Black-lava streets, temple columns inside a cathedral and a theatre above the sea: spend two nights each in Catania, Ortigia and Taormina.
Catania introduces eastern Sicily through black volcanic stone, Baroque façades and the lively Pescheria fish market. The basalt elephant in Piazza del Duomo makes a memorable first meeting with a city shaped by Etna. A plate of pasta alla Norma brings another Catania tradition to the table, with tomato, fried aubergine, basil and ricotta salata.
Further south, Syracuse tells its ancient story in two settings. At Neapolis, the Greek theatre and former quarries spread across the hillside. On Ortigia, columns from Athena’s temple survive inside the cathedral, while narrow streets lead to a freshwater spring beside the sea. Two nights give both places a day of their own.
Taormina closes the journey above the Ionian coast. Follow Corso Umberto to Piazza IX Aprile, then visit the ancient theatre or descend towards Mazzarò and Isola Bella. The route has two nights in each base, travelling south on day three and north on day five. May, June, September and early October suit the mix of town walks and coastal time; Catania’s market and monastery offer a city alternative to the Etna outing.
Meet Catania through its lava-stone elephant, Baroque squares and morning fish market. On the full day, choose Etna’s volcanic landscape or the Benedictine Monastery, where cloisters, Roman remains and former kitchens reveal several periods of the city’s life.
See the scale of ancient Syracuse at Neapolis, then find temple columns woven into the cathedral on Ortigia. These two settings make the city’s long history tangible, with market stalls and a waterfront meal between visits.
An evening on Corso Umberto brings you to Piazza IX Aprile and its coastal view. The next day leaves time for the ancient theatre, with its Greek origins and Roman architecture, followed by the gardens or the shore below town.
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StartBooker answer
Spend two nights in each of three bases: Catania, Syracuse and Taormina. Begin with Catania’s Baroque squares and pasta alla Norma, choosing Etna or the Benedictine Monastery for the next day. Continue south to Ortigia and the Greek theatre at Neapolis, then travel north to Taormina for its ancient theatre and Ionian coast. Regional trains connect the bases, with a bus from Taormina-Giardini station to the hill town. The seven-day trip includes six hotel nights, arrival and departure through Catania.
Explore tours, attractions and local experiences in Catania, Syracuse and Ortigia, Taormina along this route through Italy.
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The three stays lead from Catania’s volcanic cityscape to Syracuse’s ancient sites, then finish among Taormina’s hilltop streets and coastal views.
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1
An airport gateway, black-lava streets and access to Etna
Stay around Piazza del Duomo or the southern part of Via Etnea for the cathedral, market streets and evening meals. Two nights leave an arrival evening and a full day for Etna or the Benedictine Monastery.
Read the Catania guide →
2
The Neapolis archaeological park and Ortigia's old-city island
Ortigia puts Piazza Duomo, the seafront and evening trattorias close to your room. The mainland approach is another option near Siracusa station. Neapolis lies inland, with a separate outing on the full day.
3
The Greek Theatre, a hilltop centre and coast views
Choose the hill town near Corso Umberto for evenings on Piazza IX Aprile and the ancient theatre. Mazzarò, down on the coast, suits a stay centred on the shore. Two nights give one full sightseeing day.
Begin with Catania’s squares and food, continue to Ortigia and Neapolis, and finish with Taormina’s theatre and coast. The two train journeys fall between full days in each base.
Start in Piazza del Duomo, where the black basalt elephant known as the Liotru stands before the cathedral’s elaborate façade. The contrast between volcanic stone and Baroque detail gives Catania an immediate character. Continue along Via Etnea for a first walk through the centre, then settle into a trattoria for pasta alla Norma. Tomato, fried aubergine, basil and salty ricotta turn simple ingredients into a dish closely associated with the city. Its name is linked to Bellini’s opera through stories that belong to local food lore. Enjoy the plate and the city around it: an opening evening here is a chance to see the squares come to life, with another full day in Catania ahead.
Overnight: Catania
Choose Etna for a day among lava landscapes and craters, or stay in Catania to explore the city’s own layers of history. An excursion with transport from Catania takes you from the city shaped by the volcano to the mountain itself. For the city day, start at the Pescheria while the morning stalls are busy. Continue to San Nicolò l’Arena’s Benedictine Monastery on its reserved guided route. Cloisters, Roman remains, former kitchens and a monumental staircase reveal different periods within a working university complex. Afterwards, find a café for granita with brioche. Fruit or almond granita eaten with a soft bun is a Sicilian pleasure that deserves a pause between visits.
Overnight: Catania
Take the train south from Catania Centrale to Siracusa, the station name used for Syracuse. Cross towards Ortigia and begin by the Temple of Apollo, where Doric columns introduce the island’s Greek past. Follow the streets to Piazza Duomo. Behind the cathedral’s Baroque exterior, columns from the ancient temple of Athena create a striking connection between the pagan sanctuary and the later church. Continue towards Fonte Aretusa, a freshwater spring beside the sea associated with the legend of the nymph Arethusa. Ancient buildings and stories remain part of the island’s streets, with something to notice on the way to dinner. Choose a trattoria for fish or vegetable dishes, then take a first evening walk along the waterfront.
