Stay inside the old city walls for the markets, the palaces and the street-food rhythm at your doorstep.
The historic centre - roughly between the station, the port and the Teatro Massimo - concentrates the sights and the food. The area around Piazza Politeama and Via della Libertà is grander and calmer; the waterfront hotels trade the crowds for sea air.
A grand four-star in a restored palazzo close to the port and the old markets, with a rooftop terrace over the rooftops.
A modern boutique hotel right on the opera square, with views of the Teatro Massimo from the upper floors.
A B&B in a noble palazzo, with frescoed ceilings, antique furniture and a leafy inner courtyard.
An Art Nouveau palazzo by Ernesto Basile set on the water, with gardens, a pool and the grandest sea views in Palermo.