Taormina / The verdict
Catania airport to Taormina: which way?
Take the Interbus or Etna Trasporti airport coach: one ride into Taormina, and the traveler who tried both coach and train calls the bus easier overall. The train is quick and scenic but stops below the town, and a taxi or transfer suits groups and late arrivals.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team. We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict.
The Taormina story
Taormina is Sicily's postcard: a hilltop resort of medieval lanes, a Greek theatre staged against Etna and the sea, and the tiny islet of Isola Bella in the bay below. It has been the island's grand-resort town since the 1800s and still looks it.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: Interbus or Etna Trasporti airport coach (runner-up: Train via Fontanarossa airport station)
Take the Interbus or Etna Trasporti airport coach: one ride into Taormina, and the traveler who tried both coach and train calls the bus easier overall. The train is quick and scenic but stops below the town, and a taxi or transfer suits groups and late arrivals.
Go if
- You land while the coaches are running and want one ride into town
- You are traveling light and do not mind a train plus a bus or taxi up the hill
- You are a group or arrive late and want a taxi or transfer to the door
Skip if
- You expect the train to drop you in town: Taormina-Giardini station sits below it
- You land after the last coach of the day without a booked car
- You are traveling solo on a budget and were planning on a taxi
The options
Interbus or Etna Trasporti airport coach Go
Most arrivals who land while the coaches run and want one ride into town.
Good
- One coach from the airport into Taormina, with no change of vehicle.
- A traveler who tried both coach and train calls the bus easier overall.
- On the return, a forum traveler reports road delays of about 10 minutes at most.
Watch out
- Luggage rides in the hold, so keep valuables with you, as one traveler did.
- Coaches stop in the evening, so late arrivals need a plan B.
Train via Fontanarossa airport station It depends
Light packers who want the coastal rail ride and accept a bus or taxi up to town.
Good
- A forum traveler found the train from Catania airport very quick.
- Travelers describe the coastal ride to Taormina-Giardini as scenic.
- Trenitalia sells a Taormina Link ticket that adds the bus up to the center for EUR 2.
Watch out
- Taormina-Giardini station sits below the town, so you still need a bus or taxi up.
- Two travelers who took a taxi up from the station found it expensive.
Trenitalia Taormina Link integrated ticketASM Taormina local buses
Taxi or pre-booked private transfer It depends
Groups, families with bags and anyone landing after the last coach.
Good
- Door to door with no change of vehicle.
- Radio Taxi Catania lists Taormina at about EUR 110, or EUR 88 when booked at least 48 hours ahead.
Watch out
- Far more than the coach for a solo traveler.
- One traveler found ride-hail cars scarce and very expensive.
Radio Taxi Catania faresSee fixed airport-transfer quotespartner site
| Criterion | Interbus or Etna Trasporti airport coach | Train via Fontanarossa airport station | Taxi or pre-booked private transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official fare | EUR 7 one-way (as last confirmed) | EUR 5.50 rail fare, plus EUR 2 for the Taormina Link bus | About EUR 110 listed, EUR 88 booked 48 hours ahead |
| Vehicles | One coach | Train, then a bus or taxi up the hill | One car |
| Where it ends | Taormina town | Taormina-Giardini station below the town | Your hotel |
| Late arrivals | Check the last coach on the operator timetable | Check the last train on Trenitalia | Book ahead |
| What travelers report | Easier overall than the train; return delays of about 10 minutes | Quick and scenic, but the taxi up felt expensive | Ride-hail scarce and pricey |
What it costs
- Airport coach, CTA to Taormina, one-way: €7 (Official page could not be loaded on 2026-10-09; price as last confirmed). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- AMTS Alibus, airport to Catania centre: €4 (Valid 90 minutes on AMT city lines; this bus does not go to Taormina). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Regional train, 2nd class, Catania to Taormina-Giardini: €5.50 (Regional fare table, 41-50 km band). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Trenitalia Taormina Link bus add-on: €2 (Added to the rail fare for the bus from Taormina-Giardini station to the center). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- ASM Taormina town bus, single ride for visitors: €2 (Linea Verde links Taormina-Giardini station with Taormina). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Radio Taxi Catania listed fare to Taormina: €110 (Indicative; EUR 88 when booked at least 48 hours ahead). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi flag fall, Catania comune tariff: €3 (EUR 1 per km and EUR 6 airport supplement inside Catania). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 4 traveler reports (Mar 2025 to May 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 0 were negative.
