Isola Bella in one sentence: Isola Bella is a tiny nature-reserve island in a bay below Taormina (Province of Messina), connected to the mainland by a narrow gravel spit and famous for its turquoise water. On the island stand the former villa of Lady Florence Trevelyan, a small museum and a Mediterranean garden – entry is chargeable, while the gravel beach around it is partly free, partly a lido. Ideal for swimming, snorkelling and nature travellers with an eye for postcard scenery; less so for anyone after fine sand and lots of space. Allow a half day; the most comfortable way down is by cable car from Taormina.
Isola Bella lies on Sicily’s east coast, just a few metres from the mainland in the Bay of Mazzarò. It is connected by a narrow spit (a tombolo) of gravel and sand: in calm seas and at low water you can walk across dry-shod, while at high tide or in swell the crossing lies under water and you wade the last few metres. It’s exactly this changeability that gives the bay its charm – and the finest overall view of the island is, in any case, from above, from Taormina’s terraces.
Quick Facts
- Location east coast, Province of Messina; Bay of Mazzarò below Taormina
- Status Riserva naturale orientata (nature reserve), managed with WWF involvement
- Island the former Villa Trevelyan with a small museum and garden; entry chargeable (approximate, check before your visit)
- Beach gravel beach around the bay – partly freely accessible, partly a lido with loungers/umbrellas for a fee
- Crossing a narrow gravel spit; submerged at high tide/in swell
- Getting there cable car (funivia) from Taormina to Mazzarò plus a short walk; also bus or a steep footpath
- Duration half a day for the bay, a swim and the island
- Best time early summer & early autumn; very crowded at midday in high summer
History: from Florence Trevelyan to nature reserve
Isola Bella owes its character to an Englishwoman: Lady Florence Trevelyan, a wealthy traveller and nature lover, acquired the island towards the end of the 19th century and shaped it into a private retreat. She had a house built and laid out a lush, exotically planted garden, filling it with plants from around the world. After her death the island initially remained in private hands and changed owners several times, with the villa and garden shaping the look it still has today.
In 1990 Isola Bella finally passed into the ownership of the Region of Sicily. In 1998 it was placed under protection as a Riserva naturale orientata (nature reserve); management lies with public bodies, traditionally with WWF involvement, which long oversaw the reserve’s care. Since 2011, the former villa has been open as a small museum documenting the island’s nature and history. What was once a private refuge has thus become a protected little gem that combines nature conservation and cultural history in one of Sicily’s best-known bays.
What you’ll see
The island: A scarcely towel-sized islet, densely covered with Mediterranean and subtropical vegetation. Narrow paths lead between palms, agaves and old trees – a green contrast to the pale gravel of the bay. Because the grounds are small and protected, things are calmer here than on the beach in front of it.
Villa & museum: At the centre of the island stands the former residence from Trevelyan’s time, now used as a small museum. Here you get a sense of the site’s history and the reserve’s distinctive flora. Access to the island, villa and garden is chargeable and tied to the reserve’s opening hours.
The bay: Around the spit lies the real attraction for most visitors – a sheltered bay with clear, often turquoise-shimmering water, framed by rocks and the green cliff below Taormina. From the hill town’s viewpoints you get the classic postcard shot of the island and its narrow link to the mainland.
Access, swimming & tickets
Important to understand: the island and the beach are two separate things. For the island itself (villa, museum, garden) you pay admission and are bound by opening hours; the gravel beach around the bay, on the other hand, is freely accessible – partly as a free beach, partly organised as a lido with loungers and umbrellas for a fee. If you only want to swim, you don’t need to set foot on the island at all.
| Area | Access | Costs & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Island (villa, museum, garden) | via ticket booth, tied to opening hours | chargeable (approximate – check before your visit) |
| Free beach (gravel) | freely accessible around the bay | free of charge; water shoes advisable, little shade |
| Lido areas | rent loungers & umbrellas | rates vary by operator; arrive early in summer |
| Spit to the island | on foot over gravel/sand | submerged at high tide or in swell – then wet feet |
| Swimming & snorkelling | gravel and rocky zones in clear water | the seabed drops off quickly in places – caution with small children |
Since the reserve’s admission prices and opening hours change seasonally, check them before your visit. The beach around it remains accessible regardless.
