Get Your Sun and Fun On the Best Beaches In Taormina

Taormina, Sicily provides the perfect beach getaway. This stunning coastal town is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Italy.

The town itself is at 689 feet above sea level and its coastline, both north and south, is extremely appealing.

From secluded coves to golden sand beaches, there’s a little something for everyone. There are many reasons people choose Taormina as their vacation destination.

These include:

Its ancient Greek amphitheatre
backdrop of Etna
street food and markets
artisan shops
Its varied beaches

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best beaches in Taormina, so grab your sun hat and sunglasses and let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Isola Bella

The first place we absolutely must mention is Isola Bella. Anyone who speaks Italian will know that this means ‘beautiful island.’

It also goes by ‘The Pearl of the Ionian Sea’. This small island was private property until the 1990s when it was bought and converted into a nature reserve.

You can get to the island by walking through the sea. At low tide, there is a narrow path from the mainland beach.

Isola Bella’s beach isn’t the best because it’s small and rocky. However, because of being isolated on a small island, it’s a very popular place for beachgoers.

Spisone Beach

This beautiful beach is a favorite among the locals. It’s known for its crystal-clear waters, stunning views, and abundant wildlife.

It’s an ideal spot for sunbathing and gentle swimming. This is a free beach that welcomes everyone. It doesn’t have any amenities like showers or toilets, though.

Mazzaro Beach

Mazzaro is located in a gorgeous inlet between Capo Mazzaro and Capo Sant’Andrea.

The emerald-colore water is crystal-clear, making this beach ideal for snorkeling and swimming.

The beach itself is small but there are sunbeds and umbrellas available. What’s even better about this beach is that you can get here using the Taormina cable car!

Mazzaro is one of the smallest in Taormina yet it’s also one of the most well-liked.

This is a perfect beach for the whole family and has some lovely small, typical Sicilian restaurants to sample the local cuisine.

Recanati Beach

Recanati Beach is located in Giardini Naxos is known for its fine white sand.

The beach is also surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation with lots of bars, restaurants and nightlife close by. This area is really popular in the summer months with locals and visitors alike.

Some parts of the beach are free and there’s also lidos available where sunbeds and sunshades are available for rent.

You’ll find a great range of facilities, including parking, changing rooms, lifeguards, showers, and toilets. You also get a great view of Mount Etna too!

Letojanni Beach

Situated some six kilometres from Taormina is Letojanni, a seaside resort with a long sandy beach, a beach promenade, beach clubs, lidos, bars, and some great seafood restaurants.

This resort has everything you need yet it’s much quieter than Giardini Naxos and Taormina.

If you’re traveling with disabled guests, you’ll find Letojanni a great location thanks to the lidos which have great wheelchair access.

The beach itself stretches several kilometres. There are free sections but also ones with well-equipped lidos with lifeguards, sunbeds and umbrellas.

Marina di Cottone Beach

If you like your beaches a little wilder and more natural, Marina di Cottone is ideal.

This is a long shingle beach with a wild landscape and unspoilt nature.

Though beautifully crystal-clear, the sea here can often be very cold thanks to the Fiumefreddo (literally ‘Cold River’) flowing straight from Etna’s snowy peaks.

Mazzeo

Near to Letojanni is Mazzeo beach. Here, you’ll find pebbles and a calm, crystal-clear sea.

Mazzeo itself is a suburb of Taormina and has lots of cafes, restaurants and shops to keep you fed, watered and with everything you need.

You can get here quite easily via buses from the center of Taormina.

Villagonia

Villagonia is a beach that’s made of pebbles and rocks that go straight into a calm, transparent sea.

For those situated close to the center of Taormina, this is the easiest beach to get to. You can get here in ten minutes from the Taormina-Giardini train station on foot.

It’s also close to Giardini Naxos and its extensive sandy beaches.

If you like history and culture, you can also see the Castello di Villagonia here. If you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing beach, this is a great choice.

Sant’Allessio Siculo

Just a couple of miles from Taormina towards Messina, is Sant’Alessio Siculo with its famous castle dominating the beach.

The castle was built by Alexios I Comnenos, the Byzantine emperor, during a war with the Arabs and Normans.

If you’re searching for peace and tranquillity, Sant’Allessio Siculo offers just that.

The town itself only has just over 1,000 inhabitants for the large stretch of sand. The beach is clean with soft sand within a small bay. It’s a true beach paradise.

San Marco

In between two rivers, the Fiumefreddo and Alcantara, San Marco is still classed as a Taormina beach. Due to its close proximity with Mount Etna, its beach is rocky and dark.

All around, you’ll find citrus and eucalyptus, creating a real Mediterranean paradise. With blue sea, umbrellas and sunbeds, you can easily spend all day here.

The town itself is typically Sicilian too, which makes it even more of an authentic place for an Italian beach day.

Final Thoughts

Taormina is home to some of Italy’s most beautiful beaches. Whether you seek a day of sun and sand or want a lively beach day, you’ll find it near Taormina.

All of the beaches mentioned in this post have something unique to offer. With crystal-clear waters and beautiful views, no matter which one you choose, you’ll surely have a memorable experience.