119 Best Hotels in Sicily, Italy

This exquisitely restored and furnished Art Nouveau palazzo is perhaps the most improbable hotel on the entire island of Sicily: it sits in the heart of Montallegro, a shabby agricultural town that lacks both charm and beauty, yet the Briuccia and its fine dining restaurant are special enough to deserve consideration as your main base for exploring this part of the island. It’s in easy driving distance of Agrigento, Scala dei Turchi, and Torre Salsa, and inland you’ll find unspoiled landscapes where pointed peaks rise above undulating hills planted with olive and almond groves. With beautiful wallpapers, wooden staircases, beamed ceilings, encaustic tiled floors, and antique furniture, rugs, and mirrors, Briuccia is a little world of its own. The former courtyard has been transformed into a winter garden, where dinner and breakfast are served. There are just five rooms with a highlight being the suite with its own terrace (and hydromassage bath) on the top floor. Owner/chef Damiano Ferraro also runs cooking classes for guests. For breakfast, guests are presented with an elegant platter of seasonal fruit, yogurt, and delicious sweet and savory Sicilian morsels.

This 19th-century villa with a restaurant and 12 rooms is set on a hill above Licata. There are extensive views from the lounge, evocatively decorated with vintage wedding photos, a wind-up gramophone and antique piano, and long terraces perfect for evening cocktails. The grounds include a small pool, and rooms are simple but tasteful. There is also a well-regarded restaurant. 

In a prime position overlooking the port, this residence is the best option for spending a few days on Ustica. Each of the one- or two-room apartments comes with kitchenettes, and front-facing rooms have large windows for soaking up the harbor views. But the best features are the two large terraces with sunloungers arranged around a small pool and the irresistible vistas out to sea. Breakfast is also served on the panoramic terrace. The residence is just a few minutes' walking distance from Ustica's main square, and there's a shuttle bus to a private lido at the island's western tip. Guests must book a minimum of two nights.

Located outside of Polizzi Generosa deep in the countryside, the resort offers a little luxury within the natural surroundings of an idyllic landscape. 

This comfortable mountain refuge is a good place to stay overnight in the area of Piano Battaglia, in the heart of Parco delle Madonie at the base of Monte Mufara.

Just steps away from the beach, this small, family-run lodging has a warm, friendly character, with public areas and guest rooms enlivened by colorful, Middle Eastern-style ceramic tiles. The side-street location means it's not subject to the bustle that can overwhelm the seafront, yet the town center is still close. Rooms are spacious and well-equipped (air-conditioning and fridges are welcome comforts), and breakfasts include homemade jams and pastries from San Vito's best pasticceria. Guests have access to a private beach, but spaces there are limited, so it's worth reserving when you make your booking. The hotel's location in the traffic-restricted part of town means that drivers can only stop for unloading, then park in the nearby facility (valet parking is available). Like most of San Vito's lodgings, there are minimum-night stays.

A 19th-century palazzo is now home to this hotel opposite a public garden in central Trapani, which provides pampering accommodation in swish surroundings. The imposing arched entrance opens onto a peaceful courtyard where breakfast is served, while, inside the building, antiques, chandeliers, and decorated ceilings emphasize its historic character. Guest rooms are either modern or antique—or a tasteful blend of both—and there's a small rooftop pool, best for a cooling dip or just soaking up the sun. The location is convenient: in the new town but within an easy walk of the old quarter and close to the train station. It's also steps away from Via Garibaldi, one of Trapani's main passeggiata routes. There's no hotel parking, but a capacious and inexpensive car park is adjacent.

The sweeping views of the castle, the sea, and Mount Etna from this converted 14th-century Dominican monastery will linger in your mind, along with the equally memorable levels of luxury and wonderful food in the hotel's highly lauded restaurant, Principe Cerami. Rooms have a sophisticated contemporary design, exquisite linens, and ultramodern amenities. The San Domenico's Renaissance flavor is preserved by two exquisite cloisters, convent rooms, and sensuous gardens full of purple agapanthus flowers, bougainvillea, and 40 different varieties of citrus trees. An infinity pool with views of the sea and Etna clings to a cliff just below the gardens. In early 2022, the HBO series The White Lotus filmed its second season on the property.

