A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aegina vs. Taormina for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Aegina or Taormina?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Aegina or Taormina? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Aegina

Aegina is a active, relaxing, and vibrant island. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Taormina

Taormina is a historic, beautiful, and exclusive town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Aegina and Taormina: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Aegina or Taormina?

Both Taormina and Aegina have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Aegina is very popular for its museums & sights, while Taormina attracts visitors for its food, resorts, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Aegina is famous for its local pistachio nuts, its nice seaside setting, and its easy access from Athens. Taormina is famous for its long history as a seaside resort town with luxury accommodation and beautiful views.

How is Aegina different from Taormina?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Taormina and Aegina. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Aegina or Taormina?

Aegina is a great island for its historical sights. Also, Taormina is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Aegina. There are several temples on the island such as the Temple of Athena Aphaia and the Temple of Apollo. There's also and Archeological Museum that is nice to visit.

Taormina is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. The main landmark in town is the Greek Theater which dates back to the 3rd century BC. Also visit Madonna della Rocca as well as Castello di Taormina, which is perched above the sea.

Is the Food Better in Aegina or Taormina? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Taormina is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Taormina is an experience not to be missed. The local dishes draw on traditional Italian flavors such as pasta, tomato sauce, and vegetables, but they're also heavily influenced by the island's many historical invaders. You'll find a variety of ingredients in recipes including red chilies, tuna, swordfish, sardines, pine nuts, capers, and olives.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Aegina. There's a vibrant restaurant scene that includes traditional eateries serving seafood and refreshing ice cream shops where you can cool off with a scoop of your favorite flavor.

Is Aegina or Taormina Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Aegina or Taormina has a better nightlife scene.

The people in Aegina know how to have a good time. There's a great nightlife scene on the island. Most of the dance clubs are found in Agia Marina and you'll find more relaxing lounges around Aegina Town and other villages on the island.

The nightlife in Taormina has something for everybody. The town has a bit of an exclusive vibe and that's felt in the nightlife scene as well. There are lounges and exclusive clubs that serve fine wine and cocktails. You'll also find some late night dance clubs around town.

Is Aegina or Taormina Better for Resorts?

Taormina is a great destination for its resorts. However, Aegina is not a resort destination.

Taormina is known as a popular and fun resort destination. There are a number of high end resorts and hotels in and near town that have pools and five star facilities.

Aegina is not a resort destination.

Is Aegina or Taormina Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Aegina and Taormina are nice choices.

Aegina is a good option for a beach vacation. While most of the beaches are small and crowded, they do offer a number of tourist facilities such as nearby bars and restaurants, as well as hotels. The most popular beaches on the island are Souvala and Agia Marina.

Many people head to Taormina to enjoy the beach. The easiest beaches to access from town are Mazzaro Beach and Isola Bella Beach. The beaches are near hotels and there are restaurants as well as beach umbrellas and chairs that you can rent.

Is the Shopping Better in Aegina or Taormina?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Taormina and Aegina.

Many visitors go to Aegina to go shopping. You'll find the standard souvenir shops around town where you can buy trinkets or other items you may have forgotten.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Taormina. It's a fashion-conscious town and you'll find boutiques and shops that carry high end Italian brands. There are also shops that sell local pottery and other items.

Is Aegina or Taormina Better for Families?

Aegina is a island with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Taormina is not known for its family-friendly activities.

Aegina offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the ferry ride from Athens as well as the pirate stories they'll hear throughout their trip. There are places that the whole family can swim and great restaurants with kid-friendly food.

Taormina is not the most family-friendly destination. Kids may not appreciate everything that the adults enjoy about this town, but they will likely have fun taking a ride on the cable car and visiting the Greek Theater. There are also wonderful desserts that kids will enjoy.

Is Aegina or Taormina Better for Couples?

Taormina is a great destination for couples. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Taormina frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's a truly beautiful town with impressive views and a great atmosphere. It makes a wonderful stop off for couples or honeymooners who want to soak up the region's beauty.

