Taormina and Ortigia accommodation location recommendations

We rented the penthouse at Residence Schuler last year. It was spectacular. It’s about an 8-minute walk down to the main town area. It was a perfect distance from the madness of the main walking streets. Taormina is so extremely beautiful - we loved it. The unit we rented was two bedroom, two bathroom and had a full and nicely appointed kitchen. The living room was huge and opened out onto a deck that ran the length of the building. It had a great view.

I highly recommend that you rent there! Look up the TripAdvisor reviews...on of them is mine..they are uniformly good.

In Ortigia my tour stayed at the waterfront Domus Mariae, Via Vittorio Veneto, 89. Wonderful hotel in a central location, delicious breakfast, roof top terrace.

Thanks for the information. Valerie, I remember our discussion about Residence Schuler and that's why it is at the top of the list, if we stay near town. Was wondering pros/cons of staying closer to the water, if we were near the cable car? A hassle to get up and down?

Philip, I've looked at those hotels, and one of the apartments is very close to them. You stayed at Benessere? I've been confused between the 2 sister hotels, but think from what I've seen where you stayed has the nice rooftop terrace? The other apartment I've marked that has a great terrace is a little further south, near where the 'tail' starts (close to the Museo del Mare). I'm not sure if that is too far away sites, etc?

I've just looked up some of the locations on Ortigia, and it seems the island isn't as large as I was thinking so maybe either apartment should be fine. I imagine going to the mainland to see those sites would take a bus or taxi in either case.

Yes, I stayed at Beneserre. The island of Ortigia is compact and is easy to explore. Make sure to visit the market, cathedral, puppet theatre. Grab a sandwich near the edge of the market at Borderi - you’ll see a show as well as a great sandwich out which you could get 2 meals. Hotel would be happy to call taxis to take you to sights on the mainland. Ortigia is a special, unforgettable island.

We didn’t stay there, but by the base of the cable car in Taormina is Grand Hotel Mazzaro Sea Palace. It’s on the beach and also has a pool. We had a drink there and to use the rest room. We stayed half way up the hill at Hotel Bel Soggiorno. In town you’re closer to most restaurants and the sights. By the beach, you’re by the beach, if that’s how you want to spend your time. I didn’t find Taormina’s beaches to be that nice.

Thanks for additional information and tips, Philip, I have been confused between the 2 sister hotels.

Jaime, it's kind've strange, we are not 'lie on the beach' people, but love water. We would probably take a short dip as it looks so clear (not what we're used to on the east coast), and thought it might be nice to stay a little closer for the views during morning coffee/evening wine. But then these places don't have views of Etna!

If you want to stay in Taormina, you will be up high overlooking the panorama of the sea and Mt. Etna. You can also stay down below in the beach areas but then you aren't really in Taormina. We went down there for few hours. It is so easy and inexpensive to get down to the beach by the gondola from Taormina. We stayed at Hotel Villa Schuler in Taormina which offered great views, nice rooms, easy climb up to the main pedestrian way and the Greek Temple. The hotel has a large garden behind it so you are removed the crowds. Good service, excellent, order from menu breakfasts.As beautiful as it Taormina is, it was our least favourite place in all of Sicily, touristy, crowded and we won't return. Hotel Villa Schuler was a very nice respite.
Ortigia: There is the Ionian Sea side to the east and the Porto Grande, bay/marina side to the west. It is not a large island. We stayed on the bay side(west) with views of international sailing yachts coming and going, and a beautiful esplanade/lungomare to walk on. It was fun figuring out what nations' flags the ships were flying on the boats. Great sunsets! We were closer to the south end of the island(castle end), very near the Duomo, but walked to the grocery store and wonderful street market at the north end daily. This is not a large island. I like the description of your first possible rental's location much more than the second one.
I did not care for the ocean side(east)as much. The sea can get rough, splash upwards, and walking is not as easy as the west side.
We also walked across the little bridges into Siracusa. Or we bought a 5 Euro ticket for a little bus that did a circle route in Ortigia( Piazza Archimede has a stop) and Siracusa which includes stops near the beautiful Greek Theatre and the Archeological Museum. We visited them on different days. Ortigia is the historical heart of Siracusa.
The Duomo Square is one of the most beautiful in Europe. The Duomo dates back to Ancient Greece and those columns are used in the present church structure today. We spent a wonderful week there and did not make any day trips. We actually cancelled one as we did want to leave Ortigia.
Two restaurants where we had dinner twice were Regina Lucia in the Piazza Duomo, SW corner ,and Locanda del Collegio. The first one is more upscale, the second more casual but very nice. Both had fabulous food, and the seafood is spectacular. We had one bad dining experience in Sicily, Don Camillo on Ortigia, avoid it!
There is also a Cannoli to go window in the Piazza Duomo, just off of the SW area, where you place your order and have a cannoli shaped like an ice cream cone to take with you.
This was near the end of the trip to Sicily so we dropped our car off on arrival in Ortigia; EuropCar is just across the bridge and then another two blocks. Easy walk back. Enjoy Sicily! Suki

