Which hotel in Sicily for which type of traveler?
So that you know where to find the right hotel for you in Sicily, we give you specific hotel tips here depending on the type of trip:
For families: Villa Olimpia in Mondello (Palermo) – near the beach, with family rooms and only 20 minutes from the airport.
For divers & snorkelers: Baglio di Scopello in Scopello – there is a diving center and several diving spots along the rocky coast of the nature reserve, including two sunken ships.
For those seeking peace and quiet: Casa dell’Arancio on Favignana (except in July and August) – an almost car-free island with beautiful beaches and a small village.
For going out: Ossuna Bay Hotel in Cefalù – only 50 meters from the beach, in the middle of the lively old town of Cefalù.
For sightseeing: Unahotels in Taormina – between a dream beach, Mount Etna and the historic old town of Taormina.
The most beautiful beaches in Sicily on one map
To give you an overview of where all the beaches presented are located, we have created a map of the best beaches in Sicily.
Mondello
- Perfect for: going out, sightseeing, walking
- Best time to visit: June, September
- Airport distance: Palermo 20 minutes, Catania 3 hours
Most city beaches aren’t that beautiful, but Palermo beach is! But maybe that’s because Mondello is about 20 minutes outside the city.
The beach is 1.5 kilometers long, there is a beach promenade with palm trees and colorful Art Nouveau villas everywhere – very different from what you are used to in Palermo’s old town.
The water is turquoise and crystal clear and you have to wade through it for a few meters before it gets deeper. This makes a beach vacation in Mondello suitable for small children too.
The only downside: almost the entire beach is for a fee and you have to pay for a parasol and sun lounger. However, it is very well maintained and there are toilets and changing cabins.
Advantages of accommodation in Mondello
- Very nice beach with parasol rental, showers and changing cabins
- There are many bars, restaurants and nightclubs around the beach
- The city bus takes you directly to the center of Palermo in 30 minutes
Disadvantages of accommodation in Mondello
- It is very crowded in July and August
- The beach is almost completely chargeable
- A parasol with two sun loungers costs around 25 euros per day, depending on the rental company and season
Hotel tips in Mondello
Cefalù
- Perfect for: Going out, sightseeing, snorkeling
- Best time to visit: June, September
- Airport distance: Palermo 1 hour, Catania 2.5 hours
To describe Cefalù simply as a fishing village would be an understatement.
Cefalù may be small, but it has a beautiful medieval old town with a cathedral and castle, many small restaurants, a museum and a 1.5-kilometre-long sandy beach. The water is crystal clear and only gets deep slowly.
But the beach is particularly beautiful because the medieval old town starts right in front of it and some of the old houses are built right on the water.
Cefalù is considered a bit of a jet-set vacation resort in Italy and many well-heeled Italians, as well as international vacationers, moor their yachts here. This is why accommodation prices here are somewhat higher than in other seaside resorts in Sicily, especially in summer.
Advantages of accommodation in Cefalù
- You can combine a beach vacation with sightseeing here
- There are many bars, restaurants and entertainment
- You can easily get to Cefalù from Palermo by train
Disadvantages of accommodation in Cefalù
- It gets very crowded in July and August
- A rented set of parasol and two sun loungers costs around 30 euros per day
- There are lots of vendors on the beach who will approach you again and again
Hotel tips in Cefalù
Tindari
- Perfect for: Relaxing, snorkeling, hiking
- Best time to visit: June, July, August, September
- Airport distance: Palermo 2.5 hours, Catania 2 hours
Tindari is a small village near Messina, on the north coast of Sicily. The town is located directly on the Marinello nature reserve, where a huge sandbank extends far into the sea.
The sandbank is also known as a lagoon because it forms several small salt lakes. The water is crystal clear and if you walk far enough across the sandbank, you will find a piece of beach just for you, even in the height of summer.
There are steep mountains around the sandbank of Tindari, which is why you can also go hiking here. There is a pilgrimage church far above the coast, from where you have a great view of the sea.
