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Via Plebiscito 133, 95121 Catania, Sicily Italy
Lowest prices for your stay
Hotels.com
US$73
Fully refundable before Thu, 21 Dec
Breakfast included
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Expedia.com
US$73
Fully refundable before Thu, 21 Dec
Breakfast included
Get rewarded with One Key
Booking.com
US$73
Fully refundable before Wed, 20 Dec
Breakfast included
TravelocityUS$73
StayForLongUS$78
PricelineUS$80
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About

#135 of 3,815 B&Bs in Sicily
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Cristina (Sicilian) and Rob (English) welcome you to the "5 Balconi Bed & Breakfast," a sunny palazzo built in the 1800's, with lots of color, character and charm. We are situated in the historic heart of Catania, in the quarter of the famous fish market and right above the 13th Century Ursino Castle, which dominates the piazza and gardens of Federico di Svevia. Here you can wine and dine "al fresco" on delicious typical dishes at very reasonable prices, while soaking up the atmosphere of an authentic Sicilian quarter. We offer elegant & luxurious rooms to accommodate singles, doubles, triples, with inter-connecting family rooms for up to 5 people. All have 5 metre high domed ceilings and chandeliers, very comfortable beds with mosquito nets, duvets in winter and flowering balconies of iron and marble.NB: Fresh linen/towels, air conditioning & heating are standard in all the rooms.Wi-Fi, iron & ironing board, a fridge, chilled mineral water, organic biscuits & tea/coffee making facilities are also available for guests, any time and free of charge. We also provide a list of our recommended restaurants, local information & book excursions to the volcano.Our breakfasts are nutritious and delicious and can be taken in your room or in the communal dining area.NB: We serve locally produced organic oranges, bread & marmalades. Savoury breakfast alternatives are available for guests who don't have 'a sweet tooth'. We are only 10 mins. By bus/car from the airport, a 20 min. Walk to a golden sandy beach and a convenient base for exploring the East coast of the island (Taormina, Etna, Siracusa, Pantalica & Enna are all within 1 hours drive).Parking is free, infront of the B&B and in the surrounding streets. We are situated on the 2nd floor and have a lift for our guests comfort and convenience. A City Tax of €1-00 per person, per night, up to a maximum of 3 nights, is payable on departure.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Breakfast available
Baggage storage
Mosquito net
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Air conditioning
Interconnected rooms available
Sofa
Clothes rack
Iron
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Quaint
Languages Spoken
English, Italian
297Reviews5Q+A32Room tips

