Sicily is perhaps one of the most underappreciated tourism regions in Italy. With a Mediterranean climate, plenty of history, vineyards, artistic communities, and lots of good eating, it’s becoming increasingly popular.
For those seeking a luxury vacation in Sicily, here are the best hotels and their top suites:
1. Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel
2. Villa Sant’Andrea, A Belmond Hotel
3. San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel
4. Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel
5. Villa Igiea, A Rocco Forte Hotel
6. Seven Rooms Villadorata
7. Zash Boutique Hotel & Spa
8. Monaci delle Terre Nere
1. Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel
Forbes Travel Guide writes, “For nearly 150 years, Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel has reigned from its beautiful perch in Taormina, on Sicily’s eastern coast. As one of the original stops on the Grand Tour and the first hotel in the city, the Timeo infuses history with resplendent style. The result: a Slim Aarons dream for the 21st century. Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most active volcano, watches over the grand hotel, and its mythic energy seeps into the Timeo. Unapologetically opulent, the historic villa features plush décor like rich marble, hardwood floors, and beautiful furniture and paintings. An utterly sublime pool area is picture-perfect from every angle. Set in a lavishly manicured six-acre compound of verdant tiered gardens, Timeo has carved out a veritable Eden escape on the hill. This pristine location on the rugged cliffs of Taormina places Timeo alongside history — an ancient Greek amphitheater resides at the hotel’s doorstep.”
Conde Nast Traveler adds, “This Sicilian grande dame is the high-octane, Taormina stay of Slim Aarons reverie—where pool views look good from all angles and a pianist (and negronis) cajole couples to dance on the balcony against a menacing backdrop of Mount Etna. Opulent marble bathrooms and silky, wallpapered rooms spill onto terraces doused in golden sunlight—where elaborate breakfasts of granita brioche, tea regalia, and sugar-dusted pastries sweeten the view.”
La Floresta Suite
This 1,055 sq. ft. suite features a private terrace spanning over 3,000 sq. ft. offering a 180-degree panorama, stretching from the medieval village of Castelmola to Mount Etna and down to the Ionian Sea and the Greek Theatre.
More suites at Grand Hotel Timeo.
2. Villa Sant’Andrea, A Belmond Hotel
Forbes Travel Guide inspectors say, “Once an opulent family villa, the 70-room Villa Sant’Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina Mare sits in the bay of Taormina Mare, on the scenic east coast of Sicily, and retains the feel of a private residence — with an exclusive beach, no less. The Belmond team has gone to great lengths to make the character of the original villa, constructed in 1919, the heart and soul of the property. When you aren’t soaking up views of the Mediterranean or the lush landscaping, you’re running your fingers over plush fabrics, climbing marble staircases, or pausing to contemplate the glorious pink geraniums, Baroque artwork, and heirlooms scattered across the seasonal property. And with its immersive experiences — picture boat and helicopter trips, island tours in an iconic Ape Calessino three-wheeler, and meandering visits to the hilltop towns of Savoca and Forza d’Agro in a vintage Fiat 500 — Villa Sant’Andrea offers an ideal blend of culture, sightseeing, and relaxation with mighty Mount Etna and charming Taormina village at your doorstep.”
The Telegraph adds “Sant’Andrea is suffused with good, old-fashioned class and style, without ever being stuffy or outdated. Although a fairly sizeable hotel – it has 71 rooms – the feel is intimate and personal – think an English country house by the Sicilian Sea. The original 1919 villa forms the core of the hotel, with opulent – but never ostentatious – marble floors and staircases, while Baroque paintings and family heirlooms scattered around the light airy lounge, reception hall and bar act as conversation pieces rather than recreating a stately home atmosphere. The hotel runs a free hourly shuttle up to its sister hotel, the Timeo, in Taormina (below), making Sant’Andrea the ideal choice for anyone wanting to combine beach time with sightseeing, shopping, and dining in town.”
Ionica Pool Suite
This two-bedroom suite features a lava stone pool crafted with materials from Mount Etna, a gazebo, and an expansive terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea.
More suites at Villa Sant’Andrea.
3. San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel
The Telegraph reports, “Dating back to the 14th century, this magnificent former monastery, which has been a hotel since 1896, stands on the cliffs overlooking the Ionian Sea in Taormina, with Mount Etna to its right and the city’s ancient Greek theatre to its left. Although Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts added a good dollop of 21st-century luxury when they took San Domenico over, redecorating the rooms in the 19th-century wing and adding private plunge pools to some of the terraces there, they have been careful to retain the many impressive historical elements, from the statue-filled courtyards to the stone doorway you enter through. The charm that enticed Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Greta Garbo and Humphrey Bogart among many other celebrities of their day, remains, as does the hotel’s links to the screen – most recently as a setting for the Netflix series, The White Lotus.”
Forbes Travel Guide adds, “History and romance abound at the striking San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel. With its scenic location on a cliff overlooking Taormina’s winding alleyways, majestic Mount Etna, and the bright blue Ionian Sea, the 111-room luxury hotel in Sicily occupies a former 19th-century palace, which was itself a Dominican convent dating back to 1373. From the 20th century onward, this unique property has operated as a sophisticated coastal retreat, welcoming celebrities like Ingrid Bergman, Audrey Hepburn, and Sophia Loren for luxurious stays and lavish parties, and serving as the scenic backdrop for season two of The White Lotus. Having joined the Four Seasons family in 2021, the hotel carries on this distinct legacy alongside exceptional service, attention to detail, and enriching local experiences. The hotel’s Only in Sicily excursions range from private dining on Mount Etna to helicopter and yacht tours of the Aeolian Islands, lunches at local wineries, and stargazing safaris — all highly personalized journeys to ensure an unforgettable getaway in Sicily.”
