80 Best Hotels in Sicily, Italy

This large property, rising above the lava rocks, right on the sea feels a bit like a time capsule. You can easily imagine the Rat Pack making it their home on a Sicilian holiday. For some, that means the property is stuck in the past and could use a reboot, but for others, it's the perfect amount of old-school panache.

This contemporary, light-filled hotel makes the most of its position right in front of the sea and the faraglioni. Indulge in a cocktail on the terrace at sunset, ponder over which Sicilian specialty to order in the attached restaurant, or spend some time at the nearby beach club. Whatever you do, it will be met with impeccable and amicable service. 

Cleverly converted from three historic buildings—a bank, a palazzo, and a monastery—this hotel with modern, unadorned rooms is ideally located just off the central axis of Via Vittorio Emanuele. It's an elegant complex, featuring vaulted ceilings and an expansive, airy courtyard lobby with a retractable roof awning that's open in warm weather, plus a beautifully designed restaurant. 

Winston Churchill, European royalty, and other VIPs have frequented the grand 18th-century Villa Politi, and although it's now a little faded, it retains a sense of elegance with rococo furnishings alongside basic modern luxuries like comfy beds. Set back from the road, the hotel is in the extensive gardens of the Latomie dei Cappuccini, overlooking a small archaeological site. Some rooms have balconies, private terraces, and partial sea views, others have far less salubrious views (be sure to check).

This attractive midrange hotel in the center of Favignana town is in an old palazzo but has modern furnishings and fittings. Most of the guest rooms are spacious; some even have balconies, but all are impeccably clean with comfortable beds, including those located in a nearby annex (which may be a better choice for those who prefer more privacy). There's a good restaurant in an internal courtyard garden, where breakfast is also served. Stays in summer must be for a minimum of four or five nights.

Spread along one side of the wide expanse of Largo Petrolo, this smart, two-story hotel has warm colors and a welcoming, intimate atmosphere. The reception area has polished parquet floors, modern art on the walls, and a solidly old-fashioned tone. Pay a little extra for one of the best rooms, which are spacious and have balconies overlooking the square. Buffet breakfasts are varied, and you can choose to sit at one of the tables on the piazza. It's an easy walk to restaurants (the harborfront is a 10-minute walk), and guests can make use of a free hotel buggy to a nearby beach.

This large, modernist-style hillside hotel offers clean, functional rooms and many resort-style facilities, including restaurant, a tennis court, and even a shuttle bus into town. It sits on the lush grounds of a once rustic valley of water mills. 

Right by the port, the small and modern Hotel Aliai is Sciacca's best choice for anyone wishing to lodge in the lower town. Book one of the three rooms on the top floor; all have harbor views and their own terraces, though guests may have to stoop to avoid the low eaves in the attached bathrooms. Staff are friendly, parking is easy, and breakfast choices include freshly squeezed fruit juice and local pastries. Piazza Scandaliato can be reached in 10 minutes via steps.

On the edge of town, overlooking a small beach at the western end of the harbor, this small and chic hotel stands a little apart from the quayside activity, and is all the better for it. The harborfront bars and restaurants are seconds away, yet peace and quiet reign here. The three rooms with balconies at the front are the best choices as other rooms on the side have balconies and partial sea views but face hilly scenery frontwards. The waterfront terrace is a great spot for breakfast, for whiling away an afternoon, or for an evening aperitivo. In summer, a free shuttle service to a nearby beach is available.

Like the town of Erice itself, the Hotel Elimo is old-fashioned and yet full of charm; eccentric knickknacks and artwork fill the lobby, and the homey guest rooms are all different, many boasting terraces with views of either the cobblestone streets or the valleys below (when they're not shrouded by clouds). The hotel is ideally located on Erice's main street, convenient to shopping and restaurants, though you may very well opt to dine at the hotel's own eatery, which uses fresh local ingredients and offers superb views. The friendly staff can help recommend which local attractions are worth your while.

The location near the railway and a gas station may not entice, but Termini's most comfortable, well-run hotel has spacious, modern rooms and the decent AmeTerra restaurant. 

For a convenient, short stay near the port, this sleek, modern hotel offers comfortable rooms, a lounge bar, a bistro restaurant, and a lovely roof garden. It's a reliable option.

There's nothing much more dramatic than lying poolside here, with views of the sea in one direction and a prime view of the volcano in the other. This hotel got a facelift in 2018 and has comfortable but simple rooms. It's known as a very reliable option on an island where dependable lodging isn't always easy to find.

This boutique hotel might be in the center of Scopello, but once within its secluded grounds, you might believe you're in the open countryside. Facing away from the village, the huge and lushly planted garden is the hotel's best aspect, especially for its pool and stunning vistas over the coast, and Scopello's tonnara can be easily reached on foot from the back gate. The views can also be appreciated from the outdoor terraces of the hotel's bar and restaurant, where tasty local cuisine is served. Breakfasts, too, are memorable, and the service is always friendly. The guest rooms are comfortable and well-equipped, most with a secluded outdoor area, and there's a two- or five-night minimum stay depending on the season.

This independent hotel provides tidy accommodations in the style you might expect in a chain aimed at business travelers, but the name and ambience of the hotel are much more connected to the town's local spirit. It's thanks to Anassila, the tyrant who ruled Reggio, that Messina got its name sometime around 491 BC, in honor of his homeland (Messenia) in Greece. And he was given the right to mint money, coins called Messenion, which were vital to the growth of trade in the area. 

