Need help with Taormina (Sicily)

Hello,

My search button is not working. I'm hoping someone on the Oceania board can help us with our upcoming cruise.

We will be on Oceania Riviera this June. One of the ports is listed as Taormina (Sicily) from 8am-5pm.

Can anyone tell me where Oceania will tender? Will we be anywhere near Taormina?

If not, what is the best way for 4 people to get to Taormina?

Any other suggestions for this port? We are very active in our 50's.

Thanks so much!

Have you tried at the roll call for your cruise? You may find answers there better than here. I haven't been to Taormina so I surely cannot answer! But fellow passengers may have a better chance.

If you don't know how to find your roll call, let us know the date of your cruise and the ship and maybe we can get you there.

Mura

(I saw elsewhere that the search function has been having problems for a few days so it may not be your computer.)

We were in Taormina a few years ago with Azamara...don't remember if we docked or tendered. You have to take some type of transportation to get into the town, it is very high above the dock area, I would guess it was a 15 minute bus ride, all up hill. Azamara provided a shuttle for us, so not sure what type of transportation is available otherwise. The town was charming, wonderful shops and cafes to experience. A lot of walking. There is also an ancient Greek theater that was fascinating to explore. If there are no tours that interest you, you will have no trouble spending the day on your own in town. Hope this helps.

Try this-

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/ports/taormina-giardini-naxos-cruises/

Loved Taormina. I remember an ice cream shop at the bottom of the street that leads up to the amphitheatre which served brilliant gelato.

We were there last June. It was a tender port. There were 4 couples traveling together and we just grabbed a minibus cab for the ride up to Taormina (about 10 min.) then just explored on our own. Then the same for the ride back down. LOVED it!

Corso Umberto is the main street in Taormina and it is, for the most part, pedestrian. Locals and tourists alike stroll it's length, mostly in the late afternoon. Check Trip Advisor for the best restaurants and shopping. But remember that many retail shops close for lunch. Nearby is the "Teatro Antico" (aka Greek Theater), which is absolutely breathtaking with the Mediterranean Sea below and Mt. Etna in the background. Also, at the tourism office near one end of the Corso, there's a wonderful display of antique puppets, a Sicilian treasure.

Speaking of Sicilian treasures, you have to consume two things while you're there: Arancini (filled fried rice balls) and Etna Rosso (red wine made from a blend of grapes grown in the volcanic soil). Be prepared to spend about $40 USD for a good bottle - it will be worth it. Guardiola is a good brand. For quality assurance, look for the government DOC or DOCG stamp on the neck of whatever you do buy.

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The ship will probably arrange for shuttle buses to the Town but do not waste your time with these unless you are prepared to stand in the sun for long periods.

We grabbed a taxi at the Port and 4 of us shared the ride. Coming back is easier if you want to use the bus but finding it can be a problem.

Brian

It should tender off Giardini Naxos, but if the sea is thought to be too rough, then it will try to dock at Messina.

Was there last October, as I remember there were not any shuttles put on by oceania but local taxis took passengers up to the town. We were a little late off the ship and there was a queue for the taxis so we started walking. A local pulled over and via sign language we negotiated the same price as the taxi into the town.

The theater is worth seeing as are the gardens just below them. A walk up and down the main drag was also good. Beautiful place and would be happy to return

We were there several years ago with Oceania (either docked/tendered- can't remeber) at Giardini Naxos. Oceania was running one shuttle bus to the end of the port. It was very slow going and this was with the smaller Regatta not the Marina/Riviera.

There is a bus that goes from Giardini Naxos (at the bottom of the mountain) to Taormina. Since we were there on a Sunday there was no bus running. Your best bet for four people is to take a cab. It is the fastest and most expedient way to Taormini.

 

The theater is worth seeing as are the gardens just below them. A walk up and down the main drag was also good. Beautiful place and would be happy to return

Agree! 😄

We too visited Taormina last year on Marina, there was a huge queue for taxis we waited quite some time, Giardini Naxos is a small place and there are not that many cabs available.

Some people had booked ahead with others on their roll call.

We have been on Riviera last June. Giardini-Naxos was a tender port and there were lots of taxis. It was a Sunday and we didn't need to wait. They had fixed prices. 25 € oneway and there were also taxis available in Taormina. Maybe you can ask the driver to show you where you can find the most taxis to go back. We did this and we didn't have any problem.Within Taormina you can walk and do your sight seeing ( Greek Theater) and have ice-cream, coffee, drinks... beautiful views and especially on Sundays lots of Italian families!

We've been there twice...on Oceania Nautica and, more recently, on Celebrity Silhouette...

Whereas Silhouette brings you to Catania, Nautica tendered us at Naxos...

Naxos is actually closer to Taormina, but still requires transportation to get there...

We originally booked a shore excursion--to Etna and Taormina--through Oceania...however, once on the ship, they informed us that this excursion had been canceled...and we were forced to opt for a half-day excursion to one or the other. My wife really wanted to go to Etna, so we opted for the morning excursion there, figuring we could go to Taormina on our own after the tour.

As it turned out, we found it difficult to get to Taormina on our own...a dearth of taxis and we could not figure out the bus system...

So, on our most recent visit on Celebrity, we decided to form a group from our Roll Call and book a private tour...

We formed a group of eight and got a recommendation from a tour company we had used in Tunisia and Malta on a previous Nautica cruise to find this company and tour:

Godfather II - III & Taormina | Private

Every effort is made to provide the tour as described below, however the itinerary may change due to situation beyond our control.

