Twenty-four percent occupancy is the headline you can't talk your way around — that's a market where most beds are sitting empty most of the time, and nearly 29,000 active listings are all competing for the same thin slice of demand. The rate jump is striking: up 41% year-on-year to €127 a night suggests hosts have been pushing prices hard, but flat occupancy tells you guests aren't following obediently. Italy's short-term rental regulations are tightening too, with national registration requirements and regional enforcement increasingly real rather than theoretical. For a buyer, Sicily is a long-season gamble that requires either a genuinely differentiated property or a tolerance for very modest yields — and right now the numbers don't justify the faith.
Year-over-year performance
Compared to the closest snapshot from approximately 12 months ago, the Sicily short-term rental market has shifted in measurable ways. Occupancy among active listings is up 0 points, while the median daily rate is up 41.4 percent.
When Sicily Airbnbs perform best
Occupancy in Sicily peaks in September at 44% and bottoms out in November at 29%, a 15-point swing across the year. Price the peak, defend the shoulder months with minimum-stay rules, and budget the trough as empty.
| Month | Occupancy | Median nightly rate |
|---|---|---|
| January | 34% | — |
| February | 34% | — |
| March | 33% | — |
| April | 33% | — |
| May | 33% | — |
| June | 35% | — |
| July | 42% | — |
| August | 43% | — |
| September | 44% | — |
| October | 39% | — |
| November | 29% | — |
| December | 30% | — |
Looking ahead, 31% of the next 30 nights are already booked across the market, 30% of the next 60 and 31% of the next 90 (as of 2026-10-18).
How Sicily compares to Italy
Benchmarked against 9 other Italy markets we track, Sicily's metrics tell a clear story.
What kind of Airbnbs are in Sicily?
Of the 30,526 active operating listings, 84.5% are entire homes (vs private rooms), and 41% are operated by Airbnb Superhosts.
Top neighborhoods in Sicily
The 377 neighborhoods we track range from established tourist hotspots to emerging investment zones. Here are the 10 strongest by median annual revenue per listing, led by San Pietro Clarenza at £17,580 a year.
| Neighborhood | Listings | Occupancy | Annual revenue | RevPAR | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Pietro Clarenza | 8 | 29.6% | £17,580 | £48 | +0 pts YoY |
| Pettineo | 3 | 17.5% | £16,048 | £44 | -11 pts YoY |
| Borgetto | 10 | 21.4% | £15,419 | £42 | +4.4 pts YoY |
| Camastra | 2 | 14% | £14,321 | £39 | — |
| Santa Maria di Licodia | 11 | 9.9% | £10,404 | £28 | +5 pts YoY |
| Motta d'Affermo | 7 | 16.4% | £10,246 | £28 | +6.5 pts YoY |
| Contessa Entellina | 4 | 28% | £9,999 | £27 | +5 pts YoY |
| Taormina | 951 | 16.4% | £9,537 | £26 | -1.1 pts YoY |
| Forza d'Agr | 38 | 31.8% | £8,670 | £24 | +8.8 pts YoY |
| Milo | 31 | 26.3% | £8,429 | £23 | +20.8 pts YoY |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Airbnb occupancy in Sicily?
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