Aegina is a nice destination for couples. Couples will appreciate the beauty and great restaurants that this beautiful island offers. It's a charming day trip from Athens that is filled with impressive historical sights and a nice atmosphere.

Is Aegina or Taormina Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Aegina is a island with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Taormina is not known for backpackers.

Aegina is a good island to visit for backpackers. Like most visitors, backpackers can hop on a ferry in Athens and visit the island as a day trip. It makes a nice excursion with many affordable restaurants and fun activities.

Taormina is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. There aren't many hostels around town and you won't find a large backpacker crowd here. The town has the feel of an exclusive resort community with high end resorts more common than anything else.

Is Aegina or Taormina Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Aegina and Taormina.

You'll find some public transit in Aegina, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. You'll find the central bus station in Aegina Town and there you can catch buses that travel around the island.

While Taormina offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are minibuses that travel to the more far-reaching parts of the town.

Is Aegina or Taormina a more walkable city?

Taormina is a great destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Taormina is a very walkable destination. Walking is one of the best ways to explore the town.

Aegina is somewhat walkable. The town is walkable, but to explore elsewhere on the island, it's easiest to have your own vehicle.

For even more information, also check out Is Aegina Worth Visiting? and Is Taormina Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Taormina or Aegina?

How long in Aegina or Taormina?

It's fun to spend time in either Aegina or Taormina. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Taormina due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Aegina, and 2-4 days is enough time in Taormina.

Families should spend more time in Aegina than Taormina. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Aegina, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Taormina than Aegina. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Taormina that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Aegina than Taormina if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Aegina.

One day in Aegina or Taormina?

The island of Aegina offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Taormina might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Aegina or Taormina?

Aegina is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this island makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Aegina, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Taormina is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Aegina or Taormina?

Aegina is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Taormina. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Aegina or Taormina?

Aegina is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This island offers something for everyone.

Taormina is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aegina and Taormina, we can see that Taormina is more expensive. And not only is Aegina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Aegina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aegina and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Taormina would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taormina than you might in Aegina.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aegina Expensive? and Is Taormina Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Aegina or Taormina?

Taormina has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Aegina. When comparing the sizes of Aegina and Taormina, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Aegina or Taormina?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Aegina or Taormina in the Summer?

Both Taormina and Aegina during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Aegina in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Taormina for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Aegina is around the same temperature as Taormina in the summer. The daily temperature in Aegina averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Taormina fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In Taormina, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Aegina. In the summer, Aegina often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Taormina. Aegina gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Taormina receives 332 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Taormina. Aegina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Taormina receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Taormina in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Aegina and Taormina. Most visitors come to Aegina for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Taormina because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Aegina is around the same temperature as Taormina. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Aegina in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Taormina averages at about 21°C (69°F).

In Aegina, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aegina usually receives more sunshine than Taormina during autumn. Aegina gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Taormina receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Taormina receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Aegina usually receives less rain than Taormina. Aegina gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Taormina receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Aegina or Taormina in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Aegina as well as Taormina. The winter months attract visitors to Aegina because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Taormina this time of year.

In January, Aegina is generally cooler than Taormina. Daily temperatures in Aegina average around 10°C (51°F), and Taormina fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the winter, Aegina often gets more sunshine than Taormina. Aegina gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Taormina receives 115 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets less rain in January than Taormina. Aegina gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Taormina receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Taormina in the Spring?

Both Taormina and Aegina are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the small town charm are the main draw to Aegina this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Taormina for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

Aegina is around the same temperature as Taormina in the spring. The daily temperature in Aegina averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Taormina fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Taormina. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aegina. Aegina usually receives more sunshine than Taormina during spring. Aegina gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Taormina receives 207 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Aegina usually receives less rain than Taormina. Aegina gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Taormina receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Taormina and Aegina