Advantages of accommodation in Tindari
- It never gets too crowded
- You can snorkel wonderfully
- You can also reach Tindari by train from Palermo
Disadvantages of accommodation in Tindari
- Only a small selection of accommodation, hardly any hotels
- There is hardly any accommodation directly on the beach
- Not much going on outside the high season
Hotel tips in Tindari
- Good and cheap
- Esperia B&B
- Better
- Best Western Plus
Cocciu D’Amuri - Overview
- All accommodations
Taormina
- Perfect for: going out, sightseeing, snorkeling, diving
- Best time to visit: June, September
- Airport distance: Palermo 3.5 hours, Catania 1 hour
The beach of Taormina, with Isola Bella, is a small stone beach below the town, in the Mazzarò district. You can get down from Taormina by cable car.
The beach is not particularly wide and consists of more or less large pebbles, which is why you need bathing shoes here.
Instead, you have a great view of the steep slopes of Taormina and Mount Etna. The water here is also wonderfully clear and perfect for snorkeling.
There are many bars and restaurants around the beach and some areas of the beach belong to hotels. There are umbrella rentals, but also free sections of beach.
Advantages of accommodation on the beach in Taormina
- The beach is well equipped with many bars, restaurants and parasol rentals
- The beach is ideal for snorkeling with its rocks and rapidly deepening water
- You can quickly reach the lively old town of Taormina by cable car or bus
Disadvantages of accommodation on the beach in Taormina
- As the beach is small, it fills up very quickly
- Because it is a rocky beach, you definitely need to bring bathing shoes with you
- Accommodation near the beach is quite expensive
Hotel tips for a stay on the beach in Taormina
- Good and cheap
- B&B Porta del Re
Hotel Soleado - Better
- Unahotels
B&B Bellavista - Luxurious
- Iancu Charme Apartments
Panoramic Hotel - Overview
- All accommodations
Giardini Naxos
- Perfect for: Going out, sightseeing, diving, snorkeling
- Best time to visit: June, September
- Airport distance: Palermo 3.5 hours, Catania 45 minutes
The beach of Giardini Naxos is a vast beach of pebbles and sand, equipped with many beach bars and restaurants where you can eat and drink during the day.
The beach has several parasol rentals, as well as a boat rental and a diving school.
From the beach, you have a great view of the surrounding mountains and Taormina, which is around 8 kilometers away.
If you are looking for hustle and bustle and entertainment, this beach is great for a vacation.
Advantages of accommodation in Giardini Naxos
- There are many hotels near the beach
- There is plenty of infrastructure with stores, supermarkets, pizzerias and beach bars
- Catania airport is only 40 kilometers away. So theoretically you don’t need a rental car
Disadvantages of accommodation in Giardini Naxos
- It gets packed in the high season
- The parasol rental is quite expensive at around 20 euros per day
- In the low season there is sometimes garbage lying around
Hotel tips in Giardini Naxos
- Good and cheap
- B&B Ines
B&B il Volo - Better
- Hotel Palladio
Villa Antonio - Luxurious
- Nautilus Hotel
- Overview
- All accommodations
Fontane Bianche
- Perfect for: snorkeling, relaxing
- Best time to visit: May, June, September
- Airport distance: Palermo 4 hours, Catania 1 hour
Fontane Bianche beach is located in the village of the same name, around 20 minutes by car from Siracusa.
The beach is very popular with both locals and tourists, which is why it fills up quickly in high summer.
It is not very spacious, but it is clean and the water is crystal clear with different shades of blue and fine sand.
It gets rocky at each end of the bay, which makes Fontane Bianche beach great for snorkeling.
On the beach itself, there are both paid sections where you can hire a parasol and free sections.
Advantages of accommodation in Fontane Bianche
- The beach is great for snorkeling
- There are many beach bars and restaurants
Disadvantages of accommodation in Fontane Bianche
- Because the beach is small, it can get crowded quickly, especially in July and August
- On the beach it can sometimes get louder with animation and music
- Only a few hotels, mainly vacation homes
Hotel tips for Fontane Bianche
Marina di Modica
- Perfect for: Going out, relaxing, sightseeing
- Best time to visit: June to September
- Airport distance: Palermo 4 hours, Catania 1 hour
Marina di Modica has everything you need for a beach vacation in Italy: a golden sandy beach, parasol hire, beach bars and plenty of entertainment in the evening.
So if you like to wander through a weekly market, have a few restaurants to choose from and don’t mind crowded streets late into the night, then Marina di Modica is ideal.
