Where to Stay in Sicily, Italy – A Definitive Guide for 2026

A complete guide to staying in Sicily

Located at the heart of the Mediterranean, Sicily may be part of Italy, but it often feels like a country of its own, with distinct provinces, diverse microclimates, and rich subcultures.

For simplicity and clarity, I’ll take you on a journey around Sicily in a clockwise direction, exploring each of the island’s different regions. The smaller outlying islands will be covered at the end. If you already know where you’d like to visit, you can use the links below to jump directly to that section:

• Top Tips for Staying in Sicily
• Where to Stay near Mount Etna (Catania, Taormina, Messina)
• Where to Stay in Southeast Sicily (Siracusa/Ortigia and the Baroque Towns)
• The Southern Coast of Sicily (Agrigento)
• The Western End of Sicily (Marsala, Trapani)
• Staying in Sicily’s Capital, Palermo
• The Northern Coast (Cefalù)
• Staying on Sicily’s Islands

Before diving into the area-by-area guide on where to stay in Sicily, let’s start with a few essential tips every visitor should keep in mind when planning a trip to the island:

1. Sicily is a large island, with many of its key towns and cities, as well as historical sites, being several hours apart from each other. Therefore, if you plan to explore the island, you should rent a car. Not all areas of Sicily are well connected by train, and in my experience, intercity buses can be unreliable.

2. On average, accommodation in Sicily tends to be more affordable than on the Italian mainland – but that doesn’t mean the quality is any lower. In fact, based on my experience, the quality of hotels, B&B’s, apartments, and agrotourism establishments has been high more often than not in Sicily. Sicilians take immense pride in their island and warmly welcome visitors, a passion that shines through in the care and character of every accommodation.
3. Most locals working in the tourist industry will speak and understand the fundamentals of English, but I would recommend learning a bit of Italian before coming to Sicily – not only will this help you communicate during your trip, but it will endear you to your hotel staff, apartment hosts, restaurateurs and shopkeepers alike.

Sicily’s northeastern corner is dominated by Europe’s largest and most active volcano, Mount Etna. This natural wonder draws visitors from across the world, offering nature and science lovers extensive hiking routes and opportunities to study geology, seismology, and volcanology.

This part of Sicily is also rich in fascinating history and features easy connections within Sicily, as well as to the Italian mainland via regular ferries. Additionally, Catania’s airport offers flights to dozens of locations across Europe and Italy, making it a very convenient location to base yourself in.

Let’s explore the main locations:

This small city is the main gateway between Sicily and the Italian mainland, with a steady stream of ferries carrying cars and trains across the Strait of Messina.

Messina is a great base to stay if you want a convenient location for exploring Sicily or the southern tip of the Italian mainland (Calabria). The city offers a mix of hotels and self-catering apartments, most of which offer easy access to the port and autostrada (motorway) for onward travel.

This town is arguably one of the most famous in Sicily, and for a good reason. Visitors to Taormina are spoiled with its fascinating historical sites, such as the iconic Teatro Antico di Taormina archaeological site, incredible views of Mount Etna, excellent dining and drinking spots and some of my favourite beaches anywhere on the island.

While Taormina has always been popular with visitors, its popularity has surged (especially during high season) as a destination following its role in the White Lotus TV program (season 2). As such, demand is high, and with a limited number of hotels (varying in size) and rental options available, prices generally sit above the island’s average.

The best hotels (and best restaurants) are found in the old town, including the famous Four Seasons San Domenico Palace Hotel, which served as a backdrop for a lot of the White Lotus Season 2, and offers stunning panoramic views of the area. You’ll also find smaller boutique hotels and apartments in and around Taormina, including our personal favourite spot to stay: Paradisea Taormina

We typically stay in Taormina when visiting this part of Sicily, as we love spending time at the beautiful beaches near the Isola Bella nature reserve, walking the streets of the old town in the evening, and enjoying dinner and drinks in the town’s great restaurants with a view of Mount Etna. To learn more about visiting Taormina, take a look at my full guide to this iconic Sicilian town here.

The largest city on the eastern side of Sicily, Catania, lies at the base of Mount Etna and offers great connections via rail, road, and air to the rest of the island and mainland Italy.

This city is layered in history and culture, with Roman ruins, beautiful Baroque architecture, and distinctive Catholic traditions. Its famous festivals, especially the Feast of Saint Agatha, mix devotion with energy-filled processions and rituals.

You’ll find everything from big hotels to cozy apartments here, with prices similar to the rest of the island. This city is a great choice if you don’t have much time in Sicily and want to see Mount Etna or explore the baroque towns around Siracusa.

This part of Sicily is mine and Sara’s favourite, offering unspoiled nature, key historical sites, and private beaches, which keep us returning every year.

The downside is that a car is essential. Public transport connects major towns, but is unreliable and limits your freedom to explore.

There are two main locations to consider staying in/near:

The city of Siracusa is divided into two distinct parts: a modern area on the mainland and an older part on the island of Ortigia.