Since it's a bit off-the-beaten-path, Scicli doesn't have too many hotels, but a good choice to rest your head is Albergo Diffuso, which can best be described as a “horizontal hotel” where rooms are located in different historic homes throughout the town. The houses are all recently restored and well-equipped. They are all concentrated in a 1,000-foot radius of Via Street Francesco Mormina Penna, the historical center of Scicli.

Once the residence of the illustrious Villadorata princely family, this luxury hotel now offers guests a taste of the real Sicilian aristocracy. Service is impeccable and each individual suite has been faithfully restored to its original grandeur. There is also a lovely restaurant on-site and a breakfast of local produce can be provided in your room.

In the small charming town of Linguaglossa, this boutique property located in a former palazzo offers a very tranquil retreat, with rooms awash in white and lots of natural light. In common rooms, you can still see the restored frescoed ceilings of the original structure. 

This Sicilian villa specialist has good links to Pantelleria, exacting standards, and a choice selection of outstandingly restored dammusi on the island, including the dammuso where Luca Guadagnino’s film, A Bigger Splash, starring Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes, was filmed. This dammuso is one among several in their portfolio to have been restored and designed by Gabriella Giuntoli, the architect who restored houses on the island for Giorgio Armani, Carole Bouquet, and Montalbano leading actor Luca Zingaretti. All have pools, so they're perfect for those who think Pantelleria’s rocky coast is too much of a challenge.

Walking through the heavy bronze sculpted door of the Sikelia is a step into an utterly luxurious retreat, where time stands still and the stresses and cares of the world evaporate. With just twenty exquisitely curated suites, it is ideal for anyone who wants to escape the world and be pampered. With soft grey walls, reinstated floors, and divine linens in shades of grey, cream, pale lemon, and smoky lilac, rooms are therapy for the eyes as well as the body. Bathroom products are Jardin sur le Nil by Hermès. The grounds are shaded with palms, with a beautiful pool and elegant spaces for breakfast or an evening aperitif (with drinks accompanied by crisp-fried caper leaves and sun-blush tomatoes). There is a menu for pillows and sheets (linen or cotton), and staff are trained to note guest preferences at the first breakfast so that future breakfasts can be tailored to their tastes. In summer, cocktails are served on the roof. Boat trips available on the hotel boat.

Set on its own private farm, Tenuta Cammarana offers a full package of authentic Sicilian cooking, sumptuous accommodations, and a spa and pool on-site to relax in away from the sometimes packed streets of Ragusa. The nine rooms have been tastefully restored using painstakingly sourced furniture. Extra services like dinner, tours, and bespoke packages can be ordered in advance. The strategic location of Tenuta Cammarana means that it is equidistant from Ragusa and Modica, making it an ideal base for touring the area.

The only five-star hotel on the island, this dramatically situated resort excels at the concept of Italian benessere (well-being). The spa highlights volcanic mineral and mud treatments, sea salt scrubs, and citrus oil massages. Opt for a massage outside overlooking the sea. Six on-site restaurants and bars (including a vegetarian option and one with a Michelin star) mean that you can fully relax into vacation mode and never leave the property. 

Lying 5 km (3 miles) outside the hustle and bustle of San Vito in the Castelluzzo neighborhood, this hotel has gardens planted with olive trees and is surrounded by wonderful scenery. There's no pool, but it's within easy distance of some superb beaches. Guest rooms are large and tastefully furnished, and bikes are available for exploring the environs. There's a four- to five-night minimum stay in summer, and, unusually for this area, the hotel remains open in winter.

This beautiful seaside resort hotel and spa offers the opportunity for a family-friendly experience. 

A tastefully restored dammuso with wonderful sea views, U Loco dates back to the 18th century, and is ideal for anyone who wants a comfortable place to stay, cook, eat, and relax, without requiring the luxuries of a hotel or designer villa. Unlike many dammusi (which have been restored only with paying guests in mind), this one is a real summer home, with a well-equipped and easy-to-use kitchen, comfortable bedrooms, a great bathroom, and an intriguing collection of traditional Pantelleria paraphernalia on its walls. There are several outdoor spaces for summer eating or lounging, and it is in easy walking distance of the village of Tracino.

For great views of Etna, this centrally located hotel overlooking Catania's main shopping street has a rooftop terrace where you can enjoy breakfast or take in the scenery during happy hour over a cocktail and antipasti buffet. Although it has a bit of a chain-hotel feel, the friendly service makes the experience feel more personal—you can even leave your car in front of the hotel, and they'll park it for you. Upgrading to a larger executive room is highly recommended: it includes anything you want from the minibar.

