Sicily will greet you with its friendly and welcoming atmosphere so get ready to eat delicious food, discover Baroque architecture and amazing beaches! Taormina where to stay in Sicily for nightlife, 5. Theres also a caf on-site and breakfast is served on request. Enjoy lazy beach days, explore the caves and then head over to mainland Sicily for the nightlife, bright lights and party atmosphere! Palermo, Cefalu, Taormina, and Catania are the nicest parts of Sicily. The Taormina main street is really the best place to go - I didn't find as many good stores in the back streets. Located in the historic center the hotel offers en suite rooms with air conditioning, free WiFi, and a nice bar, Featuring city views and free WiFi, the hotel is centrally located in Siracusa. And dont forget to take out Travel Insurance for your trip! These are our 3 favourite hotels in Sicily: Hotel Palazzo Brunaccini Hotel Bel 3 Hotel Kalura. Hi Gary. The air-conditioned holiday home consists of 2 bedrooms, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge and a coffee machine, and 1 bathroom with a bidet and a shower. Getting around, off the tourist track, is best done on foot or with a rental or hire car of some sort. 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. I highly recommend you to rent a car on the island because it will help you to get around more easily and you can even take some nice day trips to other great places. Taormina is located on the east coast of the island and is a 1-hour drive from Catania Airport. Its just that easy. And what more can you ask for from a travel destination? Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are our recommended priorities: To get the most from your time in Sicily, it's best to have a car (except in intense Palermo if you begin there, pick up your rental car from the airport as you leave town). The cathedral dominates the central square which is the place to hang out and be seen. It offers lots of shared spaces, laundry, and free Wi-Fi. Stroll leisurely through the city, and let your footsteps take you where they will before finding a little caf or restaurant to take some refreshments! There's so much more to one of Sicily's best country hotels than the lovely plum-hued main villa and cool lava-stone pool . The rooms are well-appointed and theres a restaurant on-site so you can have a comfortable meal at the end of a long day. As this is a very touristy area, hotels can fill up so quickly, so it is better to be safe than sorry! 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. Cefalu, good place to stay in Sicily for families If this Sicilian city's name sounds a little Greek to you, that's because it is! In this city, there are more accommodation options compared to other parts of the island. You can follow her adventures @eylul_travels on Instagram! Regards Gary. Were not sure if theyre closed for good but we hope theyll come back soon. But Agrigento is keen to attract younger visitors, and is investing in their nightlife offerings, so do keep checking back to see what is available before you travel to stay in Sicily. These are our highest recommendations for places to stay in Sicily. From diners and caf-style restaurants, to coffee-bars and wine-shops, to more formal dining and nightclubs, you need never eat in your hotel room if you do not want to! La Piazza del Duomo, which houses two of the citys most visited attractions, El Duomo (The Cathedral) and the famous Fountain of the Elephant, is the most central point which you can use as a reference to judge how far a hotel is from the city centre. In fact, the whole city is packed with beautiful old architecture and museums and galleries displaying the many artistic wonders that were either created in Messina, or were created by sons (or daughters) of Messina. Palermo is the best place to stay in Sicily if you are visiting for the first time as you will have easy access to the main attractions of Sicily and be able to reach nice beaches easily. It is a very picturesque town with beautiful buildings covered with flowers, medieval castles, and a nice beach. A young German whos currently living in Bali, Lus been strolling around on the Island of Gods for the last three years. In fact, its the food that most people remember when they return home after a trip to Sicily, so make sure you eat enough of it to last you a lifetime. A train system circles around the city centre, which is useful for those wanting to dart about the city, while driving within that system of pedestrianised roads, one-way streets and impatient fellow road users can make having your own car more of a trial than not. Where to stay in Nicolosi. Syracuse is an hours drive from Catania on the east coast and is a great choice when youre deciding where to stay in Sicily for one night, or for a longer visit. It is also a great base to discover the east coast of the island. Sicily is visited all year round by travelers so I highly recommend you make a reservation now if you have already found your ideal home away from home. Whilst youre planning your Italian getaway, I can highly recommend these hotels in Rome and the Amalfi Coast if you have more time! The range of accommodation swings from moderate comfort to budget-friendly cheer, to stark but cheap and clean hostel dormitories. Youll