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The Best Hotels In Sicily For The Ultimate Italian Escape
From beautiful boutiques in Taormina to old-school luxury in Palermo.
An Island of extremes, Sicily has it all. Whether you’re looking for great food, beautiful beaches, historic towns, bustling cities or a quaint vineyard, you’ll find it. Throw in some luxury hotels and you’ve got a dream destination.
If it’s your first visit to Sicily, you have to explore the island to experience everything it has to offer. If the whole island is too overwhelming for one trip, you can always split into two. We recommend heading to its capital Palermo and the west of the island in one journey, and on your return visit head to Catania, Taormina, Noto and Syracuse in the East.
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As you might expect from a small island surrounded by three seas, seafood restaurants are aplenty (it's hard to find one that doesn't serve a catch of the day), arancini is deliciously huge and a bargain at 2 euros a serving, pizzetta (pizza’s smaller and more lunch time friendly relative) is a menu favourite, and Margaritas are not missed off any menu.
Like mainland Italy, there isn't really a bad time to visit Sicily. The weather stays warm between May and October but it's hottest - and busiest - months are July and August.
Now you’ve decided on your destination, you need to choose where to stay. Whether you’re looking for a boutique Italian hideaway for a romantic getaway, or a family friendly resort with lots to entertain you, you’ll be overwhelmed with choice.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best hotels to stay in when you’re visiting the island of Sicily.
Atlantis Bay, Taormina
The impressive Atlantis Bay is found on the spectacular coastline just outside of Taormina’s famous city centre, now even more famous thanks to the second season of the White Lotus. This hotel is the perfect choice for those who want to enjoy the Sicilian coast with the option to venture into the city for shopping, dinner and drinks too (a handy cable car, a walkable distance away, transports you up to the city centre).
Sunbeds can be found round the hotel’s large pool and down on the rocks, which have steps to enter the sea for a swim. Inside the hotel, the décor is a nod to its oceanside location with cave-style interiors, and the suites have a generously sized balcony with sun loungers looking out to sea. There are three restaurants on site, with the main being the Nui restaurant (where breakfast is also served) which has panoramic windows looking out across the beautiful mermaid bay.
Palazzo Artemide, Syracuse
Found in the centre of the beautiful Ortigia – connected to the main city of Syracusa by a small bridge -is the Palazzo Artemide which serves as the perfect base for exploring the small walkable island. The location of the hotel is situated next to Cathedral and around the corner from the Piazza Minerva and on a beautiful cobbled street full of gelato and granita cafés, chic trinket and homeware independent stores and delicious trattorias serving fresh pasta. Plus it’s only a short walk to the beaches where locals sunbathe on rocks.
Though the hotel was founded in the late 1800s, the interiors are modern and minimalist and the rooms spacious and cool thanks to the efficient air con which is essential on the east coast of Sicily. The breakfast offering is a great way to start the day (we’re still thinking of those Nutella croissants) while dinner is also delightful, complete with a generous menu of traditional Sicilian dishes such as aubergine parmigiana which can be washed down with a wide selection of wine or cocktails.
Il San Corrado di Noto, Noto
Situated outside of the historic baroque city of Noto in the sprawling Sicilian countryside is the stunning luxury hotel Il San Corrado di Noto. The hotel is split into rooms, suites and villas. the latter of which come with their own private pools. For those in rooms, the hotel is not short of pools either, the large square-shaped green pool is a beautiful spot for sun worshipping. For the serious swimmers, there is the impressive One Hundred Blue, a rare 100m pool.
The dining options are delicious, with the osteria Casa Pasta serving delicious dishes like pasta alla norma (a Sicilian classic) and spaghetti alla vongole as well as pizza. For a special occasion, there is also the Principe di Belludia gourmet restaurant.
While there is so much to do to choose from on site (the hotel is also home to a spa and tennis courts) a huge bonus of the hotel is its beach club, found a 20 minute drive away (accessible via a hotel-run shuttle) on the sandy Lido di Noto beach, and also home to a delicious beach restaurant.
Villa Carlotta, Taormina
There’s something really special about Villa Carlotta. The boutique hotel, sits on Toarmina’s cliffside, a 10 minute walk from the hilltop town’s centre. The stunning views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea are inescapable, but they're not the only reason this heavenly retreat makes the perfect Italian getaway.
The Quartucci family, who have owned and run the hotel since 1993, describe Carlotta as ‘more like a sophisticated home than a hotel’, and we couldn’t agree more. Its suites are filled with antique furniture styled in a contemporary way, with walls painted in warm earthy Sicilian tones. The rooftop restaurant and bar (a hidden gem which makes for the most romantic evening overlooking the sea) is brimming with personality. Coffee table books, quirky lamps and vibrantly printed sofas fill every nook and cranny of the top floor, and it's this character, combined with the friendliness of the staff, that make it easy to slip into holiday mode from the moment you arrive.
After you've spent your mornings meandering the streets of Taormina (Bam Bam Bar is a must-visit!) spend your afternoons poolside at Carlotta. In amongst its colourful gardens, looking up at the grand 18th-century building, there's no setting that will make you feel like you're in the core of authentic Sicily.
Villa Igiea, Palermo
If palaces are your thing then look no further than Villa Igiea. Steeped in history and sat on the periphery of Palermo, Sicily's capital, the hotel has held onto the Italian glamour of the 1950s, and its interiors are a lesson in old-school luxury.
As grand as the building is, the hotel's pièce-de-résistance is its terrace. Stunning gardens overlook Palermo's harbour, and its pool scene is as sophisticated as they come. This isn't a hotel to use as a base while you explore the best of Sicily, rather it's the best of Sicily that needs to be soaked up and enjoyed.
