Hotel Gutkowski

Hotel Gutkowski is perfectly placed in the old city of Syracuse, on Ortigia. The staff were wonderful, the rooms clean and spacious, and breakfast delicious. You can’t go wrong with this hotel.

We had a lovely two-night visit and would happily return to Ortigia and stay here again. The location is great, close to the ancient market and spots for swimming in the sea. We left the car at Parcheggio Talete, an easy walk away, and the front desk held our bags when we arrived before check-in. The staff were friendly and helpful, and breakfast each morning was light, healthy and delicious. Our superior double had a sea view listed, but the room didn’t face the sea directly. We could see it from both balconies. The rooms are simple but comfortable. If you’re American, the air conditioning may seem weak, but it kept the room comfortable when it was too hot to open the windows for the sea breeze. We’d read warnings about the annex, but were very happy with our stay there, so don’t worry about it.

The restaurant was closed the evening we were there, so we didn’t get to try dinner. The hotel has no private parking, but there are nearby public spaces where you can pay easily with the EasyPark app. Don’t park right on the hotel street, as it’s for residents only. We chose not to pay extra for a view, so we knew what to expect and weren’t disappointed. Our room was clean, comfortable and had everything we needed. The reception was extremely friendly and volunteered lots of helpful tips about Ortigia and nearby places to see. Breakfast was good, with a nice local selection. We wanted somewhere outside the busiest part of the old town, and this was ideal, central but peaceful. A warm atmosphere and excellent service made it a great stay.

Breakfast was included and had a good range, with more than just cake and coffee, though we found better cappuccinos at other cafes. The breakfast staff could have been friendlier and more helpful. We stayed four nights in Room 27, which was clean and spacious, with a separate lounge and bedroom and a partial sea view. The road outside was busy, but shutting the doors kept traffic noise out. The helpful staff suggested places to visit, and the hotel is well located for walking to all the sights.