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

Should you visit Toledo or Taormina?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Toledo or Taormina, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Toledo

Toledo is a beautiful, ancient, and medieval city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Taormina

Taormina is a opulent, historic, and beautiful town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Toledo and Taormina: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Toledo or Taormina?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Toledo than Taormina, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Toledo is better known for its museums and historical sights, while Taormina is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Toledo is more touristy than Taormina and is known for its medieval buildings, ancient landmarks, and fascinating history. Also, Toledo is famous for the Catedral de Toledo. Taormina is well known for its long history as a seaside resort town with luxury accommodation and beautiful views.

How is Toledo different from Taormina?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Toledo is a great city 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 Toledo. This medieval city is filled with ancient landmarks including the iconic Catedral de Toledo. In the old town you'll find many many historic buildings and a fascinating Jewish Quarter. Other notable sights include the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, the Alcázar de Toledo, and the Museo de Santa Cruz.

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 Toledo or Taormina? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Toledo and Taormina can be difficult as they are each high quality in their own way.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Toledo. The city offers a great cuisine at a reasonable price. The dishes are influenced by the city's diverse past. You'll find many meat dishes due to the area's long running tradition of hunting. There are also classic dishes like carcamusas, which is pork covered in a tomato sauce. Dishes in general tend to be heavy and saucy with filling and delicious flavors.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Taormina. 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.

Is Toledo or Taormina Better for Nightlife?

Taormina is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Toledo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Taormina has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Toledo has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Most tourists visit the town as a day trip, so things can quiet down somewhat at night. There is a large student population that frequents the bars around town and help keep things lively.

Is Toledo or Taormina Better for Resorts?

Taormina is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Toledo is not a resort destination.

Taormina is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. There are a number of high end resorts and hotels in and near town that have pools and five star facilities.

Toledo is not a resort destination.

Is Toledo or Taormina Better for Beaches?

Taormina is a nice place to visit for its beaches. However, Toledo is not a beach destination.

Taormina has a beach worth visiting. 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.

Toledo is not a beach destination.

Is Toledo or Taormina Better for its Old Town?

Toledo is very popular for its historic old town charm. However, Taormina does not have a historic old town.

Toledo has a world-famous historical area. Perched on a hill and spilling out around the cathedral, this Spanish old town is filled with historic landmarks.

Taormina does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Toledo or Taormina?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Toledo and Taormina.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Toledo. Calle Comercio is the main shopping street in town and there are two major shopping malls in the new part of town.

Taormina offers some nice shopping areas. 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 Toledo or Taormina Better for Families?

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

Toledo offers lots of family activities. The ancient streets are fun to explore. There are city gates, ancient Arab walls, and older kids will be fascinated by a visit to the Toledo Torture Museum. The city is known for its swords, and there are shops that you can visit to learn about this craft.

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 Toledo or Taormina Better for Couples?

Taormina is a very popular place for romance. Also, Toledo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Taormina makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Toledo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's an ancient city that is filled with fascinating history and impressive historic sights. Couples will enjoy wandering the medieval streets and visiting the ancient gates.

Is Toledo or Taormina Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Toledo is a good city to visit for backpackers. Many travelers visit Toledo as a day trip from Madrid, but for backpackers who want to spend more time, there are a handful of hostels in town.

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 Toledo or Taormina Better for Students?

Toledo is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Taormina is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Toledo. The city is popular with students, and you'll find many activities and a lively atmosphere both during the day and at night.

Taormina is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find notable public transit in both Toledo and Taormina.

Toledo has some public transit options. There is a good bus system through town.

You'll find some public transit in Taormina, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are minibuses that travel to the more far-reaching parts of the town.

Is Toledo or Taormina a more walkable city?

Toledo and Taormina are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Toledo is very walkable. It's a compact and easily walkable city, particularly within the old town. The bus and train stations are also about a 15 or 20 minute walk from the city center.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Taormina or Toledo?

How long in Toledo or Taormina?

It's fun to spend time in either Toledo 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 Toledo, and 2-4 days is enough time in Taormina.

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

Couples should spend more time in Taormina than Toledo. 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 Toledo 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 Toledo.

One day in Toledo or Taormina?

The city of Toledo offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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 Toledo or Taormina?

Toledo is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Toledo, 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 Toledo or Taormina?

Toledo 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 Toledo or Taormina?

Toledo is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city 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 Adventure Tours to Spain, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Toledo and Taormina, we can see that Toledo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Toledo or Taormina?

Toledo has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Taormina. When comparing the sizes of Toledo 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.