Where to stay in Agrigento? Would you like to stay in this ancient city in southern Sicily, but don’t know the best place to put down your bags? With its ancient Greek past, the city offers a wealth of ancient monuments to see, some in an exceptional state of preservation, such as the Temple of Concord, whose Doric-style colonnades have stood for hundreds of years.
You can easily find where to stay in the old town of Agrigento, which offers a wide range of guesthouse-style accommodation. Whether you prefer to stay in the heart of the city among its narrow streets or enjoy the open views offered by hotels close to sites of interest, it will be easy to find where to stay for your stay in southern Sicily.
Main information
Before going into the description of the places to target when selecting accommodation in Agrigento, here are the essentials to know from a tourist point of view. They should give you a better idea of the town and its constraints.
Our favorite places to stay
For those in a hurry, here are our favorite places to stay in Agrigento:
- $ this guesthouse with a breathtaking view of the valley of the temples and the sea, at attractive rates
- $$ this value-for-money accommodation a few steps from the Valley of the Temples
- $$$ this upscale establishment, located in the heart of the old town, is one of the best places to stay in Agrigento
Map of where to stay in Agrigento
To give you a quick overview of the different places we recommend to stay in Agrigento, you’ll find on the map below all the Agrigento accommodation recommendations we’re going to share in this guide. You can also use it to locate the various neighborhoods we’ll be detailing.
Agrigento accommodation essentials
Places to stay in Agrigento
Let’s get to the heart of the matter with a review of the main areas where we recommend staying in Agrigento.
Accommodation in Agrigento's old town
If you want to visit and stay in Agrigento, there's nothing like the old town to capture the essence of this ancient Greek city. In fact, it's in the maze of cobbled alleyways that criss-cross the entire city that you can indulge in the pleasure of strolling on foot. Agrigento's sunny yellow stone and warmly painted houses are an unmistakable reminder of the Sicilian landscape. You'll have to love the stairs in this high-perched town, which can lose you without a map in hand. But it's all in the pleasure of meeting the locals and the architectural treasures scattered around the Sicilian city.
You'll love taking Via Atenea, the main thoroughfare through the historic center, which serves most of the city's restaurants and stores. Heading up Via Matteotti and Via Duomo, you'll discover the historic buildings that make the old città so famous. When it comes to staying in the old town, you'll be spoilt for choice, as there's a plethora of accommodation spread evenly throughout the alleyways. Whether you prefer to stay in the heart of the center, close to the Belvedere for a nice view, or near the centuries-old churches, you'll have no trouble finding where to stay.
- The Cathedral of San Gerlando: From the top of its staircase, this beautiful cathedral with its Romanesque façade welcomes you with an interior style that is both neo-classical and Baroque.
- Church of Santa Maria dei Greci: This 13th-century church stands on the ancient ruins of a Greek temple.
- The neoclassical church of Santa Maria de' Liguori : A sublime old church in the neoclassical style with three naves, typical of Sicily.
- Church of San Domenico : A beautiful church with a Baroque façade dating from the early 18th century. There's also a more modest neoclassical interior.
We've put together a selection of the best places to stay in the city center.
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This affordable guesthouse offers comfortable rooms with a breathtaking view of the Valley of the Temples and the sea on the horizon. The decor is classic, with Italian-style common areas.
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Spacious rooms, classically decorated in natural tones, and a typical Sicilian breakfast make for a memorable stay. You'll be ideally located just 5 minutes from the Cathedral and Via Atenea.
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With its Sicilian earthenware, this beautiful hotel will welcome you in beautiful rooms tastefully decorated in the Louis XV style. If you decide to stay here, you'll be sure to enjoy your stay in Sicily.
Staying near the Valley of the Temples
The Valley of the Temples is a must-see in Agrigento andone of the few real points of interest close to the city. Situated on a ridge to the south of the city, this area is home to no fewer than 12 Greek temples in varying states of preservation. The valley dates back to the 6th century B.C., when Greek colonists settled south of Agrigento, establishing these places of worship known as the"Divine Valley of the Gods", now a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll be in awe of the exceptional condition of some of the buildings, such as the Concorde, which still stands on its Doric columns, and is a welcome change of scenery from Italy.
