Hotel Gargallo

The hotel itself is beautiful and the breakfast was good. We stayed in May 2025, and the location would be fine without a rental car. We paid for the hotel’s valet service, then got a large fine for driving in the taxi and bus lane. At the time of the violation, we were out touring the city with our eight friends, so the valet was the one driving. We also had to pay an administration fee to the rental company, bringing the total to over 300€. I’ve contacted the hotel several times to sort it out without success. That’s why I’m giving service one star.

We stayed here on our honeymoon in an upgraded room with lovely painted ceilings and a great balcony. It was very affordable and nice. The room got hot during the day, though, and took a couple of hours to cool down. The air conditioning needed the key card in the room to turn back on. Breakfast was included, with lots of choices and fresh coffee and cappuccinos. The location was ideal, about 10 minutes from the main sights, and everyone working there was welcoming and very friendly. I’d stay again and recommend it to friends and family visiting Ortigia.

Our Airbnb let us down at the last minute, and since we were just around the corner from this hotel, we ended up staying there. We were glad we did, especially since the price was about the same. The receptionist was so helpful and breakfast had a good range of choices. We were there out of season and got a lovely room with balconies. It was peaceful and quiet.

Breakfast was stale, with the same bread put out each day. The room cleaning seemed limited to emptying the trash, and the shower water was lukewarm. I usually try to make the best of a vacation and hadn’t reviewed a hotel before, but I hope they take this seriously and make the rooms safer. I loved the idea of this small, personal boutique hotel in central Ortigia, with just 16 rooms, but some conditions felt dangerous. It’s an old building with lots of little halls and stairs. No one warned me that room 208 opened straight onto two steep steps down. You can’t turn on the lights until you’ve entered the room and put the key in the wall, so the steps are invisible in the dark. I fell hard on them coming back at night and strained my ankle. When I suggested a warning sign or motion-sensing lights, the staff member seemed indifferent and said I’d have to speak to the manager. I asked to see the manager on the next two mornings, but was told they had a day job.