2 Best Hotels in Palermo, Sicily

Cleverly converted from three historic buildings—a bank, a palazzo, and a monastery—this hotel with modern, unadorned rooms is ideally located just off the central axis of Via Vittorio Emanuele. It's an elegant complex, featuring vaulted ceilings and an expansive, airy courtyard lobby with a retractable roof awning that's open in warm weather, plus a beautifully designed restaurant. 

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.