Where to stay in Sicily - The 7 best areas
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- Опубліковано 4 чер 2024
- It's all about where to stay in Sicily based on your type of trip: with family and kids, with just your partner, for the best beaches or a crazy nightlife
My favourite accommodations in Sicily
PALERMO
Novecento: www.booking.com/hotel/it/b-am...
Alma Hotel: www.booking.com/hotel/it/alma...
Casa Nostra Boutique Hotel: www.booking.com/hotel/it/casa...
Appartamento a Mondello: www.booking.com/hotel/it/appa...
CATANIA
Scuto Home: www.booking.com/hotel/it/scut...
B&B Palazzo Bruca: www.booking.com/hotel/it/eolo...
TAORMINA
Hotel Villa Schuler: www.booking.com/hotel/it/vill...
Rocca Castello B&B: www.booking.com/hotel/it/rocc...
SAN VITO LO CAPO
Acquarò Suite Rooms: www.booking.com/hotel/it/acqu...
Piccola Stella: www.booking.com/hotel/it/casa...
TRAPANI - Central Gallery Rooms: www.booking.com/hotel/it/cent...
ERICE - Bella Vista b&b: www.booking.com/hotel/it/bell...
AGRIGENTO - Terrazza di Empedocle: www.booking.com/hotel/it/la-t...
NOTO - Palazzo Tasca: www.booking.com/hotel/it/pala...
ORTIGIA ISLAND - Hotel Henry’s House: www.booking.com/hotel/it/henr...
FONTANE BIANCHE - White Bay: www.booking.com/hotel/it/whit...
More info, maps, best hotels, top restaurants
mel365.com/where-to-stay-in-s...
mel365.com/where-to-stay-in-c...
00:00 Intro
00:28 Palermo & Mondello, the beach area of Palermo
02:01 West Coast (Trapani, San Vito Lo Capo)
03:08 Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples
04:18 South-East Coast (Ragusa, Noto, Ortigia Island)
05:29 East Coast (Catania and Taormina)
07:05 Aeolian Islands
08:02 Cefalu
In this video, you have seen the best places to stay in Sicily. The best areas of Sicily where you can book your hotel.
In the video, I wrongly said the town of Mondello, when instead Mondello is a neighbourhood of Palermo, 8-12km from the city centre
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I loved scoglitti. Small place but relaxing for this guy. Ciao tutti 👋
I went to Sicily in June. My favorite places were Cefalu and Taormina.
They are both so different and so beautiful in their own way
The town of Cefalù is more pretty to stay than Palermo?
@@mariaalejandraydler Unfortunately, I had a terrible experience in Palermo. Maybe I just didn’t stay in a nice area.
@@captainstage2009 Thank you for letting me know. I have been trying to book a place and I don't know which. area yet. Did you stayed by any chance by the old town?
@@mariaalejandraydler Yeah, it wasn’t very nice.
Bon voyage !! Tout de Suite, to these awesome Sicilian Beaches.
Thank you so much! Grazie mile... I am solo traveller. this helps a lot.. Planning this summer. so excited!!
You will love Sicily. Enjoy!!
Thanks for this information, it will help us plan our upcoming trip to Sicily!
No worries. Enjoy!!
Sicily is amazing ❤️
We just spent last Christmas in Sicily for a month. Blue sky 23 days in a row! Lots of cheap high-quality tangerines. Olive picking season is in October, so we missed it this time. We have family in Agrigento so make these day trips to various mountaintop towns and villages like Enna and Assoro. They all have a castle or ruins of a castle at the very top. The year before we took the high-speed hydrofoil ferry boat from Palermo to the island of Ustica, an extinct volcano. Rented a farm house that had 5 acres of ripe tomatoes. Cliffs dropping down to the water was about 80 yards away. Visibility underwater was maybe 200 feet during summer. You can rent those electric bikes and go round and around this 5 km long island, with many cliffs.
Wow Amy, so many amazing experiences!!
Awesome video! So well explained. Thank you
Glad it was helpful! Cheers
You are the best,thank you
Sei il migliore, mi hai salvato di un dolore di testa con questa informazione
È stato un piacere. Divertiti
Very informative, grazie mille!!! We hope to get "Back to Sicily" soon!!!
No worries. Enjoy the island!!
We stayed 1 Week at trapani Just beautiful
the ferry to the Islands
Rent a boat under 40ps U can Drive without a license
For beaches is Just 1 at the town its free and Sand but the Others ones are Rock beaches but 15km around you can find very good beaches
grazzie mile! This was sooooo helpful I was taking down notes. I am planning a trip this summer and am already getting started. Im gonna watch your other videos too.
