Car rental in Giardini Naxos

Giardini Naxos stretches along a bay on Sicily's Ionian coast, just below Taormina. It stands on the site of Naxos, founded in 734 BC as the first Greek colony in Sicily, on the headland of Capo Schisò. Today it is a resort where many visitors stay because hotels are cheaper and the beach is right outside. The two rental services in our list are an office on Via Recanati and a meet and greet service in town.

Day trips by car

• Taormina, on the cliff above, is a short drive up the hill. Its centre is closed to most traffic, so park in one of the large public car parks and walk in.
• Castelmola, above Taormina, was once its acropolis and has spectacular views over the coast.
• Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, can be reached by road from the north and south sides. The southern route ends at the Rifugio Sapienza area with its cable car.
• The Alcantara gorges, carved through old lava flows, are inland along the Alcantara valley.
• The A18 motorway towards Catania and Messina has a junction for Giardini Naxos, and Catania airport is the usual place to start or finish a longer trip.

Driving tips for the area

Many Sicilian towns, Taormina included, use ZTL zones monitored by cameras, and rental companies pass on the fines. Roads up to the hill villages are narrow with tight hairpins, so a small car helps. On the night of Ferragosto in mid August, beaches here fill with people camping and celebrating, and parking along the seafront becomes almost impossible.