5 Best Hotels in Palermo and Western Sicily, Sicily

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.

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.

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.

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 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.