Taormina Hotel Villa Ducale

We had a wonderful stay at Villa Ducale. The location of the hotel is perfect - above the centre of town so away from the crowds and with a beautiful view of Mount Etna and the coast. There is a pedestrian path nearby down into the centre which we used to go up and down. There are lovely views along the way.|If you prefer not to walk then you can use the Hotel shuttle.||We stayed in one of the beautiful new suites which was very comfortable and peaceful, with a lovely balcony and an amazing view.||Breakfast was very good. We also ate dinner in the restaurant Incanto and it was by far the best place we ate during our time in Taormina. The food was delicious and the service also far more attentive than in other restaurants. There is also a wonderful view from the terrace which is magical in the evening. ||Finally and most importantly, the service at the hotel is excellent - the staff at the hotel are all very friendly and helpful. Thank you!

We had the most amazing experience at Hotel Villa Ducale! From the moment we arrived, everything was exceptional. They upgraded our room for our anniversary, and it was spectacular! The room had an amazing view, with a beautiful balcony and a hot tub. In addition to the hotel being stunning, the service was impeccable; they truly treated us like family and were very attentive to all of our wants and needs. The breakfast every morning, overlooking Mt. Etna, was wonderful. We cannot say enough about the hotel and the gorgeous property! They made our 30th Anniversary trip so special, and we will definitely be back! Highly recommended!

We spent 3 nights in the hotel. The location offered spectacular views of Mt. Etna, the ocean, and villages carved into the hillside. The atmosphere of the hotel was welcoming and extremely helpful, from making restaurant recommendations and reservations to arranging shuttle service. We can’t say enough about the amazing staff! Breakfast on the open veranda was delicious and attentive. Our room had beautiful views and was both clean and private, with crisp white linens. Considering the level of service, location, and accommodations, the value was excellent!

I can’t say enough good things about Hotel Villa Ducale. This was our first stop when we arrived in Sicily from the States, and we were welcomed by a smiling face and the warmest hospitality. For my birthday, we were upgraded to a larger room with a beautiful terrace overlooking Mt. Etna. It was stunning and completely unexpected. We were greeted with prosecco to enjoy on the terrace at Incanto, the onsite restaurant. Incanto is not only gorgeous but the food is incredible. I have celiac disease, and they made safe, delicious meals for us throughout our stay. On my actual birthday, the breakfast team even sang to me. Every single person went above and beyond. You can also walk to town in about 15 to 20 minutes, which was so convenient. Thank you to the entire team at Hotel Villa Ducale. We cannot wait to come back!

Taormina was the final stop of our Italy trip – staying at this hotel for 4 nights totally made our happiness overflow! The stunning views and Taormina-style breakfast are a given, but the hotel team went above and beyond for first-time visitors like us. Santina at the front desk was absolutely amazing – she said, “It’s our responsibility to make you feel right at home.” The entire team was incredibly thoughtful, taking care of every detail to ensure our trip was smooth and enjoyable.

A most amazing hotel and experience. Everything was top notch -- the included breakfast, the amazing dinners, the exceptional views from all parts, the INFINITY pool, and the friendly staff. We stayed 4 nights in Villa 21, the biggest of their rooms, and it was amazing. The free 5 min shuttle to and from the heart of town (Corso Umberto) allowed us to ditch our rental car that we had used in the rest of Sicily, and with it the stress of driving in Italy. The hotel recommended a great Etna Wine Tour with Etna People, as well as a beach club where we spent an afternoon drinking, eating and enjoying the beach life. We could not have asked for a better hotel, and we will definitely be back.

Thank you for the attentive service. Guliano for helping us with the check in, Daniel for recommending good restaurant and another gentleman for helping us to call the hotel in Ragusa and Palermo on ZTL issues. Lastly Tony for sending us up and down the mountain also helping us with the luggages. We had a wonderful memories in Taormina because of all you of. May god bless you all. Merry Christmas in Advance

We stayed in one of the new rooms with out door hot tub (a cover to keep the heat in would be good) and a view over the infinity pool to the Taormina and the sea in one direction and Etna to the side. The room was very spacious with a long thin bathrooom on the rear and a lounge to the side. |There is also a large veranda with easy access from the bedroom. |The staff were very helpful and the breakfast was good with great views over the bay.|We ate one night in the restaurant but this was disappointing. |Overall though we had a lovely stay.

