BookaTaxiHow to book a taxi in Taormina
Updated: July 10, 2026 · Province of ME
Taormina doesn't have a dedicated radio taxi: head to a taxi rank (station, main squares) or book a private transfer.
In Taormina, taxis cannot drive along Corso Umberto and most of the historic centre, which is almost entirely pedestrian and subject to restricted traffic: instead, taxis are found at the two ranks located at the entrances to the town, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (on the Porta Messina side, near the Teatro Antico) and Piazza Sant'Antonio (on the Porta Catania side), as well as in front of the Taormina-Giardini railway station in the Villagonia area, where a Polizia Locale ordinance has reserved ten bays for taxis. There is no single citywide radio-taxi switchboard as in larger cities: the most practical way to book one is to have the hotel reception call one for you, go to one of the taxi ranks, or use the Uber app, available in its Uber Black version. For Mazzarò beach, the municipal cable car (funivia) (3 minutes, departures every 15 minutes) is often more convenient than a taxi, given the narrow, busy road that winds down from the centre during high season. Anyone arriving by their own car should avoid the centre and leave the car at the Lumbi car park, connected by a free ASM shuttle to Piazza San Pancrazio.
Apps to call a taxi in Taormina
| Uber — In Taormina only Uber Black is active (a premium car with an NCC driver, fare set in the app), not Uber X: this is confirmed by the official "Uber in Taormina" page on uber.com. It's especially useful for transfers booked from Catania airport, where the service is available 24 hours a day. | Available |
| FreeNow — In Sicily, Free Now covers Catania, Palermo and Cagliari, but does not appear to have Taormina as a stand-alone booking area: it's only useful if you book a ride starting from the city of Catania. | Not available |
| itTaxi — The itTaxi network is present in Catania and other Italian cities, but no Taormina taxis appear to be registered on the platform as their own zone. | Not available |
| Wetaxi — Wetaxi has brought the cooperatives of Catania, Palermo and Messina's Radio Taxi Jolli online, but Taormina does not appear among the cities covered by the service. | Not available |
| appTaxi — appTaxi (the ITN network) covers Catania, Palermo, Ragusa and Siracusa, but does not appear to be operating in Taormina. | Not available |
| BTaxi — There is no evidence of an active BTaxi service in Sicily: it is not an available option in Taormina. | Not available |
Taxi from the airport
Aeroporto di Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" (CTA) · ~50 km from the center
Taormina lies outside the territory of the Comune di Catania, so the reduced/fixed airport fares set by the Comune di Catania do not apply to this route (about 50 km, 50-60 minutes by car): it's advisable to agree the fare with the driver before setting off or to book a fixed-price transfer in advance. Alternatively, there is the public Taolink shuttle run by ASM Taormina, which connects Piazza San Pancrazio and the Taormina-Giardini station with the airport (ASM tel. 0942 683800).
Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL)
Corso Umberto and much of Taormina's historic centre are subject to restricted traffic/pedestrian-only rules: cars and taxis cannot drive through them. Taxis wait at the two entrances to the pedestrian area, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (Porta Messina side) and Piazza Sant'Antonio (Porta Catania side).
Practical tips
- Corso Umberto and most of the historic centre are subject to restricted traffic/pedestrian-only rules: no taxi can drive through them, so pick-up or drop-off always happens at one of the two ranks at either end, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele or Piazza Sant'Antonio.
- At the Taormina-Giardini railway station (Villagonia) there are ten dedicated taxi bays, useful for anyone arriving by train from the airport or from Messina/Catania.
- There is no single citywide radio-taxi service: the most reliable way is to have your hotel or restaurant reception call a taxi for you, or to go directly to one of the taxi ranks.
- For Mazzarò and the beaches below Taormina, especially in August, the cable car (funivia) (every 15 minutes, 6-10 euros) is often faster and more reliable than a taxi, which has to use the busy state road.
- Anyone arriving by their own car should avoid looking for parking in the centre: it's better to use the Lumbi car park with the free ASM shuttle to Piazza San Pancrazio.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find taxis in Taormina?
At the two ends of the pedestrian centre: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (Porta Messina side, near the Teatro Antico) and Piazza Sant'Antonio (Porta Catania side). A third rank, with ten reserved bays, is located in front of the Taormina-Giardini railway station in the Villagonia area, established by Polizia Locale Ordinance no. 54 of 17/04/2023.
How much does a taxi from Catania airport to Taormina cost?
There is no fixed municipal fare for this route of about 50 km, because Taormina lies outside the territory of the Comune di Catania to which the reduced airport fares apply. It's best to agree the price with the driver before setting off or book a fixed-price transfer in advance; alternatively there is the public Taolink shuttle run by ASM Taormina.
Can you use Uber in Taormina?
Yes, but only in the Uber Black version (a car with an NCC driver, fare set in the app): Uber X is not available in any city in Sicily, Taormina included.
How do you get from central Taormina to Mazzarò beach without a taxi?
By the municipal cable car (funivia), which connects Corso Umberto to the Mazzarò seaside station in about 3 minutes, with departures every 15 minutes from 8:00 am to 1:30 am (single ticket 6 euros, round trip 10 euros).
Where can I park if I arrive in Taormina by car?
The historic centre has restricted traffic and is largely pedestrian: it's best to leave the car at the Lumbi car park, at the entrance to the town (965 spaces, open 24 hours), and use the free ASM shuttle that runs to Piazza San Pancrazio every 15 minutes, from 6:30 am until midnight (1:55 am on Saturdays).