There are also the particularly beautiful mountain villages of Modica, Scicli and Ragusa nearby, which you can easily reach from Marina di Modica.
The water at Marina beach only gets deep slowly, making it ideal for families. The beach at Marina di Modica is also awarded the Blue Flag every year, which stands for particularly good water quality.
Advantages of accommodation in Marina di Modica
- Lots of entertainment, lots of restaurants
- There is something for every age group
- The seawater is very clean
Disadvantages of accommodation in Marina di Modica
- It can get very crowded in high summer
- It is around 4 hours by car from Palermo airport
- There are very few hotels
Hotel tips in Marina di Modica
Good and cheap
Casa Vacanze Medusa
Better
Roccaseta
Overview
All accommodations
Eraclea Minoa
- Perfect for: Relaxing
- Best time to visit: June to September
- Airport distance: Palermo 2 hours, Catania 2.5 hours
Eraclea Minoa is an excavation site on the southern coast of Sicily, where the Greek settlement of the same name once stood.
Today you can see the Greek theater and the foundations of the former houses on a high cliff.
Below the cliff, which is somewhat reminiscent of the chalk cliffs of Rügen, stretches the kilometer-long sandy beach of Eraclea Minoa.
The beach slopes very gently, making it great for swimming, even for small children. A large part of the beach is freely accessible, others are occupied by a few bathing establishments where you can hire parasols and sun loungers.
Behind the beach is a pine forest that is part of a nature reserve. There are only a few hotels, but you are pretty undisturbed here and there is no trace of party tourism.
Advantages of accommodation in Eraclea Minoa
- Not overcrowded
- Safe swimming even for non-swimmers
- Several excavation sites nearby for excursions, for example the Valley of the Temples
Disadvantages of accommodation in Eraclea Minoa
- Not much going on
- 2 – 2.5 hours by car from the airports
- Only a small selection of accommodation
Hotel tips in Eraclea Minoa
Good and cheap
Eden Capo Bianco
Better
Luna Minoica
Luxurious
Verdura Resort
Overview
All accommodations
Favignana
- Perfect for: snorkeling, diving, relaxing
- Best time to visit: June, September
- Airport distance: Palermo 2 hours, Catania 5.5 hours
Favignana is a small, typically Mediterranean dream island off the west coast of Sicily.
It is one of the Egadi Islands and can be reached by ferry from the port of Trapani in 20 minutes.
The island has some of the most beautiful beaches in Italy: the bays may be small and narrow, but the water is crystal clear and full of fish.
There is no trace of party tourism: in the small village of Favignana there are only a handful of restaurants and boutiques and a small harbor.
You can easily reach all of the island’s beaches by rental bike from the only town, there are virtually no cars.
Our tip: only visit Favignana in the low season. It’s so crowded in high season that it’s simply not worth it given the size of the island and the beaches.
Advantages of accommodation on Favignana
- The beaches are all beautiful and perfect for snorkeling
- The island is very clean
- There is no party tourism, just a few restaurants, pizzerias and small bars
Disadvantages of accommodation on Favignana
- In the evenings, there is virtually nothing going on after midnight
- The beaches are small and therefore fill up quickly
- Accommodation is a little more expensive
Hotel tips for Favignana
Good and cheap
Donna Maria B&B
Favignana Hotel
Better
Casa dell’Arancio
Luxurious
I Pretti Resort
Camarò Favignana
Overview
All accommodations
San Vito Lo Capo
- Perfect for: snorkeling, relaxing
- Best time to visit: June, September
- Airport distance: Palermo 1 hour, Catania 4.5 hours
San Vito Lo Capo is a typical Italian seaside resort: the small town on the north coast is always busy in summer and there are numerous accommodations, restaurants and boutiques.
The beach of San Vito Lo Capo is considered the most beautiful beach in Sicily. It really is a dream beach: wide, with scattered palm trees, white sand and very shallow, crystal-clear water.
Right next to the beach is the Monte Monaco mountain, which gives the whole area a touch of Copacabana.
The beach has both paid sections, where you can hire a parasol and sun loungers, and free sections.
The small town of San Vito lo Capo surrounds the beach with many small bars, restaurants and shops.
