Couple holiday in Taormina - suggestions please

[BollockstoThis1]

Suggestions welcome for early out of season break in Taormina please? Any ‘must go, do, see and any nice restaurants and bars in Taormina’ (to visit without a car) and anything to avoid or any other top tips? 🙏

Pizzeria Al Saraceno has an amazing view.

Thank you @Forgottenmyphone. Did you go on any tours or use public transport?

I'd recommend Al Saraceno too. The bus up to Castelmolo for fab views - bit hair-raising trip mind - and the Bar Turrisi which has very "interesting" decor :)
We did a Godfather Tour which was fun. The Teatro Greco is amazing and there is a cafe there right at the top of the hill with amazing views along the coast. Cable car down to the beach. We had lovely food everywhere. Bam Bam bar for granita or cocktails. We never bothered with Etna - it looks nicer from the distance. It gets busy on the days there is a cruise ship in but better in the evenings. Drinks at the Wunderbar for the view. you can buy a multi day ticket for the Hop On Hop Off Bus which also covers the local buses. How long will you be staying?

Thanks @MissAmbrosia staying 7 days.

we did a day trip by train (about an hour and a half) from Taormina to Syracuse, if you like Roman history

You can walk up to Castelmola (where the Pizzeria is) from Taormina - it’s a pretty walk, doesn’t take long and there’s a small kiosk type place you can stop and get a cold drink on the way.

Day trip to Etna (you can get a tour that will do a pick-up in Taormina if you don’t have a car).

Wander around the open air Greek theatre.

Get the cable car down to the beach and visit Isola Bella. There’s some sheltered swimming spots around there.

Thanks all.

To add to earlier post, we were going to do a tour that took in the Alcantara Gorge (HoHo bus goes there too) and a market in a village at foot of Etna plus wine tasting. But it coincided with something else we wanted to do. Get Your Guide has a number of tours. I'm agog at anyone wanting to WALK up to Castelmolo! The Villa Communale gardens are lovely and have amazing views. I was trying to think of places we ate. I Giardini di Babilonia had a fantastic outdoor terrace with fairy lights - it was near our apartment - up and down the steps so we went there a couple of times. La Tavernetta - a bit further down the same steps was very nice, but quite expensive. Timoleone Cocktail bar was across the road. It's a wonderful place to wander around and find little squares and bars but the hills and the steps are not to be underestimated. Saying that, I'm old and fat and managed 😁Where are you staying? We were close to Greek theatre so main town was on the level from there. We were there end of last September. We did 5 nights in Ortigia and and 6 in Taormina. Both are beautiful - but Taormina had the edge for me, despite the people. I wouldn't want to be there in August.

I'm so jealous! We had a wonderful time in Taormina. It's so lovely to stroll along Corso Umberto in the evening and just find somewhere to eat or drink and soak up the atmosphere. We never had a bad meal, so much delicious pasta and seafood. I can't remember the names of all the places we ate but will come back on to add them if I do. If you're struggling to find a table in some of the more romantic restaurants with tables in the alleyways and steps then there is a really good pizzeria, Villa Zucchero Pizzeria near the Porta Catania and Duomo, with loads of outdoor tables that you can turn up and wait for a table. Really great pizzas and really buzzy with groups of friends and family. We also had some amazing street food including delicious arancini from a fantastic takeaway style place down some steps from the fountain outside the duomo, so busy with locals & tourists that you have to take a ticket and wait your turn then eat whatever you have while sitting out in the square people-watching. I'll have to look the name up.
Definitely catch the cable car down to Isola Bella and pay for sun-loungers at one of the beach clubs. You have to book ahead at some of the fancier ones in August.
The gardens mentioned previously are lovely for a stroll and a bit of shade.
We found the Teatro Greco a bit meh especially after having to queue for ages in the baking sun to get in but it is worth a visit.

Agog? 😂
It took us less than an hour to walk up, less back. It’s hardly far from Taormina to Castlemola.

Definitely get the train to Syracuse we loved Syracuse watch the new Indiana jones film was filmed there. Lots of ancient history there

and Ortigia. We have been to Sicily 5 times, and Taormina is our least favourite, I have to say. The 'baroque' South East, is where we would return, again and again. Montalbano country. Modica, Noto, etc.

I think the street food place I mentioned was Rosticceria Da Cristina and another cute restaurant with tables on the street/steps, amazing food (short menu of seasonal specials) and gorgeous local Etna wine was Trattoria Tutti Cca .
The food is sooo good, I still dream of all the amazing pistachio and seafood based dishes now...

Yes sorry by Syracuse I meant Ortigia which is the stunning old town of Syracuse. We liked Taormina but Ortigia stunning.

Thanks all that should keep us going. @fungipie thanks also but our holiday is already booked for this year so your comments aren’t helpful at this stage.

Rosticceria Da Cristina Da Cristina

Town centre. There's a bus (or was) to Etna cable station

Apologies- but it is really worth taking one day to go down there. And plan for the next time. Cephalu in the North too.