Train stations in Taormina

Trains stop at Taormina-Giardini, on the coast below the hill town, so the last stretch is a short bus ride up.

Which station to use

Taormina-Giardini, on the Messina to Catania coast line, is the only station. The hill town has no railway station of its own, so every train to Taormina stops here, and the old town with its main street, Corso Umberto, lies up the hill above the tracks.

The station has three tracks, a ticket office, a waiting area, toilets and a tourist information point. Only platform 1 has a step-free route, and there are no lifts or raised platforms, which matters with heavy luggage or a wheelchair. RFI's assistance service for passengers with reduced mobility covers the station and must be booked at least 12 hours before the train.

Trains and where they go

Everything here is Trenitalia. On working days the first regional leaves at 05:13 and the last at 23:13, both for Catania; the last train to Messina leaves at 22:11. On Sundays and public holidays the first leaves at 05:53 and the last at 22:31, with the last train to Messina at 21:38. They head south to Catania Centrale and Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa, the airport station, and north to Messina Centrale, and the faster Regionale Veloce trains skip some stops. Catania Centrale is 36 minutes away on the fastest train and about an hour on a stopping one. Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa takes from 48 minutes, and Messina Centrale from 43 minutes to as much as 84.

For long distances, a night Intercity leaves for Roma Termini at 23:35 and arrives at 09:51. A second night train links Taormina with Milan on selected days, leaving Taormina-Giardini at 15:24 and reaching Milano Centrale at 10:10 the next morning.

There are no trains to Siracusa until 31 January 2027: buses replace them while RFI rebuilds the line south of Catania. Trains between Taormina-Giardini, Catania and Messina are not affected.

From the station up to the old town

The standard way up is Taormina Link, a bus run by the town's transport company, ASM. Its stop is in the forecourt in front of the station, and it runs to the Pirandello bus terminal, Porta Messina and Corso Umberto every day, Sundays and holidays included. Buses leave the station roughly hourly, the first at 07:08 and the last at 20:30, with a longer gap between 18:15 and 19:40. Coming back, the first leaves the centre at 06:10 and the last at 19:15. Regional trains run until 23:13 on working days and 22:31 on Sundays and public holidays, so for an evening train book a taxi from Corso Umberto.

A single ride costs €2 in each direction. The easiest way to pay is to buy your rail ticket to "Taormina Centro" on Trenitalia's website, in its app or at the ticket office, which adds €2 to the train fare for that one direction. Choose Taormina Centro as the origin for the trip back down. Trenitalia does not sell the bus ticket on its own. ASM sells two rides on one day for €3 and a 24-hour ticket for €3.50, at its shops, at the Info Point and Ticket Point on Via Pirandello, at the car park ticket offices and at tobacconists.

For the sea, the Taormina Sea Line leaves the station at 20 minutes past each hour from 08:20 to 19:20, calling at Capo Taormina, Isola Bella, the Mazzarò cable car, Spisone and Mazzeo before Letojanni. The cable car climbs from Mazzarò back to the town every 15 minutes, and a ride costs €8 single or €15 return.

Tickets

Buy regional tickets online, in the app or at the station ticket office. A paper regional ticket must be stamped in a station validation machine before you board and is good for four hours after that, while a digital regional ticket activates itself at the scheduled departure. Travelling without a valid ticket means paying the full fare plus a penalty.

Rail passes and reservations

Regional trains need no reservation with an Interrail pass. The night Intercity trains to Roma Termini and Milano Centrale do need one, and night trains are always reserved: as of October 2026 the fees are €3 for a seat, €41 for a berth in a four-bed couchette and €48 for a bed in a three-bed sleeper. Italo does not stop at Taormina-Giardini. The bus up to the town is a separate ticket.