The definitive guide to the luxury hotels in Sicily

Top five luxury hotels in Sicily with international standards

This is an unbiased list of the most charming hotels in Sicily that we recommend and books for our clients to ensure they feel pampered and enjoy only the best of Sicily.

Unsurprisingly, the highest concentration of the best luxurious international hotel chains is in Taormina, one of the best places to stay in Sicily.

Every year, Taormina hosts concerts, theatrical representations, and a famous film festival in its incredible ancient Greek theater, one of the most important Archaeological Sites in Eastern Sicily located in the upper part of the city with a breathtaking view of the bay.

The mild climate, the beauty of the city and its coast, and the availability of a wide choice of some of the best dining restaurants, bars, and shops make Taormina one of the most desirable destinations in Sicily, beloved by an international clientele that includes rich and famous people worldwide.

Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, Taormina

Set right in front of the Greek theater of Taormina, in the core of the town center, the Belmond Timeo Hotel has an enchanting view over the bay of Taormina and much history to share with guests. Many writers got inspired by the beauty of the environment, from D.H. Lawrence to Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams. The hotel has a well-curated classic style.

Condé Nest Traveller calls the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo a “relieving retreat,” Indeed, it is a corner of paradise to relax and enjoy the best of Taormina.

Bedrooms are large, starting from a minimum area of 25 sqm (269 sqft) for the double room to 32sqm (344sqft) for the junior suite, and 40 sqm (431sqft) for the suite, all with king-sized or twin beds.

Much attention is put into the preparation of Sicilian and Mediterranean food, and the hotel hosts, in fact, the one Michelin star restaurant Otto Geleng, named after the German painter of noble origins who lived in Taormina and highly contributed to the success of the city. 

Main Features: Beautiful six-acre tiered garden, outdoor swimming pool, wellness center, Michelin-starred restaurant, bar and restaurant, pool grill, and bar.

Four Seasons San Domenico, Taormina

This iconic hotel, located on the cliffs overlooking the bay with a view of Mount Etna and the Greek theater, is undoubtedly one of the best hotels in Sicily. Initially, it was a Dominican monastery founded in 1374, then turned into a hotel more than a century ago, in 1896.

San Domenico Hotel welcomed Oscar Wilde, King Edward VIII, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, and Sophia Loren, among other famous guests.

The property was recently refurbished in a contemporary style. The white and hazelnut color palette makes the sea blue even more evident through the large windows framing the view over the Mediterranean Sea.

Dining at the hotel’s restaurant Principe di Cerami is quite an experience. The restaurant recently got its first Michelin star thanks to the brilliant work of Massimo Mantarro, executive chef.

Main Features: Two cloisters and art collection, garden, infinity pool, three restaurants, spa, Michelin-starred restaurant

The Ashbee, Taormina

An intriguing mixture of English style and Sicilian atmosphere, The Ashbee Hotel, also known as Villa San Giorgio, was designed by the British architect Charles Robert Ashbee at the beginning of the 1900s for colonel Shaw-Hellier.

Therefore, the hotel was conceived as a private house, and it only turned into The Ashbee, now a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, in 2011 with the intent of providing a home for travelers far from home.

Bedrooms are spacious and classical, with a predominance of white in the tapestries, the bed linen in harmony with a wooden floor, and a few touches of violet color spread around.

The one Michelin-star restaurant, St. George, is the icing on the cake. The restaurant is curated by Heinz Beck, resident chef at La Pergola in Rome, with three Michelin stars. St. George delights guests with creative and contemporary cuisine.

Main Features: Garden, infinity pool, large panoramic terrace, gym with a view, signature Saint George restaurant by Heinz Beck, awarded with 2 Michelin stars, pool bar, bar, and patio.

Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea, Taormina mare

Belmond is one of the luxury hotel chains that invested in Sicily in recent years. In Taormina, in addition to the Grand Hotel Timeo in the upper part of the city, Belmond also acquired one other luxury hotel by the sea: Villa Sant’Andrea in Taormina Mare, directly facing the bay.

This is undoubtedly one of the best hotels in Sicily on the beach.

The style of this property, dating back to 1919, is typical of seaside hotels in the Mediterranean, with colorful carpets, cushions, and majolica. Among the elegant rooms and suites, six sea-view junior suites with private terraces are in a separate building next to the swimming pool for extra privacy.

The restaurant offers traditional Sicilian food, like the Couscous alla Trapanese, a recipe from the city of Trapani consisting of couscous, fish, and seafood.

Main Features: Private beach, swimming pool, baby club, gym, wellness center, restaurant, bar, pool bar, and beach bar.

