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The sunny Mediterranean island has it all – and we have selected the best hotels in Sicily for you so that you can pack your bags.
Let’s face it: Italy doesn’t have bad travel destinations, but Sicily, with its epic volcano and valley of baroque cities, national dishes from cannoli to caponata (not to mention arancini), and coastal towns with castles and colorful markets, is definitely one of the prettiest.
On the north coast, Palermo is an unsung hero of all of Italy’s great cities (and a great alternative if you have the best hotels in rome) – a bit rough for some, but a dazzling mix of Moorish, Gothic, and Norman architecture (and a place where ice cream is served in brioche buns).
Taormina and Mount Etna are not to be missed, as is Syracuse, a university town just south of Catania, with a lively market, excellent restaurants and plenty of ceramic stockpiling options.
In the southeast, the Val di Noto extends over several oversized cities, including Modica, Ragusa and of course the namesake Noto, each of which has a towering temple of architectural excess with its honey-colored cathedral.
Palermo’s are some of the best hotels in Sicily Villa Igiea, a coral-colored palazzo on the outskirts of town; and Grand Hotel Timeo, Home to one of Italy’s most famous terraces (and one with a view of Mount Etna).
Here is our guide to where to stay in Sicily in 2022.
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In Taormina there is a view of Mount Etna from every corner, but few can say that it is as magnificent as the one from the Literary Terrace at Grand Hotel Timeoenjoyed by everyone over the years from Tennessee Williams to Truman Capote. It’s the best place in town for pre-dinner splashes at the Michelin-starred restaurant, where more incredible views await.
It was the first hotel to be built in the city that set the bar high – everyone else is still playing some catching up to do. Unsurprisingly, his esteemed literary guests liked to stay for a while, moving to the oceanfront suites with marble bathrooms and Sicilian ceramics for months.
This coral-colored Art Nouveau palazzo – just outside Palermo, at the foot of Monte Pellegrino – has long been a seaside sanctuary for kings and movie stars. Villa Igieas tiered gardens lead down to the harbor where guests can set sail on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Back on land, head to the city’s souk-style markets and admire the impressive variety of architectural styles.
Now resurrected by Rocco Forte (and with Olga Polizzi interiors), the villa houses the Florio restaurant, where you can enjoy the Belle Époque in Palermo in its large chandelier-filled room, and the Igiea bar for an aperitivo hour in a sandstone vault.
Away from the baroque cities and hectic big cities, the Verdura Resort extends over 570 hectares of coastline and landscape on the edge of the Mediterranean with two championship golf courses, a mega spa with various wellness programs, tennis courts and a water sports center.
Here you can set out on bike or jogging paths through the citrus and olive groves or sign up for yoga and Pilates at sunset and sunrise. It’s going to be tough, but drag yourself away: Head north to the sleepy fishing village of Sciacca for delicious seafood or to Sicily’s most important Greek shrine, the UNESCO-protected Valley of the Temples.
For all gourmets who need a quick trip home after every 12-course treat: the Michelin-star restaurant Locanda Don Serafino in Ragusa is now the helpful owner of a number of rooms a few meters away (except for the Luxury Suite, which is upstairs, with a roof garden and outdoor jacuzzi). But it has to be done quickly: the compact, centuries-old building has only 11 rooms.
The restaurant’s vaulted dining rooms are atmospheric and romantic, but it’s the chef’s creative interpretations of Sicilian classics that rightly draw all the attention. The baroque city on a hill with several honey-colored buildings and churches provides a suitable backdrop for such an edible abundance.
The staff at this carefully restored masseria have realized that this is special, with the power to give guests time – they hold regular academies to impart knowledge on everything from photography to pastry making. The Val di Noto is presented on the breakfast terrace of Dimora delle courtshipwhere to choose which baroque city to visit that day (Noto is to the south and Syracuse is to the east).
The rooms vary between simple and unobtrusive (stone walls and stripped wooden cupboards) and dramatic (red ceilings and elaborate chandeliers). The grounds have enough crumbling columns and stone walls to be a notable archaeological site – and there’s a saltwater pool and a number of courtyards too.
A monastery was established here in 1374, but it did not become a hotel until 1896 when the Liberty-style wing was added and it immediately became one of the grandest hotels in Europe. Taormina was already known as a party town by then, but such a fabulous place to stay meant the jet set – including Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren – kept coming back.
San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons hotel, is located on a headland above the Ionian Sea, with a view of the Greek theater and Mount Etna, which can be seen everywhere, not least the infinity pool on the cliffs. Staff can arrange morning hikes to the volcano, wine tastings in vineyards that benefit from the volcanic soil, and trips to the medieval village of Castiglione di Sicilia.
On the cypress-covered foothills of Mount Etna and high above the sea, Black Land monks seamlessly connects old and new. The furnishings of this 19th century farmhouse include wood-beam ceilings, modern four-poster beds, Philippe Starck chairs, and cowhide. Some of the rooms have stone-framed beds (but surprisingly comfortable) and others that appear to float.
The location of this 60 acre small estate was chosen by some savvy monks in the 18th century – today there are romantic terraced gardens, vineyards, and a pool to enjoy while looking out for breakouts.
For those looking for their own Sicilian holiday home, Donna Coraly Syracuse is the boutique hideaway for you. The fashionable farmhouse contains as much as possible of the famous Caltagirone majolica and Testa di Moro (Maurkopf) ceramics. The six suites each have a private garden or terrace, antique family furniture and contemporary works of art.
The staff can arrange wine tastings, sailing trips, and cooking classes so you can prepare traditional Sicilian dishes at home (if you wish). Located in the Syracuse countryside, the proximity to Noto, Modica and, of course, Syracuse makes it great for day trips.
It should come as no surprise that this tiny getaway only has seven rooms – but there are seven perfectly styled rooms with frescoed ceilings, mirrored hanging lamps, marble busts, huge windows, and double-height headboards.
In accordance with Seven rooms Villadorata‘s location in Noto, one of the most splendid baroque towns in a valley of the same name full of baroque towns, the princely palazzo retains its royal appearance with huge windows, airy curtains and beautifully patterned tiles. The hotel is so keen to keep the past alive that it has recreated its own soaps using old recipes and local ingredients.
On a hill a few miles from the coast Agricultural company Mandranova is a working farm with a hospitable hacienda that is ready to accommodate guests overnight.
Enjoy the good life by taking part in farm activities – you can sign up for cooking classes, learn how to make olive oil soap, and stock up on almonds, extra virgin olive oil, and canned goods at the shop. You can also borrow bicycles to cycle around the grounds and take a hotel boat trip in search of dolphins for another perfectly cooked lunch.
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