Discover the 10 Finest Hotels in Sicily

Sicily is a rich blend of cultures and landscapes, boasting over 2,500 years of history, all beneath the watchful gaze of Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano. Though Sicily covers just under 10,000 square miles—similar to Maryland—its art, archaeology, cuisine, and scenery can shift dramatically within a short drive.

When White Lotus Season 2 premiered in 2022, interest in traveling to Sicily soared. However, this largest Italian island has long been a favorite among savvy travelers seeking one of Italy's most intriguing destinations. Recently, the hotel landscape has flourished. Here, historic luxury hotels blend with quaint bed-and-breakfasts and rustic farmhouses. In Dinogo’s Hotels We Love series, we've explored the island to curate the 10 most thrilling places to stay, whether you desire a beach escape or a dive into ancient history.

Four Seasons San Domenico Palace

Nestled in one of the most picturesque yet precarious spots in Taormina (perched on the hilltop), Four Seasons San Domenico Palace originated as a monastery in the 14th century before becoming a luxury haven in 1896. Today, it’s renowned on Instagram, largely due to its role in the second season of White Lotus, and it’s clear why it serves as such an alluring backdrop. The resort offers breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea, Mount Etna, and the ancient Greek theater ruins. San Domenico Palace also boasts a private garden lined with lavender and lemon trees, alongside a stunning 70-foot-long infinity pool that appears to flow into the sea.

The resort offers 111 guest rooms and suites adorned with original frescoes, featuring French doors that invite refreshing Mediterranean breezes. The Michelin-starred restaurant Principe Cerami serves exquisite dishes with fresh seafood, including langoustine paired with green apples and celeriac, and turbot accompanied by artichokes and Etna olives. Although San Domenico Palace lacks its own beach club, guests can reserve a lettino (sun bed) at nearby Nuova Spiaggia Paradiso, La Caravella, and Caparena for a day by the sea. Starting at $2,442

Grand Hotel Timeo, a Belmond Hotel

For 150 years, Grand Hotel Timeo, a Belmond Hotel has proudly held its title as Sicily’s grande dame. With its private gardens and terrace bars overlooking the Ionian Sea, splendid belle epoque interiors, and a Michelin-starred restaurant, the hotel is graced by a century-old guest book filled with the names of icons like Tennessee Williams, D.H. Lawrence (who wrote Lady Chatterley’s Lover here), Rudolf Valentino, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Bob Dylan, Sophia Loren, and Truman Capote (who penned Breakfast at Tiffany’s in this very setting). Just steps away from Taormina’s main thoroughfare, the hotel serves as a serene refuge from high-season tourist crowds, with its gardens located next to the remarkable third-century CE Greek amphitheater.

Timeo boasts 70 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, featuring high ceilings and expansive windows adorned with gilt mirrors and framed art against crisp white walls. The hotel’s grounds include a Louis Vuitton café, a luxurious spa with the exquisite Le Jardin des Rêves Dior outdoor wellness area, and the Michelin-starred Otto Geleng, where Chef Roberto Toro crafts culinary delights like octopus with escarole and wild fennel, and red mullet with foie gras. Guests at Timeo also enjoy access to the beach at its sister property, Villa Sant’Andrea, reachable via a complimentary shuttle. Starting at $2,591

Hotel Principe di Salina

For those seeking a getaway from it all: Take a -hour ferry ride from Sicily’s port town of Capo di Orlando to Salina, an island in the Aeolian archipelago, and settle into Hotel Principe di Salina. Nestled on the northern edge of Salina in the quaint town of Malfa, this boutique hotel is lovingly owned and operated by Anita Mottai, who possesses a remarkable talent for making every guest feel right at home.

The 12 guest rooms, adorned with white walls, fresh white linens, and light wood furnishings, each offer breathtaking views of both sunrise and sunset, along with sweeping vistas of Stromboli, one of the archipelago’s more active volcanoes. The white-on-white aesthetic, expansive windows and terraces, and azure swimming pool may evoke memories of the Greek islands, but Principe di Salina is distinctly Sicilian, from its warm hospitality to cooking classes centered on Sicilian cuisine and a communal dining atmosphere. Starting at $340

Il San Corrado di Noto

Originally the farmhouse of a Sicilian nobleman, Il San Corrado di Noto stands as a destination in its own right, offering 26 suites and eight private pool villas, an on-site restaurant dedicated to Sicilian cuisine, and two stunning swimming pools. The suites and villas are elegantly styled with a neutral color scheme, indulgent four-poster beds, and luxurious travertine marble bathrooms. Suites include additional private furnished patios, while villas boast spacious living areas, private pools, and a sense of seclusion that enhances the experience.

