Markets, Greek theaters and Baroque towns
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse
Palermo to Taormina
Palermo and Taormina sit about 171 km (106 mi) apart in a straight line, with Taormina to the east. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse itinerary, an 8-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 171 km · 106 mi
- Est. road distance
- 205–240 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h 15 min – 3 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 205–240 km (128–149 mi) of road and 2 h 15 min – 3 h 45 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
By train
Our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse guide also mentions trains for parts of the trip. Whether a direct train links Palermo and Taormina depends on the line — check timetables.
A rental car is easiest, though Palermo's center is best on foot. Buses (SAIS, Interbus) link Palermo, Catania, Taormina and Syracuse, and Noto is a short train or bus ride from Syracuse.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Taormina
Clifftop resort town facing Etna and the Ionian Sea. Stay 2–3 days.
Ancient Theatre of Taormina
Greek-Roman theater framing Etna and the coast.
Corso Umberto
Main pedestrian street between Porta Messina and Porta Catania.
Isola Bella
Tiny nature-reserve island joined to the beach by a sandbar.
Mount Etna
Cable car from Rifugio Sapienza to about 2,500 m on Europe's tallest active volcano.
Bam Bar
Tiled café known for granita and brioche.
Bar Turrisi
Quirky Castelmola bar known for almond wine and terrace views.
Before you leave Palermo
Chaotic, layered capital with Arab-Norman monuments and street food. Stay 3 days.
On this curated route
Where Palermo → Taormina sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Taormina to Palermo is the same 171 km in a straight line, heading west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
Average daytime highs at both ends stay within 1°C of each other all year, so you can pack the same way for both.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palermo high | 14° | 14° | 17° | 20° | 24° | 29° | 32° | 32° | 28° | 24° | 20° | 16° |
| Taormina high | 13° | 13° | 16° | 19° | 23° | 28° | 32° | 32° | 27° | 23° | 18° | 14° |
| Palermo rain | 97 | 86 | 74 | 56 | 27 | 18 | 7 | 13 | 61 | 91 | 87 | 95 |
| Taormina rain | 76 | 68 | 60 | 44 | 21 | 19 | 10 | 16 | 60 | 76 | 89 | 88 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Taormina month guides.
Palermo to Taormina: questions travelers ask
How far is Palermo from Taormina?
Palermo is about 171 km (106 mi) from Taormina in a straight line, with Taormina to the east. By road, we estimate 205–240 km (128–149 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Palermo to Taormina?
An estimated 2 h 15 min – 3 h 45 min, assuming 205–240 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Palermo to Taormina?
Our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse itinerary includes this leg. Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse runs about 8 days across 3 stops, best in Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct.
Onward from Taormina
- Taormina to Syracuse 86 km
Guides for both ends
- Palermo travel guide
- Palermo weather best time to visit
- Taormina travel guide
- Taormina weather best time to visit
Taormina by month
Plan Palermo → Taormina with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.