Mt Etna (3,357 m) is visible from Taormina on clear days, its summit trailing steam or, in eruption, a column of smoke visible from hundreds of kilometres away. Day trips from Taormina to the volcano take about an hour by car or organised tour to reach the upper cable car station at 2,500 m. From there, guided walks reach the summit craters (when access is permitted) through a lunar landscape of black lava and ash.
Tours from Taormina can be booked through local agencies and typically run half-day to full-day. The volcano is active and access to the summit craters is restricted when eruption risk is high — the guides know the current status. The north face of Etna around Linguaglossa has excellent hiking through beech and birch forests at lower altitudes if the summit is closed.