President Hotel Palermo: City & Sea Views

There is an unwritten rule for truly understanding Palermo: you need to know how to take the right distance. Dive straight into the city without filters, and you may find yourself overwhelmed by its wonderful, ungovernable chaos. Find the right point of view, however, and Palermo suddenly reveals itself as a Baroque theatre: intense, layered, beautiful and deeply moving.
It was in search of this balance that we at Sicily Luxury turned our attention to Via Francesco Crispi, one of Palermo’s most strategic urban edges. This is the osmotic border between sea and stone, a transitional district that hides a very specific secret. Below, the harbour moves at its relentless pace: ships waking at dawn, commercial life flowing quickly, the city already in motion. But rise just a little above street level, detach yourself from the ground, and you discover that the true luxury in this part of Palermo is the view. We selected the President Hotel for a precise reason, one that goes beyond stars, categories or a list of services: its ability to become an horizon. It works almost like a magnifying glass, allowing you to observe Palermo closely without being swallowed by it.

The location: behind the scenes of the historic centre

The position is strategic, almost tactical. The hotel occupies a modern building, a block of architectural rationality that acts as a hinge between different sides of the city. Technically, you are facing the sea, but much of the real magic lies just behind you. We like to describe this location as “behind the scenes”: you are only moments away from one of Palermo’s most elegant gateways — the Teatro Politeama, Piazza Castelnuovo and the refined boulevard of Viale della Libertà — yet you still enjoy a valuable escape route. When Palermo becomes intense, when traffic bites and the narrow lanes of the historic centre fill with voices, this position becomes a privilege. You can enter and leave the city’s most important areas with unusual ease, enjoying a sense of fluidity that guests staying deep inside the tighter streets of the old town may quietly envy.

The Sicily Luxury selection: perspective and space

Our recommendation focuses on three specific room categories, each suited to a different way of experiencing Palermo.

For those seeking the horizon: the Panoramic Rooms (6th floor)

If the view is your priority, this is the essential choice. Recently refreshed with a clean, understated language, these rooms reveal the hotel’s true secret: the private balcony. While many guests instinctively ask for a sea view, our recommendation is to look towards the rooftops of Palermo. From here, the city opens like a history book, with the domes, terraces and architectural layers of the historic centre almost close enough to touch.

Panoramic Hotel President Palermo

For those seeking balance: the Junior Suites

We selected the three Junior Suites for a very specific kind of traveller: someone who does not entirely separate pleasure from purpose. Here, the space is designed for those who experience the city with an agenda in hand, but with a genuine desire for comfort and relaxation. These are refined rooms where functionality meets aesthetics: you can work at the desk and, moments later, let the day dissolve into the softness of the beds, available as double or French beds. The detail we appreciate most: the bathroom. Spacious and restorative, in some cases equipped with both bathtub and shower. It becomes that small private corner where Palermo’s fast rhythm finally slows down.

For those seeking a sense of home: the Suites

The two Suites represent the highest expression of comfort for families, or simply for travellers who need more room to breathe. Here, the experience is not only about sleeping, but about inhabiting the space. Modern elegance blends with generous proportions, creating an embrace of light and style. The real difference is the separate sitting area with sofa bed: not just a practical feature, but a shared space where guests can relax, laugh and talk about the day just lived. It is the ideal refuge for turning a hotel stay into a precious family memory.

Suite Hotel President Palermo

Food & mood: the ritual of Terrazza Marine

The President Hotel plays one of its strongest cards with Terrazza Marine, the rooftop overlooking the bay. For us at Sicily Luxury, this is not simply a dining space, but an integral part of the Palermo experience.

• The morning ritual: Breakfast here feels like a quiet reconciliation with the world. While enjoying local products and Sicilian pastries, your gaze meets no obstacle: it runs towards the sea, moves across Aspra and Mongerbino, and reaches the hills of Monreale. It is one of the best ways to plan your day: by observing Palermo from above before descending into its streets.
• The aperitivo: In the evening, the terrace changes character. The lights soften, the sky turns indigo and the bar comes alive. This is the place for a gentle return after a day in the city, where a glass of Sicilian wine becomes the perfect companion while the lights of Palermo shimmer below.

Sustainability and urban soul

There is another aspect that convinced us to include the President Hotel in our collection: its contemporary awareness. In complex urban contexts, it is not always easy to find hotels that take the idea of being “Green” seriously: reducing plastic, using energy intelligently and working with local suppliers. Then there is the unexpected touch of street art. The adjacent parking area — a rare convenience in central Palermo, available on request and at an additional cost — is not just a practical space, but an open-air urban gallery. Since March 2014, seven street artists have transformed these walls into a collective canvas, creating a work that is not merely decorative but meaningful: a clear social message against illegality and organised crime. It is a detail that reflects Palermo’s deeper identity: a living city, capable of turning even concrete into a powerful invitation to reflect.

Who we recommend it for

This is not the right stay for those looking for an isolated resort or an old-fashioned heritage hotel frozen in time. The President Hotel, especially in its Panoramic version, is the perfect choice for:

• Curious couples: Travellers looking for a romantic yet contemporary nest, where the scenery changes with the light at every hour of the day.
• Pragmatic travellers: Guests in Palermo for business, culture or a short city stay who refuse anonymity and want a place where logistical efficiency meets visual beauty.
• Photography lovers: Because from that balcony, especially at sunset, Palermo offers some of its most memorable colours.

Trust our perspective. The difference between visiting Palermo and truly experiencing Palermo is, in this case, a matter of height. Do not settle for the lower floors. Aim higher.

Relying on the Sicily Luxury team means transforming a simple stay into a carefully curated hospitality experience.
Thanks to our synergy with the management of the President Hotel, we offer our guests a privileged status and attentions that go beyond the standard stay.

Exclusive privileges for Sicily Luxury guests

Priority room assignment For our bookings, the Panoramic Room selection includes guaranteed Port View assignment. An essential detail that ensures one of the best perspectives over the city, with no unpleasant surprises.

Dedicated welcome Your arrival at the hotel will be accompanied by a Welcome Drink, allowing you to begin your stay with the right atmosphere.

Time management Our team will personally handle Early Check-in and Late Check-out requests. We work to offer the greatest possible flexibility for arrival and departure times, subject to the hotel’s availability.

Long Stay Privilege For stays that allow you to experience Palermo at the right rhythm, with a minimum of 3 nights, a 5% courtesy rate reduction is available.

Contact us to define the details of your arrival and receive a tailor-made proposal.

Panoramic Room in Palermo with exclusive Sicily Luxury benefits