Glad it was helpful! Enjoy this beautiful island
@@StefanoFerro thanks a lot dear Im from Armenia so I truly appreciate history and culture ☺️ i subscribed
Thanks Stefano, this was very helpful for our holiday in 2022. We’ve been to Italy three times, but never Sicily. I look forward to more about Sicily.
Glad it was helpful!
have a great trip!
Would to connect with you since I’m planning my first trip to Italy!
Thank you for this.
No worries. Enjoy Sicily😁
Looks enchanting. I'm going in May so this video is very helpful.
Enjoy
We did Palermo with day trips to Agrigento, Erice, and others... boat to Lipari, train to Catania to see Etna and Taormina. Syracuse, Noto, both amazing.. All beautiful places. A car in Palermo is very useful, though the roads are often quite confusing, driving for the brave. Arranging car parking from the hotel there is very important. There is no street parking in Palermo. Lipari is amazing if you get good weather.
We just visited Sicily in February. We stayed in Catania, Agrigento, Terrasini. We visited Siracusa, Etna, Palermo, Trapani, Cefalu. We absolutely loved the island.
All beautiful destinations 💛💛
@@StefanoFerro We are from the US, but live in Spain. The food in Sicily is a huge selling point. What we ate there reminds me of what my aunts cooked for me as a kid when I lived in NJ.
did you have to drive yourself around?
I rented a car and drive everywhere.
how is the traffic?
@@Peter_Schiavo
After 20 years of going to Taormina it’s tops my husband studied Italian at the Babilonia institute in Taormina for a month every summer when he was off working in England for 7 weeks summer holidays as a School Master .He now speaks fluent Italian and we have been soo many times and have so many friends but because of the virus we cannot come for 2 years🥲 maybe in September Italy will let us come to our second home bellissimo bravo 🇮🇹🙋🏻♀️🇬🇧✈️
Thanks for sharing your beautiful story 💛💛
Excellent and very informative video. This really helps plan my trip. Thank you and hello from the USA!
Glad it was helpful! You will love Sicily, such a unique island. Hopefully I will make it soon to USA myself. Such a great country!
@@StefanoFerro if you make it the USA, have a safe and fun time!
@@StefanoFerro Where are you from ?
Good job ! My wife and I are going.thank you
Enjoy your trip 👍🏻
My mother's family is from Palermo. I'd love to go there.
Grazie Mille! Agrigento la città Magnifica! I miei antenati vivono lì ho appena imparato quest’anno. Mio marito e io andranno lì e altri luoghi in Sicilia l’anno prossimo! Il tuo video è perfetto!👌 JoAnne
Grazie per il tuo commento. Ironia della sorte sono arrivato proprio adesso ad Agrigento per il mio Sicily 2022 tour
wow nice views. keep in touch.
Very useful...lovely commentary
So nice of you. Thank you so much. Enjoy your trip in Sicily
Thank you !
No worries 👍
Thanks,I’ve lived in Sicily over 30 years ago and would love to come back to visit. I have experience living in Palermo, Catania and piano tableau in motta! Are you familiar with any tour guides or any agencies that book trips to Sicily?
Good Video 😊
Thanks!!
Hi Stefano, great video, it helps a lot, how is Celafu in October for swimming? I am traveling with family, first was considering San Vito Lo Cabo but since you recommended Celafu i am in doubt 😂,
Thank you in advance
Early October the water is actually still quite warm. You will enjoy it.
I would go for San Vito Lo Capo if travelling with small kids, otherwise Cefalu may be more interesting for grown-ups
Enjoy Sicily
Cheers
Sorry but 2:30 in the picture is Ortigia in the Province of Siracusa not Trapani and for sure not San Vito lo Capo. I do agree with most of your suggestions for 7 best places including for sure Cefalu , which is on top of our list! San Vito lo Capo to stay not so much for a few day, its ok for a day trip.
Best place to visit with a partner? We are both active, love hiking and taking in the scenery as well as enjoying local delicacies.. any suggestions on where to stay would be very appreciated!
Ciao Stefano! Great vid! I am planning my first trip to Sicilia and want to take the train from Rome during Easter next year (2023). Are the trains even running during the weekend of Easter? I’ve been travelling to Italy for many years and know that other areas completely shut down☺️. I will be staying in Cefalu.
No worries with the train but remember to book a seat because it can be really packed during school holidays
Stefano we are planning trip in September 2024. Aeolian islands for 5 days then main island for 8. We are watching all your videos
Enjoy the videos and even better Siciliy. Lovely region 👍👍
Where to stay in positano?