Reviews
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marycelia30 wrote a review Jun 2023
Malmö, Sweden13 contributions11 helpful votes
Very warm welcoming when we arrived. We got information about restaurants, bars, buses, trains - very useful. Our room was both cosy and comfortable. We shared two bathrooms with the three other rooms. There was always an empty bathroom when we wanted to take a shower. Lovely breakfast, of your own choice. Nice to eat and speak with the others guests. And best of all was our lovely Rob who was in charge the week we spent in Catania. Catania is an intereresting town and perfect as a base for daytrips in different directions. The B& B was very well situated in the city. Walking distance to everything.
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Date of stay: May 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Jsymonds95 wrote a review May 2023
Wolverhampton, United Kingdom318 contributions102 helpful votes
Only stayed at B&B 5 Balconi for 1 night but left a very great impression and great start to our trip around Sicily. Firstly, id like to thank Rob for his help and hospitality. We unfortunately had an issue with our rental vehicle which provided a deal of stress on the Saturday evening. However Rob was very welcoming, cool and collective and settled us in on the late evening. We also managed to leave with the B&B Keys - Rob was very understanding and we managed to post them back with no issue. Communication was great. The accommodation was very homely with great décor around. Comfy bed, nice view of the hectic Catania roads, stones throw from popular sites and an excellent breakfast. I had the Pistachio Croissant with filtered coffee which was delicious. Thank you again.
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Date of stay: May 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Jane D wrote a review Apr 2023
13 contributions3 helpful votes
We loved our stay in this beautiful B&B. Catania has a very diverse and interesting history, all of which has shaped a unique place. Fabolous food at not amazing prices. We used Balconi as a base for visiting Syracuse, Taormina and of course Etna. Super thanks to Rob and Christina for a delish breakfasts and their sightseeing advice.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Steve W wrote a review Oct 2022
North Vancouver, Canada74 contributions49 helpful votes
Within this gritty, vibrant city you will not find a more Zen-like, calming port-in-the-storm than Robert and Christina’s place. I say that not knowing about any others in Catania, but we in nearing the end of a 23-day Italy tour I’ve stayed a number of places. This is among the top B&B rooms, if not the top we enjoyed; certainly for the money. What a welcoming and calming presence the place has, as well as great location and LOVELY bed sheets! As well, a wonderful breakfast was served. Christina is a wealth of information about the city and made sure we were met - we booked the morning of- as well as sent off with a smile. Catania is historic, “wild” and fun. You’ll not be disappointed hitting this great accommodation as your homebase. There’s no doubt a reason they’ve been a success for over 20-years as a B&B in the middle of this wonderfully chaotic town. Thank you Christina!
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Mr W wrote a review Sept 2022
Tamworth, United Kingdom5 contributions3 helpful votes
We spent two nights in catania before moving on and this was a perfect choice. Christina was very helpful with local attractions and gave us some good recommendations for meals out. Very clean and welcoming and good air conditioning which is essential in Sicily mist of the year! Grazie
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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TVPM wrote a review Jun 2022
Los Angeles13 contributions7 helpful votes
Closing the windows and shutters quieted the busy street below. I heard nothing all night, not even a siren. Breakfast was wonderful and the hosts had tips for the day and future Sicilian travel. I was there 4 days and loved the B&B and the location.
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Date of stay: May 2022
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Room Tip: The room closest to the bathrooms is best.
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Nora K wrote a review May 2022
3 contributions
We spent one night at 5 Balconi. Rob and Cristina were super kind and helpful during our whole trip. They recommended perfect restaurants. The breakfast was really delicious and a good opportunity to meet with lovely guests from different part of the world. (The croissant with pistachio was the best in my entire life) Rob, Cristina thank you for all of your help and kindness!
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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JezebelBates wrote a review Dec 2019
London, United Kingdom12 contributions3 helpful votes
Five years after my last stay at 5 Balconi I found it every bit as friendly and stylish as I remembered. Such a great bargain, too – prices are kept down by the shared bathrooms, but on my last visit my daughter and I had two (scrupulously maintained) bathrooms to ourselves, and if you don't want to take the risk you can pay a little extra and reserve one. There's coffee, tea, biscuits and local wine on tap, and Rob and Cristina are such relaxed hosts, and happy to help with all kinds of queries about the city and moving around the island. The breakfasts alone are worth coming for, with fresh fruit, juice and delicious pastries from a nearby stone-oven bakery. Tip – book direct with them to get the best deals.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
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fiona wrote a review Nov 2019
5 contributions1 helpful vote
A quirky place with a great location. The owner was friendly, giving his time to advice us where to eat /visit for the one night of our stay.Great restaurant recommendation so thanks for that! On the down side felt that the place needs some attention. overall clean but a few splatters on the walls of the bedroom??? The road is noisy but the traffic noise wouldn't keep us awake, what did however was a terrible noise of a water system coming from near the bathroom or neighbour. It was continuous throughout the night so impossible to sleep.
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Date of stay: October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Jack Dollar wrote a review Oct 2019
1 contribution
I enjoyed every minute of my stay, from the minute the door opened to the warm colours and even warmer welcome from Rob & Christina, to the last minute when I had to tear myself away. I loved my room with its comfy bed and view out onto the busy street, that the shutters quietened at siesta time! I loved breakfast surrounded by treasures and curios enjoying the perfect espresso! I loved all the recommendations of things to see and places to visit that Rob & Christina shared. I loved it all, and can’t wait to go back.
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Date of stay: October 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
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PRICE RANGE
US$62 - US$74 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
ItalySicilyProvince of CataniaCataniaCentro Catania
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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5 BALCONI - Updated 2023 Reviews, Price Comparison (Catania, Italy)

Frequently Asked Questions about 5 Balconi
Which popular attractions are close to 5 Balconi?
Nearby attractions include A' Piscaria Mercato del Pesce (0.3 miles), Basilica Collegiata (0.3 miles), and Museo Civico Castello Ursino (0.1 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at 5 Balconi?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and baggage storage.
Which room amenities are available at 5 Balconi?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a mosquito net, and a sofa.
What food & drink options are available at 5 Balconi?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to 5 Balconi?
Conveniently located restaurants include Il Gambero Pazzo, Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab, and I Capricciusi.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at 5 Balconi?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Italian.
Are there any historical sites close to 5 Balconi?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Palazzo Biscari (0.4 miles), Piazza del Duomo (0.3 miles), and Chiesa di San Nicolo All'Arena (0.5 miles).