The Catania airport to Taormina route is 65 kilometres up the Ionian coast, and five realistic options connect the two: the Interbus bus (€7–8), the Trenitalia regional train (€7–9), a pre-booked private transfer (€90–115 flat), a regular taxi (€90–120 metered), or a rental car on the A18 motorway. Your flight just touched down at Catania Fontanarossa, Taormina sits 200 metres above the sea to the north — and nobody online seems to agree on the prices or timetables, so we put together the comparison we wished we had found before our first trip.
For a catalog of Catania must-see sights organised by type — baroque squares, UNESCO churches, castles and views — see our guide to what to see in Catania.
Below you will find every option ranked by cost, speed and convenience — plus a section on getting back to the airport, which almost every guide skips entirely. Cruise passengers should also see our Catania cruise port to Taormina half-day routing with ship-return buffer.
Which airport for Taormina?
Artemio Mishkin (Hequo) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Taormina does not have its own airport. The nearest one — and the only practical choice — is Catania Fontanarossa (IATA: CTA), about 65 km south along the A18 motorway. It is the busiest airport in southern Italy, with direct flights from most major European cities including London, Manchester, Dublin, Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam and Vienna.
Two alternatives exist on paper but rarely make sense for Taormina. Comiso (CIY) is 140 km away and mainly serves Ragusa and the south-east — a detour of over two hours. Palermo (PMO) is 280 km and at least three hours by car. Unless your flight absolutely requires it, fly into Catania.
If you are staying in Catania rather than heading straight to Taormina, the airport is only 7 km from the city centre — a 20-minute ride on the Alibus shuttle (€4).
All 5 options at a glance
| Option | Journey time | Cost (1 person) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus (Interbus) | 70–90 min | €7–8 | Budget solo travellers |
| Train (Trenitalia) | 60–75 min + transfers | €8–10 total | Scenic ride, flexible schedule |
| Private transfer | 50–60 min | €90–115 flat | Families, groups of 3–4 |
| Taxi | 50–60 min | €90–120 | Late arrivals, no pre-booking |
| Rental car | 50–60 min | €30–50/day | Multi-day road trips |
Which is the cheapest way from Catania airport to Taormina?
The cheapest option is the Interbus coach at €7–8 one-way, roughly hourly, 70–90 minutes door-to-terminal. The Trenitalia regional train is comparable at €7–9 plus a €1 airport shuttle to the station and a local bus up to the old town. A pre-booked private transfer runs €90–115 flat for 1–3 passengers — the cheapest per-head once you are a family of four with luggage, and far less stressful after a long flight.
Our take: the bus is unbeatable for solo travellers or couples travelling light. If you land after 20:00, with small children, or with more luggage than you can comfortably drag up the Taormina hill, book the transfer in advance and spend the extra thirty euros on your first dinner in town instead of on taxi surcharges.
By bus — Interbus / Etna Trasporti
The most straightforward option. Interbus (operating under the Etna Trasporti brand) runs a direct coach service from Catania airport to Taormina roughly every hour. You will find the stop outside the arrivals hall — follow the “Bus” signs to the left as you exit. The coaches are full-size, air-conditioned, and carry luggage in the hold underneath at no extra charge.
A one-way ticket costs €7–8. You can buy it from the driver (cash or card), at the Interbus counter inside the airport, or online at interbus.it. The first departure is around 7:15 and the last around 19:15, though schedules shift between summer and winter — always double-check on the Interbus website or by calling +39 095 530 396 the day before.
The ride takes between 70 and 90 minutes depending on traffic on the A18. It stops at Giardini Naxos on the coast and then climbs up to Taormina Terminal Bus, a short walk from Corso Umberto. If your hotel is in Taormina centro, stay on until the terminal. If you are staying in Giardini Naxos, get off at the earlier stop.
A few practical notes. Buy a return ticket straight away — it is slightly cheaper and saves you one errand on departure day. In summer, buses can fill up on the most popular afternoon runs, so do not leave it to the very last minute. In winter, frequency drops and the last departure may be earlier. The bus does not run overnight: if your flight lands after 20:00, you will need a transfer or taxi.
Is there a bus or train from Catania to Taormina?
