Where to Stay in Sicily: Best Areas, Villages and Types of Stays

Taormina is the easiest base for a first stay, with hotels in every category, holiday rentals and the Etna villages close by, while farm stays in the Nebrodi, the Madonie and around Caltagirone suit travelers who want the countryside. Sicily’s main sights sit far apart, from the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento to Monte Pellegrino at Palermo, so the area you pick shapes how much of the trip goes to getting around.

At a glance

• Hotels, B&Bs and holiday rentals: Taormina
• Near Etna: Taormina, Catania and the Etna villages
• Valley of the Temples: Agrigento, bus ticket €1.20 at the kiosks in Piazzale Rosselli
• Farm stays: Nebrodi, Madonie, Acireale, Caltagirone
• Average length of stay: 3.6 days
• Tourist tax, Augusta: €0.50 to €2.50 per person per night

The best areas to stay in Sicily

Taormina: hotels of every category

Taormina has hotels, B&Bs, serviced apartments, resorts and holiday rentals. Hotels run from 1 star to 5 stars, and the local hotel association lets you filter by category. Hotels sit on streets such as Corso Umberto, Via Teatro Greco and Via Nazionale. The Florence Trevelyan Gardens are among the sights. It suits first-time visitors who want to choose between lodging types.

Castelmola: a quieter hotel stay near Taormina

Castelmola is close to Taormina and has hotels of its own, one of them on Via Porta Mola. It works for travelers who want to sleep outside the center of Taormina and still stay within reach of its sights and restaurants.

Giardini Naxos: a second option next to Taormina

Giardini Naxos is another neighbor of Taormina.

Agrigento: for the Valley of the Temples

The Valley of the Temples has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The park covers almost 1,300 hectares, with sanctuaries, necropolises, fortifications and an underground aqueduct network. The site address is Via Panoramica dei Templi in Agrigento, so sleeping in town keeps the visit short. Buses sell tickets at kiosks in Piazzale Rosselli for €1.20, or €1.70 on board. Stamp your ticket in the validation machine as you get on.

Mount Etna villages: mountain huts and small hotels

Eco-friendly mountain huts and facilities let visitors experience Mount Etna. The villages around the volcano are also close to Taormina and Catania, so they pair well with a stay on the coast. Choose them if the volcano is the reason for the trip.

Nebrodi and Madonie: farm stays in the hills

The Nebrodi offer farm stays and small local producers.

Acireale and Caltagirone: agriturismo beds

Agriturismo farms list their beds. One in Acireale has 10, one in Caltagirone has 12, and a masseria in Piana degli Albanesi has 23. Rural tourism means lodging or meals in existing buildings registered as rural. Small bed counts mean these places fill with a few bookings, so reserve early.

Where to stay in Sicily with kids, as a couple or on a budget

• Families wanting a choice of lodging: Taormina · hotels, holiday homes and residences · listed by category
• Larger groups: Piana degli Albanesi · masseria with 23 beds · rural setting
• Slow travel: Nebrodi and Madonie · farm stays and village rooms · reached by car

What is the best area to stay in Sicily?

For a first trip, Taormina is the sound choice. Plan a separate night or day trip for Agrigento if the Valley of the Temples is on the list.

Hotel prices and when to book in Sicily

Nightly rates vary by category, and the tourist tax follows the stars. In Augusta it was €0.50 per person per night for 1 star in 2021, then €1.00, €1.50 and €2.00 for 2, 3 and 4 stars, and €2.50 for 5 stars. The maximum is €5.00 per person.

Demand is rising. Sicily recorded 22.4 million overnight stays and 7 million arrivals in 2024. In the first ten months of 2025 it passed 20.5 million nights, up 11.6%. Short-term rentals grew by 16%. With busy airports and an average stay of 3.6 days, book early for any dates you can’t move.

The tourist tax is capped by consecutive nights. In Bagheria it applies for up to five nights. Marsala also set five consecutive nights and raised the cap to 7 from March 1, 2025, when new rates took effect. Check the town’s rule before a long stay.