Where is positano we can stay at coast level without many stairs or any alternative close by. If any suggestions then what will be the drawback of that places. Thanks
Hi Stefano, which town/city/resort would you recommend for BUYING a sea-view vacation apartment on Sicily for a couple in their late 30s/early 40s without kids? Here are my criteria:
- not more than 35 minute drive from an international airport
- not more than 35 minute drive into a big city (so only Palermo and Catania qualify, Messina is too far from an airport)
- not too small, so there is enough to do even if you visit 2-3 times per year for many years to come
- safe and clean (waste disposal should work), ideally a good upward trend in real estate prices
- should have a marina to put a boat
Looking forward to your suggestions :)
Trapano would be the biggest bet. They have an airport that was getting busy precovid. This year the traffic is not that much but promising good for the years to come (of course there is lots of politics involved). Town is beautiful, great location. It's 2h from Palermo. It's a bet, if the Trapani airport will start having more flights than it's a great buy.
Cefalù is my suggestion otherwise. More than 35mins but absolutely a gem
@@StefanoFerro Interesting, thanks. Cefalu really is a bit too far from an airport for me, I wouldn't want to be discouraged to fly in and out for long weekends. Trapani looks really nice, would need to check the development of the airport indeed.
In my own research, Mondello and Balestrate popped up. Very different towns, but what do you think of them? Too party-focussed/too quiet, respectively?
My ancestors were from Argrigento!
Ive read that there is not much point staying in Mondello outside of summer holidays as it becomes a "ghost town" and public transport to Palermo becomes difficult. Could anyone confirm this? We're hoping to go at the end of September
Ciao Stefano! Molto buono il tuo video, grazie mile! I will be traveling to Sicily on May, 27th until the 1st. I am thinking to stay in two different areas, one by Capo and the other one, I am in between Cefalù and Palermo (Old Town). In the case of Palermo, which area do you recommend? I would like something pretty in an apartment with one of those balconies and not crazy crowded.
Grazie per aiutarmi! 🫶
Maria
Sounds great! I have just finished a full guide on Palermo. Have a check to mel365.com/where-to-stay-in-palermo-italy/ and let me know if you need more info. Palermo is more of a city meanwhile Cefalu is more of a town with easy access to a lovely beach. Keep in mind that Mondello is a bit of a trip from Palermo (45 minutes). There is a quick train that connects the two cities, which is very handy. Enjoy Sicily :)
Thank you, I’ll check it out. Which one is your favorite one if you need to pick one?
Hi Stefano, Please can you tell me the best place to go which has a beach and also traditional restaurants. We don't want to be more than an hour from an airport. Many thanks!
Flying to Palermo: Mondello and Cefalu (a bit more than an hour)
From Catania: Aci Castello
Love this but where do you recommend for solo travelers. You state about couples and families but not the solo traveler. Any suggestions?
As a solo traveller i would avoid Catania and Palermo and stay in Cefalu, taormina and the smaller towns. Palermo and Catania are als9 great, just stay in the central area and limit your time at night in smaller streets with poor light
Great video - how do I find the itinerary that you suggest?
Thanks Una, have a check here mel365.com/sicily-itinerary/
Hello from Montréal …. Did you say that you Haddad great airbnb or hotel to suggestion in Sicily ? Thank you. Great vídeos
Yes, definitely. Check out the video description for all my suggested accommodations. Cheers
Great video, I'm visiting Sicily this June with my wife and our 5 years daughter, we going to be there a week and plan to split our stay between Catania and Taormina, do I need to rent a car? is it easy to get taxis / ubers? thanks.
You don't need a car. There is a train as well as a bus that connects them. The bus is a better option because you will be left up in Taormina, meanwhile the train is down in the coast and from there you will need a bus or taxi to go up to Taormina.
In Taormina you will not need Uber or taxi.
Taxi are widely available in Catania. There is also an app to download for that.
Enjoy both!!
Also how many days would you recommend for a trip if you wanted to visit all of Sicily?
Last year i was there for a month with a rented car with the intention to visit most of it. It was just impossible. 2-3 months is more realistic, especially when visiting places inside the island.
For a good overview, I would spend 2-3 weeks. In 1 week, decide for either the east or the west of the island
Hi, I'm looking at going in August. My itanary is catania for a couple of days then ragusa and finally taromina.
If I wanted to use public transport to get from Catania to Ragusa what's the best way and how long does it take?
Same for Ragusa to Taormina.
