Messina, Sicily--need tour guide?

[shemp2000]

Has anyone taken the train from Messina to Taormina? The cost is on 10 Euros which seems like a bargain when you look at the prices from the tourguides. Is the train station in Messina within walking distance of the ship? If anyone has ever done this, let me know how it went.

 

This is also my interest, although I believe we are lucky and our ship tenders off of Taormina.

 

From the Italian Trani website, the stations of interest are

 

Taormina-Giardini and Messina Centrale

 

The ride is about 1 hour and costs 3.60 euro each way.

 

Does anyone know if there is a station near Mt Etna? Is it Catania? How would one get from there to MT Etna?

 

Thanks

[Jerseybean]

Has anyone taken the train from Messina to Taormina? The cost is on 10 Euros which seems like a bargain when you look at the prices from the tourguides. Is the train station in Messina within walking distance of the ship? If anyone has ever done this, let me know how it went.

 

We did this last year, turn right along the shore, walk about 10 minutes, go right, cross the road and you will find the station on you left. opposite there is a tourist office with english speakers. Further up ahead of you is the bus station, the bus is Interbus, a blue one. Here is the link.

http://www.interbus.it/interbushtm/homepage.asp

The bus is slower, but takes you near the theatre

We took the bus there, it takes you along a windy road to Taormina terminus, turn right from the terminus and you walk for 5 - 10 mins and turn right agin under a stone archway into a square, afew minutes ahead you will see a road down to right with lots of stalls, this takes you to the Theatre. Taking the bus avoids having to taxi or walk up the hill. We took a taxi back from the terminus to the station at Taormina and caught the train back a lovely ride along the coast.

Tren italia is the link for the train timetable

 

Hope this helps

[luvdasea]

Email them and see if they have a smaller van.

[travelite]

Was that the price of the taxi one way to Taorima or round trip? Did you negotiate with the driver? Were taxis readily available at the port? Going in a few weeks and not sure what to do at this port. Our ship is only docked 7 am to 2 pm.

[CalSisters]

When we docked at Messina, there were a number of taxi drivers hanging around. One approached us and we told him we wanted to go to Taormina, stay for a couple of hours and then come back. We also said what we were willing to pay. He said he wouldn't do it, but he asked (in Italian) the others drivers. One agreed and off we went.

 

He told us a little along the way and showed us some other sites on our way back. He dropped at the entrance to the walking area in Taormina and we met up there 2 hours later. Easy as pie.

 

Cathy

[travelite]

Is it 15 euros round trip?