and/or tour guides for this? We have been to Italy several times but never Sicily and once we rented a car and parked it for several days in Lucca since it was so much easier to take the buses and trains

After Taormina, we go to Agrigento, Ragusa and Ortigia before we finish in Catania for a few days. I realize we could even go to Mt Etna from Catania if the weather doesn’t permit while we are in Taormina and I also know we need a car for the Agrigento and Ragusa segment. I was thinking of ditching the car before we go to Ortigia and then to Catania.

We could even backtrack to Catania airport after Ragusa, then train back to Ortigia then Catania.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. Any recommendations would be helpful. Thanks.

Posted by
7208 posts

If spending the night in Taormina, reserve a hotel with parking like we did.

Posted by
7 posts

We parked in the large, multi story garage at the south end of town, and basically left it there for three days until we needed it again. That worked fine.

Posted by
16135 posts

I usually stay at Giardini Naxos, just down the hill, at a hotel with parking called La Riva. Not fancy but greatly located on the beach. Just 10 min drive to Taormina up the hill.

Posted by
11614 posts

Look at Hotel Villa Schuler, walkable to the main pedestrian boulevard but away from the crowds of tourists and cruise ship passengers.
Ask for a seaview room. We reserved a parking space when booking and they put our car in their garage where we left it during our stay. Taormina was our least favorite place in Sicily. Will not return there. Hotel Villa Schuler was lovely but we didn’t like Taormina.
We loved our week in Ortigia and did not want to leave. Enjoyed two nights in Agrigento and one night in Noto.

Posted by
372 posts

Thank you all for your help, it’s always appreciated!