Taormina Travel Forum

My husband abd I are age 65 approx and have a day to spend from a cruise ship on Sep 6th. We love swimming, history, sightseeing - any suggestions

You are folowing me around! I posted a reply to your alletta question earlier this week!

We went on a day-trip to Sicily from Malta 3 weeks ago and Taormina was included in our trip.
We only saw the old town up the hill, and didn't go to the sea-front area.
We were there for 2 hours or so and managed to see it all apart from the amphitheatre although it was rather rushed.
I would say that half-a-day would enable you to see the town, the lovely shops, little alley-ways, the fountain etc and get a great view of Mt Etna from the small garden at the end of the town, or the lovely public gardens - as well as the amphitheatre.
I'll have some photos on my web site soon so will let you know when you may see them.
We arrived by coach at the coach/car park half-way up the hill where you transfer to a free bus service to take you the rest of the way. The town has a main street with a gate at each end and the far end seemed to lead to a main road with plenty of traffic. I suppose it depends how you reach the town from the ship.
Do visit the gardens though - they are beautiful with wonderful views along the coast and over to Mt Etna. Th erestuarants are used to visitors on a time-limit and seem to cater for those who are in a hurry. There is a nice little snack bar at the far end of the town where you can buy (very cheap) pizza slices, pastries, sandwiches and drinks to take over the road to the small garden near a hotel entrance. It was there that we stopped to eat and take-in the view.

Spent a week in Giardini Naxos in 2006 watching the daily arrival of cruise ships. You may well have an opportunity to swim from the beach at Naxos. The easiest way for you to get to Taormina & back will be via taxi/shuttle van from the ship's boats' drop off point which I assume will be the Molo at Naxos - perhaps sharing with a couple which may get individual price down ( don't know the cost but it would be my preferred option). Bus is possible. I have written a tip on my Giardini Naxos page re getting the bus.
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/ae2c2/24ba8/9/
It has a mud map; a photo of the lido at Naxos with the location of the bus stop & a photo of Naxos Bay taken from the eastern part of Taormina to give you some idea of the steepness of the hill and the layout of the bay. enjoy your cruise de p.

Giardini-Naxos is a lovely town that is a short bus trip down the hill from Taormina. We spent a week there and the local bus routes took us to all the interesting locations. You could do both Taormina and Giardini-Naxos in one day and include a little sunbathing.