Sicily (flying to and from Catania)

[GirlFromMars1]

Heading here for May half term and would appreciate any suggestions for where to try to stay. Would be happy to do 2 locations in a week. Currently booked in Syracuse/Ortigia (could cancel) but think it'd be good to do 3 nights somewhere else. Concerned that area may be a bit too touristy. (I hated Sorrento but loved Vico Equense if you know that area...) Kids are 6 and 8. Need to be somewhere that we can easily walk to bars and restaurants as haven't enjoyed holidays where I've had to drive us to dinner. Towns with nice beaches would be great. We will have a car for day trips. Don't want to be more than 90 mins from Catania airport too.

Thanks in advance for any tips!

We did 4 nights in Ortigia last year followed by 6 in Taormina. Both are gorgeous. Giardini Naxos might be better if you want to be closer the beach - there are buses and a cable car up to Taormina town. Loads of lovely places to eat in both towns.

We didn't have a car - parking can be a pain. We got a transfer from airport to Ortigia and then go the train to Taormina from there. Then a bus back to airport - they go every 30 mins.

I wouldn't recommend the hotel we stayed at in Catania, because it was right next door to a club- something we didn't realise until 11pm that night!
We walked all around the city easily. The fruit/veg/seafood market was amazing.

We caught a local coach/bus to Syracuse for the day. There, we also walked around and found it very easy. I think we visited in Oct, and people were swimming off the coast! I recall some areas with small, lanes of shops and lots of restaurants selling horse meat! Some nice looking restaurants around the seafront too. I never considered hiring a car in either Catania/Syracuse as imagine parking would be a nightmare (unless you can read Italian parking signs).

We were planning to stay in Taormina, but Etna was rumbling, and it wasn't recommended to go.

We stayed 5 nights in Taormina and 4 in Ortigia. Taormina is touristy but still pretty and a good base for trips. We actually preferred Ortigia, plus Syracusa has buses / trains to Noto etc.

We found 3 days was plenty to experience most locations if you don’t mind a bit of travel. Taormina was lovely. We really liked Cefalù too.

Thanks all. I think we will stay near Ortigia for a few days and Fontaine Bianche for another 3 nights so kids can have more beach time and access to a pool. Hopefully that'll keep us all happy. x