Trapani is named for the curved shape of its harbour which resembles a sickle. 16 most beautiful places to visit in Sicily Last updated on May 3rd, 2023 . In summer time you can even do boat tours to enjoy the beautiful coast. In this city, there are more accommodation options compared to other parts of the island. To sum up, here are the best hotels to stay in Sicily in the nicest areas where I would definitely recommend you to stay. Weve tested countless packs over the years, and now weve found our absolute favourite: the nomad-approved Nomatic Travel Bag. During your stay in Sicily, do try to see the local sights: each village and town seems to have a cathedral, lighthouse or museum that would, in other countries, be deemed an important and valuable asset in Italy there is one around every corner and it can be tempting to dismiss this one or that as they begin to blur together! The temple of Segesta 12. Were not sure if theyre closed for good but we hope theyll come back soon. The crime rate is moderate, with risk of pickpockets increasing in crowded areas and on public transport, and muggings being fairly prevalent. Guest can use bikes of the apartment. There is a hotel for every need in Ragusa, from five-star elegant comfort, to self-catered apartment, to B&B to mid-range hotel, all at prices to suit their offering. Palermo No list of places to stay in Sicily would be complete without including the capital of the region, the dynamic city of Palermo. If that is the case I would suggest you rent a car and spend a few days in different cities to experience different parts of the island and discover different attractions and beaches. Its a great choice when youre deciding where to stay in Sicily for nightlife too as the bars, clubs, and restaurants come alive with tourists and locals after dark. If you are looking for a place to stay in Sicily with vibrant nightlife, you will love Taormina. You can easily explore the main landmarks in the old town on foot so if you love history, Palermo has a lot to offer to you! Restaurants are within walking distance. The three areas mentioned above are the parts of the city best geared for tourists, and you will find few hotels or accommodations outside of these places. Wander around the small harbour west of the town to see how the locals live. 8 best places to visit in Sicily - Lonely Planet The spacious hotel rooms feature air conditioning, a Smart TV, and free wifi. Parco delle MadonieFor those of you who love the outdoors, this ones for you! The volcano has even been known to blow smoke rings perhaps a clear sign that the volcano is aware of its popularity with the many tourists that flock to Catania every year! Visit Syracuse: Top 18 Things To Do and Must-See Attractions - Voyage Tips There are some high-end offerings too, for the more hedonistic travellers, but for the most part Catania is welcoming of the low-budget student traveller who will be made welcome on arrival! Whether youre trying to find the best places to stay in Sicily for families, for friends, or when youre on your own, youll be spoiled for choice. Looking for guide suggestions for our Sicily trip May 16-29. Palermo 2. 41 Amazing & Beautiful Attractions in NYC [UPDATE 2023 ] - Loving New York 20 of the best places to stay in Italy Isola delle Correnti 11. READ NEXT Should an evacuation warning sound while you are in Catania, immediately make preparations and leave as ordered! Explore historic Palermo on foot Best for urban adventure The best way to enjoy Sicily's main city is by getting lost. This is where youll find lots of historical buildings like Villa Romana del Casale and sites in the middle of a modern town. Its one of the most popular coastal towns for tourists from all over the world meaning there are quite a few hotels for all budgets. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads usingthis link. TrapaniLocated at the north west edge of the island and about 1 and a half an hour drive from Palermo, Trapani is one of the most romantic towns in Sicily. Sicily is one of the best islands in Italy so I am sure you will have an amazing time during your trip. Sicily is an incredible island at the bottom of Italy, its the football to the boot so to speak! Sicily is a huge island, and it would take a minimum of 2 weeks to visit all the most interesting spots. That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we dont believe are up to scratch. The Best Places To Stay On Sicily's Aeolian Islands - Forbes Sicilys 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Stay in, #1 Palermo Where to Stay in Sicily First Time, #2 Cefal Where to Stay in Sicily on a Budget, #3 Agrigento Best Neighborhood in Sicily for Families, #4 Taormina Best Area to Stay in Sicily for Nightlife, #5 Syracuse The Coolest Place to Stay in Sicily, FAQs about Finding a Place to Stay in Sicily. Siracusa, great place to stay in Sicily for sightseeing, 8. You can check the routes and timetables on their website and buy the tickets online. 