Today at h 7.30AM you are greeted outside Catania port and drive to enjoy the scenes of The Godfather movie. From the coastal road, rich of villas, flowering gardens, and picturesque villages, leads to the historical artist town of Savoca. In a private house in the village, Bar Vitelli houses a collection of local artisans' tools and photographs taken when Francis Ford Coppola shot scenes of The Godfather II. Stroll along the village's main street past Santa Lucia and San Michele churches for a short view over the valley. Drive away, we'll find a charming little village over-looking the Arab-Norman castle of Capo Sant'Alessio. In 1990, Al Pacino and Sophia Coppola shot scenes here for The Godfather III. From the main square, a lane meets the circular steps that ascend to the Gothic-Catalan portal in front of the Church of San Agostino. Later we will continue to Taormina, the resort town of Sicily. On arrival (around 12.30PM) time at leisure to explore the town or independent visit to the Greek Roman Theatre (admission fee: not included) from where we can admire an amazing view. This afternoon at h 2PM we drive back to Catania port (estimated arrival time h 3-3.30PM).

Rate: eur 350,00 (by car, up to 3 people)

Rate: eur 395,00 (by van, up to 8 people)

Inclusions: private vehicle with air conditioning; English speaking driver escort; VAT.

Valeria GULOTTA

TRADIZIONE TURISMO Tour Operator

Tour Operator & Company Name: Tradizione Turismo by Chat & Tour

Tour Operator Licence: Nr. 996/VII/Tur-Sicily

90145 - Palermo (Italy, Sicily) - Via Generale Sirtori, 25

Tel.: ITALY 0916269685 - Fax: +39 0913809900

Allied: ASTA; ASTA TOP; NTA; SITE; Tid-IATA

We actually got them to add a drive up to Castellmola to this tour. Castellmola is a small town on the mountaintop ABOVE Taormina and provides some absolutely incredible views.

The tour was fun in a small group and we saw quite a bit more of Sicily than we ever could have using public transport to get to Taormina on our own.

The price worked out to less than 50 Euros per person (plus tip, of course). I highly recommend doing it this way...

I've booked the ship's transfers for fear taxis might be scarce on a Sunday. My main worry now is that 2 hours in Taormina might not be enough time. Thoughts?

Depending on the skill of your driver and the size of his vehicle, it can take quite some time to get up the winding mountain road to Savoca from Taormina or anywhere else. Nonetheless, this is ground zero for Godfather fans. Bar Vitelli, the church, etc. will quickly be recognizable. Back to Taormina: you can stroll the Corso end to end in under two hours with a brief stop at the Teatro Antica and maybe a couple of shops. Getting to the town center of Taormina (as has already been discussed by others above) can be a challenge. Throw in a side trip to Savoca and you're talking about at least four to five hours for the entire excursion including all the transportation.

Also, I'd skip a side trip to Etna. Its beauty is best appreciated from a distance.

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I've booked the ship's transfers for fear taxis might be scare on a Sunday. My main worry now is that 2 hours in Taormina might not be enough time. Thoughts?

Why should taxis scare you on Sundays?

It is less traffic tun at weekdays. Europeans are good drivers. For Americans it seems sometimes too fast but they know the roads very well.:)

I've booked the ship's transfers for fear taxis might be scarce on a Sunday. My main worry now is that 2 hours in Taormina might not be enough time. Thoughts?

If you plan ahead and decide what you want to see, 2 hours should be sufficient. Consult a map in advance so you head where where you want to go during your visit. Try to stop in a pastry shop and treat yourself to the best cannoli in the world - IMHO.

Why should taxis scare you on Sundays?

It is less traffic tun at weekdays. Europeans are good drivers. For Americans it seems sometimes too fast but they know the roads very well.:)

I think the OP meant scarce not scare. Buses were non-existent on Sunday.

We were just there in November 2013. Booked a private tour to Mt Etna and to the city. Though ship's tour to Mt Etna was cancelled due to volcano erupting, we were able to go.

It was excellent; Silicy Life Tours; Trip Advisors gives it excellent rating; Mercedes Van can hold eight but there was only six of us; 70 euros/person for all day tour.

Any time spent on a bus or taxi going around twisty roads with a 'fast' driver is liable to turn me green!

We wondered whether it is possible to walk along the beach/road to the cable car or, as we like to walk, I have seen reference to steps which go down from Taormina to the beach (so obviously you must also be able to go up this way) but again can't work out where they end in relation to where the tender will dock. Have done a search but where both are referred to there is little information - everyone seems to refer to taxis or buses.

Can anyone guide me in the right direction please?

Many thanks

Any time spent on a bus or taxi going around twisty roads with a 'fast' driver is liable to turn me green!

We wondered whether it is possible to walk along the beach/road to the cable car or, as we like to walk, I have seen reference to steps which go down from Taormina to the beach (so obviously you must also be able to go up this way) but again can't work out where they end in relation to where the tender will dock. Have done a search but where both are referred to there is little information - everyone seems to refer to taxis or buses.

Can anyone guide me in the right direction please?

Many thanks

We'e been to Taormina five or six times and the Tender Dock was usually within 500 yards, but never more than a mile from the bottom of the cable car.

I've heard of people coming down the stairs from Taormina to the shore, but never going up.......it is a very long way up, and the stairway is shared with folks riding those Donkeys down AND Italians shepherding Donkeys up for the next paying customer.

The crowds, the smell, and the amount of animal waste, combine to make that staircase not a very pleasant place.

If you worry about heights, take the cable car and close your eyes, it is literally a five minute ride.

This thread had already made me excited to get to Taormina on our cruise; that photo is the icing on the cake!

Thank you!

The cable car and stairway etc are only if the ship goes into the Messina port, if you tender into Giardini-Naxos, the only choice is taxi or shuttle bus.

Jim and Stan - it is more travel sickness than fear of heights!

Where did your tenders dock? Kissing Seahorses has said we can only go from Messina port but we tender into Giardini-Naxos. Gorgeous photo by the way. :)