Villa Igiea, Palermo

Hotel Villa Igiea is in the city of Palermo, facing the marina, and it is one of the two properties in Sicily belonging to Rocco Forte Hotels. The building has a long history linked to the Florio family, the wealthiest family when the hotel was built in 1899.

The hotel has been fully refurbished to maintain the original atmosphere and improve comfort. The bedrooms are large, combining relaxing colors like green and beige. The terrace and the garden are right in front of the sea. The bar and main ballroom, decorated in an opulent art nouveau style, still have the original pieces of furniture and chandeliers, which had to be restored in part.

Scattered around in the hotel halls, lounge, or bar, you can see old memories and period portraits of the Florio family, a true legend in Palermo.

Main Features: Garden and terrace overlooking the bay, outdoor swimming pool, spa, restaurant, and bar.

Best boutique hotels in Sicily

We have suggestions to meet all your needs, from 5-star hotels with international luxury standards to boutique hotels with local flavors.

So, for those who prefer hotels with a more intimate atmosphere and a direct link with local traditions, Sicily has to offer charming, boutique, or small luxury hotels that will make you spend memorable holidays.

Here is our list of the most particular properties and hidden gems, each offering a unique atmosphere.

Monaci delle Terre Nere, Zafferana Etnea

This is one of Sicily’s most innovative and stylish country hotels, as Conde Nast calls it. A small hotel member of Relais & Chateaux, located in the foothill of Mount Etna on the Eastern coast.

The property includes a farm and a vineyard producing Etna wine. Guests can therefore enjoy farm-to-table organic produce and some of the finest wines produced on the south-eastern slopes of the volcano.

The villa dates to the 19^th century, and the hotel consists of 8 bedrooms, five suites, and four independent villas of different sizes from 1 to 3 bedrooms. The style is modern with design elements.

Main Features: an estate of 25 hectares, swimming pool, massage and yoga sessions, organic breakfast, restaurant

7 rooms Villadorata, Noto

The seven rooms and suites mentioned in the name of this mini-hotel are located in a private wing of the historical Palazzo Nicolaci in the heart of Noto – the city known as the capital of Baroque Sicily.

The suites are large apartments that make you feel like a local inhabitant. All the bedrooms are comfortable and furnished in a classical style.

The restaurant is in the annex palace under the extensive cap vaults of the ancient rooms of this palace dating back to 1733.

Main Features: restaurant, organic soap produced with olive oil

The Metropole, Taormina

A boutique hotel with 23 modern classic bedrooms and suites, some on two floors, all in bright white color, and an infinity pool that can be reached through an astounding stone tunnel dating back to the 1400s.

The Metropole was the first hotel in Taormina, in a historical building dating back to the 13th century.

The hotel is located on the main road, Corso Umberto, an area offering plenty of choice in terms of shops and restaurants.

Main Features: swimming pool, panoramic terrace bar, restaurant, spa.

Dimora delle Balze, Noto

Noto, in the surroundings of Ragusa, is known as the capital of Baroque in Sicily, an area worth visiting for its beautiful architecture. Dimora delle Balze is a five-star estate is a short distance from Palazzolo Acreide, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The estate is about 25 hectares, most of which can be cultivated and certified 100% organic, and organic is, of course, the food served at the restaurant, Lumìa.

Beaches are a 30-minute drive from the hotel.

The property consists of 11 bedrooms only, with dimensions that can vary from 215 sqft (20 sqm) to 148 sqft (45 sqm), one different from another, in a very charming style that blends modern design and local heritage linked together by the colors of the Mediterranean Sea.

The French magazine Vogue calls Dimora Delle Balze “the perfect spot to relax in peace.”

Main Features: Outdoor swimming pool, fitness area, spa treatments on request, restaurant

Best luxury resorts in Sicily

Sports lovers and relaxation seekers will love these hotels, which can be easily considered the best Sicily resorts.

Verdura Resort, Sciacca

A top luxury resort by Sir Rocco Forte in Sciacca, on the Western coast of Sicily, this is presently considered one of the best golf resorts in Europe.

Four seafront villas, each with 3 or 4 bedrooms and a swimming pool, three Forte suites with a private pool, and luxurious junior suites and bedrooms are available for guests, all in a contemporary style.

The Verdura Resort is a corner of paradise with 230 hectares of countryside, a white sand beach, a spa, and two golf courses: the East Course, par 73, and the West Course, par 70.

A wide choice of activities is available at the resort, from water sports to tennis and golf.

Main Features: beach, swimming pools, spa, east and west golf courses, tennis court, three restaurants, bar

Adler Spa Resort Sicilia, Siculiana

On the Western coast of Sicily, not far from Agrigento, lays the Adler Spa Resort.