Absolutely unforgettable! The view of Mt. Etna is beyond words--hands down the best I've seen anywhere. The food matched the scenery: fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Service was attentive without being overbearing. This isn't just a meal, it's an experience you'll remember long after you leave. A must-do and well worth going further into the hills...

Sicily was the last stop on our annual vacation and we decided on Taormina as the base for traveling during a 7 day period. But which hotel? After lots of research, we chose Villa Ducale. Pros: - Views are magnificent from the restaurant and patios of the individual rooms. You get a 180 degree panorama with Taormina and the Mediterranean down the hills to the east and Mt Etna to the west. - Great people on the reception desk. Very helpful with information, reservations and arrangements for luggage and keeping our car safe in their parking lots. - Very good food...especially at the included buffet breakfast which had lots of fresh ingredients...and the servers were quite personable - Bathroom was nice with excellent water pressure - Shuttle service to and from Taormina in the hotel van was an added convenience - A paved trail starting 3-4 blocks from Villa Ducale allows people to walk down to the shopping district (20-30 minutes) and climb back up (we didn't try). Vistas are amazing. - The mountain top town of Castelmora is a 5-7 minute drive up the road from Villa Ducale and offered charming shops and restaurants with "top of the world" views Cons: - We had a Junior Suite where the only difference from a "regular room" was some extra space for a large bench - Try as we might, there was no access to English language TV stations with current news. That was especially tough since the Middle East was thrown into turmoil on day #1 of our 7 day stay. - Housekeeping didn't seem to change the sheets more than every 3 days, but they cleaned the room each day - Toilet paper seemed to be single ply or verrrrry thin 2 ply Despite those few qualms, we're glad we chose Villa Ducale and recommend it to other travelers.

Our experience was absolutely horrible from day one. We booked a trip through Luxury Link (now defunct). The package included the stay in an ocean view room breakfast and one dinner at a local restaurant. The staff was anything but friendly. We were put in a room across the street not ocean view, basically staff and travel agents. No a/c. The room was terrible and jacuzzi was non operational not disclosed. We would go the main hotel where we booked early and were shown into the back of the bus in the restaurant although many tables upfront were available. We were treated very badly although we went into this trip to Italy with high expectations and no attitude - all we got was bad attitude. When were ordered breakfast we ordered Italian expresso - the waitress slammed down our coffees and said American coffee not ordered. Inexcusable behavior. Our luggage was lost for 3 days on a 6 day trip and when the airline delivered it to the hotel. It was left on the sidewalk and not delivered to our room until they procured a tip. I will never go back the hoteliers were rude and we did nothing to deserve the horrible treatment we received. Don't go to this hotel if you are American.

This was our second stay at Villa Ducale (May 2023 and September 2024). The hotel was recommended from friends that have stayed there in the past. Both stays left us with a desire to return. The accommodations were impeccable; the staff and cuisine were exceptional; and the views are breathtaking! Truly a "la dolce vita" experience that I recommend! Enza

My favorite place I've ever stayed, hands down! The perfect hotel for my daughter and me. Perfect location, perfect rooms, perfect food, perfect view and, above all, perfect staff who ended up feeling like family. What a special place! Spotlessly clean also. If I come to Sicily again, this is the only place I would stay. Also, Cheeccio (sp?), Massimo Snr., Francesco and the kind chef (forgot his name) went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and special. The chef even helped me celebrate my daughter's college graduation by creating a special dessert for her; he did this on his own accord! Kudos to the owner for hiring THE BEST, most professional and friendliest staff - I hope you pay them well!

