Etna at Your Back, the Ionian Ahead
Taormina runs on drama — a Greek theater carved into the cliff, Mount Etna smoking in the distance, and a private beach reachable only by cable car or hotel shuttle. It rewards pieces that photograph as well against volcanic rock as they do in the water.
Where to Stay
San Domenico Palace, a 14th-century monastery turned Four Seasons, anchors the town with a Michelin-starred restaurant and a heated panoramic pool. Villa Sant'Andrea sits directly on the Bay of Mazzarò with a beach dining experience served at the water's edge. Grand Hotel Timeo offers the classic Taormina view, framed between the Greek theater and the sea.
Beach & Dining
Isola Bella, reachable via cable car from town, is the area's signature beach. La Plage Resort has direct access to it along with its own beach club. For dinner, San Domenico's Otto Geleng restaurant and Villa Sant'Andrea's water's-edge tasting menu are the two reservations worth planning around.
What to Wear
The Mediterranean Edit's one-pieces work for the cable-car-to-cove routine and hold their own at a hotel beach club afterward. Layer a Balearic Edit bikini underneath a cover-up for the walk between the Greek theater and the beach.