Hardwood floors, vibrant wallpaper, extensive original artwork, and spacious rooms are the hallmarks of this charming boutique property. On the ground floor, there's a small shop full of stylish housewares that feels like a photo stylist's prop closet. And though the property is located on one of the city's principal streets, the heavy windows ensure a good night's sleep. Two of the rooms have private terraces.

The 18th-century Villa Athena, updated into a sleek, luxurious place to stay, complete with gorgeous manicured gardens and swimming pool, holds a privileged position directly overlooking the Temple of Concordia, a 10-minute walk away—an amazing sight both during the day and when it's lit up at night. Although the hotel's bar and lobby area are on the small side, the whitewashed guest rooms have either pretty blue-tile or polished wood floors, and many feature a balcony or terrace; just make sure to request a room with a temple view, since some overlook the dreary parking lot instead. The amenities are top-notch, too: the well-regarded restaurant serves up a bountiful breakfast buffet, and the spa is a lovely place to unwind after a day hiking around the temples.

The former summer residence of a local aristocrat has been converted into a luxurious hotel in which each individually styled guest room is furnished with antiques and has a balcony with a view. The public spaces include an intimate wood-paneled library. The vast roof terrace, where a fantastic breakfast is served, takes in a wide panorama embracing Etna and the bay below.

Some 2 km (1 mile) from downtown Marsala, this luxurious retreat with extensive semi-tropical gardens was built as a baglio, or wine estate, and it retains strong echoes of its 19th-century origins. Public areas are positively grandiose: the cool courtyard, tall white walls, and pointed arches evocative of a Moorish palace. The accommodations come in two forms: classic rooms and igloo-like bungalows scattered around the grounds and large enough for a family. The large swimming pool is also great for families. Quality meals and pizzas are served in the evenings, and the English-speaking staff are discreet and attentive.

Following a magnificent renovation by the Rocco Forte group, this Art Nouveau fantasy created by architect Ernesto Basile for the Florio family at the turn of the 20th century has been restored to its original glamour and glory. Set on the edge of a beautiful bay, a stroll around the tropical gardens reveals such relics as an ancient Greek temple-folly at the water's edge, while the jewel in the crown of the interior is the gorgeously frescoed Basile room. Rooms are large, and lavishly appointed, and many have balconies. A spacious and highly rated restaurant and bar unfold onto a panoramic terrace. Superb cocktails as well. 

This agriturismo hotel housed in a beautifully restored 18th-century villa located in the countryside on the outskirts of Castelbuono makes for a great farm stay.

About 2½ miles outside the main town, Villa Paradiso offers a collection of mountainside apartments and villas that are great for groups or individual travelers who want to escape the hubbub. Every property has spectacular sea views of Vulcano and the Sicilian coastline (including Etna on a clear day)  from their private terraces. The staff can help arrange everything from treks and boat tours to bicycle and car rentals.

Many guest rooms at this well-situated hotel have private terraces with gorgeous Instagrammable views of Etna without the crowds (or high prices) of nearby Taormina. Along with a refreshing swimming pool, public spaces include a lobby, bar, and lounge that make the most of the stellar vista, plus a restaurant with a wine bar.

This hotel on the main drag is housed within one of Sciacca's few palazzi that have been renovated to showcase their period finery. The building dates from the 17th century and retains its arched doorways and a splendid internal courtyard. The decor is a mixture of old and new, while the rooms (some with patios) are mainly spacious and equipped with fridges and modern bathrooms—there's also a family suite. It's just steps away from Piazza Scandaliato, and you can park close by. There's a week-long minimum stay in August.

Breathe in the scent of orange blossoms as you arrive at this modern boutique hotel set among 32 acres of gardens and citrus orchards just five minutes from the sea by car. The manor house, which houses a historic palmento, was built in 1800; separate cottages were subsequently added for guest rooms. Designed by Iraci Architetti, one of Italy's preeminent architecture firms, the modern accommodations incorporate clean lines, lots of white, lava stone, and a copious amount of glass to open the space to the property's most valued asset: its natural surroundings. Zash offers a modern style without sacrificing a sense of place.