Best hotels in Sicily

Perched on a cliff in the hilltop town of Taormina, this former Dominican convent has spent the better part of six centuries collecting remarkable guests: Oscar Wilde, Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo, D.H. Lawrence and, more recently, the cast and crew of The White Lotus. The building is as extraordinary as its guest list: two wings – one medieval, one 1896 Liberty-style – frame stunning gardens, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a 21-metre infinity pool suspended above the Ionian Sea. It's immaculate, polished and more than a little bit swanky – but it's the 600-year history really wins your heart.

Few hotels have a history quite like the Grand Hotel Timeo. Opened in 1873, it was Taormina's first hotel and still occupies its original clifftop spot, right beside the third-century Greek theatre. Mount Etna smokes gently to the south, the turquoise Ionian Sea glitters below, and the view alone has attracted artists, writers, emperors and Hollywood royalty for well over a century. Add six acres of terraced gardens, Michelin-starred dining and a Dior spa, and you might find yourself lingering for considerably longer than planned...

With its Arab-Norman cathedrals and raucous street markets, Palermo has an infectious, sun-soaked energy. And right in the middle of it all, on the beautiful Via Roma, stands the Grand Hotel et Des Palmes, a palazzo with a past to rival the city. Built in 1874 as the private residence of the Ingham-Whitaker family — English Marsala merchants who all but ran Sicily — it was transformed into a hotel in 1907 by Art Nouveau architect Ernesto Basile. Wagner stayed to finish Parsifal, Poet Raymond Roussel checked in and never left, and the mirrors, marble and sweeping staircases have seen it all.

Palazzo Brunaccini is a 17-room boutique hotel with a restaurant, an interior courtyard and a meeting room. The maison is located in the heart of the historic center of Palermo. It was belonged to Princess Lucrezia Brunaccini and thanks to a careful work of recovery, today is a modern structure where the charm of history and the elegance of design find a perfect and wise harmony. The hospitality and professionalism of the staff, the strategic location behind the market of Ballarò and a short walk distance from the main UNESCO sites of Palermo, make this hotel the ideal choice for those who want to visit the city on foot, discovering the most vital and cosmopolitan part. Comfort, modernity and small luxuries: the chic and romantic details, the Deluxe rooms with Jacuzzi and the creative traditional cuisine make Palazzo Brunaccini the perfect hotel also for a romantic getaway or for honeymooners.

Hotel Villa Belvedere is a delightful and charming boutique hotel, located at just a few minutes from Taormina’s lively town centre and from the world-famous Greek-Roman Theatre, which are both reachable by walking through the inspiring and panoramic Duca di Cesarò Botanic Gardens. The hotel benefits of wonderful views over the sea, the bay of Naxos and Mount Etna.

The hotel has always been owned and managed by the Bambara-Pècaut family and welcomed its first guests back in 1902. Villa Belvedere has all the discrete elegance and friendly welcoming atmosphere of a traditional Sicilian private villa, standing in its own, well cared-for gardens, with spectacular views of Mount Etna and over the Bay of Naxos.

The dusky-pink Baroque villa at the estate's heart houses Locanda Nerello restaurant, stuffed full of antiques, art and neon signs and offering a fabulous 0-kilometre menu of dishes like albacore tartare with Salina capers, risotto with fennel and orange zest, and homemade cannoli. Below it, the Convivium Bar occupies the old stone cellar – well-stocked and ideal for an aperitivo – and outside, there's a solar-heated infinity pool framing panoramic views of both Etna and the sea. There's also a small spa, and a larger menu of in-room wellness treatments.

Palazzo Brunaccini is a 17-room boutique hotel with a restaurant, an internal courtyard, and a meeting room. This property, located in the heart of Palermo's historic center, once belonged to Princess Lucrezia Brunaccini. Thanks to careful restoration, it is now a modern structure where the charm of history and elegant design find perfect, expert harmony. Comfort, modernity, and small luxuries: the chic and romantic details, the Deluxe rooms with whirlpool tubs, and our creative traditional cuisine make Palazzo Brunaccini the perfect hotel for a romantic getaway or honeymoon.