On the mainland, you’ll find plentiful hotels and apartment rental options, generally priced according to Sicily’s average per-night cost, which depends on the quality of the accommodation.

On Ortigia, options are somewhat limited due to the island’s size, but you will still find plenty of traditional hotels and self-catering places to choose from. Keep in mind that staying in Ortigia comes at a premium thanks to its limited accommodations and unique historical appeal.

Sicily’s Baroque region remains one of my all-time favourite parts of Italy. The combination of history, natural beauty, and outstanding local produce rivals that of only a few other areas, such as the Campanian coast; Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Neapolitan islands. If you are considering where to stay in Sicily, this area is a great option for your trip.

The major Val di Noto towns of Noto, Ragusa, and Modica offer a range of smaller hotels and a good number of apartment rentals for visitors. However, I would recommend staying in an agro-tourism property in the countryside, allowing you to enjoy the area’s famous food and drink while being close to the historical and cultural sites, and taking in the stunning views of the Sicilian countryside.

Mine and Sara’s absolutely favourite place to stay in this area is Masseria degli Ulivi in the Val di Noto. This boutique agroturismo hotel features the perfect balance of rustic decor and modern amenities. With a gorgeous swimming pool, the Masseria is just a 15-minute drive from Noto and is the perfect spot to relax in the peace of the Sicilian countryside. You can also dine at one of my all-time top restaurants in Italy.

Venturing west from the Baroque countryside and Siracusa, you will find yourself in an area of incredible natural beauty and historical significance.

Agrigento is home to the Valley of Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the remains of several incredibly well-preserved ancient Greek temples still dominate the landscape.

As such, staying in this area is recommended for anyone visiting the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, as well as for those looking to take the ferry to Lampedusa.

You won’t find many big hotels in this area – instead, you’ll find numerous small hotels and B&Bs, as well as plenty of rental options for apartments and some villas.

Another incredible site near this area of Sicily worth visiting for those interested in history is the Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armerina. This sprawling ancient Roman villa is believed to have belonged to a wealthy merchant, or possibly even the ruling imperial family, due to the opulence of the mosaics found here.

Palermo is the largest city on the island of Sicily and a destination in its own right. Opting to stay here will mean you can easily visit popular destinations in the city centre, such as the Norman Palace and Vucciria Market, as well as take day trips to famous locations like Monreale and the Himera archaeological park.

As the capital of Sicily, you will find a huge range of accommodation options, ranging from business hotels, apartment rentals, hostels, and boutique hotels.

If sightseeing is your priority, be sure to book somewhere in the historic centre of Palermo, where you’ll find the majority of the main things to see are within walking distance. If exploring the nearby area is more important to you, base yourself near the main train station – review your options here.

Heading east of Palermo along Sicily’s north coast, you will come to the town of Cefalù. This historic spot and nearby area are recommended for anyone looking to enjoy some downtime while in Sicily, as you will find some of the island’s best sandy beaches here, as well as ferry connections to the Aeolian Islands.

Within Cefalù, you’ll find a range of hotels. Options include small boutique hotels and larger, more traditional establishments. There is also a wide selection of self-catering and rental options. This makes it easy for anyone to find a suitable place to stay.

Off the coast of Sicily, there are several groups of islands that make great places to stay beyond the ‘mainland’ of Sicily.

None of these outlying islands are large, so you won’t usually find big hotels. Instead, expect smaller to mid-sized hotels and B&B’s, small resorts, and rental options from apartments to villas.

Let me share with you an overview of the main islands:

These are probably the best-known of Sicily’s islands. They can be seen easily from the Sicilian coast and are reached by regular ferries from Cefalù, Milazzo, Tropea, and Naples.

This group of islands is also famous for being home to the island of Stromboli, an incredibly active volcano that is part of the same volcanic system as Vesuvius in the Campania region.

Choosing where to stay in the Aeolian Islands depends on how much time you have to travel. Reaching these islands is not direct. Accommodation options vary, so I encourage you to explore the various options available here:

The Aegadian islands are just off Sicily’s west coast, near Marsala and Trapani. They are a great spot to explore beyond the main island of Sicily.

On Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo, you’ll find remnants of Sicily’s pre-Roman history, amazing food, and pristine beaches. Ferries run frequently from Spring to Autumn. There is a small but high-quality range of places to stay. Explore your options here:

This group has three very small islands: Lampione, Linosa, and Lampedusa. They are so far south that they are geographically closer to Tunisia in Africa than to Italy.

Reaching these islands can take a little more effort compared to the others above. Still, in my opinion, it is worth it. They offer a unique experience to any visitors. My personal favourite is Lampedusa (the largest of the three), which I recommend for exploring the area’s history. You can also enjoy some of the best beaches and clearest seas in Europe.

To find out more about staying on Lampedusa, click here.

As you can see, this island offers tourists a vast array of accommodation options, surpassing those of any other region in Italy. This wealth of choice, combined with reasonable pricing across most of Sicily, makes planning a trip here stress-free. If you’d like recommendations on specific areas, types of accommodation, or options for different budgets, don’t hesitate to reach out.