Sicily Hotel Recommendations for a first-timer

Posted by Lucy (Arlington, TX, USA) on 10/29/23 06:46 PM

I'm planning a romantic holiday trip to Sicily with my husband. We have been to Italy a few times, but this will be our first exciting venture to Sicily. Looking for hotel recommendations for the following towns:

Palermo
Agrigento/area
Ortygia - probably here for new year's eve
If we can fit in one more town, would you recommend Taormina or Cefalu?

I love historic hotels. We will be renting a car as we leave Palermo for the rest of the week. We also would enjoy trying an agriturismo or winery with a hotel.

Thanks!

Posted by acraven

Washington DC

10/29/23 06:52 PM

27706 posts

Time of year might make a difference.

Oops--I now see that New Year's Eve is mentioned.

Posted by Jean

Idaho, USA

10/29/23 07:08 PM

7674 posts

Hi Lucy,

I have plans for next year to stay in Palermo for five nights. I found a place that is much more elegant than my normal lodging. The owners give private tours to their guests of some of the museum-type rooms of the palazzo, also.

Palazzo Arone dei Baroni di Valentino, on Via Vittorio Emanuele in Palermo. The prime location & the experience of staying in such a beautiful palazzo would make this an extra special time, plus to see if I would like to return to Sicily in the future. I already am building a long list of churches & places I want to see there, plus the food! (Not the veal intestines). : )
I’ve stayed in less expensive palazzos in Salerno & Mantova, and they were both like an elegant historical museum/home B&B with kind hosts.

Posted by crudocanada

10/29/23 07:41 PM

2 posts

HI,
been several times to Sicily, and I always make my hub Palermo. Ease of travel including the train system, and also lots to do at night.
I always stay at Ad Hoc Theme Romes, which is a quaint B&B in the heart of Kalsa, and close to the the Quattro Cantanti area.

Posted by mjonesakron

10/29/23 08:17 PM

11 posts

Invest in the Rick Steves Sicily Book on his web Store. Or Library, it has hotels etc., it has it all, well worth the look.

Posted by Lucy OP

Arlington, TX, USA

10/29/23 08:38 PM

43 posts

I have the newest RS Sicily book on order, but it won't be released and ship until Dec. 5. I'd like to get my hotel reservations in before that, especially for NYE. 🥂

Posted by Lucy OP

Arlington, TX, USA

10/30/23 06:33 PM

43 posts

Palazzo Arone dei Baroni di Valentino looks amazing -- historic and beautiful. Perfect location.

Thank you for this suggestion!

Posted by Rosalyn

Portland

10/30/23 06:56 PM

3635 posts

We were in Palermo many years ago ((1994) for NYE. The whole city was having a party in a central square, with dancers, musicians, jugglers, fire eaters, and other performers. Lots of people were dressed in folk costumes. Great fun! At the stroke of midnight, people cracked open bottles of bubbly to toast the new year. You should check out what’s happening where you’ll be.

Posted by mml

11/01/23 02:22 PM

362 posts

Check out Santuzza de Charme in Palermo and B&B Terrazze di Montelusa in Agrigento, the favorites of our 2022 trip to Sicily.