86 Best Hotels in Sicily, Italy

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.

Located not far from the port, Lisola Residence offers complete tranquility in the form of charming, adults-only apartments that accommodate either two or four people, each retaining a degree of privacy from its neighbor. The apartments come equipped with air-conditioning, a kitchen with a coffee machine, and a barbecue and garden furniture for cooking and sitting outside. Public areas are scrupulously maintained, especially the lovely, partly paved garden from which views extend over the landscape, and within which nestles a decently sized swimming pool. If you don't want to cover the distance to or from the port, which takes less than 10 minutes on foot, the owners offer a free Jeep service. There's a minimum-stay period, from two nights in low season to a week in peak season.

Down a narrow lane near the castello, you'll find these four good-value, simply furnished apartments of various sizes with kitchenettes. Choose from two small studios, which share a cute rooftop terrace, a more spacious split-level one-bedroom, or the two-level family affair with a spare sofa bed. 

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.

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.

This delightful hotel has a creaky old feel to it, but that's part of the charm—the lobby area, scattered with books, magazines, and tchotchkes, calls to mind an elderly relative's living room; but the rooms themselves are simple, light, and comfortable. There's a lovely roof terrace with panoramic views—a great place to start the day with breakfast or relax in the evening with cocktails—and a well-known restaurant serving seafood pasta, couscous, and homemade desserts.

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.

This updated historic palazzo maintains elements of its early 1900s grandeur: parquet floors, 13-foot ceilings, and porcelain stoneware tiles. Almost every room has its own balcony, and the hotel is full of art by Giancarlo Mustich. It's a very clean and enchanting little place to lay your head. The owner, Massimo Costantino, has relationships with everyone in the neighborhood and can arrange to have lunch or dinner brought into the hotel if you're a bit road weary and simply don't want to go out. 

This 19th-century villa with a restaurant and 12 rooms sits on a hill above Licata, lending a lovely sea view. 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 the rooms are simple but tasteful. There is also a well-regarded restaurant, La Bottega. 

Although detached from the town's hubbub, this hotel is actually in a central location on Trapani's northern waterfront, with wonderful coastal views. The "studio" rooms are sleek and spacious and come with kitchenettes, and there's a garden, gym, and reading room. Best of all, generous breakfasts are served on a terrific roof terrace with panoramic views over town and the coast. It lies at one end of Via Torrearsa, so perfectly sited to participate in Trapani's boisterous evening passeggiata. There is secure parking, albeit 2 km (1 mile) away, linked to the residence by a free shuttle bus, or you can find your own parking space closer.

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.

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.

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.

With a sleek minimalist design in a 17th-century palace and a convenient location in an increasingly trendy area not far from the train and bus stations, this boutique hotel caters to design aficionados on a budget. Rooms are cool, modern, and spacious—some have frescoed ceilings. The city's sights are within an easy walking distance—but the hotel's secure setting near an area populated by migrants and close to the red-light district may be off-putting to some.

A 19th-century palazzo opposite a public garden in central Trapani has been converted to a comfortable hotel that provides pampering accommodation in swish surroundings. The imposing arched entrance opens onto a peaceful courtyard where breakfast and other meals are served, while, inside the building, antiques, chandeliers, and decorated ceilings emphasize its historic character. Guest rooms vary in size, and 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, close to the train station, and steps away from Via Garibaldi, one of Trapani's main passeggiata routes. There's no hotel parking, but a capacious and inexpensive public car park is adjacent.

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 “dispersed hotel,” where rooms are located in different historic homes throughout the town. The houses are all recently restored and well-equipped; and largely concentrated in a 1,000-foot radius of Via Francesco Mormina Penna.

Across the road from the beach, this contemporary hotel offers sleek, stylish rooms with balconies; there's also a restaurant and fab bar perfect for sunset cocktails.  

Although just a short walk from the Porta Messina on Corso Umberto, this modern and upbeat hotel is far enough away from the hubbub of the town to guarantee a peaceful night's sleep. The balconies of the airy and spacious guest rooms, the panoramic terrace where breakfast is taken, and the rooftop pool all pander to the view. Tuck into your breakfast pastries, sip your poolside cocktail, and soak it all up. And the staff couldn't be more pleasant. 

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 seaside resort hotel and spa offers basic rooms and mini-apartments (some with balconies), as well as a pool, restaurant, and the opportunity for a family-friendly experience. 

Not far from Ragusa Superiore's cathedral, this smart hotel in a handsome 1700s-era stone palazzo has comfortable, spacious rooms with understated decor, a grand breakfast room with ornate ceiling, and a lovely garden with pool. Expect a curious and intriguing mix architectural styles, from grand noble saloni to rustic, stone-coved ceilings in the corridors. Unfortunately, while the building's unique historical features dazzle, the modern guest rooms can be slightly underwhelming.    

Some 2 km (1 mile) from downtown Marsala, this luxurious retreat with extensive semitropical 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, scattered around the grounds, very basic igloo-shaped bungalows that are 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.

About 2½ miles outside the main town, Villa Paradiso offers a collection of mountainside apartments that are great for groups or individual travelers who want to escape the hubbub. Each one 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 of the 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, colorful 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.

A striking white and artsy contemporary building on the lungomare offers a dozen spacious, immaculately whitewashed apartments that make for a fabulous beachside base.