The Relais & Châteaux property features culinary classes, yoga sessions in a private pavilion, and tennis lessons on-site, along with a cutting-edge fitness room and a spa offering treatments that range from deep tissue massages to Tibetan sound rituals. Il San Corrado is centrally located in the Val di Noto province, making it a perfect base for exploring nearby Sicilian baroque cities such as Modica, Ragusa, Noto, and Ortigia in Syracuse. Plus, it's just a quick 20-minute drive to the pristine sandy beaches of Sicily’s southeastern coast. Starting at $800

La Foresteria Planeta

With vineyard vistas, Sicilian delicacies, and a refreshing sea breeze: what more could one desire? The Planeta family has woven their 500-year, 17-generation legacy in Sicily into their hospitality at La Foresteria, a charming 14-room boutique country hotel located a mere 10-minute drive from the picturesque seaside village of Menfi and just seven minutes from the coast. Terroir takes center stage here, thanks to Planeta’s exceptional wine offerings (guests can explore all five of Planeta’s wineries across the island) and the country-chic trattoria where Chef Angelo Pumilia artfully combines traditional Sicilian fare with inspirations from his culinary travels in Asia (don’t miss his spicy ribs).

Every guest room features a terrace that opens up to the estate’s expansive working garden, where all of La Foresteria’s herbs and vegetables flourish. While the resort boasts its own Insula Beach Club along the coastline for guests, it’s hard to rival watching the sunset with a glass of rosé while gazing out at the vineyards. Starting at $256. Read Dinogo’s full article on hotels that feel like $1,000 a night but cost only $300.

Monaci delle Terre Nere

Nestled in the lush countryside at the base of Mount Etna, Monaci delle Terre Nere is a wine resort situated on a 60-acre organic estate once cared for by Augustinian monks. Here, sustainability is not just a trend but a fundamental lifestyle. This Relais & Châteaux property is one of only three hotels in Sicily to earn eco-bio certification. The guest accommodations, set within a 19th-century villa, exude a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, featuring blond wood floors, white walls, and sliding glass doors that open to the picturesque countryside, while original wood-beam ceilings add a touch of history.

Owner Guido Coffa has revived 30 varieties of ancient seeds in the vegetable garden, which now hosts 150 types of native fruits and trees. These provide fresh ingredients for the restaurant Locanda Nerello, which champions the Slow Food movement. Guests—especially children—are encouraged to collect eggs and assist farmers with the chickens, while adults can unwind with open-air ayurvedic treatments or partake in a cocktail masterclass in the estate’s garden. Starting at $575

Palazzo Artemide

Previously known as Hotel Roma, this establishment is the oldest hotel in Ortigia, the historic heart of Syracuse connected to the mainland by two bridges. Located directly beside the Duomo on Ortigia’s main piazza, Palazzo Artemide is enveloped by some of the island’s most captivating attractions, restaurants, bars, shops, and beaches kissed by the turquoise Mediterranean waters.

The hotel’s recent renovation successfully maintained its historic charm, featuring arches, vaulted ceilings, and ornate stone details, while introducing modern furnishings and textiles. The 40 guest rooms and suites, some with balconies, are styled in a neoclassical theme, adorned with soothing blues, grays, and dark wood. The Amunì restaurant highlights contemporary Sicilian dishes, such as eggplant-stuffed ravioli. Furthermore, the hotel has received certification from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council for its eco-friendly initiatives, which include utilizing 100 percent renewable energy and opting for biodegradable products over single-use plastics. Starting at $234

Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Rocco Forte’s inaugural property in Sicily is an expansive resort comprising 203 guest rooms, 20 villas, four restaurants, two bars, a vast spa, three golf courses, and a private beach, all situated less than an hour from the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Agrigento. The accommodations, designed in a residential style, some with outdoor terraces and private pools, boast dark-wood floors adorned with plush carpets.

The resort spans an impressive 28,000 square feet of organic farmland, featuring olive, orange, almond, pomegranate, and lemon trees. The fruits harvested are used to create olive oil for culinary and skincare products, which are part of the Irene Forte line utilized in all Rocco Forte hotels. Children can enjoy the Verdura Resort’s Kids Club while their parents tee off on the golf course or unwind in the seawater-based thalassotherapy circuit at the spa. Starting at $426

Villa Athena

For over 2,500 years, the magnificent Greek ruins of the Valley of the Temples have presided over Agrigento. Villa Athena is located within the archaeological park, providing guests with a literal front-row seat to the stunning fifth-century B.C. Temple of Concordia. The hotel features a private entrance to the ruins and offers breathtaking sunrises and sunsets from its on-site dining options.

All 27 spacious guest rooms and suites offer uninterrupted views, showcasing either the ancient temples or the tranquil olive groves that envelop the property. Consider reserving the Deluxe Room with a Temple View, featuring a private veranda, or indulge in the luxurious Villa Suite, which boasts a vast private terrace with a stunning view of the temple. Starting at $742

Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Originally transformed into a magnificent hotel in the early 1900s by the affluent Florio family, Villa Igiea once welcomed royalty and celebrities such as King Edward VII of England, the Vanderbilts, and J.P. Morgan during its prime. In 2021, Rocco Forte Hotels restored it to its former splendor, brightening the hotel’s 100 rooms and public areas while maintaining original architectural elements, including the art nouveau frescoes by Ernesto Basile.

Today's visitors can enjoy spritzes by the pool with stunning sea views, mingle with Palermo's elite at Florio Restaurant under the guidance of renowned chef Fulvio Pierangelini, play a game of tennis, unwind with a massage at the Irene Forte Spa, wander through the lush gardens, and explore all the vibrant experiences that Sicily's lively capital has to offer. Starting at $585