This trendy boutique hotel boasts a prime location, with the main shopping street of Corso Umberto on one side and sea views on the other. Modern touches abound in the 17th-century building, with bright, airy rooms done up in light colors with contemporary furnishings; most are suites, including a terrace spa suite with a Jacuzzi ideally sited on a panoramic terrace. You can hear live jazz in the attractive bar most evenings. In season, take advantage of the infinity pool, or head to the private beach—just a free 10-minute shuttle ride away.

This small hotel below the old town, run by the amiable and ever-helpful Massimo and family, has simply furnished modern rooms, making it a good base to explore the surrounding Madonie Mountains. 

Contemporary art mixed with antique furnishings, creamy marble floors, and vaulted ceilings evoke a luxurious private home in a residential area near Palermo's glitzy shopping district. It's easy to get comfortable in the understated surroundings; relax in the library with an aperitif, or have a workout in the fitness room. Rooms are simple yet elegant, with fine linens, soothing neutral colors, and more modern art.

Although some visitors say it's resting on past laurels and is in need of renovations, Raya is perfectly in keeping with the elite style of Panarea—discreet and expensive, with a pool and terrace that enjoy views over the sea toward Stromboli. Public areas, including an open-air rooftop restaurant, are right on the port. Guest rooms occupy separate areas higher up the hill, with serene sea views from their balconies and a Moorish-inspired design to create a calm retreat.

It's a revelation to find this smart boutique hotel, a former convent, buried within Trapani's rather neglected former Jewish neighborhood close to the port. Once within its doors, though, you'll find everything clean, calm, and orderly, with soothing colors, contemporary furnishings, and bathrooms with spacious walk-in showers. Breakfast, which is an optional extra, is served in the courtyard and includes fresh fruit and croissants with honey. The reception staff is quick to recommend and book a spot for your evening meal, and can arrange to have your vehicle parked in a secure garage and delivered when needed.

Sun-filled and immaculately landscaped terraces and gardens, perfumed by citrus trees and honeysuckle, anchor this luxury property in Malfa. Here, the rooms are light and airy, and many have private balconies and sea views. The comprehensive spa's treatments incorporate the botanicals of the island (prickly pears, capers, Malvasia wine, bitter orange). The hotel's excellent restaurant (open for lunch and dinner), helmed by chef Martina Caruso, tells the story of the island's flavors with loving refinement.

This small luxury hotel, in a former noble home a short walk from the center of town, has contemporary accommodations with calming neutral tones and a seamless mix of modern and period furniture, but the true allure of the property is in its incredible rooftop terrace and the attentive staff. Start the day with coffee on your private balcony, move on to breakfast with sea views, and close the evening with drinks by the garden pool.

This hotel's hillside position gives it one of the best views on the island, looking south over Marina Lunga and the castle, and it seems like nearly every part of the hotel (from rooms to common areas) takes advantage of that vista. It's located about 1½ miles from the nearest swimming beach, but they offer a free shuttle service for guests.   

Just a few steps down from the luxurious Villa Ducale Hotel—but several degrees more affordable—this cozy, family-run villa sits on the hillside, removed from the action of Taormina. The spacious guest rooms all have balconies from which to admire the looming profile of Etna and the sparkling waters of the Ionian Sea. Breakfast is taken in the glass-fronted restaurant overlooking the terraces of a lushly planted garden; along with the bar, it forms the social hub of the hotel.

This tranquil villa from the 1970s is perched at the edge of the Ganzirri Lake and looks out over shady gardens, sunny terraces, and a secluded infinity pool. Guest rooms are not shy of color and are just a few steps away from spa treatments and a gym. From here, it's an easy walk around the lake or to the beaches of Capo Peloro.

On the edge of the town's historic center, overlooking lovely public gardens and facing the sea, this under-the-radar family-run hotel was renovated in 2023, but still maintains its antique furnishings, paintings, and Persian rugs, as well as its delightful service, good rooftop restaurant, and Etna views from many guest rooms. Access to the hotel's aptly named Paradise Beach Club is free between June and mid-October (though it gets overcrowded quickly) and is reached by shuttle bus.

In a converted 150-year-old farmhouse that once housed local priests, this really special boutique hotel in Pollara is a family affair, run by husband and wife Mauro and Amelia (and their children Mariachiara and Francesco). Since they originally renovated and opened the property in 1994 to the present-day, the family is still wholly in charge, respecting nature and their surrounding land and promoting environmental sustainability at every turn. Even the structure is Ecolabel-certified by the EU. With little touches from the past, the rustic-chic rooms are decorated in Aeolian style, each with its own personal patio and hammock, making this place all the more special. 

Set within a series of intimate, rocky coves ("calettes" as they are called in Italian) and away from the town action, this sprawling luxury retreat with A-list-celebrity aspirations has large whitewashed rooms with balconies, a gorgeous pool, high-tech spa, gym, and two glamorous bars. 

Named for the black sands of the beach it sits on, this luxury hotel is superbly sited on the beautiful Porto di Ponente, and its cool modern furnishings and inviting pool and spa induce a sybaritic mood. The white-walled guest rooms near the pool are tasteful and spacious, and larger apartment-style rooms with terraces are also available, some with sea views. Though there is no on-site restaurant, the lounge bar serves bountiful breakfasts and light lunches.

Small and select, this hotel enjoys one of Palermo's best locations—opposite the Teatro Massimo, on the border of the old and new towns—and has guest rooms that are spacious, comfortably furnished, and well insulated from the noise on pedestrianized Via Maqueda. The service is personal and polite, with breakfast served in your room or in the lounge, which has limited capacity. Book in advance for one of the seven rooms that have theater views.