Sicily and Sardinia are the Mediterranean’s two largest islands, and both are wonderful, but they offer very different holidays. Sicily is all about history, food and Mount Etna; Sardinia is about beaches, beaches and more beaches, with water as clear as the Caribbean.
Here is our comparison, with five of our best-rated hotels on Sicily and four on Sardinia.
You’ll find on this page
- Quick verdicts and a comparison table of every hotel
- Sicily vs Sardinia at a glance
- Sicily hotels
- Sardinia hotels
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- Live prices with flights and transfers in the search box at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the hotels
| Hotel | Where | Stars | Board | TripAdvisor | Adults only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Le Calette | Cefalu (Catania Airport), Sicily | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.6/5 | No |
| Hotel Rivage | Letojanni, Sicily | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.5/5 | No |
| Mangia’s Pollina Resort | Pollina (Catania Airport), Sicily | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Full Board, Half Board | 4.5/5 | No |
| Ortea Palace Hotel Autograph Collection | Syracuse, Sicily | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.4/5 | No |
| Palace Catania – UNA Esperienze | Catania, Sicily | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.4/5 | No |
| Club Hotel Baja Sardinia | Baia Sardinia, Sardinia | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.5/5 | No |
| Hotel San Teodoro | San Teodoro, Sardinia | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.2/5 | No |
| Hotel Stelle Marine | Cannigione, Sardinia | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Full Board, Half Board | 4.2/5 | No |
| SMY Carlos V Alghero | Alghero, Sardinia | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.2/5 | No |
Star ratings are official; TripAdvisor scores were correct when we last checked and can change. Board options vary by room and date.
Quick verdicts
Sicily hotels
History, food, Etna and Baroque towns.
Hotel Le Calette
- Cefalu (Catania Airport), Sicily
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.6/5
Hotel Le Calette in Cefalù has spectacular views, a stylish pool area and a choice of restaurants.
Best for: Cefalù
Hotel Rivage
- Letojanni, Sicily
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.5/5
Hotel Rivage in Letojanni, near Taormina, is beachfront, with a contemporary design and a peaceful poolside.
Best for: Near Taormina
Mangia’s Pollina Resort
- Pollina (Catania Airport), Sicily
- 4-star
- Full Board
- TripAdvisor 4.5/5
Mangia’s Pollina Resort has a private beach, outstanding views, an excellent range of facilities and stylish accommodation.
Best for: Resort facilities
Ortea Palace Hotel Autograph Collection
- Syracuse, Sicily
- 5-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.4/5
Five-star Ortea Palace Hotel in Syracuse is a historic building with stylish accommodation, an indoor pool and excellent spa facilities.
Best for: History lovers
Palace Catania – UNA Esperienze
- Catania, Sicily
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.4/5
Palace Catania is a historic building with an elegant design and a stylish rooftop bar and restaurant, in an excellent location.
Best for: City and Etna
Sardinia hotels
Beaches, coves and turquoise water.
Club Hotel Baja Sardinia
- Baia Sardinia, Sardinia
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.5/5
Club Hotel Baja Sardinia is close to the resort centre, with sunbeds on a rocky beach area and a wonderful restaurant.
Best for: Costa Smeralda
Hotel San Teodoro
- San Teodoro, Sardinia
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.2/5
Hotel San Teodoro is simple but stylish, with bright, comfortable rooms and a tranquil pool area.
Best for: San Teodoro beaches
Hotel Stelle Marine
- Cannigione, Sardinia
- 4-star
- Full Board
- TripAdvisor 4.2/5
Hotel Stelle Marine in Cannigione has a private beach area and beautiful gardens in a quiet, relaxing location, with a welcoming atmosphere.
Best for: Peace and quiet
SMY Carlos V Alghero
- Alghero, Sardinia
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.2/5
SMY Carlos V in Alghero has friendly and welcoming staff, a great spa, a chilled pool scene and a terrace bar.
Best for: Alghero
Sicily vs Sardinia at a glance
Beaches: Sardinia wins, with white sand and turquoise water all around the coast. History and culture: Sicily wins, with Greek temples, Roman mosaics, Baroque towns and Palermo’s markets. Food: both are superb; Sicily is famous for street food, cannoli and granita, Sardinia for rustic pasta and roast pork. Scenery: Sicily has Mount Etna; Sardinia has wild, granite-strewn coasts. Getting around: both reward a hire car. Flights take around three hours to Sicily and two and a half to Sardinia.
How we chose these hotels
We looked at every hotel we sell on Sicily and Sardinia and chose the best-rated in a range of areas on each island. We excluded hotels already featured in our other guides, so you get fresh choices. Every hotel here is well rated by our guests on TripAdvisor, and every one can be booked with us as an ATOL-protected package with flights and transfers. Prices change daily, so use the search box at the end of this page for live availability, or ask a Travel Designer for a tailored shortlist.
When to go
May to October on both islands, with June and September ideal. July and August are hot and busy, especially on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sicily or Sardinia better for beaches?
Sardinia.
Is Sicily or Sardinia better for culture and food?
Sicily, although Sardinia’s food is excellent too.
Which is better for families?
Sardinia’s shallow, sandy beaches are ideal for children.
Can I visit both?
Overnight ferries link them, but most people choose one island per holiday.
Find your Sicily and Sardinia holiday
Search live prices with flights and transfers, all ATOL protected, or ask a Travel Designer to compare these hotels.
Keep planning
- Sicily holidays
- Sardinia holidays
- Best hotels in Sicily
- Best hotels in Sardinia
- Best hotels in Sorrento and on the Amalfi Coast
Updated October 2026. Hotels can be booked as ATOL-protected packages with flights and transfers through Travelisto.