Royal Suite
The largest suite, at 1,507 sq. ft., the Royal Suite is on the second floor and comes with a sea-view plunge pool.
More suites at San Domenico.
4. Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Forbes Travel Guide, says, “When Rocco Forte, the visionary behind the respected London-based hotel brand, decided to build Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel along Sicily’s southern coast, he had a dilemma: the stunning Mediterranean landscape was ideal for a luxury property, yet it felt a world away from everything else. For a visit to make sense for guests with a bevy of other vacation options, the resort needed enough onsite distractions to ensure no one ever wanted to leave.
By dotting the 560-acre campus with olive trees, spacious accommodations, a top spa, and some of the finest golf in Europe, the mission was accomplished. But it’s not just the lavish links that keep hearts fluttering here. Volleyball games and capoeira classes occur on the private beach. Tennis instructionals with former pros can be organized. Daily swimming sessions happen in the 196-foot pool. Of course, if you want to do nothing at all with your day, you have that option as well. Verdura Resort is where you go to exert as little (or as much) energy as you like. Just as Forte envisioned.”
Acacia Suite
The 3,000 sq. ft. Acacia Suite welcomes you with a private courtyard, your pool, the swaying leaves of a citrus tree, and an expanse of living area that spills out through glass doors onto a large outdoor terrace with wooden decking—one of three.
More suites at Verdura Resort.
5. Villa Igiea, A Rocco Forte Hotel
Forbes Travel Guide writes, “Palermo’s iconic Villa Igiea, A Rocco Forte Hotel is a luxury landmark. A turn-of-the-century villa perched at the bay’s edge, the regal hotel emits both a yesteryear glamour and 21st-century luxury. A grande dame of Sicilian hospitality, Villa Igiea was built in the early 1900s by Ernesto Basile, a Palermo architect who helped popularize the Liberty movement (a Sicilian version of art nouveau). The resplendent centurion has courted aristocracy and celebrity for more than a century as an urban oasis hidden from the chaos of Palermo.
In 2020, Rocco Forte’s design team of Philip Vergeylen, Paolo Moschino, and Olga Polizzi faithfully restored the hotel to its Liberty-style origins while incorporating contemporary accents. The 100 rooms and suites are elegantly hued in a relaxing palette, and they adeptly blend classic and contemporary touches, while showcasing Sicilian artisan heritage. Wellness and relaxation take top priority at the luxury retreat with its Irene Forte Spa, a pampering retreat. Villa Igiea takes advantage of its seaside location with alfresco dining areas and verdant gardens.”
Donna Franca Suite
The 1,550 sq. ft. Donna Franca Suite features a 1,000 sq. ft. terrace with sea views.
See more suites at Villa Igiea.
6. Seven Rooms Villadorata
The Telegraph says “Bang in the center of Noto, right inside Palazzo Nicolaci, whose grotesquely grimacing monster-supported balconies are among the most photographed sights on the island. It feels pretty amazing, having the gates swing open for your car, or unlocking the massive doors at night. Views are of Noto’s pan-tiled roofscape. Occasional murmurs of voices and music from the rather fine Manna restaurant that backs onto the courtyard, but nothing to disturb your sleep. Seven Rooms occupies the former residence of the Principe di Villadorata but has none of the over-excited gilt-with-everything exuberance of many Sicilian noble palaces. Instead, owner Cristina Summa has introduced stress-evaporating monochromes and subtle, beguiling textures.”
Master Suite
This 850 sq. ft. suite is the largest in the hotel and overlooks the historic center of the town.
More suites at Seven Rooms Villadorata.
7. Zash Boutique Hotel & Spa
Condé Nast Traveler writes, “Wrapped in acres of labyrinthine citrus groves beneath looming Mount Etna, Zash Boutique Hotel & Spa was once the summer retreat for Catania’s nobility and now thrusts guests back to a time where nature called the shots, through a contemporary prism, as one of the best hotels in Sicily. Honoring its past life as a Palmento, the cool innards of the main house (a peachy, peeling vestige of grand Sicily) now pose as a smart, destination restaurant, below it, a dimly lit spa gurgles and steams, echoing the volcanic surroundings. Lava stone slabs line the walls in Iraci Architetti’s photogenic Iconic Rooms and Poolside Villas, whose cubic, glass structures and sharp furniture greatly contrast the main house’s soft antiquity, and cleverly pull the clementine trees indoors.”
Private Spa Pool Villa
The 430 sq. ft. Private Spa Pool Villa includes a similar amount of outdoor space.
More suites at Zach Boutique Hotel & Spa.
8. Monaci delle Terre Nere
The Telegraph says of this Relais & Chateau property, “This country resort had just six guest suites when it first opened. Now there are 27 rooms and suites, spread between the main villa and a series of scattered out buildings that blend into the landscape, thanks to a sensitive use of traditional materials and vernacular styles. I’m still a big fan of the original main-villa suites (like theatrical Amabile) which are a good off-season choice – this is one of the few Sicilian country hotels that is open all year round. The furthest villas are a 10-minute stroll from the main building, pool, and dining area, but there’s also a golf cart service. They’re stylish dens, mixing rustic details (lava stone walls, wooden ceiling beams) with 20th-century furniture design classics and vibrant contemporary artworks. In the bathrooms, which are large except in the two entry-level Superior rooms, expect thick, luxurious organic cotton robes and towels and a new range of eco-friendly amenities by Swiss brand Anyah.”
Four Bedroom Pool Villa
Enjoy your own private garden and sea view with a private pool. The villa consists of four bedrooms and extends over an area of 2,250 sq. ft.
More suites at Monaci delle Terre Nere.