1. Sicily is a very big island so if you want toexplore many parts of the island you should stay for 4-5 days at least. Ortigia, a must-see of Syracuse. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Where to stay in Sicily: 14 Best Areas to Stay in Sicily, 2. Taormina: For beaches, bars, and history, try Taormina. The city is small but is considered the capital of Sicilian Baroque architecture, and the region is also know for its astronomical telescopic array and its wine producers than it is for tourism. Noto 5. She is also an adventurer and extreme sports enthusiast who surfed in 4 continents. But Lahoris are some of the kindest, most hospitable people. The hostel has excursions during the summer and offers single, double, and larger rooms to suit every travel group. Best places to stay in Sicily, Italy | The Hotel Guru Planning your trip to Sicily? For this reason, we created an itinerary for you. Scala dei Turchi. Catania 8. It started its life as a Greek colony and quickly became one of the richest colonies before it was sacked by the Carthaginians in 406 BC. Eyll grew up in Istanbul, Turkey, where solo women travelers are rare and work-life balance is tough. Choose a restaurant or bar near the waterfront for a relaxing meal at sunset. How cool is that!? Your email address will not be published. These remnants have seen the city declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, especially in the light of the benefits brought to the entire world from this relatively small region. There are some minor issues with drug use and the petty crime that often accompanies this, but by and large, tourists are left alone as the islanders are all too aware that tourist money is the bread and butter of many of the businesses on the island. The landscape is varied, the food is fantastic, and it has some of the best white sand beaches in Europe. Take your towel, pick a nice place on the beach and enjoy swimming in crystal clear water! This hotel in Sicily is located in the heart of Palermo. Wander the Quattro Canti, a 400-year-old baroque square. We only recommend the things we actually use ourselves and never accept useless sponsored crap. Siracusa offers a charming mixture of high-end boutique hotels and budget-friendly B&Bs so you can choose the right accommodations for your tastes and your budget without needing to compromise on either. I visited Sicily, Italy, for the first time, and here are 5 things I'll do differently on my next trip back. It offers lots of shared spaces, laundry, and free Wi-Fi. Catania, nice city to stay in Sicily to explore the island On the east coast of Sicily and in the shadow of the island's famous volcano, Catania is the second largest Sicilian city after Palermo. And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. As with many towns in Sicily, the area is compact and easily walkable, with little need for public transport. The 9 Best Villages in Sicily - The Crowded Planet Explore Syracuses ancient city centre to find hidden gems. The modern rooms are well-appointed and contain everything youll need during your stay. Theres a shared garden on-site as well as a buffet breakfast on request. They may also let you buy or extend a policy once youve started your trip and are already abroad which is super handy. There really is a huge range of things to see and do here. Here are the top 4 hotels that I picked for you in this area: Duomo Suites & Spa is located in the city centre of Catania and offers a luxury stay in Sicily. With exposed limestone and a neutral colour palette, the rooms have a minimalist chic feel to . To visit beautiful places. There are hotels on Levanzo and Favignana, most of which fall into the medium or high-end offering range. Where to Stay in Sicily - Best Areas And Hotels For 2023 Make sure to have a look out for some fun beach parties too! Piazza Duomo and Catania Cathedral are a few minutes walk and Catania Airport is just 4 km (2 miles) from the hotel. all combine to make the Ballaro market a distinct and unforgettable place to visit in Palermo. Here you will find one of the best sand beaches in Sicily! It contains a well-equipped kitchen, private bathroom and living area, and free parking just outside. Difficult decision. Visit the Vucciria market for fresh food, crafts, and clothes. After a long sightseeing day just pick a quirky cafe and enjoy the view while having a nice wine and a delicious Sicilian meal. Therefore, an unwritten, but firmly honoured, contract came about in which the seedy underside of Sicily was kept away from tourists and tourist areas. Happy exploring! This small town, one of the most charming places to stay in Sicily, has a big name in English as well as in Italian translating to Sea Fortress on the Gulf. Take a stroll through Agrigento Old Town for historic buildings and cathedrals. SICILY OVERVIEW Sicilyis a large and culturally rich island (it has 7 