Taormina Boat Tours: Isola Bella, the Blue Grotto and Sunset Cruises

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From the terraces of Taormina, the coast below looks like a painting: a string of small bays, rocky headlands, the tiny island of Isola Bella joined to the shore by a thread of pebbles, and the long curve of Giardini Naxos stretching towards Etna. From the town itself, though, most of it is out of reach. The grottoes, the hidden coves and the clearest swimming spots can only be reached by boat, and seeing the coast from the water is one of the great pleasures of a stay in Taormina.

This guide compares the main boat tours along the Taormina coast, from short shared cruises to sunset trips with an aperitif and private boats for the day, and explains what you will see, where tours depart and how to make the most of your time on the water.

Boat Tours Compared

Tour	Highlights	Best for
Coast cruise from Giardini Naxos	Naxos and Mazzarò bays, the Blue Grotto, swim stop at Isola Bella, prosecco and almond pastries	A first look at the coast
Sunset dolphin tour	Evening light, chance of dolphin sightings, aperitif on board	Couples, photographers
Isola Bella guided tour	Guided tour around Isola Bella with Sicilian pastries and drinks	Families, a short outing
Private boat or gozzo	Your own route and timing, swim stops wherever you like	Special occasions, groups

What You See from the Water

Most tours leave from the harbour of Giardini Naxos or from the beaches below Taormina at Mazzarò and Isola Bella. Heading north along the coast, the classic route takes in:

• The Bay of Naxos: where Greek settlers founded Naxos in the eighth century BC, the first Greek colony in Sicily.
• Capo Taormina: a headland of rock and pines, home to some of the area’s most famous hotels.
• Isola Bella: the small island that has become the symbol of Taormina, with clear, shallow water around it.
• The grottoes: including the Blue Grotto, where sunlight turns the water an intense blue, and the small cave locals call the Grotto of Love.
• Mazzarò Bay and Capo Sant’Andrea: sheltered coves, rocks shaped like animals, and the best snorkelling on this stretch of coast.

Most shared tours include a swim stop. Bring a swimsuit, a towel and reef-friendly sunscreen; masks are useful in the clear water around Capo Sant’Andrea.

Isola Bella: The Pearl of the Ionian Sea

Isola Bella, the “beautiful island”, is a tiny rocky islet a few metres off the beach, joined to the shore by a narrow strip of pebbles that the sea often covers. In 1890 it was bought by the English noblewoman Florence Trevelyan, a passionate botanist who planted much of the vegetation you see today. After passing through several owners, it was acquired by the public in 1990 and became a nature reserve in 1998. Today, the island and its small house can be visited as a museum, and the surrounding water is one of the most beautiful swimming spots in eastern Sicily.

From the town, you can reach the beach by the cable car down to Mazzarò or on foot down a long flight of steps. The beach gets very busy in summer, which is another reason why arriving by boat, as on the coast cruise or the Isola Bella guided tour, is so pleasant.

Sunset on the Water and the Dolphins

As the afternoon light fades, the coast turns gold and pink and Etna glows on the horizon. The sunset dolphin tour with aperitif heads out at this hour, when dolphins are sometimes seen in the bay. Sightings can never be guaranteed, but even without them, an evening on the water with a glass of prosecco is one of the finest ways to end a day in Taormina.

Private Boats and Yachts

For a special occasion or a group, a private boat is the ultimate way to see the coast. Local skippers offer traditional wooden gozzi for half or full days, with swim stops, snorkelling equipment and often fresh fruit and drinks on board. For larger parties, motor yachts can be chartered from Giardini Naxos and the marinas along the coast, and longer trips can continue south towards Aci Trezza and the Cyclops rocks or north towards Messina.

If you are dreaming of sailing further, read our coastal guide to the best yacht spots in Sicily, from Taormina to the Aeolian Islands, and our pick of Sicily’s best bays and coves.

Practical Tips

• Best season: from May to October, with the calmest water and warmest sea in June and September. Tours do not run in rough weather; book with a flexible cancellation policy.
• Morning or evening: morning tours have the clearest water for swimming; evening tours have the best light.
• Getting to the harbour: Giardini Naxos is a short drive or taxi ride from Taormina. Many tours do not include transfers.
• Seasickness: the sea can be choppy in the afternoon. Sit near the back of the boat and look at the horizon.
• Stay connected: meeting points and last-minute changes arrive by message; an eSIM from Airalo or Saily keeps you online.

The Beaches Below Taormina

Between boat trips, the beaches below the town are the natural place to spend the day. Most have a mix of free public stretches and private lidos where you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas, often with a restaurant attached:

• Mazzarò: a sheltered pebble bay directly below the cable car, lined with lidos and hotel beach clubs; calm water and easy access.
• Isola Bella: the most photographed beach on the coast, a pebble cove facing the island, very busy in high summer.
• Spisone: a longer stretch north of Mazzarò, slightly quieter, with good lidos.
• Letojanni: a relaxed seaside village a few minutes further north, popular with Sicilian families.
• Giardini Naxos: the long, curving bay south of Taormina, with the widest choice of beach clubs and the departure point for most boat tours.

A Perfect Day on the Taormina Coast

• 8:30: coffee and a granita in Piazza IX Aprile, before the town fills up.
• 9:30: cable car down to Mazzarò and a morning swim while the water is still glassy.
• 11:00: a coast cruise from Giardini Naxos with a swim stop at Isola Bella.
• 13:30: long seafood lunch at a beach club.
• 17:00: back up to town for the Ancient Theatre in the softer afternoon light.
• 19:00: sunset on the water with the dolphin tour and an aperitif, or a drink on a terrace above the bay.

Combine Your Boat Trip

A morning on the water pairs well with a cultural afternoon in town. Visit the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, with Etna and the sea as its backdrop, or book the theatre and Etna cable car combo. On another day, join a guided Etna day trip from Taormina or an Etna hike with food tastings. For more ideas across the island, browse tours and experiences in Sicily.

Getting to Taormina

Taormina is about an hour from Catania airport. A private transfer is the most comfortable way to arrive, especially with luggage, and Kiwitaxi lets you compare vehicles in advance. If you have a few hours between check-out and your flight, leave your bags with Radical Storage and fit in one last swim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do boat tours in Taormina depart from?

Mostly from the harbour at Giardini Naxos, and some from the beaches at Mazzarò and Isola Bella below Taormina.

Can you swim during the boat tours?

Most shared tours include a swim stop, usually near Isola Bella or in one of the coves around Capo Sant’Andrea.

Will I see dolphins?

Dolphins are sometimes seen off this coast, particularly in the early evening, but sightings cannot be guaranteed.

How long are the tours?

Shared tours usually last between one and a half and three hours. Private boats can be booked for half or full days.

Is Isola Bella worth visiting?

Yes, especially early in the morning or from the water. The island is a nature reserve, and the sea around it is one of the most beautiful spots on the coast.

What should I bring on a boat tour?

Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and a light layer for the evening. A small waterproof bag for your phone is useful, and a snorkelling mask makes the swim stops even better.

Plan Your Stay

Read our guide to why Taormina keeps you coming back, choose a hotel from our selection of the best luxury hotels in Sicily, and explore the rest of the island with our introduction to Sicily and our Italy travel planner.

Related guides: read our articles on getting from Catania Airport to Taormina and Syracuse, Mount Etna tours and the Aeolian Islands by boat.

Heading to western Sicily? See our guide to the Egadi Islands: Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo.

For more time on the water, see our guide to Capri by boat.