Taormina Interbus

The train station is below Taormina because Taormina is on the side of a hill. A bus was waiting outside the Taormina-Giardini train station when I arrived there in 2015. I didn't pay attention to who operated the bus, just assumed it was a city bus of some sort. I bet there were taxis, too, but I am not a taxi-taking person.

I don't think you'll have any issues getting up to Taormina, but it will be critical to allow plenty of time to get back down to the train station when you're ready to return to the ship. That might be a time to consider a taxi.

You can check the Interbus website for the schedule. There only seem to be a few busses daily beginning about 7am with the next one being around noon-1pm.

You can take the bus directly from Messina to Taormina also, depending on when you want to go. You won't need to make any changes enroute. Check the schedule on the interbus.it website. Buon viaggio.

Go on Trenitalia website and look for Messina to Taormina centro. You now can buy a combined train and bus ticket.

As suggested previously, also consider just taking the bus. I took a bus directly from Taormina to Messina. You can do the same in the opposite direction. Bus was fast, 50 min for direct bus, clean and cheap, about 4€ one way. I'd take either the bus or train depending on which one better fits your schedule and departs first. The train actually takes a little longer according to the Trenitalia timetables and is slightly more expensive, The bus stop/ station in Messina is right next to the Central train station and both are close to the port. The Interbus Taormina terminal/station is a parking lot area on Via Luigi Pirandello. Take a look at the map. Exit the lot, turn left (uphill) and walk to the Porta Messina to enter the main area of town. Here is a link to the bus company Interbus Sicily. Since you are on a cruise and have limited time and a deadline for being back at port, please pace yourself accordingly on the return. Maybe even consider a private driver back to your ship. The Taormina bus terminal was very hectic and busy when I was there three years ago in September.

Thank you ALL for your good advice. Unfortunately, because we won't be in the port very long and the Interbus schedule coming back doesn't fit into our time there we have decided to just take the ship transfer there and do the town on our own. We did this before and it was good but we HAD wanted to spend more time in Taormina than the transfer allows. Oh well. I appreciate your help. Maybe next time we're there...haha!

twilightrabbit