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List). Palermo is hands down one of the best places to stay in Sicily. By DJKTraveler. The luxury boutique hotel has rooms with balconies overlooking the sea. With famous New York landmarks like the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center or the Brooklyn Bridge around every corner, it can be hard picking the attractions that you want to see on your trip to NYC. This charming town must be part of any good neighbourhood guide because of its relaxed atmosphere and beach activities. I want to stay in one place and do day trips from there. This is a somewhat chaotic city thats filled with majestic baroque buildings built by kings and emirs. Selinunte Temples 11. Much of Noto can be explored on foot, but this does not take long and you will soon be itching to get further afield. This hotel in Sicily offers the perfect base for your trip to this part of Italy. A trip to Italy is always a good idea, visiting an island is even better! 10 Best Charming Towns and Villages in Sicily - Hotels.com 3 good places are Taormina, Cefalu and Castellammare del Golfo. Your email address will not be published. Its also connected to Ortigia Island, which makes for a lovely day trip. The town used to have a terrible reputation and is the home town (or former home town) of some high-powered villains. However, travelling in a group, avoiding the streets after dark, and ensuring that valuables are not on display while travelling about can all minimise your risks tremendously. In Syracuse, you will find many cool shops, restaurants, and bars. Theres also a fantastic archaeological park in Ortigia if you want to learn more about the history of the region. Map of the best places to stay in Sicily Palermo is a place to lose yourself in its contradictions. The apartment has rooms with great city views. You just cant beat. You can explore the main parts of this island in a couple of weeks by moving from city to city. As with much of Sicily, the city is filled with signs of the past: with Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Baroque buildings and influences easily seen even under the veneer of modern urbanity. Make sure you spend some time in the Arab-Normal Palermo Cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site. Her travel passion led her to step into over 40 countries and 200 cities. Etna is the most active volcano in the world which increases its popularity among tourists and every year many travelers come just to hike to the volcano. Top things to do in Sicily with teenagers - Mums do travel This means that no matter what your tastes, you can have a good time in Trapani. Cefalu, good place to stay in Sicily for families, 4. Aegadian Islands, for secluded holidays, Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina. How to plan the ultimate norway road trip. There is also a salt museum, the Scurati Caves which feature prehistoric rock paintings (showing that the islands occupation goes back much further than anyone can really say) and the local cathedral, a magnificent edifice dating back to the 1500s. It is also a great base to discover the east coast of the island. 100% necessary. New York, Paris and Tokyo may be on your travel bucket list, but there are plenty of cities that don't get enough credit and are well worth a visit. We love Airbnbs like The Little Apartment. Agrigento where to stay in Sicily for history lovers6. In the center of the city you will find many ancient Roman and Greek sites. We are a party of 2 and flying into Palermo and staying 4 nights and flying out of Catania. Take the Taormina cable car from the town down to the beach! 52 Places to Love in 2021 - The New York Times Getting around Taormina is simple: it takes a mere fifteen minutes to walk from end to end, and the cable car to and from the beach takes the strain out of lazy beachside days. Public transport is rare cutbacks have seen an already modest service slashed to the bone, so Noto is perhaps best done with access to your own vehicle. You can climb the mountain as long as it is deemed safe to do so or explore the wider area to see the scars caused by previous eruptions. It is a very charming town by the sea and the best place to stay in Sicily if you want to be close to the beaches. As well as the wealth of beautiful Baroque buildings, there are public gardens to enjoy, unique tiny streets, the ubiquitous cathedral and plenty of gorgeous artworks by masters for you to enjoy during your stay in Sicily. The rooms are clean, modern and come in a variety of sizes to suit all travel groups. Friendly and welcoming, that is, as long as you do not go there aiming to find criminality and villains: Sicilys history as home to the cosa nostra is something many of the residents prefer not to glamorise. