Is it better to base yourself in Palermo or Catania?

Palermo gives better access to the west and northwest — Monreale, Cefalù, Segesta, and the Zingaro nature reserve. Catania is the better base for the east — Etna, Taormina, and Syracuse are all within an hour. For a circular trip, start in one and end in the other.

Is Taormina worth the high accommodation prices?

Taormina's setting is exceptional — the Greek theatre, clifftop position, and views to Etna justify at least one night. For a full stay, the prices are steep. Many visitors use it as a day trip from Catania (45 minutes by train) and stay somewhere cheaper.

Are there good budget hotels in Sicily?

Yes — Catania and Palermo have solid budget options including B&Bs, guesthouses, and hostels. Agriturismo farms in the interior offer good value with included breakfast. The coast in high season skews expensive but drops significantly in May–June and September.

Where to Stay in Sicily | The Italy Guides

Sicily is a large island and where you stay fundamentally affects your experience. Palermo gives you the food markets and Norman monuments; Catania puts you close to Etna and the east coast; Taormina is the classic resort but the most expensive; Syracuse has the best archaeological setting. For beaches, the base depends on which coast.

Palermo

Where to stay: The historic centre — within walking distance of the Ballarò market, the Quattro Canti, the Palatine Chapel, and the main food streets. Avoid outlying residential suburbs, which have nothing for tourists.

Budget (€45–75/night): Palermo has a good hostel and cheap B&B scene. The area around Via Roma and Via Maqueda has several cheap options above shops and markets.

Mid-range (€80–130/night): Boutique B&Bs in the historic centre. Many former noble palazzos have been converted into atmospheric small hotels with original frescoed ceilings.

Top-end (€150–300/night): Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa (in a former stock exchange building), Palazzo Sitano, Grand Hotel Wagner. Palermo’s luxury hotels are genuinely impressive buildings.

Note: Palermo streets can be loud — ask for an internal courtyard room if light sleep is a concern.

Catania

Where to stay: The Baroque centre between Piazza del Duomo and Via Etnea. Well-connected by train and close to Catania airport.

Budget (€40–70/night): Several hostels and cheap B&Bs near the fish market (Pescheria) and Via Etnea.

Mid-range (€75–130/night): Boutique hotels in the baroque streets. Several converted from the distinctive grey-black lava stone buildings.

Top-end (€130–250/night): UNA Hotel Palace, NH Hotel Catania Centro. The luxury category is smaller in Catania than Palermo.

Taormina

Taormina is the most expensive base in Sicily — prices reflect the views, the reputation, and the limited space on the clifftop.

Budget (€60–100/night): Hard to find in summer. The few cheaper options in town are usually inland-facing rooms in small pensioni.

Mid-range (€120–200/night): Good boutique hotels with sea or Etna views. Book months ahead for peak summer.

Top-end (€250–600+/night): The Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo (one of the finest hotels in Italy) and San Domenico Palace (a converted 15th-century Dominican convent, now a Four Seasons). These are special-occasion properties.

Alternative: Stay in Giardini-Naxos, the town on the beach below Taormina (connected by cable car). Significantly cheaper, direct sea access, still close to everything.

Syracuse

Syracuse has excellent mid-range accommodation in the Ortigia island. This is the best base in Sicily for archaeology.

Budget (€45–80/night): Small B&Bs and apartment rentals in Ortigia.

Mid-range (€80–150/night): Boutique hotels in the baroque streets of Ortigia. Several with rooftop terraces above the sea.

Top-end (€150–350/night): Palazzo del Sale, Roma 77. The luxury category is limited but charming.

Agrigento area

Agrigento itself is not a particularly appealing town. Many visitors stay along the San Leone coast (5km from the temples) or in the countryside.

Budget/mid-range (€50–100/night): Agrigento has several decent B&Bs and small hotels. The valley area near the temples has farm-stay (agriturismo) options.

Beach-focused stays

South-east (Siracusa to Ragusa coast): Smaller hotels and agriturismi between Marina di Ragusa, Pozzallo, and the Cava d’Ispica area. Low-key, genuinely unspoiled.

South-west (Sciacca to Marsala): Limited tourist infrastructure; mainly self-catering apartments and agriturismi.

Cefalù (north coast): A beautiful small beach town 70km east of Palermo. Good mid-range hotels along the seafront. The Norman cathedral is one of Sicily’s finest.

Booking tips

Summer (July–August) requires booking months in advance everywhere in Sicily, especially Taormina and the islands.
Shoulder seasons (May–June, September–October) are the sweet spot: prices are 20–40% lower and availability is good with a week or two of advance booking.
Agriturismo (farm stay) options across the interior offer an excellent alternative to city hotels — meals included options are common.
Car parking is a real issue in Palermo and Catania historic centres — book hotels with parking or use hotels outside the ZTL.
A car hire in Sicily booked from Palermo or Catania airport is the most practical way to reach the temples at Agrigento, Selinunte, and the south-west coast from a city base.

Back to the full Sicily island guide for getting there, transport logistics, and when to visit. For the best things to see and do across the island: things to do in Sicily. For city accommodation: Palermo travel guide and Taormina guide cover their own neighbourhoods and hotel options. Planning a full trip? Our Sicily itinerary maps 10–14 days with budget figures per day. Comparing Sicily with Sardinia for accommodation value? Our Sicily vs Sardinia guide covers the cost differences.

Where to Stay in Sicily: Best Hotels by Area and Budget