Overnight: Syracuse/Ortigia
Begin at Ortigia’s market in the morning, enjoying another side of the island before travelling inland to Neapolis. The Greek theatre and the Latomia del Paradiso quarries show the scale of ancient Syracuse beyond its present-day streets. The Ear of Dionysius is an artificial cave known for its acoustics; the story that a tyrant listened to prisoners there belongs to legend. Return to Ortigia for the second half of the day, following the waterfront towards Castello Maniace at the southern tip. This thirteenth-century fortress adds a medieval chapter to the visit. There is also time to return to the cathedral or find a square for a drink before another dinner on the island.
Overnight: Syracuse/Ortigia
Travel north from Siracusa to Taormina-Giardini, then continue uphill to Taormina. Trenitalia’s Taormina Link combines the train with a connecting ASM bus when searched as Taormina Centro; a taxi is another way to reach town. Once in the centre, follow Corso Umberto towards Piazza IX Aprile. Here the streets open onto a terrace above the Ionian coast, giving the new base a very different setting from Ortigia’s waterfront. Enjoy the view and continue through the historic centre, stopping for a drink or dinner along the way. The ancient theatre has tomorrow morning to itself, while tonight is a chance to become familiar with the streets and squares around the first of two Taormina nights.
Overnight: Taormina
Give Taormina’s ancient theatre the morning. Its Greek origins and substantial Roman reconstruction can be read in the seating, stage building and way the site occupies the ridge. Look from the surviving stonework to the landscape beyond the stage: the relationship between theatre and setting is a large part of the visit. In the afternoon, choose between the town’s gardens and streets or a descent towards the coast. The Mazzarò cable car links the hill town with the shore near Isola Bella, offering a different perspective after the theatre. A coastal afternoon brings the sea into the trip, while staying uphill leaves more time for the public gardens and a final evening along Corso Umberto.
Overnight: Taormina
Finish with breakfast and, for a later departure, another walk to Piazza IX Aprile or a café on Corso Umberto. Return to a view you enjoyed yesterday, or spend the remaining time in the historic streets near your accommodation. The direct Interbus service links Taormina with Catania airport for the onward journey. After six nights across three bases, the week has brought together Catania’s volcanic stone and food, Syracuse’s temples and waterfront, and Taormina’s theatre above the sea. Each has its own setting and stories, from the Liotru in Piazza del Duomo to Athena’s columns inside a cathedral. A last look across the Ionian coast is a lovely way to finish before leaving Taormina.
Base: Taormina
Travel south from Catania to Syracuse, then north to Taormina. The local station names are Siracusa and Taormina-Giardini; Taormina Centro adds the integrated bus into the hill town. The allowances include reaching each station and accommodation.
2 transfers
Catania Syracuse and Ortigia
Regional trains connect Catania Centrale with Siracusa on the mainland. Continue to Ortigia for the Temple of Apollo, Piazza Duomo and a first evening beside the water.
Syracuse and Ortigia Taormina
Take the train from Siracusa to Taormina-Giardini, followed by the bus or a taxi uphill. Taormina Centro is the search option for the integrated train-and-bus journey where available.
Estimated spending for two adults sharing one room over seven days and six nights in May–June or September–early October, dated 18 October 2026. Approximate USD equivalents use the ECB’s 16 October 2026 rate: €1 (≈ US$1.13). Flights, insurance, tourist taxes, shopping and the optional Etna excursion are separate.
Booking tips
Follow the three overnight bases from Catania south to Syracuse, then north to Taormina. The accommodation search opens around Syracuse, the middle stay on the route.
Syracuse
Yes. Regional trains connect Catania, Siracusa and Taormina-Giardini. For Taormina’s hill town, search Taormina Centro for the integrated train-and-bus option, or use a taxi from the station. Central accommodation suits the town walks in this itinerary; an Etna outing can include transport from Catania. Coastal Mazzarò is a separate base below Taormina’s historic centre.
Each stay has a different evening setting: Catania’s Baroque squares, Ortigia’s waterfront and Taormina’s Corso Umberto. Two Syracuse nights leave a full day for Neapolis and the island, while Catania has the Etna or monastery day and Taormina has its theatre and coast. A single Catania base is an alternative for travellers who prefer day trips, with return journeys replacing the overnight stays elsewhere.
Choose an excursion for the lava landscape and craters it visits. Summit access is a separate undertaking, governed by weather, volcanic activity and municipal restrictions. Routes and equipment vary by product; suitable shoes and a warm layer belong with the mountain outing, and the cancellation policy matters if access changes. Catania provides a complete alternative: the morning Pescheria market, the reserved Benedictine Monastery tour and granita with brioche.
The default two-night Taormina stay suits a later flight on day seven. For an early departure, travel to Catania after a shorter day six and spend the final night there: three nights in Catania, two in Syracuse and one in Taormina, still six in total. Interbus offers direct Taormina–Catania airport services; choose the departure and stop that fit the flight’s check-in deadline. The rail alternative uses Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa station and its separate terminal shuttle. The final-night choice therefore follows the full airport journey.
Replace the theatre visit on day six with a day around Mazzarò and Isola Bella, reached by cable car from Taormina during operating hours. The beach is stony, swimming depends on sea conditions, and the isthmus to the small island can be covered by water. A coastal walk and a ticketed visit to the island are separate experiences. The uphill alternative is a day among Taormina’s public gardens and historic streets.
Reviewed by StartBooker
Last reviewed 2026-10-18
Updated
How this route was checked: The sources below cover Sicilian history and food, archaeological sites, Etna access, rail journeys and airport connections. The six-night budget gives estimated spending for two adults, with USD equivalents at the stated ECB reference rate.
19 references reviewed
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