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and is just off the toe of Italys boot. Heres what people usually ask us about the areas of Sicily and where to stay. The hotel offers an outdoor pool, tennis courts, babysitting services, and a sun tanning bed. The daytime activities in Siracusa mainly revolve around the wonderful historic buildings, museums that deal with artefacts and fascinating items from the past but at night party-animals can come into their own. Taormina is mostly safe, with only the usual strictures about looking out for pick-pockets and not displaying wads of cash or valuables in a flagrant manner. 17 Things to Do in Palermo, Sicily's Surprising Capital City Taormina and its enchanting old town has everything from beautiful sandy beaches lined with bars and restaurants to medieval buildings, castles, nearby villages and even a cable car! And in the summer, the city holds not-to-be-missed outdoor performances. Having said that, it is a wonderful place to visit to catch a glimpse of the authentic Sicily and there is very little crime of any kind. The range of accommodation swings from moderate comfort to budget-friendly cheer, to stark but cheap and clean hostel dormitories. Where to Stay in Sicily: 14 Best Areas - The Nomadvisor There are so many hotels in Palermo from luxury to budget. Expect to pay slightly higher princes in Taormina than in, for example, Cefalu, because the areas income is predominantly based around tourist income but the amenities and facilities are vastly superior too, making the extra expense well worth the cost. They both have good locations and great reviews too! The best way to discover this area is simply having a walk along the medieval streets, checking amazing buildings, and spending some time in nice cafes on the cobbled streets. Messina, packed with beautiful old architecture and museums, 7. The luxury hotel features a rooftop terrace with a cocktail bar, an exclusive 260 m spa area with a sauna, a Turkish bath, therapy showers as well as an outdoor swimming pool. This is a somewhat chaotic city thats filled with majestic Baroque buildings built by Kings and emirs. #1 Palermo - Where to Stay in Sicily First Time #2 Cefal - Where to Stay in Sicily on a Budget #3 Agrigento - Best Neighborhood in Sicily for Families #4 Taormina - Best Area to Stay in Sicily for Nightlife #5 Syracuse - The Coolest Place to Stay in Sicily FAQs about Finding a Place to Stay in Sicily Where to Stay in Sicily I would choose Castellamare del Golfo (lots to visit around and closer to Palermo for a one day visit). Castellammare del Golfo, charming coastal city, 13. If you stay in Palermo Trapani is one of the nicest day trip options you should do in Sicily. Suitable for up to 4 guests, this comfortable apartment offers convenient access to Sicilys best neighbourhoods. As it was my first time in Italy, there were many magical moments. When youre deciding where to stay in Sicily for your first time, you cant go past Palermo. Spend an afternoon on Via Principe di Belmonte for stylish shops and cafeterias. It offers a cafe, rooftop terrace, and lots of outdoor activities like fishing and scuba diving. La Scala dei Turchi is a white cliff overlooking the sea which is located along the coast of Agrigento. we are planning on flying in to Catania 30/6/23 for 7 days. Learn how your comment data is processed. At night, there is a lively variety of pubs, clubs and lounge bars where you can dress up and be seen. Catania has a good number of restaurants, cafs, wine and coffee bars as well as thriving cocktail bars and nightlife. There is a skeleton subway service in the city and also a partial tram service, which will get you to the most popular tourist areas in Mondello, Old Town and Politema/ Liberta. Try the local delicacies in as many restaurants as possible. Think of them as counties that just happen to be cities at the same time, but there is no exact English translation for the Italian concept. As it is a big island it might be difficult to make a choice among the many best areas. Its close to the center of the city and the shopping area and only 3 km from Temples Valley and all its attractions. There is a superb and sturdy lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula on which the town is situated, built in the Norman style and well-deserving of a visit. This contrast is part of the charm of Cefalu and is why this is one of Sicilys best neighbourhoods if youre on a budget. As these historic sites are very popular, Agrigento is visited by tourists all year round. The hotel has an outdoor terrace, restaurant, bar, and comfortably furnished rooms with private bathrooms. Things to Do in Staten Island - Tripadvisor This small seaside town is a favourite destination where to stay in Sicily with the lucky people who know about it, it being somewhat off the beaten tourist track at present. Copyright 2014-2023 MissTourist | All Rights Reserved |, 1. Catania where to stay in Sicily if youre on a budgetBONUS 1: 3 amazing day trips from PalermoBONUS 2: How to get around in SicilyFrequently asked questions about Sicily.