The warm welcome and professionalism of the staff, along with its strategic location behind the Ballarò market and just steps from Palermo's main UNESCO sites, make this hotel the ideal choice for those wishing to explore the city on foot, discovering its most vibrant and cosmopolitan side.

Deep in the Sicilian countryside near Agrigento, this restored 19th-century mansion began life as a baron's gift to his son - a reluctant socialite who went on to become a much-loved bishop. Today it's a gentle eco-retreat wrapped around a sun-warmed courtyard, the pace slowed to match the fields around it. The old farmhouse kitchen is now the heart of the place: you can cook alongside the team using vegetables pulled from the garden that morning. Days drift between treatments in the converted stables, long Sicilian lunches and walks out to the bubbling mud volcanoes next door.

In the most scenic spot on the coast of western Sicily, rich with history and legends, among the green olive groves and vineyards, sweet mulberry trees, and sun-ripened prickly pears, lies an enchanted place, suspended in time. Ancient stories and a feeling of elegant comfort meet within the walls of Baglio Oneto dei Principi di San Lorenzo - LUXURY WINE RESORT, original home to one of Italy's noblest families.

From this panoramic hilltop, the soul is stirred by sunsets beyond words and scents of ancient memory. Here, relaxation reaches new heights in the infinity pool: featuring heated water, saline steam, and hydromassage, it offers a sanctuary of absolute peace amidst the vineyards, perfectly complemented by the exclusive signature cocktails.

In the wild south-east corner of Sicily, this old farmhouse sits within the Vendicari nature reserve, on a working estate of olive groves and a fragrant lemon orchard. It's a small, unhurried sort of place - light-filled, retro-furnished rooms, a pool ringed by Mediterranean scrub, and a silence you only get this far from a town. A private chef will cook for you if you'd like (breakfast leans on the estate's own fruit and eggs) and a cooking class is yours for the asking. Walk out into the reserve for empty beaches and flamingos, or drive twenty minutes for the golden Baroque of Noto.

A few kilometers from the archaeological area of ​​Selinunte, the exclusive Momentum Wellness Bio Resort welcomes you for a wellness holiday in Sicily in the most authentic and fascinating part of the island. In the evocative atmosphere of a completely renovated traditional Sicilian baglio, you will discover a luxury resort where modern design and local natural materials combine to create welcoming spaces with attention to the smallest details.

Dreamed and designed around the physical and spiritual well-being of its guests, Momentum Resort offers a spa, fitness area, organic restaurant with zero-mile products, swimming pool and solarium terraces overlooking the magnificent olive grove.

Nestled between the Duomo and the ancient columns of the Temple of Athena, Palazzo Artemide is much more than a hotel: it is a journey into the most authentic Sicily. A 19th-century palace with monumental charm, it preserves the baroque soul of Syracuse, with tuff stone vaults, hidden courtyards, and unparalleled views. Here, every detail tells the story of the island’s millennia-old culture, transforming your stay into an unforgettable experience.

Southwest Sicily doesn't feature in most first-time itineraries, but that's exactly what keeps it interesting. Wedged between the archaeological wonder of Agrigento and the port of Sciacca, this stretch of coast is quieter, more rugged and considerably less photographed than its more famous cousins. And so, amid 230 hectares of olive groves and citrus orchards, Rocco Forte dreamed up his only purpose-built resort: a collection of low-rise terracotta-and-ochre pavilions that look as though they've always been here. Days tend to revolve around the Irene Forte Spa, eight restaurants serving food largely grown on the estate, two championship golf courses and a two-kilometre stretch of private beach. Bliss.

Nestled along the crystalline waters of the Bay of Mazzarò, this century-old residence whispers tales of aristocratic summers past while offering thoroughly modern indulgences. Dating from 1919, when a noble family built their dream escape amid subtropical gardens, the property retains that unmistakable ambience of a private coastal villa rather than a hotel. The secluded shoreline setting creates a haven of tranquility, yet adventure lies just moments away via the cable car that whisks you up to the cultural treasures and boutique-lined streets above. It's the perfect harmony of isolation when desired and accessibility when needed – a rare combination that keeps devotees returning year after year.