still be within walking distance of a few beaches even in the heart of the city centre. Sicily is an incredible island at the bottom of Italy, its the football to the boot so to speak! Cefalu if you love spending time at the beach3. To get around, you are best going on foot, or having a hire car so that you can come and go as you please there is not much in the way of public transport to get you to the sights and tourist hotspots. Sicily is one of the best islands in Italy so I am sure you will have an amazing time during your trip. The crime rate is moderate, with risk of pickpockets increasing in crowded areas and on public transport, and muggings being fairly prevalent. Can it get any more perfect? Its filled with restaurants and bars selling local food as well as bakeries that have stood there for years. Sicily is perhaps equally known for being easily identifiable on a map it is the football getting a kick from the boot of mainland Italy and as being the birthplace of the Mafia. Featuring a shared lounge, a terrace as well as a bar, ETNEA STYLE CATANIA LUXURY ROOMS is located in the centre of Catania, less than 1 km from Catania Piazza Duomo. There are some free shuttle buses to other parts of Sicily or even to the mainland on offer also. This is where youll find lots of historical buildings like Villa Romana del Casale and sites in the middle of a modern town. It offers high-quality accommodations at a bargain price near the beach and in the heart of Cefalu. This north coast town is filled with history and attractions and offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit every budget. There is no frenetic nightlife in Cefalu (but Palermo is just an hour or sos drive away) but there are ancient sites to explore, coffee shops and bars to frequent, and restaurants serving fresh and delicious seafood in authentic Sicilian dishes. icon-lightbulb Day 3: Day-trip to beachy Cefal (1 hour by train) or the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento (2 hours by bus) (sleep in Palermo), Day 4: Morning in Palermo, afternoon bus to Siracusa (3.5 hours) (sleep in Siracusa), Day 5: Sightsee Siracusa (sleep in Siracusa), Day 6: Morning in Siracusa, afternoon train to Taormina (2 hours) (sleep in Taormina), Day 7: Join an excursion tour to Mount Etna or take it easy in Taormina (sleep in Taormina), Day 8: Bus to Catania Airport (1.5 hours) and fly out from there. Taorminas hilltop location makes the walk to (and especially from) the beach a daunting one but there are cable cars that offer a leg-relieving lift down to several nearby beaches, all with spectacular views as you travel. 2. Head across to Ortigia and wander the ancient streets. See a performance at the ancient Greco-Roman theatre Teatro Antico di Taormina. The hotels are few and far between, but given the low numbers of visitors, this is unlikely to be a problem: there is a good range to suit all preferences and economies, so you are all but guaranteed to get the type of room you want. 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. Siracusa is largely a safe place to live and visit, although locals do fret that as more tourists are drawn to the city, so too are pickpockets and other opportunistic felons. The resort rooms have amazing sea views and family friendly rooms are available too making it one of the best luxury resorts in Sicily for beach lovers. You are sure to get some fantastic dramatic photos from the visit, if nothing else! It will also give you the freedom to visit more remote areas. There is also a museum of illusions which is an excellent way to pass the time. As with many towns in Sicily, the area is compact and easily walkable, with little need for public transport. This blog will give you more details about where to stay in Sicily for first-timers, without a car, for best beaches, couples, families . Costs range from modest to moderately high, so do shop around a bit to find the perfect match between price and comfort for your stay in Sicily! Visit the archaeological park, the home of the famous. Find a hotel near the Via Etnea Find a hotel in the center of Catania Find an Airbnb in downtown Catania Via Crociferi Photo Credit: Romas_Photo/Shutterstock.com Wander around the small harbour west of the town to see how the locals live. With less time: To pare this itinerary down to one week, from Palermo (2 nights) head directly to Agrigento (1 night) and the Valley of the Temples. I went to Sicily once without rental and wasted a whole day in pozzallo (we needed to go to Siracusa) as no transport was available before 5pm and we were there at 8am!! Much of Noto can be explored on foot, but this does not take long and you will soon be itching to get further afield. Entertainment-wise, there is somewhere to go and be seen at almost any time of day. Choose the accommodation that best suits your needs and that you can easily afford after all, you will spend many of your waking hours outside, exploring the island and the city! +39 095 320044. Syracuse has a lovely old town centre, with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and its also close to the island of Ortigia. A tourist area in the Metropolitan City of Messina, Taormina has long been the go-to destination of tourists in Sicily. I will be travelling with my 14 year old daughter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Even though there are many nice parts of the island, the southwest part of Sicily offers beautiful beaches and historic sites. I would choose Castellamare del Golfo (lots to visit around and closer to Palermo for a one day visit). Agrigento is great. Here you will find limited hotels so dont forget to make your booking in advance once you find your ideal place! Syracuse is an hours drive from Catania and is a great choice when youre deciding where to stay in Sicily for one night, or for a longer visit. 