Check out this guide with all the transport needs
mel365.com/getting-around-sicily/
I advise you to go to Palermo in the historic center and to Cefalù(If you can even in Mondello), I am from Sicily and I am amazed as if I were from abroad when I go there
Foods I recommend absolutely you try in Sicily:
Panino con panelle
Arancina
Cannolo
Hi, we've just come back from Catania. To Taormina and Siracuse (which I strongly recommend visiting) is about 75 to 90 minutes by bus. In Catania you can take a bus every half hour.
We are wanted to visit Sicily early May for about 7 days. Can you tell us how is weather in Sicily during May? Any restrictions to travel in Italy now days? Thank you.
Late May is fabulous, warm and nice but not hot or crowded. About the restrictions, they change in a blink of an eye. You better check the government website for that.
Enjoy your trip 😁😁
We booked a 2 week vacation in Sicily in september. I hope we can still come due to COVID. Are there tourists coming to Sicily at the moment? Is it true you can only sit with a total of 3 people in a car?
Hi Do, I am not currently in Sicily so it's hard for me to give any answer. My only suggestion is to wait. Between now and September things could change so much that the virus could be totally under control thanks to the increasing level of vaccination or, on the contrary, the whole of Europe could go in total lockdown. Fingers crossed :)
Hi! I was just there! I would not be worried, barely anyone wears a mask and everything is open!!
Thank you are all these places you mentioned accessible by bus and train?
Indeed by bus and/or train.
You can read more on
mel365.com/getting-around-sicily/
@@StefanoFerro sounds fantastic is it safe as a solo traveller. Also looking for quiet good cheap accommodation air bandb I think thank yoy for your reply
@@janetlombardi2314 it is as safe as it could be in many places in US or UK. Just avoid the (in)famous neighbourhoods of the main cities and never dress with shiny watches, gold .....etc. these are usually areas far from the tourist path anyhow. I hope it helps
@@StefanoFerro Thank you
as a Divorced Physician here in NYC I am looking to Sicily to retire in a few more years. single .handsome...Mother was a model from Florence....I like something with a good nightlife but also culture Opera Classical music etc...I also love rococo and baroque architecture.....any suggestions? Thanks.
Palermo has it all you have asked for. Have a few trips there to experience it. If you live in NYC probably you won't find it that chaotic too🤣
Where's the best resort for beaches and restaurants etc please?
Hi Andrew. San Vito lo Capo, close to Palermo, and Fontane Bianche close to Catania
Have a great trip!!
How can I best find an affordable home with a little garden not too far away from the ocean but away from crazy tourists!? What to think of when considering a long term stay, like 3-6 months to begin with?!
Going long in any country has always the own challenges. Start with Airbnb, however, check also from a local agency (they are usually cheaper). The South coast is probably cheaper (besides the Agrigento area). Another great unspoilt area is the west coast, around Marsala.
If you have a car any location is fine, otherwise check out how is connected. Google "getting around sicily" and check out the post on the website mel365.com. Plenty of info about it with all the buses and trains availability.
I hope I was able to help out
Cheers and enjoy Sicily
@@StefanoFerro gracias!!
My Father was from Partinico Sicily
Providence of Parlemo
hi Stefano, I would like to visit sicily in december for 3 to 6 months, I would like to rent 1 bedroom apartment which city would be cheaper and nicer thank you.
Palermo or Trapani for a quieter and cheaper stay
@@StefanoFerro thank you.
Is it viable to travel the whole island, through the major cities, by public transportation ?
It can be done. You would need plenty of time, though
How much time are we talking ? I plan on staying in Palermo 3 days, try to go to Cefalu, then Im staying in Siracusa 2 days and finally 3 days in Catania, and there, im gonna try to go to taormina
@diogom.m9757 all of your destinations are well connected. Easy.
Palermo Cefalu is around 1 hour by train
Catania Siracusa is 1.5 h and Catania Taormina is 1h (check out my video on the trip).
Catania to Palermo by bus is around 3h give or take.
Fr Catania you can also catch the bus to Etna (another video on it).
Enjoy 👍👍
@@StefanoFerro thank you so much! I will!
Hello I need to know if we go to Sicily and like to go to Taormina and mount etna and valley of temple and Turk stairs how many days need
You can do all you said in a week. If you rush it through even 4 days, however, I would personally not suggest it
Which city’s are best as a home base and day trips from there.
