The first thing you’ll notice when you touch down in Sicily is that time seems to immediately slow down. To me, the right strategy to explore Sicily’s east coast is a slow meander from north to south, staying at more than one property that will make day trips to the many incredible places you’ll want to see easier.
Where to stay in Eastern Sicily really comes down to which stretch of the route you’re on: a flight into Catania, a late-arrival landing in Palermo, a hill town steeped in Godfather history, the postcard views of Taormina, the layered history of Ortigia, or a full-service resort reset on the coast. Here’s what we’d tell you for every stop: where we stayed, where we wish we’d had time to book, and where we’re already dreaming about for next time.
Where to Stay in Catania (Most Convenient Fly-in Point)
Use this live updated map to find great accommodations in Catania.
Palace Catania, UNA Esperienze
We flew Volotea Airlines from Strasbourg to Palermo, since the schedule worked best for that particular trip, but if you have any flexibility at all, flying into Catania is the better move for an Eastern Sicily itinerary. It cuts out the long drive east we had to do on our first day, and it means you can actually spend time in one of Sicily’s most underrated cities instead of just passing through it. We go into more detail on this in our Eastern Sicily Itinerary, where flying into Palermo instead of Catania is the one thing we’d genuinely do differently.
We didn’t stay in Catania ourselves on this trip, but we did do a bunch of hotel stalking. If you’re flying in, Palace Catania, UNA Esperienze is where we’d book. It’s a historic early 1900s building right on Via Etnea, valet parking, pets allowed, and a rooftop terrace and restaurant with Mount Etna views that alone might be worth a night’s stay.
It’s also centrally located very close to a popular pickup site for day tours.
Book Beautiful Palace Catania, UNA Esperienze
Where to Stay in Palermo (The Other Main Airport)
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Mercure Palermo Centro (We Stayed Here)
We landed late into Palermo and needed one easy, no-stress night before hitting the road the next morning. Mercure Palermo Centro was the perfect spot. We’d seen it on another trip to Palermo They gave us a dog bed and bowls for Helga without us asking, which is always a good sign. Breakfast turned out to be the real highlight, a full Sicilian spread that includes a stuff-your-own-cannoli station.
If you’re starting an Eastern Sicily trip with a late flight in to Palermo, this is the kind of hotel that takes the stress out of arrival night.
Book Comfy and Convenient Mercure Palermo Centro
Where to Stay in Savoca
Borgo San Rocco (We Stayed Here)
This locally owned resort hotel checked every box we had: sea view, parking, dog-friendly, quiet, an on-site restaurant, a pool, and strong guest reviews. It delivered on all of them and then some. Our room had an enormous private terrace overlooking the hills, the town, and the Ionian Sea, the kind of room that makes you start plotting how to extend your stay.
Why Savoca? Its claim to fame is that it was the filming location for several important scenes in The Godfather movie, including Michael and Apollonia’s courtship and wedding. This quaint and picturesque town was scouted by Hollywood and it lives up to all you imagine.
The hotel restaurant was good enough that we ate there twice, working through local clams and mussels, truffle pasta, basil pesto gnocchi, and a strawberry cake we still think about. Our host sent us off with a hopeful farewell we’ve never forgotten: “Maybe there will be a stone in the road and you will have to come back.”
If you’re staying anywhere in Savoca, make it this one, book early, and keep your fingers crossed for a stone in the road, because you are not going to want to leave!
Check prices and availability for Resort Borgo San Rocco
Where to Stay in Taormina
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Grand Hotel Timeo
We didn’t stay in Taormina overnight, but two hotels caught our eye enough that we’ve already got them bookmarked for next time. They’re a little splurgy, but that’s probably why we noticed them!
Grand Hotel Timeo is the first: gardens, luxury rooms, and a location literally right next to the Ancient Greek Theater itself. If waking up steps from one of the most cinematic ancient sites in Italy sounds like your kind of morning, this is the pick. I stood at the gate peering in like a kid looking in a store window on Christmas.
On further research, there’s a pool, an incredible terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea, and almost every single review raves about the service and the food exceeding expectations. This one is definitely worth checking out.
Book Your Dream Stay at Grand Hotel Timeo
Excelsior Palace
The second Taormina property that knocked our socks off and made it immediately on to our list is Excelsior Palace, known for sweeping views and a pool overlooking the Ionian Sea that looks almost too good to be real. I was checking out this one as we pulled out of Taormina, and it was everything I’d imagined. Luxurious rooms with ceiling to floor windows, sumptuous wallpapers, a grand marble staircase, breakfast on the terrace overlooking the sea…
They even have valet parking to make the whole arrival and departure situation easy.
If you’re choosing whether to stay in Taormina the two hotels we’ve featured are on either end of the main road with shops and restaurants. Being able to walk to the main sights like the Greek theater early or late in the day, before and after the day crowds, makes a real difference in a town this popular.
Reserve Your Room at the Luxurious Excelsior Palace
Where to Stay in Ortigia
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Grand Hotel Ortigia
We were pressed for time and leaving Ortigia when we stopped dead in our tracks to take a photo of this hotel from the outside because it made that strong of an impression. And when I looked it up online, my instincts were dead on. Grand Hotel Ortigia sits right on the waterfront next to the main harbor, in a building that’s been operating since 1890, with a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Porto Grande and private beach access by boat shuttle. The location alone is about as good as it gets in Ortigia.