What people like
- A traveler who tried both coach and train calls the coach the easier option overall.
- Travelers found the train from Catania quick and the coastal ride scenic.
- Return coaches run close to schedule, with delays of about 10 minutes reported, and airport security has been quick.
- A solo traveler felt safe on the coach the whole way.
What people complain about
- The train stops at Taormina-Giardini below the town, so you still need a bus or taxi up.
- Travelers found the short taxi from the station up to town expensive.
- One traveler found ride-hail cars scarce and very expensive.
How to do it right
- For the coach, buy an Interbus or Etna Trasporti ticket for the airport to Taormina run and check the day's last departure on the operator timetable before you land.
- For the train, take a regional train from the Catania airport station toward Messina and get off at Taormina-Giardini.
- From Taormina-Giardini, ride up to town on the Taormina Link bus (EUR 2 added to your rail ticket) or the ASM Linea Verde (EUR 2 for visitors).
- For a taxi, book Radio Taxi Catania at least 48 hours ahead for its EUR 88 listed fare instead of about EUR 110.
- Do not confuse the Alibus with the Taormina coach: the EUR 4 Alibus only goes into Catania.
The trap to avoid
Treating the train as a ride to town. It stops at Taormina-Giardini below the town, and travelers who took a taxi up from the station found that short ride expensive; buy the Taormina Link bus with the rail ticket or take the coach.
Why this verdict
The airport coach is the pick because it is the only cheap option that ends in Taormina itself. Interbus and Etna Trasporti run it from the airport into town, and the fare as last confirmed is EUR 7 one-way. A solo traveler who used both the coach and the train calls the bus easier overall. On the way back, a forum traveler who has flown from Catania several times reports coach delays of about 10 minutes at most and quick security at the small airport, which makes a late-morning coach workable for an early-afternoon flight.
The train is the runner-up and the option most likely to surprise. The rail fare is EUR 5.50 on the regional fare table, travelers describe the ride as quick and the coast as scenic, and one traveler filmed it as a scenic coastal ride. The catch is the last stretch. Taormina-Giardini station sits below the town, and both travelers who took a taxi up from it found that short ride expensive. Trenitalia’s Taormina Link fixes most of that by adding the bus to the center for EUR 2, and the ASM Linea Verde charges visitors EUR 2 for the same climb, so buy one of those rather than taking the first taxi at the station.
A taxi or pre-booked transfer is the answer for groups, families with bags and late arrivals. Radio Taxi Catania lists Taormina at about EUR 110, or EUR 88 when booked at least 48 hours ahead, which splits reasonably across three or four people but is a poor deal for a solo traveler. One traveler also found ride-hail cars scarce and expensive, so book ahead rather than counting on an app.
Timing and tickets
Check the coach operator’s last departure for your travel date before you land; if your flight arrives after it, book the taxi in advance. Do not board the EUR 4 Alibus by mistake: it only goes into Catania.
Book or check times
Etna Trasporti airport servicesInterbus online bookingTrenitalia Taormina Link integrated ticketASM Taormina local busesRadio Taxi Catania faresAMTS Alibus airport shuttle
We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict. How this works
See fixed airport-transfer quotespartner site
Questions
How much is the bus from Catania airport to Taormina?
EUR 7 one-way as last confirmed on the operator fare table; the page could not be loaded on 2026-10-09, so check the fare when you book. It is one coach from the airport into town.
Is there a train from Catania airport to Taormina?
Yes, regional trains run from the Catania airport station toward Messina and stop at Taormina-Giardini. The rail fare is EUR 5.50, and the station sits below the town, so add the EUR 2 Taormina Link bus or the ASM town bus.
How much is a taxi from Catania airport to Taormina?
Radio Taxi Catania lists Taormina at about EUR 110, or EUR 88 if you book at least 48 hours ahead. The list is indicative, so confirm the fare when you book.
How early should I leave Taormina for a flight?
A forum traveler who has flown from Catania several times reports road delays of about 10 minutes at most and quick security at the small airport, and was comfortable with a coach arriving about two and a half hours before a domestic flight.
Is the Alibus the bus to Taormina?
No. The AMTS Alibus costs EUR 4 and runs between the airport and Catania's center. For Taormina, take the Interbus or Etna Trasporti coach.
Pack for it
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