Excellence Luxury Villas · Taormina
Luxury Villa Rentals in Taormina
Sea-view villas and apartments on a terrace above the Ionian, with Etna smoking quietly on the horizon
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A clifftop town that has been receiving visitors since the Greeks
Taormina sits on a ledge of Monte Tauro, some two hundred metres above the Ionian Sea, and it has never lacked admirers. Goethe came in 1787 and thought the view from its Greek theatre one of the finest anywhere. D.H. Lawrence spent nearly three years here in the early 1920s. The view has not changed much: a sweep of coast running south towards Catania, and Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, filling the sky behind it.
Our Taormina collection runs to 41 properties. Some are apartments in old palazzi a few minutes' walk from the Corso. Others are villas on the slopes above the bays of Mazzarò and Mazzeo, many with private pools and terraces facing the sea.
Below you will find where to stay, what to see and when to come.
Taormina at a glance
- Villas
- 41 villas and apartments, with up to 10 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £5,800 to £17,500 a week, from around £3,100
- Best areas
- The old town around Corso Umberto; Mazzarò and Isola Bella below; Mazzeo for the beach
- Best time
- May, June, September and October; June brings the film festival to the Greek theatre
- Airport
- Catania, around an hour away by road
Browse all 41 villas in Taormina
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Santuario Taormina: 6-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Taormina6 bedrooms
Casa Zagara Taormina: Spacious 7-Bedroom Apartment with Stunning Seaview – Taormina7 bedrooms
Villa Ceruleo Grotta Mazzeo Taormina: Luxury 10-Bedroom Apartment with Saltwater Pool & Sea Views – Taormina10 bedrooms
Palazzo Isola Bella: Stunning 10-Bedroom Villa with Sea View & Pool – Taormina10 bedroomsWhere to stay in Taormina
The old town for the theatre, the Corso and evening strolls, Mazzarò and Mazzeo below for the sea, with Etna, Catania and Syracuse all close enough for a day out.
A theatre, a Corso and a terrace above the sea
The Teatro Antico was founded by the Greeks and later rebuilt by the Romans. It is still used: from June to September it hosts concerts, opera and ballet, and in June the Taormina Film Fest holds its premieres there under the stars. Corso Umberto runs the length of the town between Porta Messina and Porta Catania, and halfway along it Piazza IX Aprile opens onto a terrace with the whole coast laid out below.
Apartments in town mean you can walk to dinner and stroll home late. Walk the gardens of the Villa Comunale in the cool of the morning, then climb the winding road to Castelmola for an almond wine at the top.
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Coves, a cable car and a long pebble beach
Below the town the coast breaks into small bays. Isola Bella, a tiny island joined to the shore by a narrow strip of shingle, is now a nature reserve, and the water around it is clear enough for good snorkelling. A cable car links Mazzarò with the upper town, which is far easier than parking. The villas on these slopes are close to the water and still only a few minutes from the Corso.
Further north, Mazzeo has a longer, gentler beach with good lidos, which makes it a sensible choice for families with small children.
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Volcanic slopes, gorges and old vines
Mount Etna was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2013, and Taormina is one of the best places to visit it from. Guided walks take you up to the summit craters when conditions allow, and lower down the north slopes are lined with vineyards. Nerello Mascalese grown there makes some of the most talked-about red wine in Italy.
The Alcantara gorge, cut through basalt by the river, is an easy half day out. So is Giardini Naxos, just below Taormina, which was the first Greek colony on Sicily.
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Granita for breakfast, and a long, warm autumn
Breakfast here, in summer at least, is granita with a warm brioche: almond, lemon or black mulberry. Lunch is swordfish, pasta alla Norma from nearby Catania, and cannoli filled to order. Etna wines suit all of it.
Late spring and early autumn are the best months, warm enough for swimming and quieter than July and August, when the town fills up with day visitors. June is busy but lively, with the film festival and the Taobuk literary festival. Our concierge can book Etna guides, winery visits, boat trips and tables with a view.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Taormina
Villa Naxos | 8-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Taormina8 bedrooms · sleeps 18From £16,348 a week
Villa Ambrato Rupe Taormina: Luxury 10-Bedroom Villa with Saltwater Pool & Air-Con in Taormina – Sicily10 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £15,806 a week
Villa Libeccio Mazzaro Taormina: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Taormina4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £14,588 a week
Villa Crepuscolo Mazzaro Taormina: Luxury 7-Bedroom Apartment with Pool & Sauna – Taormina7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £14,259 a week
Villa Meridiana Spisone Taormina: 5-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Pool & Sea Views – Taormina5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £14,028 a week
Villa Fantastica Italy4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £12,062 a week
Villa Zagara Taormina: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Pool – Taormina5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £11,207 a week
Palazzo Rocca Taormina: Luxury 4-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Taormina4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £10,836 a weekWhy book your Taormina villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Taormina is built on steep slopes where a few hundred metres can mean a long climb, so we know which properties let you walk to the Corso and which are closer to the sea. With 41 properties in Taormina, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Transfers from Catania, guided walks on Etna, Etna winery visits, boat trips around Isola Bella, tickets for the Teatro Antico and restaurant reservations. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to stay in Taormina town or by the sea?
Stay in the old town if you want to walk to restaurants, the Greek theatre and the Corso. Choose Mazzarò or Mazzeo if days by the water matter more. The cable car from Mazzarò takes only a few minutes to reach the town.
When is the best time to visit Taormina?
May, June, September and October are best: warm, good for swimming and less crowded than high summer. The season at the Teatro Antico runs from June to September, starting with the Taormina Film Fest.
Can you visit Mount Etna from Taormina?
Yes. Etna is an easy day trip, and guided walks, jeep tours and visits to wineries on its north slopes can all be arranged. Access to the summit depends on volcanic activity, so a qualified guide is essential.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Taormina?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Taormina cost?
Across our 41 villas in Taormina, weekly rates typically range from £5,800 to £17,500, with the most affordable from around £3,100 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Taormina?
Catania airport is the nearest, around an hour away by road. Our concierge can arrange private transfers straight to your villa.
Are there villas in Taormina for large groups?
Yes. Our Taormina collection includes properties with up to 10 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Taormina
41 villas and apartments above the Ionian, booked direct with our concierge on hand