In this article you will find out what to see in Giardini-Naxos. The town lies at the foot of Taormina, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and is the first Greek colony in Sicily (735 BC). The ancient Greek city was then razed to the ground by the tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse and many inhabitants were enslaved. Some, however, managed to escape and take refuge near Monte Tauro, founding Tauromenion, Taormina.

Tip from Topsecretsicily: In Giardini-Naxos you can book various tours and experiences, such as dolphin watching boat trips, visits to Taormina, horseback riding, day tours to Etna’s craters, and more. On this page you will find all the possible activities.

But let’s find out now what to see in Giardini-Naxos.

1. The Archaeological Park of Giardini-Naxos

What to see in Giardini-Naxos - The Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos archaeological park
Giardini-Naxos archaeological park
Giardini-Naxos archaeological park
Giardini-Naxos Archaeological Park
Giardini-Naxos archaeological park
Giardini-Naxos archaeological park
Giardini-Naxos archaeological park

The archaeological park of Giardini-Naxos is surrounded by nature, between citrus and olive groves, with Etna on one side and the sea on the other. Unfortunately, not much remains of the ancient Greek colony except some ruins, but the spectacle offered by the surrounding nature is really beautiful. Furthermore, inside the park, in a small 18th century fortress, you will find a museum, full of various ancient Greek finds, such as vases, decorations, amphorae, remains of ships, and kitchen tools.

Hours: every day from 09 until 16 or 18, depending on the time of year. Ticket: 4 Euros. Times and fares may change.

Beach near the archaeological park of Giardini-Naxos
Beach near the archaeological park of Giardini-Naxos
Beach near the archaeological park of Giardini-Naxos
Beach near the archaeological park of Giardini-Naxos
Beach near the archaeological park of Giardini-Naxos
Beach near the archaeological park of Giardini-Naxos
Beach near the archaeological park of Giardini-Naxos
Beach near the archaeological park of Giardini-Naxos

After visiting the park you can relax on the adjacent beach, very nice, sandy and with rocks born from ancient lava flows, where also curious dwarf prickly pears grow. There you will also find two small beaches, where you can go and eat fresh fish. This beach unlike the others in Giardini-Naxos is quite quiet and not very crowded.

2. The port area and other beaches

Giardini-Naxos beach
Edson L. Pedrassani , CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Nike statue - Giardini Naxos
Nike statue – Port area giomodica , CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Giardini-Naxos beach
gnuckx , CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Giardini-Naxos beach
trolvag , CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Giardini-Naxos beach
DavideGorla , CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Giardini-Naxos beach
gnuckx , CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The area of the small port, also very close to the park, is one of the things to see in Giardini-Naxos. Here you can stroll along the promenade and breathe the sea breeze. The landscape is very suggestive, in fact you can admire Taormina, the bay of Naxos and its green hills that gently descend towards the sea.

Right in the bay of Naxos there is the most beautiful beach in the country, very wide, sandy and panoramic. Unfortunately, however, it is almost entirely in the hands of the beaches, a small strip of the public beach remains and the place is very crowded. However, you can move to the beaches towards the center of the country, generally quieter and with fewer beaches. These are the main things to see in Giardini-Naxos, for the rest the country is full of restaurants, bars, pubs and discos, so certainly a little paradise for a young audience.

Activities loved by tourists in the surrounding area or in Sicily in general

Interactive map of Giardini-Naxos – Points of interest in purple

To locate yourself once in the area, click on the enlarge symbol at the top right of the map

Typical dishes

Giardini-Naxos is part of the province of Messina. Advice on what to eat in the province there find here . Here you find the typical Sicilian dishes .

What to see around Giardini-Naxos

Giardini-Naxos is located in the province of Messina. Here you will find listed the places to visit in Messina and surroundings .

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