Advantages of accommodation in San Vito Lo Capo
- It is considered the most beautiful beach in Sicily with a fantastic mountain backdrop
- There are many bars, restaurants and nightlife
- Palermo airport is only an hour’s drive away
Disadvantages of accommodation in San Vito Lo Capo
- It is very crowded in high season
- The beach is very sheltered from the wind, so there are hardly any opportunities for water sports
- Due to the popularity of the resort, prices are quite high in high season
Hotel tips for San Vito Lo Capo
Good and cheap
Hotel Perla Gaia
Hotel Spiaggia d’Oro
Better
Villa Cancelliere
Hermes Hotel
Luxurious
Artemide Hotel
Baglio La Porta
Overview
All accommodations
Scopello
- Perfect for: Snorkeling, diving, relaxing, hiking
- Best time to visit: June, September
- Airport distance: Palermo 45 minutes, Catania 4 hours
The small fishing village of Scopello has made a name for itself throughout Italy and is particularly well known for its beautiful coastline.
The Riserva dello Zingaro nature reserve begins near Scopello, where you can go hiking in the mountains and swim in the sea.
It is very rugged almost everywhere and the rocks drop steeply into the crystal-clear sea. However, there are a few small bays that are perfect for snorkeling and diving.
The bay of Tonnara di Scopello is the most famous: the ruins of a former tuna factory stand directly on the water.
The beach access is on a cement floor and costs 7 euros for the whole day. Cement floor may sound stupid, but the bay is absolutely worth seeing.
Advantages of accommodation in Scopello
- The underwater world is colorful and diverse, perfect for snorkeling and diving
- There’s not much going on in Scopello, so you can relax even in high season
Disadvantages of accommodation in Scopello
- Sandy beaches are further away, there are only pebble and rocky beaches
- The village is very small and there are only a few accommodations
- Scopello can only be reached by car or bus
Hotel tips for Scopello
Good and cheap
Tenute Plaia Agriturismo
Better
Baglio la Riserva
Hotel Baglio di Scopello
Overview
All accommodations
General hotel tips for Sicily
Here are some useful tips to help you find the right hotel for your beach vacation in Sicily.
On which coast of Sicily should you book your hotel?
Sicily is large and it can take several hours by car to drive from one coast to the other. So unless you’re planning a round trip to Sicily, you should think carefully about your vacation location.
For newcomers to Sicily who don’t just want to lie on the beach, but also want to see something, we recommend a hotel on the north coast. In addition to beautiful beaches, there are also highlights such as Palermo and Cefalù or the Lo Zingaro nature reserve. You can also get around the north coast very easily by regional train.
If you have more time and prefer natural beaches without all the frills, then you should head to the south coast. You will have a longer journey from the airports, but it is not as crowded here in the high season and, above all, not as touristy as on the north coast.
How much does a hotel in Sicily cost?
July and August are peak season in Sicily. In the popular seaside resorts such as San Vito Lo Capo or Cefalù, a hotel room costs around 150 – 200 euros per night.
In contrast, you will find cheaper accommodation on the south coast. On the beaches between Marsala and Syracuse, you can also find accommodation for around 100 euros – although there are far more vacation apartments here than hotels.
You will also definitely need a rental car in the south, as the rail network on the south coast is not so well developed.
We prefer to use the Check24 comparison calculator to find the best rental car offer.
How far in advance should you book your beach hotel in Sicily?
Because the number of hotels on the beaches of Sicily is limited, the earlier you book, the better.
If you want to go to Sicily in high season and are looking for a good hotel near the beach, you should book at least three months in advance. The prices won’t necessarily be lower then, but you’ll still find rooms available.
If you are traveling in the low season, a month in advance is also sufficient. However, there are particularly good bargains to be had if you book at very short notice in the low season, for example a week in advance. Then you can also get a room in a luxury hotel for little money.
When is the best time to travel to Sicily for a beach vacation?
Sicily is not only crowded in July and August, but also very hot. Daytime temperatures of 40 degrees are normal. If you also want to visit a few towns, it’s pretty unpleasant at such temperatures.
That’s why it’s better to postpone your beach vacation to the months of June and September. There are far fewer tourists on the island then, the accommodation prices are lower and you still have perfect bathing weather.
These were our hotel tips with the best beaches in Sicily!
Do you have a tip for a great beach? Or maybe you also have a hotel recommendation in Sicily? Then let us know in the comments!