We are planning maby 3 , 5 day stays in different cities but want to keep wives from getting bored 😉
Agrigento, trapani, Palermo and Catania are the best bets. You may leave out Agrigento (visit the Valley of the Temples from Palermo)
I have been in Sicily for 6 weeks, and stayed 30 days as base in Palermo 2017. I found Palermo beautiful, and with lots of attractions. I never got bored. In summer there are classical concerts in the centrum. There are marionette Theatre shows for children, and adults alike. There are many Churches, museums, and the Archeological Museum is a highlight, where in the middle of the small courtyard is a fountain with water turtles. One can observe the workers restoring objects...and so on. It’s not a large tiring Museum, so one can well remember all the objects, and it has a special intimate atmosphere. On the Hill in Monreale overlooking Palermo, and the sea is the splendid Chiostro Benedettino monastery, which took my breath away. It’s a mixture from Moorish, Byzantine to Christian. It’s courtyard with colourful columns is stunning. There are lots of beautiful sculptures, paintings, religious objects, mosaic pavements. By bus l made numerous day trips including Mt. Etna, Taormina, Cefalu, Armerina - where 3 km away is the Villa Romana del Casale nestled in a beautiful garden, with splendid collections of late Roman mosaics depicting life in Roman times - the variety and quality of mosaics were one of the best l have ever seen. It was also one of the joyous highlights of Sicily to me. On the way back from Armerina, where the bus goes to Palermo, l passed Enna, another beautiful place.
l stayed a few nights in Agrigento to explore the Valley of the Temples nestled on hilly terrain, so one can look over the Sea, the site is romantic must for any history/architecture lover. From Noto l explored by a private driver, with a couple from Venice the stunning beaches in the South Capo Delle Correnti , Pachino, and he showed us some secret places, tourists don’t know about. Anyway, my Sicily experience was one of the best in Italy, especially there is sooo much history, there have been sooo many cultures, so many races, and All of them left their marks till today.
Thank you for your video about places in Sicily. It triggered all my beloved memories...sorry for the long monologue. Love 🇮🇹❤️🦘greetings from Melbourne, Australia
Hello Stefano, me and my family are thinking to spend the Chirstmas eve in Palermo, is there any hotel or restaurante we can spent the night, we nice food and maybe some party as well?
Hi Gaby,
usually Italian families tend to get together for Xmas eve at home with the whole family.
In saying that, these restaurants usually organise Xmas lunch and/or dinner. Contact them to see if they have anything on for the eve, as well.
Osteria San Lorenzo (very likely to do both 24th and 25th)
Castello a Mare
Corte dei Mangioni
Enjoy your stay there :)
Cheers
Is Sicily a good place to holiday alone ?
I would say so. Like travelling alone in Greece or Spain, Portugal. Of course, avoid dark streets and areas off the tourist path, like the unsafe neighbourhoods of Palermo and Catania
@@StefanoFerro Great ,thanks for the response . I'm considering either Barcelona or Sicily for a week away in June on my own .
Do you give tours?
Sorry I am more of a traveller than a tour guide. And I am not familiar with the touring market too. So sorry!🙏🙏
No mention of Messina ?
Good day Charles. You are absolutely right. I tell you. It's always so hard to pick the destinations in Sicily. Such an amazing island. I will have to do a part 2 of this video🤣🤣 hopefully you liked this part 😁
Thanks for leaving a feedback.
Cheers
how many days needed to see sicily
10 days or more I would suggest
Where are you from my guy?
I was born in Italy. Living overseas for the last 30y 👍 🇦🇺
How is it save Palermo ?
It's a big city and you should take the usual precautions but besides that it is a safe city if you stay in the touristic areas. Petty crime can be an issue, so take your bag always in front of you, and never leave anything unattended. Enjoy your trip
@@StefanoFerro I have been last year in Trapani, Erice and favignana . I love Sicily Only downside to me the rubbish everywhere .The Sicilian people do not care much about it .
@@krisztiannagyszeder1095 check my last video about it. And what I think about it 😣
@@StefanoFerro I will Grazie
What area do you think would be the best option to visit the best beaches and also having a great historic experience in one week?
Hi Gustavo. I think you have a couple of options, based on what airport you arrive.
You can read more on my post here mel365.com/7-days-in-sicily/
Enjoy Sicily😁
@@StefanoFerro do you think that some airports could be more expensive then the others?
@@gustavosantos2145 Hard to say, it all depends on your flights availability. Usually you find cheaper flights to Palermo but it really depends on your airport of departure
Thanks for the information that you mention on the website
@@StefanoFerro im from portugal btw
La cattedrale di Monreale???come si può non citarla almeno???😢😢😮😮
You are so right. Just not enough time for a UA-cam video. Although very well mentioned in any of my guides on the website 😜
Cefalu is overrated imho.
It's a beautiful town with a lovely beach but also very popular nowadays. Trapani is more as the Cefalù of a few years ago, although the beach is not as beautiful