Ortigia isn’t just scenic, it’s the founding nucleus of Syracuse itself, settled by Greek colonists from Corinth in 734 BC and later described by Cicero as the greatest and most beautiful Greek city of all.
If you plan to stay in Syracuse/Ortigia this is worth investigating. It’s a quick walk to all the things to see on Ortigia, harborside restaurants, boat tour launch points, temple ruins, ancient churches, museums, bustling markets, and everything Ortigia has to offer.
Book the Harborside Grand Hotel Ortigia
Where to Stay in Noto
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Gagliardi Boutique Hotel
We didn’t stay in Noto ourselves, but from what we saw, if you want to step out your door and be in the middle of the Baroque old town, this is where we’d look first. Gagliardi Boutique Hotel sits right in Noto’s historic center, with a rooftop terrace and rooms that look like they’re straight off a movie set.
Book Centrally Located Gagliardi Boutique Hotel
Hotel Porta Reale
This one is right near the ceremonial gateway into Noto’s Baroque center, and offers balconies with real city and landmark views, plus a sweet Italian breakfast buffet.
Check Out Availability and Pricing for Hotel Porta Reale
Hotel Flora
Just outside the Porta Reale, Hotel Flora has stylish rooms, a great location, and a terrace overlooking the city. One room even comes with a spa tub, worth considering after a day of climbing bell towers.
Explore Beautiful Noto from Your Room at Hotel Flora
Where to Stay Near Syracuse, Ortigia, and Noto
Mangia’s Resort, Brucoli (We Stayed Here)
After several days of hill towns and archaeological sites, we were ready for a full resort reset, and Mangia’s Resort in Brucoli delivered big time. There is not much going on in Brucoli itself, but the seaside location strategically located as a central launch pad for day trips made it perfect.
We (and Helga) were golf-carted to our room upon arrival and spent the next few days decompressing between excursions: a gargantuan breakfast buffet (truly one of the best I’ve ever had), a pool overlooking the ocean, direct beach access, five restaurants (we tried them all and never had a bad meal), poolside bar, and beautifully landscaped grounds for evening strolls.
This became our base for exploring Ortigia, the Syracuse Archaeological Park, Villa Romana del Tellaro, and the baroque city of Noto, all reachable by car without needing to change hotels each night. After a hot day of sightseeing, it was back to Mangia’s Resort for a fabulous dinner, an evening swim, and cocktails. If you want a genuine vacation feeling mixed into a history-heavy itinerary, this is exactly that and we loved it.
Book Your Seaside Escape: Mangia’s Resort, Brucoli
FAQs About Where to Stay in Eastern Sicily
Where to Stay in Eastern Sicily If You Only Want One Base
If you’re flying into Catania, which we’d recommend if your schedule allows it, staying there for your first and last nights makes the most sense before heading out to the rest of your route. But if you want to dump your bags in the room and not have to worry about moving anywhere again, Catania or Taormina could be just what you’re looking for.
Do You Need a Car to Visit Eastern Sicily?
A rental car is essential for Eastern Sicily unless you really just want to pick one place and stay there the whole time. There are plenty of organized tours and day trips that will pick you up in Catania and deliver you back at the end of the day.
But if you want to explore on your own terms, and in your own time, with room for flexibility, a rental car is the way to go. Public transportation between towns is limited, and many of the best sites aren’t accessible any other way.
If you’re worried about driving in Sicily, check out our post on Driving in Sicily: Best Rental Car and Travel Tips for some solid advice and reassurance.
Are Hotels in Eastern Sicily Generally Dog-Friendly?
It varies by property, but you’ll have lots of options for dog-friendly hotels. Mercure Palermo Centro, Borgo San Rocco, and Mangia’s Resort all accommodated our dog without issue. Palace Catania allows pets under 44 pounds. Grand Hotel Timeo is dog-friendly, Excelsior Palace welcomes dogs under 22 pounds, and Grand Hotel Ortigia allows dogs as well. Some hotels have an extra pet fee, and all require advanced notice that you’ll be bringing your dog. For more on what to expect, see our full guide to staying in hotels with your dog.
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Eastern Sicily
If your flights allow it, our best advice is to start and end in Catania, book Palace Catania or another property and give yourself at least one evening in a city that deserves more attention than it usually gets.
If you’re following our actual route, Mercure Palermo Centro for arrival night, Resort Borgo San Rocco in Savoca, and Mangia’s Resort in Brucoli will serve you well. Those three properties gave us one heck of a memorable and stress-free Eastern Sicily experience.
If you’re staying in Taormina overnight and your budget allows, both Grand Hotel Timeo and Excelsior Palace are dreamy. And if Ortigia’s waterfront calls to you the way it called to us, Grand Hotel Ortigia is worth checking out.
And if you want to explore further south, Noto woud be a splendid local home base with several great options to check out.
Wherever you land, the key to figuring out where to stay in Eastern Sicily is this: decide what you want to see, and plan your bases around a slow pace. Choose well and make time to enjoy the place you’re staying, as well as your daytime destinations.
Relevant Posts:
Eastern Sicily Itinerary: The Perfect 7-Day Route for History Lovers
Driving in Sicily: Best Rental Car & Travel Tips
Where to Stay in Western Sicily: Best Picks for Every Base
The Greek Theater of Taormina: Best Guide
One Day in Syracuse Sicily: A Stunning Historical Gem
Syracuse Archaeological Park: Best Guide
Villa Romana del Tellaro: Sicily’s Hidden Gem of Roman Mosaics
