Sicily is a scruffy, sun-baked mosaic of cultures and landscapes, all watched over by Mount Etna. Its history of Greek, Arab, French, and Spanish influences shows up in regional dishes like caponata and pasta alla norma, in granita breakfasts, and in layered architecture from Agrigento’s temples to Palermo’s Arab‑Norman cathedral and the Baroque towns of the southeast. Taormina perches above surreal blue bays; Catania bustles with markets and “hot tables.” Volcano slopes host vineyards and guest houses; the west retains Moorish flavors and protected, cliff-backed coasts. Film buffs visit Savoca and Forza d’Agrò for The Godfather locations; beach lovers and island seekers find dolce‑vita sands and crystalline swims along Sicily’s fringes.
How we chose these hotels
Every hotel featured was reviewed by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination or visited the property. Editors considered a range of price points and evaluated design, location, service, and sustainability. The list has been updated since its original publication.
Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina
A Taormina grande dame overlooking Mount Etna and the Ionian, Grand Hotel Timeo feels like a Slim Aarons tableau. Terraced gardens and an elegant pool set the tone; rooms open onto sunlit terraces and marble bathrooms. Elaborate breakfasts of granita brioche and pastries start the day; fine seafood dinners at Otto Geleng provide theatrical, candlelit dining. It’s a glamorous retreat a short stroll from Taormina’s historic center.
Verdura Resort, Sicily
Built on 570 acres of private beachfront, Rocco Forte’s Verdura Resort is a sprawling compound with golf courses, a large spa, and family-friendly facilities. Its stone-and-wood architecture houses 203 rooms with warm interiors and deconstructed baldachin beds. Designed for an almost all‑inclusive, upscale holiday, Verdura is ideal for golfers and families, though its remoteness keeps it separate from everyday Sicilian life.
Il San Corrado di Noto
Set amid olive groves and citrus trees near Noto, Il San Corrado blends historic stone buildings with contemporary interventions. Architecturally restrained, it offers pools carved from Modican stone, serene courtyards, and pool villas dotted across groves. Food is a highlight—inventive tasting menus and homey pasta options make staying here a gourmand’s choice.
Braccialieri Val di Noto
This colorful farm stay mirrors the Val di Noto’s orchard bounty with vibrant tiles, textiles, and a checkerboard pool inspired by traditional Sicilian carts. Options range from suites with outdoor copper baths to wood-and-canvas Eco Villas. The on-site organic farm supplies the Dodici Zappe restaurant, and the boutique scale means varied, characterful accommodations.
Country House Villadorata
A modern country-house refuge near Noto, Villadorata occupies a hillside of olive and citrus groves. The property’s 15 rooms and suites encourage slow days—breakfasts of local cheeses and cold cuts, lazy pool afternoons, and evenings around simple but well-executed dinners. Private pool suites and eco-suites offer generous privacy and wide views; it’s a calm base for exploring the southeast’s Baroque towns.
Hotel Signum
On the Aeolian isle of Salina, Hotel Signum occupies the bones of a fishing village beneath lemon trees and jasmine. Rooms are intimate and classic, terraces boast sea and island views, and the terrace restaurant showcases creative island cuisine led by Martina Caruso, a Michelin-starred talent. The atmosphere is understated and refined, with dramatic sunsets and volcanic vistas.
Zash Country Boutique Hotel & Spa
Set in acres of citrus beneath Mount Etna, Zash occupies a former palmento (wine press) and balances old Sicilian charm with modern cubic villas. The property’s main house preserves faded grandeur while the Iconic Rooms and Poolside Villas use lava‑stone and sharp contemporary lines. The spa, volcanic pools, and a restaurant highlighting Etna’s produce make it a restorative country retreat.
Dimora Delle Balze
A restored 19th-century castle north of Noto, Dimora Delle Balze was transformed over nearly a decade into a serene estate. Pastel-hued bedrooms, stone courtyards, and wrought-iron daybeds lead to a relaxed dining room where local pastries and rustic breakfasts are served. The pool and terraces integrate the property with the surrounding scrub and woodlands, offering a very Sicilian, countryside escape.
Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel
This palm-framed Art Nouveau villa in Palermo, built in 1900 for the Florrio family, was revitalized by Rocco Forte into an elegant seaside palace. Olga Polizzi and Paolo Moschino’s redesign mixes antiques and modern furniture, returning Villa Igiea to its societal past while rooting it firmly in Palermo’s cultural revival. Grand public rooms, refined dining, and a commitment to local ingredients define the experience.
Adler Spa Resort, Sicilia
Perched above a wild, WWF-protected coastline near Torre Salsa, the Adler Spa Resort channels contemporary thermal-spa luxury on dramatic cliffs. Steel structures with grassy roofs step down the landscape to multiple pools, including an indoor–outdoor thermal pool. The spa programs, treatments, and sea-facing saunas are the focus; family facilities exist but the emphasis is wellness and relaxation.
Principe di Salina
On Salina, the greenest Aeolian island, Principe di Salina evokes Cycladic whitewashed simplicity with cubic suites, colonnaded terraces, and views across the Tyrrhenian. The small property leans into island rhythms: poolside lounging, vineyard visits, and dinners using local Malvasia wines, capers, and fresh seafood. Rooms are intimate and crafted with local antiques and handmade ceramics.
Monaci delle Terre Nere
A pioneer agriturismo on Etna’s slopes, Monaci delle Terre Nere occupies a renovated 17th‑century estate surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. Its mix of design-forward rooms, renovated barns, and villas takes full advantage of volcanic terroir; the restaurant Locanda Nerello uses the estate’s organic produce and nearby catches to create simple, ingredient-led cuisine. It’s a soulful, slower-paced stay closely tied to the land.
Susafa
Susafa sits amid wheat fields in Madonie Park, an interior pocket of rural Sicily. The farmstead, family-run for generations, was reimagined as a countryside retreat with a focus on organic agriculture. Olive oil, bread, and pasta come from on-site crops; the barn-turned-restaurant emphasizes farm-to-table cooking and seasonal techniques, and guests can join cooking classes or harvest activities.
Palazzo Previtera
Near Mount Etna in Linguaglossa, this lovingly restored pre‑Baroque palazzo has belonged to the same family for centuries. The B&B mixes antique furniture with select modern pieces and is set within a botanical garden of exotic and Sicilian species. Rooms and apartments are intimate, and the location is a practical base for Etna hikes, winery visits, and a short drive to Taormina.
Parco dei Sesi
On volcanic Pantelleria, Parco dei Sesi is a pared-back, barefoot retreat in the archaeological park near the sea. The 13 rooms use raw, local materials and minimal furnishings; conviviality is encouraged by shared dinners and a rooftop with sea views. With limited in‑room tech and an emphasis on slow living, it’s a place to disconnect and savor island rhythms.
This gallery originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK and has been updated with new information since its original publication.
