How to Get from Messina to Taormina?
The city of Messina is located approximately 50 km from Taormina. Transport can be arranged by bus, train, shuttle bus, private transfer, or a rental car.
Local Bus
The bus is the most direct and affordable public transport option for reaching the center of Taormina from Messina.
The companies Interbus and Etna Trasporti provide the connection between Messina and Taormina. Buses depart from Piazza della Repubblica in Messina and stop at the Taormina bus terminal.
The price for a one-way trip is €4.3, and the travel duration varies between 50 minutes and 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Train
Trains from Messina Centrale station to Taormina are direct, with travel times ranging from 40 minutes to one hour. Ticket prices start at €5.50, and tickets must be validated before boarding the train.
Don't forget that the Taormina station (called Taormina-Giardini) is located at the bottom of the hill, near the sea and Giardini Naxos. To reach the town center, you will also need to take a minibus (Taormina Link) from right in front of the station. The total price for a combined train + shuttle bus trip from Messina to the center of Taormina starts at €7.50.
Shuttle Bus
If you booked accommodation in Messina and just want to take a day trip to Taormina (and none of the options above suit you), there is the alternative of a coach transfer with a return on the same day. You will have about 2 hours of free time, which means you won't be able to see all the tourist attractions in Taormina, but it will be enough for a stroll through the center to get a feel for the atmosphere of the town - one of the most beautiful in Sicily.
The price for this round-trip transfer is €38 per person.
Rental Car
A rental car (see also our article with tips for renting a car in Sicily) is the fastest way to get from Messina to Taormina and, generally, to visit more tourist attractions across Sicily. You will cover the 50 kilometers in about 40 minutes.
However, during peak season, it might be difficult to find parking close to the center of Taormina. In this case, you will have to leave the car in one of the more distant parking lots and take the bus towards the center. We recommend the Lumbi Parking, which offers a free shuttle transfer to the town center.
Private Transfer
Last on the list, the option of a private transfer from Messina to Taormina is the most comfortable, but also the most expensive.
