29 Best Hotels in Sicily, Italy

Set on the fringe of the Kasbah and built within the Norman fortifications, this quirky, unconventional little hotel is ideal for anyone who wants to inhabit a piece of Mazara’s multilayer history. It still retains a secret passage leading straight to the port (though sadly this is closed for safety reasons) along with a medieval chapel, and it's been built around an Arabic-style garden courtyard with whitewashed walls, ceramic tiles, and a well. Part of the house is Renaissance, part of it Art Nouveau, with rooms decorated throughout in the style of a shabby chic Sicilian stately home. Breakfast is served in the courtyard in good weather and in the Renaissance dining room in bad. This will appeal to adventurous travelers who value authenticity and quirkiness over faultless functionality, power showers, and super-fast Wi-Fi.

The owners of De Gregorio Winery have opened a quaint inn above their city restaurant, Le Stranizze, offering large rooms, fast Wi-Fi, and a central location that is perfect for a small family or any traveler looking for a comfortable, convenient place to rest after a day of exploring. The rooms sit on the top floors of a row house tucked into one of the pedestrian shopping streets, offering some nice views of Sciacca. Although the inn does not offer in-house breakfast, it gives you a breakfast voucher good at several local cafés, which allows you to experience something different without the extra cost. 

A working farm producing almonds, olives, and wine (all of which feature in abundance at evening meals), Feudo Muxarello offers huge vistas toward the Sicani mountains and a to-die-for night sky. Rooms are of the very highest standard, both in the main farmhouse and in the adjoining outhouses. There is an ample swimming pool and the owners have gone out of their way to document footpaths and excursions from the farmstead. The evening meal comes via a single menu, affordably priced and served in one sitting, eating together with the owner and staff.

In the rural outskirts of Agrigento sits this charming country home that has been converted into a lovely guesthouse. Owners Francesco and Susi remodeled this early 20th-century home into a modern cottage with a state-of-the-art kitchen, where they make a delicious breakfast buffet featuring the delicacies of the region, including fresh bread made with locally sourced semolina flour, handmade pistachio paste, and platters with cheeses and cured meats from neighboring vendors. The guesthouse only has two rooms, both with a view of the Valley of the Temples; there's a full kitchen where Francesco often hosts cooking lessons, or guests can request a dinner made by the owners. 

Although just steps from the bustling Cattedrale area, this small, beautifully restored B&B is enveloped in complete calm. The lodging is named for its five lush roof terraces, all with sublime views, where breakfast is served in fine weather. When you're not on the roof taking in the vistas and admiring the owner's green thumb, you can pore over the collection of books about Sicily in the sitting area (including one by the owner). Guest rooms, furnished in period style, are a major draw, and discounts are offered for stays of four nights or more.

Accessed from a quiet courtyard situated between Palermo's two great theaters, with large, airy rooms and a charming host, this top-floor apartment is part of a beautifully renovated palazzo dating from the mid-19th century. Everything is clean and tidy, and the high-ceilinged, tangerine-hued guest rooms, accommodating up to five guests, are well-equipped with spacious bathrooms and mini-refrigerators. Generous buffet breakfasts of pastries, cannoli, ham, cheeses, and fresh orange juice are served in a conservatory area. There's an elevator, too.

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 humble agricultural town with not many tourist highlights, 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 an 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, the 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 rustic farm stay and restaurant is a few miles out in the countryside beyond Polizzi, but a stay here gives you a sense of tranquility and the opportunity to admire the beautiful landscape of the Madonie.

This family-run agriturismo is set on a working farm surrounded by gently rolling hills, 4 km (2½ miles) southwest of Corleone. The farmhouse dates from the 19th century and has warm-color guest rooms that brim with character (one has a vaulted ceiling and a four-poster bed) and are equipped with air-conditioning and private bathrooms. There's also a self-catering apartment that can accommodate a family. For many, the best part of staying here is the evening meal, when large portions and numerous courses of rustic fare are served, so half- or full-board is definitely recommended. There's a small swimming pool, and horseriding is available for beginners or experts.

Tucked away in an alley in Caltanissetta's former Jewish Quarter, this chic boutique hotel is just a five-minute walk from the cathedral. Stylish rooms feature stone arches, beamed ceilings, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Upgraded rooms and suites add soaking tubs, and apartments offer kitchenettes, located over several buildings along the alley. The breakfast buffet serves a delicious spread of local bread and cheeses. A cozy bar and a sophisticated spa area, complete with a hammam, relaxation room, and hot tub, complete the experience.

Situated a stone's throw from Palazzolo Acreide's main street, this recently restored B&B offers a charming selection of simply furnished but comfortable rooms with compact, modern bathrooms. One room has a lovely terrace with direct views of the main street and over the charming Sicilian roofs.

The little B&B in a 19th-century stone house is in the heart of Petralia Sottana's centro storico and offers basic, but also bargain-priced, rooms, and is run by welcoming and helpful hosts. 

Opt for a stylish, homey stay at this beguiling B&B, which has elegantly furnished, whitewashed rooms with interesting art and decor, most with balconies perched over the craggy shoreline. Sabrina, Claudia, and staff dispense local insights and tips, providing warm hospitality and bespoke services including meals, massages, arranged excursions. There's private access to the rocky shore below and the option to splurge on renting their bijou two-bedroom apartment. 

This modern and light-filled bed-and-breakfast within a stone building is located in the heart of Tusa, just a short walk to the sea, offering modern, minimalist rooms of various sizes, some with private terraces. 

