Giardini Naxos Holidays

Sicily's original seaside resort. Giardini Naxos sits right on a gorgeous sandy bay with Mount Etna looming in the background and glamorous Taormina perched on the cliffs above. It's the kind of place where you spend mornings on the beach, afternoons eating your body weight in arancini, and evenings strolling the seafront with a gelato. Cheaper than its famous neighbour, twice as relaxed, and with proper good Sicily vibes from start to finish.

🧳 Good to Know for your Holidays to Giardini Naxos 2026 / 2027

• ☀️ Summers are scorching - expect 30-34°C in July and August with around 10 hours of sunshine a day. Even September and October stay warm enough for beach days.

• 💶 Your money goes further here than in Taormina. A cold beer on the seafront runs about €3-5, a seafood pasta around €12-15, and a pizza from about €9. Proper good value for Italy.

• 🏛️ Giardini Naxos was the very first Greek colony in Sicily, founded way back in 734 BC. The archaeological park at Capo Schiso still has the ancient ruins to prove it.

✨ Giardini Naxos Holiday Highlights

• 🏖️ Almost 4km of coastline with a mix of sandy bays and pebbly coves, plus loads of lidos with sunbeds, umbrellas and beachside bars

• 🌋 Mount Etna dominates the skyline and you can do a day trip to Europe's most active volcano, about an hour's drive away

• 🍝 Seafront restaurants line the Lungomare serving fresh-off-the-boat seafood, wood-fired pizza and Sicilian classics like pasta alla Norma

• 🏛️ The Archaeological Park of Naxos at Capo Schiso has ruins dating back to 734 BC, making it one of Sicily's most important ancient sites

• 🎉 Brilliant nightlife for a small resort town, with beach bars, cocktail spots and live music along the promenade through summer

🏨 Giardini Naxos Hotels 2026 / 2027

Giardini Naxos has a proper solid hotel scene, from big beachfront resorts with pools and kids' clubs to smaller boutique spots with knockout Etna views. Most are clustered along the bay or in the Recanati hotel zone, so the beach is never far away.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Unahotel Naxos Beach - The big one. A sprawling resort sat on its own private beach with four swimming pools (including an Olympic-size one), a kids' club, evening entertainment and five restaurants. It's like a little village in itself, surrounded by citrus groves with Etna views. Brilliant for families who want everything on-site.

• Hotel Caesar Palace - A solid four-star with an outdoor pool surrounded by gardens, a playground for the kids and a buffet restaurant with themed Sicilian nights. It's about a 20-minute walk to the beach, but the pool area more than makes up for it. Good value pick.

💑 Couples

• Castello Di San Marco Charming Hotel & Spa - A stunning 17th-century castle set in its own grounds with a private beach, outdoor pool, spa with Turkish bath and a proper good restaurant. Very well reviewed and dripping with character. It's technically in neighbouring Calatabiano but only a short drive from Giardini Naxos. Seriously romantic stuff.

• Hellenia Yachting - Right on the seafront with a private beach area, poolside bar and solarium. A slick four-star with that classic Mediterranean feel, ideal for couples who want to be close to the action but still have a quiet spot to retreat to.

✨ Luxury

• Castello Di San Marco Charming Hotel & Spa - Worth mentioning twice. The baroque architecture, 10 acres of landscaped gardens, spa and fine-dining restaurant make this the standout luxury pick in the area. Suites come with Etna views and private terraces.

💰 Value

• Hotel Nike - A cosy beachside hotel with its own rocky beach area, a pool and sea views. It's no-frills but clean, friendly and right where you want to be. A 12-minute walk gets you to the sandy stretch at Baia Naxos.

• Arathena Rocks - Perched on the rocks with cracking sea views from pretty much everywhere. There's an a la carte restaurant and a sandy beach just 5 minutes' drive away. A proper character pick at a decent price.

👉 See all Giardini Naxos hotels

🗺️ Giardini Naxos Holidays 2026/2027 - Things to do

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• 🏖️ The main sandy beach in the bay is shallow and gentle, brilliant for paddling with little ones. Several lidos rent out sunbeds and umbrellas and have showers and changing facilities.

• 🌋 Take the cable car and jeep tour up Mount Etna for a volcanic adventure the kids will talk about for years. It's about an hour's drive from Giardini Naxos.

• 🏛️ The Archaeological Park at Capo Schiso is a surprisingly kid-friendly way to explore ancient Greek ruins right by the sea. Entry is cheap and the museum inside has some brilliant artefacts.

• 🍦 Stroll the Lungomare after dinner and pick up gelato, granita or a cannolo from one of the many sweet shops along the seafront.

💑 Couples

• 🍷 Book a wine tasting tour on the slopes of Mount Etna, sampling Nero d'Avola and Etna Rosso with volcanic views.

• 🚠 Take the bus or taxi up to Taormina for an afternoon exploring the ancient Greek Theatre, Corso Umberto boutiques and a sunset Aperol Spritz with those famous panoramic views.

• 🚤 Hop on a boat trip along the coast to Isola Bella, the tiny island nature reserve connected to the mainland by a strip of sand. Stunning snorkelling, too.

• 🍝 Eat like a local at one of the seafront trattorias - swordfish rolls, pasta ca' muddica and fresh grilled catch of the day, washed down with house wine by the water.

🎉 Groups

• 🍕 The Lungomare is lined with bars, restaurants and late-night spots, making it easy to crawl from aperitivo to pizza to cocktails without ever leaving the seafront.

• 🏔️ Hire a car and road trip to the Alcantara Gorges, about 13km inland. The basalt rock formations are properly impressive and you can wade through the river canyon.

• 🎶 Giardini Naxos has one of the best nightlife scenes on this stretch of the Sicilian coast, with beach bars and clubs keeping things going through summer.

🏛️ Culture

• 🏛️ Giardini Naxos was the first Greek settlement in Sicily, founded in 734 BC. The archaeological park tells the story of that ancient city, from temple remains to defensive walls over 4 metres thick.

• 🎭 The ancient Greek Theatre up in Taormina still hosts live performances in summer, with Mount Etna as the backdrop. Catching a concert or play there is properly special.

• 🎬 Film buffs should time a visit for the Taormina Film Festival in June/July, when the town buzzes with screenings and celebrity appearances.

🏘️ Nearby Resorts

If you fancy exploring beyond the bay, these spots are all within easy reach:

• Taormina - Sicily's most glamorous hilltop town is just 5km away (about 15 minutes by bus or taxi). Ancient Greek Theatre, designer shopping, and some of the best views in the Med.

• Catania - Sicily's second city is about 45 minutes south. Baroque architecture, buzzing street food markets and the gateway to Mount Etna.

• Cefalu - A gorgeous cathedral town on the north coast, about 2 hours' drive. Sandy beaches, a stunning Norman cathedral and bags of old-town charm.