Stayed there quite a few years ago and was treated so terribly felt compelled to share my experience. I purchased a 5 day stay through the then site luxury link; I only reserved 4 days by mistake and hotel did not speak to me about mistake just took the money and shorted me 1 day. I booked a room in the main hotel with all amenities. When we arrived we were greeted by a very lackluster hotel staff and told our room was across the street in the adjunct hotel no views. The hotel was not full and there were no other people that we saw in this inferior room. Every day when we went for breakfast, with only a few other couples there we were given the last table not oceanfront view and treated so poorly by wait staff. We ordered expresso and the waitress shoved a cup of coffee in front of us and said very loudly American coffee which we didn't order. The airline lost our luggage and when it was finally delivered 1 day before we left we found it left on the sidewalk and we had to lug it over to our miserable room. They didn't even have the courtesy to take it to our room. Altogether a very terrible stay. We came in with high hopes not "ugly American" attitude and were treated with reverse discrimination. The excellent reviews maybe reflect new ownership and a new improved demeanor. Went up the hill to another town and found a perfectly lovely restaurant and were treated well, ate there several times and the owner was a great friendly person.

Amazing views, amazing staff, fresh food, fantastic rooms, superb service and the shuttle service up and down the mountain was a game changer. Daniel, one of the members of management, will make sure you stay is superb. He was a wonderful and kind person. The Owners should make sure to never lose him. If you want to wake up eating breakfast over looking the bay above the cliffs, walk down the stairs into town and hop a ride back with the courtesy shuttle - this is the hotel for you.

Small boutique hotel located on the road to Castlemola, up-mountain from Taormina. The staff is among the friendliest I've every experienced and they will go out of their way to ensure your every need is met. They offer a great happy hour and free shuttle service into downtown Taormina, although my wife and I preferred to walk during daylight hours. The jacuzzi was not open in March, but they offered the use of a nearby spa. I would definitely stay there again.

There are good hotels and great hotels but this one is Superlative! From the moment you arrive you are treated like family. We were welcomed by the charming Manila who gave us a detailed orientation of the surrounding locales. All the rooms with balconies are idyllic, The views breathtaking and the shuttle to and from town is prompt and efficient. The little touches like afternoon tea make it feel like home. Like every other charming guest I've met, I will plan on coming back soon!

Beautiful view of the coast of Sicily and the Greek area of Naxos. There was a lot to offer in the area and the hotel was a nice walk to the downtown spot. Entire staff was very friendly and willing to help us set up tours, transportation, dinner reservations, etc. Nice, small hotel with a friendly neighborhood feel to it. Would definitely recommend!

My wife and I just returned from a wonderful vacation in Sicily. The trip was perfect except for our stay at the Hotel Villa Ducale in Taormina, where we stayed for 4 nights. Taormina was even more beautiful that we expected, however the Villa Ducale was a disappointing experience. When we arrived at Hotel Villa Ducale, we were greeted by Santi who asked us for our car keys. Even though we are not comfortable handing our car to valet, we felt the need to comply since it is the policy of the hotel. Big mistake!!! After admiring the view from the terrace, we were excited to go see our "Suite-De-Luxe". We had the first of what was to be a series of disappointments at the Hotel Villa Ducale. We followed Santi to a building accross the street where the view was a dirt mountain with a small peek of the ocean. When we expressed our unhapiness, Santi conducted us to a room half the size in the main building. Given our choices, we decided to keep the first. Trying to make the best of our stay, we decided to try the restaurant. Second mistake, the fish that my wife ordered was inedible!! After a tiring car trip and a horrible dinner we went to sleep hoping that the next day will be better. Well, it had rained during the night and was still raining which made it impossible to cross the street to the main building for breakfast without getting our shoes drenched because of the river that the street becomes when it rains ( they provided no help with this issue). The day that we left was still raining. Our third disappointment came when we got to Siracusa. After parking the car, we noticed a series of new scratches (still with pieces of the wall where it was parked next to) on the rental-car. We were mortified but trusted that Sra. Rosaria Quartucha (the friendly owner of Hotel Villa Ducale) will respond to the matter. After waiting a couple of days for her response to our email, we got a letter from a Manager denying any responsibility for the damage of the car. This was ridiculous since the scratches clearly showed that they were made by parking. He even sent us a video of the time we left where as he thought there was no visible damage. It turns out his video came in very handy, because when you zoom it, it clearly shows the damage is there. We are now stuck with a €840 Euro bill from Enterprise!!! What a frustrating experience we had at the Hotel Villa Ducale. If you really want to enjoy Taormina, stay close to the tiny beautiful town not far away from everything on the side of a mountain. Stayed November 2014