On your first day, get the lay of the land on a tour that will let you explore the city at a leisurely pace: Get your bearings with a ride on the hop-on, hop-off bus, or set out on a sightseeing walking tour including local landmarks like the Greek Theater, Corvaia Palace, and Porta Messina. Admire views of Mount Etna, and learn about the history of the Piccolo Teatro Odeon. 

In the evening, immerse yourself in local culture. Take a food and wine tour, and enjoy a variety of Sicilian wines and Italian liquors alongside traditional snacks while soaking up the atmosphere of Taormina’s nightlife. Opera fans can also catch a performance of Italian arias by composers like Verdi or Puccini.

Spend a day outdoors, and enjoy the natural beauty around Taormina. Options abound: Set out on a boat tour along the coast for a few hours of swimming, snorkeling, or fishing, or catch a glimpse into the beauty of the Sicilian countryside with a horseback tour through vineyards and olive groves. Adventurous travelers can even board a helicopter for a scenic tour over Mount Etna that includes views of the city (including its historic Greek Theater) from above, and a flight over lava fields and the volcano’s crater. 

You can also visit Mount Etna in the evening. Take a guided walk around the mountain, ride on a cable car, or explore in a Jeep. Watch the sunset over the coast and the countryside from the top of the volcano, then stop for a local dinner on your way back to town. 

On your last day, set out to explore more of Sicily. A variety of themed tours can help you focus your trip. Travelers interested in spending more time on Mount Etna can plan a trip to the top of the volcano; options include hiking, quad biking, or Jeep tours. Mount Etna is also home to several wineries, so oenophiles can combine a trip to the mountain with a tasting tour. 

Movie fans may want to join a tour focused on “The Godfather” films, which visits filming locations such as the towns of Savoca and Forza d’Agrò. Alternatively, you can explore more historic cities with a visit to Syracuse and Noto or take an archeology-focused tour of the Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale. Lastly, if you want to venture outside of Sicily, you can also book day trips to the Aeolian Islands, and spend your last day in the area enjoying the sights of other (much smaller) islands.