Ragusa
With its exposed stonework and crisp white decor, this stylish, family-run B&B exudes a quiet sophistication. While the four double rooms are not the…
Must-see hotels in Southern Italy
Amalfi
This family-run hotel has just six rooms, all of them light, sunny and prettily furnished with antiques, majolica tiles and the odd chintzy cherub. The…
Noto
Eclectic and subtly sophisticated, Melodia 3 revels in contrasting old and new: picture lofty vintage ceilings, sculptural lamps, antique drawers,…
Cefalù
Run by two brothers, this B&B – one of Cefalù's oldest – offers seven rooms and apartments, five sea-facing and two town-facing, in a Liberty-style…
Lampedusa
If in-town convenience is your goal, Hotel O'scià is a good, dependable bet, with easy walking access to restaurants and bars and only a five-minute (free…
Milazzo
High-end amenities and state-of-the-art fixtures make for a comfortable stay at this sleek new six-room hotel upstairs from the excellent Al Bagatto wine…
Sorrento
One of a cluster of hotels along Via Capo, the Desiré is a top budget choice. It’s not so much the simple, sunny rooms (although they’re fine) or the…
Ravello
Still living off past glories (check out the 'celebs board' behind reception) the family-run Garden doesn't have to bend much with the times. Hoarding one…
Tyrrhenian Coast
Run by an octogenarian retired vascular surgeon, this agriturismo in Ucria (on the road to Floresta) offers high-ceilinged rooms with sweeping sea and…
Giardini-Naxos
Within walking distance of both the beach and train station, this restored 19th-century villa charms with its pink facade, high ceilings, neo-Gothic…
Taormina
A throwback to another era, this conveniently located salmon-pink pensione has been run by the Sciglio family for seven decades. Its low prices reflect a…
Milazzo
Run by super-friendly Stefano and Barbara, this B&B halfway between the port and the castle has been lovingly remodelled, retaining historical details…
Positano
Carlo the ceramicist is the main man at Maria Luisa; he's an extremely congenial (and multilingual) host who’ll make your stay in glitzy Positano feel…
Catania
Part of the Italy-wide UNA chain, Palace Catania delivers higher-end digs in a city badly in need of upmarket options. The white-on-white rooms lack wow…
Sorrento
A snug little nook near the train station that’s ideal for single travellers on a budget who feel like they’ve grown out of hostelling. The space…
Salina
Remodelled in Aeolian style, with peach-coloured stucco, cheerful blue doors, and floors clad in reproductions of historic tiles, this family-run pensione…
Palermo
Convenient to the train station and speckled with books, records and the odd gramophone, this welcoming, 5th-floor B&B on Via Roma wins guests over with…
Palermo
Dating from 1874, this is one of Palermo's most historically fascinating hotels. Like a royal court, it's been the scene of intrigue, liaisons and double…
Central Sicily
Antique furniture and framed artworks give this welcoming B&B an elegant, comforting feel. All the rooms are spotless and inviting, and breakfast is…
Agrigento
This handsome converted baglio (manor house) has rooms that are somewhat old and tired, but the garden and the location with views over the Valley of the…
Naples
A chic melange of antique furniture, contemporary art and Liberty stained glass, Costantinopoli 104 occupies a neoclassical villa in the city's bohemian…
Naples
This central, friendly spot offers hostel and hotel options on two floors. Rooms are pretty nondescript and functional, though all are clean and the more…
Matera
The attraction of this Sasso Caveoso hotel is its subterannean termae romanae (Roman baths). Cave accommodation, with niches and rustic brick floors, is…
Basilicata
Set in an art-nouveau villa in Acquafredda, this hotel is like a piece of plush Portofino towed several hundred kilometres south. Enjoy a broad terrace…
Positano
This welcoming family-owned place hugs the hillside in 'old' Positano above Fornillo beach. Decently sized rooms are well equipped, with a minibar and…
Naples
A block away from Via Toledo, this well-priced B&B is more like four apartments atop a thigh-toning stairwell. While two apartments share a small terrace,…
Capri
Near the bus station, the Carmencita is run by a delightful couple who will collect you from the ferry at Marina Grande if you phone ahead. The atmosphere…
Noto
Directly uphill from the centre, this renovated hostel offers excellent value for money and is a great option for families or groups. There's one dorm …
Tropea
Look for the sign of a bounteous hostess bearing fruit and cake to find this delightful B&B, overlooking the main corso. The 17th-century palazzo retains…
Lipari
Pleasantly situated near Marina Corta, this well-maintained nine-room B&B is presided over by friendly Russian immigrant Olga. Pluses include the tasty…
Capri
Away from the glitz of the town centre, this charming one-star is hidden down a quiet back lane overlooking the Certosa di San Giacomo. The 11 smart rooms…
Modica
Angle for the beautiful front suite with original tiled floors and frescoed ceilings at this nostalgic B&B in a 19th-century palazzo, once home to a…
Bari
Run by the French Accor group, the Villa Romanazzi shows flair that transcends its workaday (if convenient) location, near the train station. Businesslike…
Sorrento
This renovated classic has the advantage of being located in the heart of the centro storico (historic centre). Overall, it’s an excellent choice. The…
Amalfi
Located in the backstreets just off Amalfi’s main pedestrian thoroughfare, this family-run three-star hotel is central and squeaky clean. Rooms, some of…
Filicudi
Despite the tongue-in-cheek 'Grand Hotel Sirena' proclamation on its facade, this four-room hotel in the secluded fishing village of Pecorini Mare is a…
Ragusa
Occupying a couple of beautifully restored palazzi in the old town, Don Serafino sets a chic scene with its exposed limestone vaults, neutral hues and…
Palermo
On a central, car-free street, affable, multilingual Angela has converted her grandmother's spacious 6th-floor flat into a cheery B&B. Rooms are simple,…
Palermo
Occupying a modernised 16th-century palazzo, Quintocanto offers visitors a prime city-centre location within walking distance of numerous major cultural…
Naples
Your host at this personable B&B is retired literature professor Anna Grappone, whose charming abode features ethnic artefacts, antique furniture and the…
