Isola Bella
The honest short answer
Published 26 March 2026. Last reviewed 2 June 2026. Conditions described are typical and never guaranteed.
Isola Bella is the little jewel below Taormina, a tiny island joined to the shore by a thin spit of pebbles that you can sometimes walk across when the sea is low and calm. Set in a cove beneath Taormina's cliffs, with clear water and a protected islet of gardens and rare plants, it is one of the most photographed scenes on the whole Sicilian coast, and from above it is genuinely breathtaking.
Up close, it pays to know what you are getting. This is a pebble cove, not a soft sand beach, so water shoes make the day far more comfortable. The water is the reward, clean and clear within a marine protected area, which makes for some of the best easy snorkeling in eastern Sicily right off the shore. The islet itself is a nature reserve with a separate paid entry, walked on a short trail rather than sunbathed on.
The honest catch is size and numbers. The cove is small, much of the pebble shore is taken by seasonal lidos charging for loungers, and in July and August it gets extremely crowded, with the thin connecting spit packed at midday. Access from Taormina is down a steep path or via the cable car, the funivia, so it is a descent and climb either way. Come early or late, and the place rewards you with calmer water and the scene closer to how the photos promise.
Who should skip it: families wanting soft sand, easy access and lots of room, since this is a small pebbly reserve cove reached by a climb. Who should go: couples, photographers and snorkelers who want one of Sicily's most beautiful coves and will trade comfort for scenery. Pair it with Giardini Naxos nearby for an easier, longer beach day.
Clubs on and near the sand
Isola Bella is a small reserve cove with seasonal lidos on the pebbles rather than a single famous club, set within a marine protected area. Confirm operators and any minimum spend on the day, and use the Sicily club directory to plan a bookable beach day nearby.
- Isola Bella lidosSeasonal lidos on the pebble shore offer loungers and umbrellas in a small space rather than nightlife. Operator names, rates and any minimum spend are to be confirmed on site.
Isola Bella sits in a cove directly below Taormina on the east coast of Sicily, reached from the town by the cable car, the funivia, or by a steep footpath down to the shore. The nearest railway station is Taormina Giardini, below the hilltop town.
Most visitors come down from Taormina by cable car and walk the last stretch, or drive to the limited parking near the cove. However you arrive there is a climb involved, so wear sensible shoes, and come early in the day for the calmest water, the best snorkeling and a cove that has not yet filled.
Reserve a day on the Sicily coast
Tell us the day and the party, and we will match you to a beach club near Taormina and pass your request straight to the team.
Can you walk to Isola Bella island?
Sometimes. A thin spit of pebbles links the shore to the islet and can often be crossed on foot when the sea is low and calm, though it is sometimes underwater. The islet itself is a nature reserve with a separate paid entry.
Is Isola Bella a sandy beach?
No. Isola Bella is a pebble cove rather than a soft sand beach, so water shoes make the day far more comfortable. The clear water within the marine reserve is the real draw, especially for snorkeling.
How do you get to Isola Bella from Taormina?
From the hilltop town you can take the cable car, the funivia, down toward the shore and walk the last stretch, or use the steep footpath. Either way involves a descent and climb, so wear sensible shoes.
Is Isola Bella good for snorkeling?
Yes. The cove lies within a marine protected area with clean, clear water, which makes for some of the best easy snorkeling in eastern Sicily right off the shore. Early visits give the calmest, clearest conditions.
When is the best time to visit Isola Bella?
June and September bring clear, warm water with fewer people than the July and August crush. Early morning or late afternoon are best, as the small cove fills heavily at midday.