Lùme is ideally located in the heart of the city between the Teatro Communale and the Mediterranean.

Perched high above the glittering Mediterranean, this elegant hideaway sits pretty amidst rolling vineyards and wild gardens on a UNESCO-listed volcanic isle. The white-washed buildings peek out between tangles of bougainvillea and swaying palms, while the heady scent of Malvasia grapes ripening on ancient vines fills the air. Let yourself be drawn into the rhythm of island life, where mornings might find you practicing sun salutations on the rooftop, afternoons call for lazy dips in the freshwater pool, and evenings are best spent sampling estate wines as the lighthouse beam sweeps across inky waters.

Hailed as one of the best new stays around by the sort of magazines well-heeled travellers peruse, Sikelia Luxury Retreat on the tiny Italian island of Pantelleria is well deserving of the hype. An elegant white-washed outpost on the wild and windswept isle, whose name is derived from the Arabic for 'daughter of the winds', Sikelia's a first-class escape amid the farmsteads and their rough-hewn volcanic-rock walls. Outside, the traditional dammuso-style structures with their domed roofs have an archaic appeal; indoors, the style is contemporary, the spa treatments serene, and the creative cuisine is the island’s very best.

A luxurious perch on one of Sicily's most captivating coastlines where two worlds - and two star ratings - collide in spectacular fashion. Nestled in the Caldura bay just a stone's throw from Cefalù's UNESCO-protected historic centre, this boutique resort has been beguiling visitors for over half a century. The Mediterranean architecture follows the natural contours of the coastline, with whitewashed buildings that tumble down the rocky slopes towards the crystalline waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Perched above the shimmering Strait of Messina, this architectural gem was born from the creative genius of Charles Robert Ashbee, a prominent figure in the Arts and Crafts Movement. Yet, what began as an English vision in 1908 evolved into something distinctly Greco-Sicilian – and therein lies its irresistible charm. Step inside and you're transported to a world where history whispers through every corridor; from the grand lobby with its sweeping marble staircase to the panoramic terrace that cascades down to tiered gardens and a rather inviting swimming pool. It's the perfect vantage point to gaze across the glittering waters towards mainland Italy, ideally with something chilled and local in hand. And when hunger strikes? The Michelin-starred restaurant oozes high-octane glamour without a hint of stuffiness – just the sort of place where memories are made over lingering, laughter-filled meals.

A luxury hotel within the valley of the temples. Sicily, dating back millennia, is here. Villa Athena is the only 5-star hotel situated within the Archaeological Park of the Valley of the Temples, which UNESCO has declared a World Heritage Site, with an exclusive direct entrance.

The resort’s recent restoration has renovated every environment, including the rooms and the suites, which have a view of the temples and/or of the park of age-old olive trees.

The Therasia Resort is more than just a 5-star hotel. It's a luxury outpost suspended between black rock and the electric blue of the Mediterranean. Here, geothermal energy dictates the rhythm of the day. Forget the classic concept of passive relaxation. At Therasia, go to recharge with the power of primordial elements: the breath of the volcano, the iodine of the sea, the vigour of a land that burns and creates.

It is a farm, first and foremost, run by a family who pledge themselves to an enduring care for the land, with a true passion for hospitality and the dream of a place to share with friends and travellers, with an authentic love and respect for the Sicilian countryside. Mandranova brings together agriculture, hospitality, catering, oleo tourism and culture to communicate and spread the deep-running values that they believe in.

Step back to 1765 as you cross the threshold of this splendid boutique hotel, once the stately residence of a Bourbon-era judge who later became a Marquis. Built during Palermo's renaissance when the city was flourishing with new energy and ambition, the palazzo has retained its aristocratic bones while embracing contemporary luxury. Here, velvets and cushions mingle with shaved cotton linens in a masterful display of refined elegance. The intimate scale belies the grandeur of the building's heritage, creating a hideaway that feels both exclusive and welcoming. You're perfectly positioned in the bustling heart of the city, with its vibrant markets, Norman architecture and Arab influences just waiting to be explored.