The hotel's restaurants and bar make it impossible to leave. Alicetta is a local favourite - a true sign of a great restaurant. Surrounded by gardens with views of the Tyrranaien sea, there's no better place to drink and eat away your afternoons. Whatever you decide to order make sure you finish with their Ricotta and Lemon Tiramisù and a Tommy's margarita (or three).
You must take a trip to Palermo in the evening to experience the city's nightlife, it's only a 15-minute drive away and the hotel provides a shuttle bus to and from the city for those not daring enough to navigate the Sicilian roads. On your return head to the Igiea Terrazzo bar for a nightcap. It's a great spot to people watch and you might recognise it from a certain HBO series featuring Jennifer Coolidge...
Villa Ducale, Taormina
An oasis in the sky, Villa Ducale sits high on a hillside between the town of Taormina, and Castelmola, a village which teeters at the very top. A 10 minute shuttle bus ride to the centre of Taormina (a free, regular service provided by the hotel), Ducale has something that not many other hotels in the area have - a spectacular view of the iconic town below. Sat in the shadows of Mount Etna, overlooking not just the town, but the the Ionian sea too, and with Castello di Taormina in sight, this hotel really does have the postcard view of Eastern Sicily.
The best place to soak it up has to be Villa Ducale Restaurant. The heart of the hotel, it might have the best panoramic view over any other eatery in town, but it's the food that will leave you feeling very, very satisfied. A menu of classic Sicilian dishes created from local seasonal produce, you'll question if the four hour flight from the UK is too far to travel every weekend. The dimly lit Madonna della Rocca in the distance is a welcome dinner guest.
After a busy day exploring return to the comfort of your suite. All 19 suites have a sea view, and the furniture is handcrafted and bespoke. There's a small pool for catching the last rays of sun and recuperating ahead of dinner. If you're looking for a base while you explore the best of North East Sicily, look no further than Villa Ducale.
Q92, Noto
Famous for its Baroque buildings, Noto's streets are a masterclass in architecture and design, and on its main street (also known as the Corso Vittorio Emanuele) sits Q92, a small luxury hotel that epitomises the grandeur of the small town it belongs to. The nine room hotel fits in very well with its neighbours, Noto Cathedral and the Palazzo Ducezio (Noto's town hall).
Inside, suites are spacious (read: huge) and are more like rooms in a private home. Draped velvet curtains, sofas and artwork take centre stage, only being eclipsed by the scene-stealing ceiling. Balconies look onto Caffè Sicilia, a local go-to on the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which is also well worth a visit for a morning coffee or afternoon aperitif. Q92's bar is its hidden gem. Looking out onto the cathedral, finish your evenings on it's balcony, taking in the beauty of the baroque architecture.
Its location couldn't be better, too. Step straight out of the hotel's front door onto Noto's main street. Shops, restaurants and bars surround the hotel, and strolling the cobbled streets makes for the most relaxing holiday activity. It's a hotel and town worth visiting if you want to soak up Sicily's beautiful history.
Verdura Resort, Sciacca
Head south of the island to the outskirts of the small city of Sciacca and you’ll find Verdura Resort. A sprawling beach resort, with over 500 acres of Italian countryside, this Sicilian escape is perfect for anyone looking for some serenity.
The hotel is famous for its spa which is the birthplace of the Irene Forte skincare brand, so you’d be right to expect big things. Outdoor plunge pools and jacuzzis give guests views of the rolling Italian hills, and treatments can be tailored to your individual needs. Relax and restoration complete.
If your idea of a holiday is less time laying horizontally and more getting your heart rate up, Verdura Resort has that covered too. The list of activities on offer is endless - from paddle boarding off the coast of the hotel’s private beach to tennis lessons in their full size courts, to golf a game of golf with the Mediterranean Sea as a backdrop. It's a sports lovers' haven.
Spend your evenings at one of the three delicious restaurants at the resort. Seafood restaurant Amare is a short stroll across the beach and serves local produce. The fresh fish is picked from the sea you’re overlooking. Try their speciality, credo - thinly sliced catch of the day with extra virgin olive oil, citrus fruits and a pinch of rock salt. It’s been a favourite in Sicilian fishing villages for generations.
Fontes Episcopi, Agrigento
Staying at Fontes Episcop is a unique and charming experience. Restored from a 19th-century mansion, the eco-farm is nestled in the Sicilian countryside and houses just 11 guest rooms, each with their own personality and design. Family run, the hotel prides itself on welcoming you into their ‘home’, and the greeting on arrival is a sign of what the of the rest of your stay will entail.
The building is reminiscent of a country mansion, and the decor is luxurious and simple, but most importantly, comfortable. You’ll feel relaxed within minutes of arrival.
The hotel is a short distance from the labyrinthine streets of Agrigento old town and Temples Valley - an archaeological site and one of the most visited sites in Sicily. You’ll need a car as public transport isn’t the most reliable in the area but most people visiting Fontes EpiscopI are refuelling for a few days while they head off onto their next Sicilian adventure.
With sustainability at its forefront, all meals are (unsurprisingly) farm-to-table, and if that’s something you’re interested in learning more about, you can. Many of the activities available at the farm have their eco ethos at the core. Choose from garden and olive harvesting to preparing meals with the chef and horse riding, you’ll leave with an ignited love for food and farming. If you’re looking for authentic Italian hospitality, Fontes Episcop is the place for you.
Amy Brewster is ELLE UK's Social Media Manager, handling everything from fashion week Insta-polls through to celebrity Q&As.
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