Palermo hotels

Hotels in Palermo come in all shapes and sizes and have great deals to suit every pocket. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with the multitude of great-value 4-star hotels smack bang in the centre of the city and, with a host of superior 5-star hotels close to all the major attractions, you are never far from the action. Whichever option you choose, the availability and comfort of most Palermo hotels will guarantee a stress-free stay!

Palermo is a fascinatingly diverse city that has an incredible amount to offer every type of visitor, from families seeking some Mediterranean sun to couples on a cultural holiday. Luxury hotels blend beautifully into the sun-soaked cityscape while the area's great business hotels complement the existing architecture.

Forget the Sicilian stereotype of Mafiosos chowing down on mamma’s home cooking – Palermo’s restaurants have so much more to offer, making this part of Italy an absolute foodie heaven. Every year, tourists flock to the gastronomic mecca to sample its authentic cuisine heavily spiced with Spanish, Greek and Arab influences. Rustic trattorias like Zia Pina and La Rosa Nero offer mouth-watering traditional dishes such as pasta alla norma (named after Bellini’s opera), fritto misto (deep fried seafood) and buccellato (fig and nut cake) – heavenly!

Work off all that food by exploring the city’s many churches, castles and museums. Drop into the royal Cappella Palatina and gaze upon the opulent artwork and decorative mosaics. Examine the exterior of the stunning Palermo Cathedral, an intricate combination of Romanesque, Byzantine and Renaissance architecture. Then take time out to browse around some of Palermo’s vibrant outdoor markets. A veritable feast of taste, noise and colour, these markets are must on anyone's to-do list. Practise your haggling skills in the Vucciria Market or pick up some unique vintage clothing in the 1,000 year-old Ballaro Market.

No visit to Palermo would be complete without visiting the creepy crypts of the Catacombe dei Cappuccini. Split into sections, the walls of the catacombs are the final resting place of over 8,000 embalmed men, women and children. Fascinating and macabre in equal measure, these spooky burial chambers may not be suitable for children but could make an interesting addition to an otherwise over-indulgent itinerary.

One stop-off the kids will definitely appreciate is the International Puppet Museum. Housing a quirky collection of puppets and marionettes from all over the world, this offbeat museum also hosts folkloric puppet shows in its very own theatre. The museum is also conveniently located next to some great boutique hotels that are especially suited to families.