Warm atmosphere in the large and comfortable junior and family suites overlooking the sea, some of which have been specifically designed for guests with limited walking ability.

The resort also offers a wide wellness area of 34,000 sqft and direct access to the white sand beach near the Torre Salsa Nature Reserve.

Main Features: wellness area with pools and sauna, gym, access to the beach, parking, and two restaurants.

Hotels in special locations

These properties are worth mentioning for the destination where they are located, in the heart of historical sites of Sicily or the green vineyards and olive groves.

Ortea Palace, Syracuse

The Ortea Palace Hotel is a building dating back to 1920, overlooking the marina of Ortygia, the oldest part of Syracuse – an area rich in historical monuments, restaurants, and shops.

Bedrooms are bright and spacious, decorated in white with touches of blue, green, pearl gray, and red. The style of the hotel is overall rational and classical.

If you are planning to visit the archaeological sites in Syracuse, take a look at our article on the most important archeological sites in western Sicily.

Main Features: 2 restaurants, cocktail bar, wine cellar below the sea level, spa, and swimming pool

Villa Athena, Agrigento

Villa Athena has a unique location right in the heart of the archaeological site of Agrigento, the Valley of Temples, in front of the Temple of Concordia. Noble residence of the late 18th century, the hotel has stunning views over the archaeological park.

Bedrooms have been refurbished in a modern classic style, and ancient majolicas dating back to the 1900s and 1800s have been restored and used in the spa area.

You can admire the Temple of Concordia framed in your window from the Temple view bedrooms – it will be directly in front of you!

If you are planning to visit the archaeological sites in Agrigento, take a look at our article on the most important archeological sites in eastern Sicily.

Main Features: Unique position inside the Valley of Temples in Agrigento, panoramic terrace, restaurant, bar, and spa.

La Foresteria Planeta Estate, Menfi

This wine resort in the countryside between Agrigento and Marsala is listed as a four-star property. Close to Sciacca and Mazzara del Vallo, La Foresteria Planeta is in a very convenient location, next to the archaeological sites and the beaches on the western coast.

The estate produces wine and olive oil, and the country house consists of 14 bedrooms and terraces overlooking the sea or the countryside of Menfi.

Main Features: Garden, infinity pool, restaurant

Therasia Resort & Spa, Island of Vulcano

Set in Vulcano, one of the seven Aeolian Islands – UNESCO heritage site – Therasia Resort & Spa offers a breathtaking view of the sea, nearby islands, and stacks.

Suites and bedrooms are decorated in a refreshing and sober Mediterranean style, some facing the sea, others the volcano.

The dining experience ranges from the gourmet cuisine offered at the Michelin-starred restaurant Il Cappero with Executive Chef Giuseppe Biuso to the traditional local cuisine at the restaurant L’Arcipelago.

It also includes an all-vegetarian restaurant, I Tenerumi, that just recently received one Michelin star. The chef, Davide Guidara, has also been awarded Young Chef of the Year by Michelin and received a green star as a reward for his efforts in a sustainable way of cooking.

Main Features: Park, infinity pools, spa, and indoor pool, private access to the sea, four restaurants including a Michelin-starred restaurant

Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia, Island of Salina

Capofaro is a project of the Tasca d’Almerita family combining wine and sea. The resort includes a lighthouse, which hosts six special unique rooms today, and the “Anfiteatro” vineyard producing Malvasia grapes.

The estate has 26 bedrooms in total, in a minimalist style, with a sea or garden view.

A system of gardens supplies 70% of the produce used in the kitchen by the young chef Gabriele Camiolo. The bread made at Capofaro is a unique tasting experience, named the best bread on the table in Italy in the 2018 Gambero Rosso Restaurant Guide.

Main Features: Park, restaurant, paddle/tennis court, vineyard, wine bar, clubhouse and shop, swimming pool, shuttle service to a pebbled private beach

Things to know when you choose your 5 star accommodation in Sicily

Star rating criteria change by country as there is no universal standard for hotel ratings. Differences may be significant also when you are traveling within Europe. These variations can depend on several factors as local standards apply.

In Europe, strict rules are imposed in the historical center of cities where hotels in period buildings must deal with specific limitations to what can be changed in the name of comfort and luxury – for example, bedrooms are generally smaller, not all bedrooms are the same size, and it is impossible to modify the architecture of the building or the façade to improve the characteristics of the hotel.

Sicily follows the same rules valid throughout Italy.

If you are curious to learn the minimum requirements for a hotel to be listed as a 5-star in Italy, you can find them in this article’s last paragraph.

