Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Syracuse and Noto

Before you go

What happens when you get there

Noto

No hotel in Noto is on our list, and none in Scicli or Marzamemi either. Base yourself in Syracuse or around Ragusa and go in for the day. The town is walked outdoors, so a dog sees the baroque streets from the pavement.

Getting there

Catania airport serves the whole area, about an hour's drive to Syracuse and 90 minutes to Noto or Ragusa. Comiso, near Ragusa, has few routes. Dogs can't fly in the cabin into or out of the UK, so from the UK the realistic route is driving and crossing the Strait of Messina. From Ireland or the continent, ITA Airways via Rome or Milan takes a small dog in the cabin, 12 kg including the carrier on Italian domestic flights and 8 kg on other flights.

Trains

The Syracuse to Noto and Modica line is Regionale. A small pet in a carrier up to 70 x 30 x 50 cm travels free, and a dog of any size can travel on a lead and muzzled with its own ticket at half a second-class fare. Carry the registration certificate and health booklet.

Beaches and reserves

Summer beach rules come from a regional ordinance plus one from each comune, and they aren't published here, so check locally for the beach you have in mind. They cover the bathing season on named stretches, not the whole coast, and each lido sets its own dog rule. The Vendicari reserve and the Plemmirio marine reserve have their own rules on top, so check those locally too.

Archaeological sites

Dog rules for the Neapolis park in Syracuse, with the Greek Theatre and the Ear of Dionysius, and for Eloro near Noto aren't published here. Ask the park before you go.

Heat

This is the hottest corner of Sicily in summer. The limestone streets of Noto and Ibla hold the heat into the evening, and the Neapolis site is open stone with little shade. Walk early and late, test the pavement with your hand and carry water.

Dogs in restaurants

Indoors the hotels say no. I Monasteri keeps dogs out of every food and drink area, and Casato Licitra keeps them out of the restaurant. In Ortigia and Noto, terrace and street tables are the likeliest yes, so ask each time.

Weight limits and fees

25 kg at I Monasteri, 15 kg at Locanda Don Serafino, 10 kg at Grand Hotel Minareto, small dogs only at Terradamari. Casato Licitra, Des Étrangers and Palazzo Artemide don't publish a limit. I Monasteri is the only hotel publishing its fee, EUR 15 a night, so ask the others when you book.

Best walks

In Ortigia, the Passeggio Adorno past the Fonte Aretusa, the Lungomare Alfeo round to Castello Maniace at the southern tip, and the Lungomare di Levante along the eastern sea wall. South of Syracuse, the Plemmirio reserve and the coastal path out to the Capo Murro di Porco lighthouse. In Ragusa Ibla, the Giardino Ibleo at the eastern end of the old town, with views over the Irminio valley. On the Modica coast, the Marina di Modica seafront and the dunes at Sampieri by the old Fornace Penna brickworks.

When to go

Spring and October are the dog seasons here. Summer is the hottest in Sicily, the stone streets of Noto and Ibla stay hot into the evening, and summer is also when the beach rules apply on named stretches. If you come in July or August, walk at first light and after sunset.