If you want to stay in Agrigento, it's best to choose accommodation close to this regional landmark to make it easier to get around (preferably by car), especially as there's also the Regional Archaeological Museum to visit. You'll find charming hotels and guesthouses where to stay all around the valley, so you can make the most of the relaxing space offered by this part of the ancient Greek city.
To help you make the most of your stay in the "Valley of the Gods", we've compiled a list of the most beautiful, must-see temples, as well as necropolises and sanctuaries:
- Hera or Juno: at the end of Crete, you'll find the remains of this building, which was burnt down by the Carthaginians. It has been rebuilt several times over the centuries.
- La Concorde: This is the best-known and best-preserved building in the valley. A peripteral structure built in Doric style, it is in an exceptional state of preservation for the ancient Greek era.
- Zeus: the remains of the temple left after the Carthaginian attack can be seen. Never completed, you can learn about its history, which once held great promise for the future.
- The Dioscuri: 4 Doric columns still stand from this ancient temple, which was destroyed by the Carthaginians and later by an earthquake.
Here's our selection of hotels and guesthouses to stay near the Valley of the Temples:
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Staying at this pretty little bed and breakfast is guaranteed to be an enjoyable stay, thanks to its proximity to the Valley of the Temples site and its parking lot and car rental service. From its terrace and snack bar, you'll love their hearty breakfast.
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Just 13 minutes from the Valley of the Temples, you can stay at this hotel, which offers a magnificent view of the ancient temples from its sunny terrace. The typical Sicilian breakfast is a favorite with travelers.
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This magnificent Agrigento hotel offers fully-equipped accommodation with several indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center and restaurant. Rooms are comfortable and offer a view of the temples perched on their promontory.
Accommodation near the south coast: Scala dei Turchi
If you're visiting Agrigento in Sicily, you've probably already seen photos of the magnificent, erosion-smoothed limestone coastline at Realmonte. If you leave the Sicilian city, you'll reach Punta Grande in 20 minutes, where you'll find the Scala dei Turchi, a major tourist attraction on the coast. You'll be amazed by the striking contrast between the turquoise water and the white limestone rock, where you can put your towel down for a few hours to soak up the Sicilian sun. The "scala" are the steps carved into the rock by erosion and used during the 16th century incursions.
As we mentioned earlier, Punta Grande is one of the tourist spots where you can find a place to stay. Indeed, right next to Scala dei Turchi, it's easy to find accommodation that will offer a lovely view of the sea and also let you enjoy a beach with fine sand, if that's more to your liking than rock. You'll also have access to many more restaurants as you head towards Porto Empedocle along the coast.
To help you make the right choice, we've selected the best guest houses and hotels to stay in this area.
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You'll be able to stay in this simple bed & breakfast that's so close to Punta Grande beach. There's a terrace and garden where you can relax after your visit to the rocky coast. Free private parking is available.
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Just 400 meters from Punta Grande beach, you can stay at this establishment, which offers attractive rooms decorated in classic Sicilian style. You'll also enjoy sea views and a garden terrace to make the most of the sunshine.
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With an unobstructed view of the sea from the shaded terrace, this hotel offers you the chance to stay in beautiful rooms with modern, colorful decor. You can walk to Scala dei Turchi in just a few minutes. Gluten-free breakfast available.
Summary
You now have all the information you need to visit Agrigento and appreciate this city with its Greek past. The city offers an impressive panorama of ancient remains, some in an exceptional state of preservation, and is one of the Sicilian city’s major attractions. We therefore advise you to rent a car if you wish to see all of these sites, which are only very sparsely served by public transport. You’ll also find it easier to choose where to stay in and around Agrigento.
It’s also more useful if you want to see the most beautiful beaches on the coast, which are only 20 minutes from Agrigento! Choose to stay here if you want to make the most of the sea views and access to the sandy beaches. The region has a very sunny, arid climate, so be sure to bring sun protection when visiting the area around Agrigento