Both options exist. The Interbus/Etna Trasporti bus departs directly from Catania Fontanarossa airport arrivals and takes approximately 75–90 minutes to Taormina (Lumbi terminus), with no city changes; a one-way ticket is around €7. The Trenitalia Regionale train requires a short shuttle or bus from the airport to Catania Centrale station, then a regional service to Taormina-Giardini station (40–50 min rail leg); total door-to-door time is similar at 70–80 minutes and costs around €8. The bus is simpler with luggage; the train offers more flexibility on departure times.
By train — Trenitalia Regionale
Sabas88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
The train is scenic and reliable, but it involves three short steps. It is worth the minor effort if you enjoy watching the coastline slide past, and it runs more frequently than the bus — about 16 departures a day compared to roughly one bus per hour.
Step 1 — Airport terminal to the train station. Catania airport has its own railway station, Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa, but it is not inside the terminal building. An AMTS shuttle bus (€1, every 15–20 minutes) connects the two — look for the “Stazione / Railway” signs after you exit arrivals. Alternatively, you can walk in about 15 minutes along a signposted path. If you buy your train ticket on the Trenitalia app, you can add the shuttle fare in the same transaction.
Step 2 — Train to Taormina-Giardini. Trenitalia Regionale services run roughly every hour. The journey takes 60–75 minutes and a second-class ticket costs €7–9. The first train leaves at about 6:00 and the last at around 19:30. No booking is needed — just buy at the station machine, at a tabacchi, or on the app and hop on. The regional train is not fast, but the track hugs the Ionian coast for much of the route, with Etna rising behind you on clear days — genuinely one of the more enjoyable short train journeys in Sicily.
Step 3 — Station to town. Taormina-Giardini station sits at sea level in Giardini Naxos, five kilometres below the old town. Taormina itself is quite literally 200 metres up the hill. A local Interbus shuttle (about €1.50, roughly every 20–30 minutes) winds up the switchbacks to the centre, or a taxi from the station forecourt costs about €15. In summer the shuttle runs until late evening; in low season it stops earlier, so check the last departure if you are arriving on a later train.
The train wins on flexibility — you can adjust your departure time without rebooking — and the total cost including shuttle is still under €10. The trade-off is the two extra transfers on each end, which adds planning but not real difficulty.
How often do trains run from Catania to Taormina?
Trenitalia Regionale runs roughly every 30–60 minutes during daytime hours, with a denser schedule in the morning and early afternoon. The first usable service departs Catania Centrale around 05:30; the last train that comfortably connects to Taormina-Giardini before late evening leaves around 21:30. In summer, frequency is slightly higher due to tourist demand; in winter some afternoon slots are less frequent. Always check the current timetable at trenitalia.com before travelling, as services adjust seasonally.
How much does a taxi from Catania airport to Taormina cost?
A regular taxi from Catania airport to Taormina costs around €90 during the day (Monday–Saturday 06:00–22:00) and about €115 at night or on Sundays. The fare is metered, so traffic on the A18 can push it €10–20 higher in peak season. A pre-booked private transfer (NCC) is typically €90–115 flat for a sedan (1–3 passengers) or €115–140 for a minivan (4–8 passengers), agreed in advance with no surcharges for luggage, late arrivals, or Sundays. For anything after 22:00 or with young children in tow, the pre-booked transfer is usually the better deal despite the similar headline price.
Private transfer or taxi: how they compare
If you are arriving with a family, heavy luggage, or at an awkward hour, a private transfer is the least stressful option. A driver meets you in the arrivals hall with your name on a sign and takes you door-to-door to your accommodation in Taormina. The journey is 50–60 minutes.
Expect to pay €90–115 for a standard sedan (1–3 passengers) and €115–140 for a minivan (4–8 passengers). The rate is fixed and agreed in advance, so there are no surprises at the other end. Most hotels in Taormina can arrange a transfer for you — ask when you confirm your reservation. Otherwise, look for a licensed NCC (noleggio con conducente) service.
Regular taxis queue outside the arrivals hall. Indicative fares to Taormina run around €90 during the day (Monday–Saturday 06:00–22:00) and €115 at night or on Sundays. Unlike pre-booked transfers, the fare is metered and can vary depending on traffic and route. One thing to note: airport taxis sometimes prefer shorter urban runs and may not always be eager to make the Taormina trip, especially late at night when they face an empty return leg. If you arrive after 22:00, with small children, or simply want certainty, a pre-booked transfer is the safer bet.
By rental car
All major rental companies have desks at Catania airport. The drive to Taormina is simple: take the A18 motorway northbound towards Messina and exit at “Taormina”. Allow 50–60 minutes.