Suki, thanks for all your wonderful information! I understand Taormina is touristy, but thinking to start the trip there so getting over jet lag. Think we'd enjoy a day trip to Mt Etna and also spending some time up in Castelmola.

Thought is to end the trip in Ortigia (after some time in Caltanissetta and Ragusa) and I also will say that the first apartment I described is the one I'm really drawn to. Great tips!

Just got back from Sicily and Malta two days ago. For Taormina, do as Suki recommends about staying up in or around town and taking the gondolas down to swim. Besides right in town there are many nice hotels just below that are quieter and only 5 minute walk up to the main drag. Very touristy but still very pretty and I enjoyed it there for a day.
As for Ortigia. it is a small island and any of the hotels are walking distance to the sights. easy to get around and the bus is the way to go to the greek theater and museum. as far as swimming, I saw three sites on Ortigia. One near the docks for the yachts and the other two on the east side. The one I went to on the southeast area had a lifeguard and a shower near the access stairs. Highly recommend this one--don't know the name but in a few days as I sort through my unpacking I'll find my maps.
I did un pack some cards from the restaurants I ate at and two that I really enjoyed were Al Mazari, southeast of the doumo plaza and Spizzulimu southwest of the fountain of Diana.
Noto is good for a few hours, I found it overrun with tourists. I had also already been to Ragusa, Modica, Enna, and Piazza Armenaria. Modica was one of my favorites, some tourists but the locals were super nice--hotel staff, shopkeepers, waiters all would go out of their way to make sure you liked the town.
If you get time consider stopping by Malta. I loved Valleta and all the history there.

k2wilde, thanks for all the tips. Now that I'm realizing Ortigia is smaller than I thought, not as worried about where we stay on the island. When we go will have to see how many baroque towns we visit. Thinking to stay in Ragusa and visit Modica, maybe Scicli and possibly a day trip to Noto from Ortigia. But at that point we may just want to spend our time enjoying Ortigia. That's the good thing about day trips, don't have to go if you don't want to!

We've been to Ortigia a few times ... last time we stayed in a great 3 bedroom apartment just over the bridge on the mainland .. closer to the train and very reasonable too ... the morning market is just over the bridge a few blocks in ... to the left ... a must see is Taormina... stayed there 4 days .. heavenly! .... years ago we went for Easter and the festivities ...east coast to the west coast .. my wife's mother left there at 13 years old just north of Agrigento..... so much to see so little time! ... love to see their Carnival just north of Catania.... in March? ... YouTube that festival ... the animated floats are unreal .. not into cold weather though LOL ... We're in N.C. also ... just south of Asheville .. Michigan b 4 .. we look for airfare as soon as we leave Europe ... going to Thailand soon found airfare $760 .. Lantern Festival... YouTube that... a must see ... 5 star lodging under $50 ... Bardolino has a 5 day wine festival in the fall ... biggest lake in Italy... goes up into the alps .. flew over for a week when the wife found $380 airfare out of Atlanta ... we get a park (free) & fly hotel a day ahead of time in case of car trouble and they take you right to the main door, less walking etc.. and it saves a lot of parking fees ... you can bus up or ferry around the lake (31 miles high).. so much to see .. Barcelona to Greece ... never see it all no matter how many times one goes .....got a lot of tips 4 u but I'm going out for lunch ... sorry! ... Regards: Mike

Thanks for your comments, Mike!