Beach clubs in Taormina

There are seven beach clubs in Taormina worth knowing, strung along the bays below the hilltop town. They run from EUR 15 sunbeds on the pebbles to Belmond's EUR 300 loungers, so the range here is wide. Locals call them lidi, and most sit a cable car ride down from the old town.

The scene splits between easygoing family lidos and a couple of polished, design-led clubs with DJs. Season runs May to October, with July and August the busiest and priciest. The best spots fill fast, so book ahead or turn up by 11am.

The clubs cluster on three bays: Mazzarò closest and busiest, Isola Bella around the pebble islet and nature reserve, and Spisone just north. Letojanni, about 6km up the coast, has its own lido strip and gets grouped in here. See more of the island on our Italy hub, or Cefalù for a gentler north-coast beach.

Which beach in Taormina is best: Mazzarò, Isola Bella or Spisone?

It depends on what you want. Mazzarò is the easy pick, closest to the cable car and lined with lidos like Lido Il Delfino and Lido La Pigna. Isola Bella is the prettiest, with clear water around the islet, where La Plage Resort Beach Club has the best-placed sunbeds.

Spisone, just north, has calmer water and fewer crowds, and it's where Tao Beach Club runs its DJ days. For the quietest sand, head there or up to Letojanni.

How do you get to Taormina's beach clubs?

Most people take the cable car, the funivia, from the old town down to Mazzarò in a few minutes. From there the Mazzarò lidos are a short walk, and buses or taxis run along the coast road to Isola Bella, Spisone and Letojanni.

Several clubs help with transport. Lido La Caravella runs a free van to and from Taormina, and Lido Villeggiatura ferries guests over to Isola Bella by boat. Parking near the bays is limited in summer, so the cable car is usually easiest.

Start with Mazzarò Bay, the busiest stretch and the one most people reach first by cable car.

Lido Villeggiatura

Lido Villeggiatura is Belmond's beach club below Villa Sant'Andrea, on a private stretch of Mazzarò Bay. It opened in June 2024 as the group's first destination beach club in Sicily. This is the top of the market here.

Canopied loungers and cabanas sit on the sand, with the Brizza seafood restaurant serving waterside tables. The bar does cocktails and granitas. A private gozzo takes guests across to Isola Bella.

Day access starts around EUR 300 for two sunbeds, an umbrella, towels and wifi. Service is polished and the crowd is well-off couples and hotel guests. Book ahead in peak summer.

Lido Il Delfino

Lido Il Delfino is a long-running Mazzarò lido about 50m left of the cable car station. Palms and flowering plants shade the beds. It's a relaxed, family-run kind of place.

There's a seafood restaurant, a bar and a pizzeria, so it works for a full day. Canoes and pedal boats are for hire, and boat trips run to Isola Bella and the Blue Grotto.

Two sunbeds and an umbrella cost about EUR 35 to 40. It's open daily 9am to 7pm, closed November to March. €€

Lido La Pigna

Lido La Pigna is a friendly Mazzarò lido about 10 minutes from town by cable car. It's a local favourite for value, with a well-regarded restaurant and pizzeria.

Sunbeds and umbrellas sit on the pebbles, with showers, changing rooms and towel hire. An info point books boat trips, diving and kayak rental. The beach bar runs 9am to 6pm, the kitchen midday to 6pm.

Sets are good value at about EUR 20 to 25 a day, and table service comes with the loungers. €€

Head a little north to Spisone, quieter than Mazzarò and better for swimming, with no big rocks underfoot in the water.

Tao Beach Club

Tao Beach Club is the stylish option on the Spisone stretch, on the emerald Ionian shore. It sets well-spaced beds and four-person cabanas across two beaches. The crowd skews younger and it gets lively.

The kitchen does Sicilian seafood, there's a bar and beach massage, and DJ sets push into energetic evenings. It's open roughly 10am to 6pm, with the kitchen midday to 4pm.

Beds and cabanas are priced on request and sit at the premium end. Book ahead in peak summer, especially for a cabana. €€€

Lido La Caravella

Lido La Caravella is the value pick on Spisone beach, near Isola Bella. It has a private terrace over the water and a low-key, friendly feel.

Sunbeds, umbrellas, towel hire, hot showers and free changing rooms cover the basics. The restaurant does fresh fish, and there's bar service on the sand. In the evening it lays on private dining on the beach.

Sets are among the cheapest here, around EUR 15. A free van runs guests to and from Taormina, which helps with the tight parking. €

Round the headland is Isola Bella, the pebble islet and nature reserve, and the prettiest water in the area.

La Plage Resort Beach Club

La Plage Resort Beach Club is the beach club at La Plage Resort, right on Isola Bella beach beneath the reserve. It's chic but easygoing, with resort-level service.

Modern sunbeds and umbrellas come with free towels. A beach bar and restaurant look over the water, and the evening aperitivo brings cocktails and finger food.

It runs 9am to 7pm daily and takes non-guests by reservation. The pebbles and clear water make it one of the best-placed spots for a day here. €€€

Last, about 6km up the coast, Letojanni has a long sandy beach and its own set of lidos.

Paradise Beach Club

Paradise Beach Club is a garden club in Letojanni, built around a lava-stone seawater pool with olive trees and tropical planting. It's family-friendly and pool-focused rather than a straight beach lido.

There's a restaurant and the Mojito Bar, plus private cabanas and a private garage. At sunset the pool hosts candlelit dinners, and it takes weddings and events.

Private cabanas run EUR 15 a day, with parking about EUR 10. It's open daily May to October, 9:30am to 6pm. €€

Frequently asked questions about Taormina beach clubs

How much do beach clubs in Taormina cost?

Prices span a wide range. Value lidos like Lido La Caravella charge about EUR 15 for a sunbed set, and Lido La Pigna runs EUR 20 to 25. Mid-market Mazzarò lidos sit around EUR 35 to 40 for two, while Lido Villeggiatura tops the market from about EUR 300 a day.

Do you need to book beach clubs in Taormina in advance?

For July and August, yes. The best lidos fill fast in peak summer, so reserve ahead or arrive by 11am to be safe. The premium clubs, Lido Villeggiatura and Tao Beach Club, take reservations and are worth booking days out. Outside peak season you can usually walk in.

What is the best beach club in Taormina?

It depends on your budget. Lido Villeggiatura is the most luxurious, Belmond's private stretch on Mazzarò Bay. For value, Lido La Pigna is the local favourite. If you want DJs and a younger scene, Tao Beach Club on Spisone is the one, and La Plage Resort Beach Club has the prettiest Isola Bella setting.

When are Taormina's beach clubs open?

The season runs roughly May to October, with July and August the peak. Most lidos open daily from about 9am to 6 or 7pm, and the kitchens usually stop mid-afternoon. Paradise Beach Club in Letojanni keeps to May through October, and the Mazzarò lidos close November to March.

Are Taormina's beaches sandy or pebbly?

Mostly pebbly. Mazzarò, Isola Bella and Spisone are pebble and shingle beaches, so water shoes help. Letojanni's beach is pebbly too but longer and more open. The exception is the small sandy stretch below Belmond's Villa Sant'Andrea, one of the few true sand beaches in the area.

Can you use a Taormina beach club without staying at the hotel?

Yes, at most of them. La Plage Resort Beach Club and Lido Villeggiatura both take non-guests by reservation, and the independent lidos like Lido Il Delfino and Lido La Caravella are open to anyone. Booking ahead is the safest way in during peak weeks.