A car makes sense if Taormina is part of a longer Sicily road trip, but it is a burden if the town is your only destination. The historic centre is pedestrianised, there is an active ZTL (restricted traffic zone), and parking is limited and paid. The two largest car parks are Parcheggio Lumbi (about €2/hour) and Parcheggio Porta Catania (about €1/hour) — both outside the centre. We cover parking options in detail in our Taormina guide. For the full picture before you book, see our guide to driving in Sicily.
If you do pick up a car and plan to base yourself partly in Catania, the airport is a logical starting point — just be aware you will need to sort parking separately at each stop.
Getting back to the airport
Circumetnea Storia / VincentLR · CC BY-SA 4.0 + GFDL 1.2+
All five options work in reverse, but timing becomes considerably more important when you have a flight to catch. The golden rule: be at the airport two hours before your departure time and work backwards from there.
Flights after midday. Bus and train both work comfortably. Leave Taormina at least three hours before departure to absorb any traffic delay — the A18 can slow down around Acireale and Aci Castello during morning commutes. That means if your flight is at 14:00, aim to leave by 11:00 at the latest.
Early morning flights (before 9:00). Neither the bus nor the train runs early enough to get you to the airport in time. The first Interbus departs around 7:15, which would get you there close to 9:00 — too tight. Your only realistic options are a pre-booked private transfer or a taxi. Ask your hotel or B&B to arrange the transfer when you check in — they deal with this every week and will handle the timing, often confirming the pickup the night before.
Mid-morning flights (9:00–12:00). The first bus or train from Taormina can work, but margins are thin. We would book a transfer for anything before 10:00 just to avoid the stress. After 10:00, public transport is fine if you leave on the first available service.
One more thing: if you took the bus outbound, the return departs from the same Terminal Bus in the Taormina centre. Arrive at the stop 15 minutes early in summer — buses do fill up, and standing by the roadside watching a full coach drive past is not the way you want to start your journey home.
Frequently asked questions
Travelling in shoulder season? November flights to Catania run ~35% cheaper than August, and bus + train frequencies stay close to summer schedules; only the smaller airport (Comiso) reduces flights. See our Sicily in November and Sicily in December guides for the full late-autumn and Christmas-season travel context.
How far is Catania airport from Taormina?
About 65 km by road. Depending on the transport you choose, the journey takes between 50 minutes (car or transfer) and 90 minutes (bus in traffic).
Is there a direct bus from Catania airport to Taormina?
Yes. Interbus (Etna Trasporti) operates a direct service roughly every hour. A one-way ticket costs €7–8 and the ride takes 70–90 minutes.
How much does a taxi cost from Catania airport to Taormina?
Expect around €90 during the day and €115 at night or on Sundays. A pre-booked private transfer runs €90–115 with a fixed rate agreed upfront.
Can I get an Uber from Catania airport to Taormina?
Uber does not operate reliably in Catania as of 2026. Your alternatives are a regular taxi from the rank outside arrivals or a pre-booked private transfer (NCC).
What is the cheapest way to get from the airport to Taormina?
The bus at €7–8 is the cheapest single option. The train is comparable at €7–9 for the ticket plus €1 for the airport shuttle, though you may need a local bus or taxi from Taormina-Giardini station to the town centre.
Is renting a car worth it just for Taormina?
Generally no. The centre is pedestrianised with a ZTL, and parking is paid and limited. A car is worthwhile only if you are planning a multi-day road trip around eastern Sicily.
Now that the logistics are sorted, you might want to plan what to do once you get there. We have a full guide to things to do in Taormina and an area-by-area guide to where to stay — both written from the same local perspective.
Carsten Steger · CC BY-SA 4.0
Stopping over in Catania before heading to Taormina? See our guide to the things to do in Catania — even a half-day gives you the Cathedral, the fish market and a granita.
Travelling in spring? Off-season transfer schedules and pricing for March and April are covered in our Sicily in March and Sicily in April guides.
The information in this guide was correct at the time of writing. Data can change from season to season without notice: before you travel, always check the official channels and websites for updates. We review this guide periodically, but the official channels are always the authoritative source. We also cannot guarantee that the suggested routes or the attractions described are always reachable or accessible: roads, trails and sites may be closed, damaged, altered or unsafe. Assessing the practicability and safety of itineraries and attractions always remains your own responsibility.