How to Get from Catania to Taormina?
Taormina does not have its own airport. The nearest one is Catania Airport, located about 55 km away. Catania is also the most important city in the vicinity, from which you can reach Taormina relatively easily using public transport. The distance between Catania city center and Taormina is approximately 48 km.
Transport from Catania to Taormina can be done by bus (don't expect them to always leave on time) or by train. Those who desire faster transport can use a taxi, a private transfer service, or can rent a car.
How to Get from Catania Airport to Taormina?
Bus
If you are leaving directly from Catania Airport for Taormina, you can use the Etna Trasporti or Interbus bus lines. The coaches are similar, but their schedules vary. To find the departure point, turn right after exiting the terminal (it is best to ask for directions).
A one-way ticket costs €7, and the journey takes about 1.5 hours. The buses make several stops along the way, ultimately arriving at the Taormina bus station (Via Pirandello), which is a 5-minute walk from the pedestrian area (Porta Messina).
You can buy tickets online, at the airport, or directly from the ticket counters (when returning from Taormina). Tickets are only valid for the specific time and station for which they were purchased (only in certain cases, depending on the driver's goodwill and the number of available seats on the coach, will you be allowed to board at a different time or location).
Our advice would be to only buy return tickets (Taormina to Catania airport) online, once you are sure you can arrive on time for the slot marked on your ticket. This way, you guarantee your seat and avoid standing in queues under the sun. We also recommend leaving with plenty of time before your flight to cover any potential traffic delays on the way to the airport.
For the outbound journey (Catania Airport to Taormina), if you buy your ticket online and your flight is delayed, you risk missing that specific bus and will have to purchase a new ticket.
Train
To reach Taormina by train from Catania Airport, you will first need to take the shuttle that takes you to the Fontanarossa railway station. From the station, you will take a train to Taormina-Giardini, which is the station serving both Giardini Naxos and Taormina. From there, you will continue with a minibus (Taormina Link) to Taormina center.
A combined ticket (airport-to-station shuttle + train + Taormina Link minibus) costs €9.9, and the journey time varies between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, depending on the train connection.
Attention! To purchase the complete ticket from a machine or the Trenitalia website - including the airport shuttle and the Taormina Link minibus - you must select Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa Bus as your starting point and Taormina Centro as your destination.
Private Transfer
Private transfers are more expensive, but they offer the advantage of convenience and direct transport to your chosen destination. They can be particularly convenient for larger groups. Take a look at KiwiTaxi as well.
Taxi
Taxi cabs are located directly in front of Catania Airport. Fares are set by the local authorities and vary based on the distance traveled and the time of day.
Rent a Car
If you are spending your holiday in Taormina exclusively, then it makes no sense to rent a car. But if you plan to visit other places in Sicily, then a car can be helpful (see also our article about renting a car in Sicily).
Rent a Car from Catania Airport
How to Get from the City of Catania to Taormina?
Bus
The same buses (Interbus and Etna Trasporti) also provide transfer services from Catania city to the Taormina bus station.
The bus station in Catania is located on Via Archimede, a few minutes from the Catania Centrale railway station.
The ticket price is 5.1 EUR, and the travel time is 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Train
From the Catania Centrale station, there are train services to the Taormina-Giardini station, which serves the towns of Giardini Naxos and Taormina.
From the front of the Taormina-Giardini station, you will take a minibus (Taormina Link or the ASMT shuttle), which will drop you off near the center of Taormina, in Piazza San Pancrazio.
The ticket price starts at €5.5 (Catania-Taormina train only) or €7.5 (train + Taormina Link), and the travel duration varies between one and two hours, depending on the train.