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. Your email address will not be published. Wander the Quattro Canti, a 400-year-old baroque square. There is no public transport available to the park so you will need torent a car or take a bus to Cefal to join atour. Taormina - where to stay in Sicily for nightlife 4. 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. Sarah Murdoch is the co-author of the Rick Steves Sicily guidebook. This means that no matter what your tastes, you can have a good time in Trapani. Agrigento - where to stay in Sicily for history lovers 6. The centrally located hotel has beautifully decorated rooms. Women might find themselves the target of wolf whistles and cat-calls, but during the day, at least, this is nothing to worry about. Can anyone enlighten me about this? Then drive north, sightseeing at Catania or Mount Etna along the way to Taormina (2 nights). Hi there, The park is home to the Madonie mountain range which boasts some of the highest peaks in Sicily so dont forget your camera! Ragusa is one of the safest places to stay in Sicily, with very low rates of all types of crime. When youre looking for the best neighbourhood in Sicily to stay in, youll have your pick of small cities and towns that all have their own culture, food, and historical attractions. Such nightlife as there is aside from the usual restaurant/ pub lifestyle tends to be centred around the hotels that are big enough to contain nightclubs and employ DJs. You just cant beat. Catania (0.5 miles from Fontanarossa) Within 1.7 miles of Lido Arcobaleno and 3.3 miles of Piazza del Duomo, Catania, Sweet Home Airport has free WiFi and a terrace. You can also take a small train that circles around the peak in nearly a full circle, from coast to coast. Iuvara Rooms B&B is one of our favourites in Sicily but theyre not taking guests right now. Rent a sunbed and umbrella and relax on the beach. It has so much more to offer than these factors though: the island is beautiful, bursting with agricultural produce, hand-crafted wares and friendly and welcoming people. 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. Today, the city is a popular port with most visitors simply passing through on their way to the Aeolian Islands. San Vito Lo CapoSan Vito Lo Capo is situated in the north western part of Sicily and around 1 and a half an hour drive from Palermo. Take your towel, pick a nice place on the beach and enjoy swimming in crystal clear water! .path-1{fill:#333;}.path-2{fill:#fff;} Catania Cathedral, 163 Via Vittorio Emanuele II, Catania CT, Italy. On this site, youll find countless resources and travel tips. There are five islands altogether: the largest, Favignana, along with Levanzo and Marittimo (a late addition to the group) forming the main islands, although they are joined by the smaller, minor islands of Formica and Maraone. Each neighbourhood has its own vibe. I hope this blog post helped you understand the best areas and you already found a nice hotel. Hello. #10 Best Value of 932 places to stay in Catania. By trainAll main cities in Sicily such as Palermo, Catania, Messina, Syracuse, Agrigento, Taormina, and Trapani have good train connections. I dont know if you can beat enjoying Sicilian food with a beautiful view! If youre trying to decide where to stay in Sicily with kids, this is a good choice. The city is fairly flat so wheelchairs and pushchairs can expect reasonable access, but do check with shops and restaurants about internal stairs and access before committing to a booking. Before talking about them I would like to remind you of the importance of making a booking in advance for this super popular city. Check out whats on at the Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, one of the largest opera houses in Europe dating back to 1897. Here you will feel like you are traveling back in time while you will also have access to modern facilities and to the beach. Catania. And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. Ill be happy to leave a reply! So, you shouldnt have any trouble finding a Sicily accommodation option that suits your budget and needs. Thats why in this area you will be able to find more than enough restaurants, cafes, and bars. 810 reviews. Duomo Suites & Spa Show prices Enter dates to see prices Inn 192 reviews Thank you. #10 Best Value of 932 places to stay in Catania. Siracusa, great place to stay in Sicily for sightseeing, 8. Difficult decision. Happy exploring! This Sicily accommodation option offers a warm, welcoming place to stay in the middle of the town. Historic Sites, both the Valley of the Temples (a must) and Agrigento Old Town. The easiest way to discover these places is to rent a car. 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