Planning your visit
Two things determine a relaxed visit: tides and footwear. The link to the island is a gravel tombolo – walkable dry-shod in calm seas and at low water, submerged at high tide or in swell. Anyone wanting to set foot on the island is best off timing the crossing for calm seas and being prepared, if necessary, to wade the last few metres through shallow water. Water shoes are almost essential on this gravel beach: they make walking over the pebbles and getting into the water much easier.
Also bring sun protection, a hat and plenty of water – away from the lidos, shade is scarce. A half day is plenty for a swim, the bay and a walk around the island. If the small bay gets too crowded for you, you’ll find further swimming spots on our overview Beaches in Sicily.
Getting there
Cable car (funivia): The most comfortable way to reach the bay is by cable car, which runs from Taormina down to the coast at Mazzarò; from the lower station it’s only a few minutes’ walk to Isola Bella. The funivia is the most relaxed choice in summer, since it saves you the search for parking and the steep climb.
Bus: Local buses connect Taormina with the coast road and stop near the bay. On foot: A steep footpath leads down from the centre of Taormina – manageable going downhill, tiring uphill in the heat. By car: Parking down on the coast is scarce and expensive in summer; another reason the cable car is worthwhile. For a getting-there overview of the region, see Taormina.
Best time to visit
Ideal are early summer (May, June) and early autumn (September, October): pleasantly warm bathing water, but not yet the full crowds. In high summer the small bay gets very crowded, especially at midday – so early morning or late afternoon are worthwhile, when the light and mood are at their best anyway. For a general overview of the seasons, see our page Best Time to Visit Sicily.
A beach visit combines well with the hill town of Taormina and the Teatro Antico di Taormina high above the sea. Further swimming spots in the area can be found under Beaches in Sicily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does visiting Isola Bella cost admission?
Entering the island itself – the villa, museum and garden of the nature reserve – is chargeable and tied to opening hours; the price is approximate and should be checked before your visit. The gravel beach around the bay, on the other hand, is freely accessible.
Is the beach free or do you have to pay?
Both. Parts of the gravel beach are freely accessible (a free beach), while other sections are organised as a lido, where you can rent loungers and umbrellas for a fee. For a swim in the free area, you pay nothing.
Can you walk to the island dry-shod?
The island is connected to the mainland by a narrow spit of gravel and sand. In calm seas and at low water, the crossing is walkable dry-shod; at high tide or in swell it lies under water, and you wade the last few metres.
How do you get from Taormina to Isola Bella?
Most comfortably by cable car (funivia) from Taormina down to Mazzarò, then a few minutes on foot. Alternatively via a steep footpath or by bus to the coast road. Parking down below is scarce and expensive in summer.
Is Isola Bella suitable for swimming and snorkelling?
Yes. The water is clear, with rocky and gravel areas well suited to snorkelling. It is, however, a gravel beach – water shoes are advisable – and the seabed drops off quickly in places, so small children need supervision.
When is it least crowded?
In high summer the small bay is very crowded, especially at midday. It’s quieter early in the morning, in the late afternoon, and in early summer and early autumn.
Who was Florence Trevelyan?
Lady Florence Trevelyan was an English nature lover who acquired Isola Bella towards the end of the 19th century, had a house built and laid out an exotic garden. The villa and garden still shape the island today; it has been a nature reserve since 1998.
Plan Taormina & Isola Bella as a beach trip
Our travel agency puts together a route around Taormina for you – with a hotel in the right location, beach days at Isola Bella, the Teatro Antico and a side trip to Etna. Just send us a no-obligation travel enquiry.
Sources & update
Basis: editorial local knowledge as well as publicly available information on the Riserva naturale orientata Isola Bella (Region of Sicily, management with WWF involvement), the Comune di Taormina and the local transport operator (cable car/funivia Taormina–Mazzarò). As of 12 July 2026. Admission prices, opening hours and transport services are time-dependent and should be checked before your trip; the island admission fee stated is approximate.
