The Best Hotels in Taormina, Sicily, for Every Traveller

The Belmond brand is not just a stamp of high luxury, but also fascinating backstories: it actively buys up and restores iconic palaces, mansions and grand designs in the most glamorous locations and modernises them while keeping a sense of old-school glamour. This villa is no exception, sitting right on the waterfront in Taormina, with manicured gardens spilling down to the sea. Lavish suites feel relaxed with their wicker lampshades and colourful tiling; while Ristorante Olivero has a delicious view of both waves and city walls.

Set further inland, on the slopes of the hill town, Timeo has staggering views of Mount Etna’s dome as well as the rippling Mediterranean. Lounge on the broad terrace with a glass of local wine to take it all in, or explore the Greco-Roman amphitheatre just behind this Taormina hotel. An alfresco massage in the earthy spa comes with the scents of Sicily’s fruits and herbs. Try the Sicilian Sensations for wafts of olive oil, sweet almond and prickly pear.

A convent turned palace turned luxury hotel in Taormina, this newly-minted Four Seasons is really an ageing icon that’s played host to Elizabeth Taylor, Oscar Wilde and Sophia Loren over the years. Channel that hedonistic spirit with a cocktail at the glamourpuss pool, which juts out over forested slopes leading down to the sea. Later, book in for a Sicilian-speciality-packed dinner at island maestro Massimo Mantarro’s restaurant. Creamy, neutral-toned rooms stick to classic white and glossy dark woods, many with dazzling sea views.

Right in the winding, peach-pink centre of town, this charming, traditional townhouse hotel in Taormina has balconies that are great for watching the stream of travellers and locals below. A glorious local breakfast of fruit tarts, fresh pastries and juices are also served on a terrace with an A-list view. Rooms are simple with white linen and cool, tiled floors, but there’s character in the painted wooden headboards and mirror frames. Taormina’s cathedral, churches and rustic trattorias are minutes away on foot.

The centrepiece of this luxurious pad is its Michelin-starred restaurant, St George, helmed by world-renowned chef Heinz Beck and spread across a lofty terrace lit by candles and trimmed by palms. Book in for a seven-course tasting menu, or just kick back by the hotel’s infinity pool, which stretches towards the panoramic sea views. Rooms are pared-back but undeniably luxurious: think glossy jacquard wallpaper and monogram-stitched satin cushions. Book the Spa Suite for your own private steam room and whirlpool.

This affordable Taormina city hotel from the reliable Spanish NH brand is less than a kilometre from all of Taormina’s key sights. A large building with a towering, glassy lobby, what it lacks in local charm it more than makes up for it with switched-on, 24-hour service and unpretentious, modern rooms. A buffet breakfast is served in a bright, light, contemporary dining room, while the colourful tiled bar is a great spot for a nightly cocktail. Most stay here in order to head out exploring and dining, rather than to stay and lounge, but there’s a compact outdoor pool should you want to linger.

The Metropole’s delightfully old-fashioned jazz club is a real treasure on this island, with singers and trios coming from all over the continent to riff on its stage. Also within its recognisable coffee-and-cream facade are impossibly luxurious suites, some with spiral feature staircases, al fresco hot tubs or eagle’s-nest balconies with sea vistas. Particularly spectacular is the sapphire-tiled infinity pool, with tumbling green slopes on either side and Taormina’s beaches in view.

The interiors at Villa Carlotta have a modern aesthetic that combines maximalism, botanical prints, pot plants and unusual ceramics. The overall effect is earthy and colourful with a hint of North African style. Many suites have private patios or gardens with candy-coloured geraniums and citrus trees framing the sea view. But most guests flock to the courtyard pool with its picturesque red rooftops and exotic feeling palms. A balcony restaurant serving dainty seafood creations completes your luxury-villa checklist.

One of the oldest hotels in Taormina, the Belvedere has a spectacular garden with a kaleidoscope of summer flowers. Sitting out on the breakfast terrace here, with a complimentary glass of fizz, you’ll find the only thing that obscures your view of the ocean is a cloud of pink bougainvillea. A vivid pool is wrapped around a shade-giving tree. But drag yourself away to climb the slopes of Etna, learn pizza-making tips from the pros or feel the breeze in your hair on a boat trip. All these experiences and more can be organised through the hotel.

One of the few beachfront hotels in Taormina, VOI Grand is trimmed by pristine white, cushioned loungers and parasols lined up on the sand. The jet-set crowd that checks in here is rewarded with spectacular views of the bay, framed by rocky outcrops, from polished marble balconies or the squishy turquoise sofas at Bar Tancredi, often soundtracked by live music. Rooms are calm and minimal, dressed in smart shades of white, grey and navy. That said, being able to run from lobby to sea in mere seconds is the real luxury here.