Sicily Hotels|Siracusa, Italy

Grand Hotel Des Étrangers

Name: Grand Hotel Des Étrangers
Telephone: 0039-093121543

A Neoclassical beauty overlooking Ortigia's harbor

VERIFIED LUXURY

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Sicily is full of historic hotels, but few can claim an address quite like Grand Hotel Des Étrangers. Set on Ortigia, the ancient island where Syracuse first took shape, the Sicilian Liberty- and Neoclassical-style landmark immerses guests in one of Europe's oldest and most captivating historic centers. The UNESCO-listed old town begins just beyond the front door, the Piazza Duomo and Fountain of Arethusa mere steps away.

The hotel is a landmark in its own right. Built in 1906, the property quickly became a favorite stop on the Grand Tour for travelers who came to Syracuse to explore the remarkably preserved ruins of Magna Graecia. More than a century later, following an extensive restoration, the landmark has been reimagined with Art Deco-inspired interiors, pairing its storied past with contemporary amenities, including a harbor-facing infinity pool, a chic rooftop restaurant and a holistic spa inspired by an ancient Greek sanctuary.

Our Inspector's Highlights

The luxury hotel’s grand entrance hall offers a fitting introduction, with soaring marble columns, tiled floors and an elegant sweeping staircase that recalls the glamour of the Grand Tour era. Throughout the lobby, restored Art Deco details and ornate stucco work blend seamlessly with the building's early 20th-century architecture, creating a sense of timeless elegance.
The heated infinity pool is a rare find in Ortigia, promising panoramic views across the ancient Porto della Marina. Retro-inspired striped umbrellas lend the deck an unmistakable Italian Riviera feel — and it’s well worth arriving early to snag a prime spot on one of the loungers.
CLOU Lounge Bar & Restaurant stretches across the rooftop, serving Sicilian-leaning Mediterranean cuisine with one of the city’s most spectacular views. At sunset, the west-facing terrace glows with views across the harbor and Ortigia's terracotta-tiled rooftops.
Grand Hotel Des Étrangers serves as an excellent base for exploring Syracuse’s ancient landmarks. The Duomo is just a four-minute walk away, the Temple of Apollo about 10 minutes, while the Greek theater and Neapolis Archaeological Park are a 10- to 15-minute taxi ride or a scenic 35- to 40-minute walk.
Opened in 2023, Sarausa Wellness & Spa partners with French wellness brand Cinq Mondes, whose treatments draw on botanical ingredients and beauty rituals from around the world. Home to three treatment rooms, the restored ground-floor facility evokes a Greek bathhouse, with a column-lined indoor pool, hammam, whirlpool and sauna.

The Rooms

Sixty-eight rooms and suites spread across four floors strike a bright, minimalist note within the hotel's beautifully restored historic interiors — polished parquet floors, high ceilings and calm neutral tones throughout, with no trace of the heavy grand-hotel aesthetic you might expect from a building of this age.
The entry-level rooms at Grand Hotel Des Étrangers look out onto quiet courtyards or Ortigia's streets, while higher categories come with private balconies overlooking the Ionian Sea. If waking up to a sea view is part of the appeal, the upgrade is an easy one to justify.
Bathrooms feel particularly luxurious, wrapped in polished Italian marble and finished with chrome fixtures, oversized mirrors and generous walk-in showers. Higher room categories also include deep-soaking tubs, and all come stocked with luxury Italian bath amenities.
The upper-floor suites are among the property's most distinctive accommodations, preserving their original ceiling frescoes — which were painted directly onto wet plaster —while the rest of the interiors feel thoroughly contemporary. Add separate living areas, king-sized beds and private sea-facing terraces, and they're easily the most desirable rooms in the Sicily hotel.

Amenities