You'll feel indulged at this sequestered B&B located in a quiet lane a 15-minute walk from Mondello's seafront. With gleaming white walls, burnished wooden floors, and sparkling, contemporary bathrooms, the spacious rooms have their own private balconies or terraces, and guests have use of a large outdoor pool set in a garden planted with bougainvillea and frangipani. Breakfast is a feast, and the hosts will recommend and book you into restaurants and hook you up with reliable guides and drivers. Bicycles are also available. There's a four-night minimum stay in summer. Winter bookings are only taken by email or phone.

In the historical center of Santo Stefano, this B&B diffusa manages rooms and mini-apartments in various buildings, mixing traditional and modern settings, some with small balconies and shared kitchenettes.

The fanciest, contemporary-design-led B&B in town offers top-of-the-line showers, striking lighting, and sumptuous beds in a converted family apartment building from the 19th century.

Located a little bit outside of Collesano, this old converted farmhouse offers visitors a farm stay experience with basic, bargain-rate rooms and a restaurant serving hearty Madonie mountain fare. 

In the countryside about 20 minutes by car south of Ragusa, this charming family-run monastery-turned-hotel features friendly service and a relaxed but luxurious vibe, with unique rooms in former monks' chambers that vary in size and lay-out but are all quiet and well-appointed. All of them come with antiques, stone floors, wood-beamed ceilings, and tapestries; some also have fireplaces, whirlpools, and/or balconies. The restaurant offers a selection of Sicilian standards, and there's a lovely patio, where guests can enjoy the expansive breakfast buffet.

Flooded with light and kissed by the island's winds, this bright and airy B&B brings stylish comfort to the harsh Alicudi terrain. Breezy fabrics in classic white and blue soften the stone dwelling that perches high above the sea. Lounge on the two water-facing terraces (one of which is shaded from the unforgiving sun) for panoramic views and unparalleled star-filled nights.

A tiny paradise perched on a cliff overlooking the port of Filicudi, the small hotel is family owned and operated (since 1972) by brother Vincenzo and sister Grazia (also the hotel restaurant’s chef) and their father Pietro, who still tends to their vegetable garden, La Canna is a true hidden gem with a family feel, an approach to hospitality that is friendly and laid-back, much like the overall ambience here, as well as the most breathtaking views of the sea and the Eolie. 

Stepping into this charming apartment off Piazza della Rivoluzione is like entering a different time zone: a taste of Old Palermo where the elegant furnishings evoke a romantic world you might think only exists today in novels. Crystal chandeliers, rococo mirrors, painted and coffered ceilings, oriental rugs on parquet or majolica floors, and doilies on polished oak tables all create a warm ambience you'll find difficult to leave. It's not all Old World—the owner has stamped her own taste on the decor by adding striking works of 20th-century art. It's in a lively neighborhood, with plenty of bars and restaurants in the vicinity. Extensive breakfasts cost €12–15 extra per person. A self-catering option is also possible for longer stays.

Located in the center of Petralia Soprana, a stunning, castle-esque house has been converted into a B&B with modern, comfortable rooms and welcoming hosts.

There's nothing remote or rough-and-ready about this gorgeous bed-and-breakfast in the higher part of Marettimo, where tasteful modern design combines with personable hosts to create the perfect island getaway. You may find it difficult to tear yourself away from the sun-drenched roof terrace, equipped with sunbeds and shade sails, from which village and sea spread serenely before you—and it's perfect for star-gazing, too. The four air-conditioned rooms are spacious, airy, and immaculately clean, with rain showers in the en suite bathrooms. Breakfasts include bread straight from the oven, as well as delicious home-baked cakes, tarts, biscuits, and fresh fruit.

This instantly beguiling and intimate country resort with just four sensitively restored dammusi stands in the utter peace and quiet of the village of Mueggen. The glory of this spot is that its owners Matilde and Giancarlo are completely in tune with the land and landscape, and they would be happy to invite people to stay simply for the joy of sharing what they have created with like-minded people. Everything they grow on their land is preserved and served to guests during the months they are open, as witnessed by the storehouse of homemade pestos, jams, sott’olio (vegetables preserved in olive oil), juices, and olive oils. They even make their own ricotta from their four goats using the traditional island method of adding seawater to help the curds form and collect eggs every morning from their lovingly tended chickens. Grounds include a small woodland area (with a treehouse for massages) and a pavilion where breakfast and aperitivo are served. Dinner is served on request. In summer, Giancarlo can take guests on trips in his own boat and can lead them on country walks.

Up on the Hyblean plateau, a good 15-minute drive north of Noto, this rural masseria (farm) is surrounded by tastefully designed two-story lodgings and immersed in olive groves. Though it's close to Noto Antica and some fabulous hiking, you could be forgiven for spending your day drifting between the pool, bar, and restaurant.

This smart and central B&B offers a calm alternative to staying in Palermo whether or not you're primarily here to visit Monreale. It's clean, modern, and tastefully designed and furnished, with spacious rooms that are named after operas by Verdi (the hosts are both former professional musicians). Extras include underfloor heating for the cold winter months and saunas to replenish body and spirit after sightseeing fatigue. Breakfasts are generous and evening meals are available on a small terrace. Guests can also benefit from a pick-up service for the airport.

Family owned and operated by Maria Pia and her siblings, this boutique hotel is a unique find on the island, offering quiet luxury, the warmest Italian hospitality, and a sophisticated yet relaxed environment. The beautiful white structure (typical of Panarea) was originally the first and only supermarket on the island—and had the very first telephone. It's been an affittacamere (old Italian guesthouse) since 1964, having been transformed into a lovely oasis overlooking the sea with tastefully designed rooms, a good restaurant, and a staff that make you feel like you are home.

This comfortable mountain refuge in Piano Battaglia, in the heart of Parco delle Madonie at the base of Monte Mufara, has a restaurant and compact, functional rooms, some with bunk beds designed for families.