in Sicily, Italy
Mazzarò Sea Palace
- Kid
- Teen
This is the Taormina address for families who want the postcard without the hill. Mazzarò Sea Palace sits directly on the Bay of Mazzarò, three minutes' walk from the cable car that lifts you up to Taormina's old town in under two minutes, which quietly solves the biggest problem with Taormina and children: the town is beautiful, vertical and paved in steps. You get a private beach, a small beachfront pool, 82 rooms and a level of service that suits parents of confident swimmers. What you do not get is a kids club, a shallow lagoon or anything resembling animation. Come here with children of about six and up who want boat trips, granita and the Greek theatre. Come with a toddler and you will spend the week managing stairs.
Our verdict
The right Taormina base for families with school-age children and older. Superb position, real beach, no childcare. Not a resort holiday, and it does not pretend to be.
The rooms
82 rooms, most with a balcony or terrace over the Bay of Mazzarò, and the view really is the product. Family configurations exist (triples, connecting doubles, suites) but they are limited and they sell out first, so a family of four booking in June will be looking at two rooms. Everything is stacked on a slope above the beach, so lifts and stairs are part of daily life.
At a glance
- To Taormina
- 3 min walk, then cable car
- Beach
- Private, pebble, deep water
- Kids club
- None, childcare on request
- Airport
- Catania, about 55 min
How the KidProof Score works
Every hotel is rated on eight things families actually care about, then weighted by how much each one drives your choice. Room setup counts the most. The little touches break the ties.
Sleeps how many? Connecting rooms, family suites, a real extra bed?
Clean travel cot, high chair, bottle warmer, changing table, kit to borrow.
Shallow pool or paddling area, playground, kids club (free or paid).
Quick breakfast, kids menus, allergy options, snacks on hand.
Secured windows, protected corners, watched pool, well kept grounds.
Laundry, in-room fridge, stroller access, parking, reliable Wi-Fi.
Close to family attractions, easy transport, park tickets or access.
Welcome gift for the child, staff who talk to kids, themed rooms.
Why families love it
- Private beach on the Bay of Mazzarò, with Isola Bella a short walk away
- Three minutes on foot to the cable car up to Taormina old town
- Sea-view balconies in most rooms, and a beachfront pool for a cool-off
- Boats leave from the bay itself for the coves and grottoes
🗓️A day here with kids
- 8:30
Breakfast facing the bay
Watch the first boats go out while they work through the pastries.
- 9:30
Cable car up to the Teatro Antico
Sightseeing before 11am, always. After that the old town bakes.
- 13:00
Back down for lunch and the beach
Loungers on the pebbles, water shoes on, snorkels out.
- 18:00
Pool, then the passeggiata
Corso Umberto after 7pm is when Taormina is actually pleasant.
Family things to do nearby
Boat to Isola Bella and the grottoes
Small boats leave from the bay below the hotel. The Blue Grotto stop is the one children remember.
Teatro Antico at opening time
A Greek theatre with Etna framed in the stage gap. Go at 9am before the heat and the coach parties.
Granita run in the old town
Almond or lemon, with a warm brioche to dip. This is the bribe that buys you an hour of sightseeing.
Is it right for your kids?
Baby
0 to 1 yr
Not the place. Cots can be arranged, but the slopes, the stairs, the pebble beach and the absence of any baby facilities make this hard work with an infant.
Toddler
1 to 3 yrs
Difficult. The beach shelves fast, the pool is small and there is nothing shallow. If you must, pick a room near the lift and accept that the pushchair stays folded most of the time.
Kid
4 to 11 yrs
Works well from about six, once they swim confidently. Snorkelling off the bay, boats to the grottoes, and the cable car is a ride in itself the first ten times.
Teen
12 yrs and up
The best age here. Independence to ride the cable car up, wander the Corso, hire a paddleboard. Taormina is one of the few Sicilian bases a teenager will not call boring.
Plan your stay
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Live prices & availability
Stays near Mazzarò Sea Palace, Taormina, Sicily, Italy
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Parents also ask
Can we manage Taormina without a car?
Yes, and this is one of the few Sicilian bases where that is true. Cable car for the town, trains from Taormina-Giardini for Catania, boats from the bay. Etna and the Alcantara are easier on an organised tour.
Is there any childcare?
Babysitting can be arranged through reception, at a cost and with notice. There is no drop-in club and no children's programme.
Will a family of four fit in one room?
Sometimes, in a suite or a triple with an extra bed, but stock is thin. Ask directly before booking rather than assuming, especially for July and August.
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