As you will notice reading the list, there are several details about the number of services that must be provided to earn five stars. Still, nothing is said about the quality of the services offered – which can make all the difference between a great experience to be remembered and a very flat or very negative experience.

This is a good reason to rely on a local travel consultant and ensure the hotel can meet your expectations before confirming a reservation.

Complete list of 5 star hotels in Sicily: choose carefully!

Below is a list of all the hotels that have officially obtained the 5-star category from local authorities. We mention them all in the list, but please choose the most convenient hotel for you very carefully. Consider that only a few 5-star hotels in Sicily offer quality services suitable for international travelers.

The hotels we recommend to our clientele are the ones we thoroughly described in the article above.

The following is a non-curated comprehensive list with addresses, phone numbers, and websites by geographical area.

5 star hotels Taormina

5 star hotels Syracuse and its surroundings

5 star hotels Ragusa

5 star hotels Trapani and its surroundings

5 star hotels Palermo and its surroundings

5 star hotels in Cefalu

5 star hotels in Messina and its surroundings

5 star hotels in Agrigento and its surroundings

5 star hotels Catania and its surroundings

Appendix: minimum requirements for 5-star hotels in Italy

Decree dated 21 October 2008

RECEPTION SERVICE

• guaranteed 24 hours a day
• night service with the night porter
• baggage service operated by an employee during the hours in which reception is guaranteed
• custody service in individual safes in the rooms

BAR SERVICE

• 16 hours a day with an attendant
• room service is available 24 hours a day with an attendant

BREAKFAST SERVICE

• in a dedicated room or at the restaurant
• room breakfast service is available at the scheduled breakfast times

RESTAURANT SERVICE

• in a dedicated room
• room restaurant service available at times scheduled for catering

SERVICES FOR BEDROOM

• cleaning service of bedrooms once a day and turndown service in the afternoon
• change of bed linen every day unless otherwise chosen by the customer for the protection of the environment
• change bathroom linen every day unless the customer makes different choices for the protection of the environment

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

• three languages spoken

VARIOUS SERVICES

• laundry service with same-day delivery
• uniforms for staff
• 24-hour parking service available for 80% of the bedrooms
• fax and photocopying service
• Internet service reserved for guests
• TV set in the common areas
• telephone
• sheltered entrance

BEDROOMS EQUIPMENT

• basic furniture (bed with a bedside table or support surface for each bed, chair or
• another seat for bed, coffee table, wardrobe, mirror, basket, a light point on the bedside table)
• stool or special shelf for luggage
• armchair
• television
• Network satellite TV
• telephone required to enable external call
• safe internet connection
• mini bar
• measures to reduce noise
• staff called by telephone

EQUIPMENT FOR PRIVATE BATHROOMS

• sink, toilet, bidet, bathtub, or shower
• emergency call in all toilets (private and shared) bathrobe per person
• towels and bath towels in an adequate number for guests, mat
• objects and materials for personal hygiene
• hairdryer
• waste baskets and hygienic bags

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR GUESTS

• room dedicated to cloakroom and luggage storage

COMMON AREAS

• restaurant room

• a total area, excluding the restaurant room, not more minor of 4 sq m for the first ten rooms, one sq m for each of the further rooms up to the twentieth, 0.5 sq m for each additional room (increased by 50%)
• lounge or bar area
• lounge or sitting/reading/entertainment area
• breakfast room or area
• room or space reserved for meetings

TOILETS AND BATHROOMS FOR COMMON USE

• restrooms for the premises and common areas for the administration of food and drinks with separate toilets by gender
• private bathrooms in the rooms
• the number of complete bathrooms equipped with hot and cold water must correspond to 100% of the rooms

ROOMS

• a minimum of seven rooms
• as regards the surface area of ​​the bedrooms and private bathrooms, a minimum surface area of ​​9 square meters must be provided for the single room, excluding private bathrooms
• for the double room, a minimum area of ​​16 square meters net of private bathrooms
• for each additional bed, a minimum area of ​​6 square meters net of the private bathrooms
• for the complete private bathroom, an area of ​​5 square meters, except for the exceptions provided for by national or regional regulations

EQUIPMENT OF THE HOTEL

• Customer lift (subject to the exceptions provided for by national or regional regulations)
• mandatory for buildings over two levels (including basement floors if provided, even in part, with rooms serving guests)
• service lift or goods lift (subject to the exceptions provided for by national or regional)
• heating throughout the year, excluding hotels with a limited opening to the summer season. In these structures, if temporarily open in the non-summer season, the heating must, in any case, be insured in all areas of the operation
• the air conditioning system is used in the common areas and adjustable by the customer in the rooms at altitudes below 500 meters above sea level