781 Best Hotels in Italy

In what was the 19th-century residence of Cardinal Sisto Riario Sforza, this charming hotel has pleasant, spacious rooms, some with frescoed wooden roof beams. Each of the two floors has a large welcoming communal area, but the showstopper is the breakfast room, covered from floor to ceiling with mirrors and gold decorations.

This centrally located, family-run hotel close to Sorrento's major hub, Piazza Tasso has pleasant common areas, the occasional antique, fresh flowers, a solarium, a breakfast terrace, and basic rooms—some of which have courtyard entrances. Reception is on the second floor (an elevator is provided from the street). For a quieter stay, opt for a room that doesn't overlook the busy Corso Italia.

With modern interiors and eclectic but comfortable designer furniture, this aptly named hotel makes a nice counterpoint to the historical surroundings of Cremona. Though it's a fine base for leisure travelers, conference rooms and other amenities make it popular with a business clientele.

This hotel near the glorious Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica is also close to Termini station, and has modern comforts and a great concierge—all at moderate rates. Stylish guest rooms have contemporary furnishings, bright red bedspreads and drapes, and soft lighting. The hotel's location is ideal if you want to be close to Termini without staying in a gritty part of town; there are also plenty of shops and restaurants nearby.

Two beautifully furnished, architect-renovated apartments within historic palazzi in the Centro Storico, with whitewashed coved ceilings, intriguing Pugliese crafts and fabrics, plus large comfortable beds. Apartment one has steep stone steps, the second is on the ground floor; both offer flexibility for one- to four or five occupants, by having an extra bathroom, alternative tea and coffee facilities, and divan beds.  

Ideal for sophisticated urbanites who want to combine a poolside holiday with sightseeing, this stylish, contemporary,  hilltop hotel is an innovative addition to Agrigento’s lodging scene. It's the kind of place you can sit in your own hot tub or plunge pool in complete privacy, sipping a cocktail as the sun sets over the distant temple of Juno. Some rooms even have their own hot tubs, with all water heated by solar power. The main pool has a bar incorporated within it with stools designed to keep guests up to their waists in the water. Rooms are white and feature metal four-poster beds and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The owner is committed to sustainable tourism: the hotel is self-sufficient in energy and has its own vegetable garden and almond and pistachio groves.

Most of the modern, inviting guest rooms at this comfortable hotel—owned by an Anglo-Italian family and right in the center of Bellagio's action—have lake and mountain views, and the rooftop terrace garden is a perfect spot for drinks or dozing. There's a relaxed and congenial feel throughout, and the extensive buffet breakfast (included) wins rave reviews.

Highly personalized service and well-appointed guest rooms (including bungalows perfect for families) are among the hallmarks of Riva's largest resort; another is the beautifully manicured 17-acre garden with more than 200 species of plants. Airy public spaces include a restaurant, poolside-pizzeria, bar, spa, and wellness center. The resort is not on the waterfront, but there's a private path to the public beach and two outdoor pools, with another small outdoor pool just for the younger set, plus one indoor pool to use when the weather doesn't cooperate.

The public areas and guest rooms at one of the oldest (1883) hotels in the city, just off Piazza dei Signori, are filled with turn-of-the-20th-century antiques, and regulars favor the place because the high ceilings in the main building make it feel light and airy. It's also a bargain—rates stay the same throughout the year, with no high-season price hikes. 

Although this inn dates from the 18th century, the interior is minimalist and clean-lined—Rooms 7, 8, 11, and 12 redress the balance with picture-perfect views of the town's upper castle, while other windows look out onto the city walls or olive-tree-filled terraces. Some rooms can add an extra two beds for families. The buffet breakfast can be taken on a tranquil terrace or in a small, cozy breakfast room with quirky modern paintings. The inn can organize tailored tours and bike hire. Considerable advance booking is required for the weekend of the chess game.

At this intimate hotel, comfortable and soothingly designed guest rooms—some with canopy beds, pastel walls, and ultramodern bathrooms—are spread across two small 19th-century town houses on a quiet backstreet. The hallways can seem like a labyrinth, but every corner of the hotel is graced with a high level of service. There's also a lovely garden, with a hydromassage Jacuzzi, where breakfast is offered in warm-weather months.

For a more spiritual slant to your vacation, spend a night or two at this “modern monastery,” where you’ll sleep in a cell, eat vegetarian food by candlelight, practice yoga, and relax in a whirlpool tub. This boutique hotel about a 45-minute drive from Orvieto provides an escape from daily life, especially since you won’t have Wi-Fi during your stay. Though “cell” rooms are quite small (as are the beds), they include good-sized showers, sinks, and writing desks. All the set-menu meals are included in the rates, and dishes often feature ingredients grown in the hotel’s own gardens; there's plenty of local wine as well. In addition to enjoying a morning yoga class, you can go on a hike in the surrounding countryside or just hang out in one of the cozy public spaces, perhaps reading or getting to know other travelers.

In the countryside about 20 minutes by car south of Ragusa, this charming family-run monastery-turned-hotel features friendly service and a relaxed but luxurious vibe, with unique rooms in former monks' chambers that vary in size and lay-out but are all quiet and well-appointed. All of them come with antiques, stone floors, wood-beamed ceilings, and tapestries; some also have fireplaces, whirlpools, and/or balconies. The restaurant offers a selection of Sicilian standards, and there's a lovely patio, where guests can enjoy the expansive breakfast buffet.

Some of the comfortable (if generic) rooms at this Bergamo Bassa hotel a short walk from the funicular have balconies with amazing upper town views. In good weather you can breakfast on the rooftop terrace. Unlike some other places in town, parking is available right in front of the hotel for a fee.

Perfectly located near the posh Via dei Mille shopping street, the buzzing Chiaia nightlife, and the contemporary art gallery at Palazzo Roccella, this hotel has a welcoming lobby area and restful guest rooms with cool colors and sleek windows. Only the junior suites on the 10th floor have sea views, however.

This family-friendly ultramodern hotel near the Plan de Corones chairlift, made up of four sleek connected houses designed by Italian architect Matteo Thun, offers spacious rooms and an expansive spa. Guest rooms have a contemporary mountain feel, with wood walls and floors; each includes a balcony or terrace. Some of the suites include private saunas or infrared cabins. The inviting spa extends over three floors and includes saunas, a hammam, heated outdoor and rooftop pools, and a 24-hour gym. If you can tear yourself away, the hotel’s “experience concierge” is happy to recommend off-the-beaten-path activities nearby.

Amid rolling vineyards and olive trees, this fattoria (farmhouse) produces fine wine and olive oil and accommodates guests in apartments (sleeping up to 6) and a separate house (sleeping up to 14). The main stone house retains its enormous stone fireplace and a 16th-century family chapel next door. Lodgings have traditional wooden furniture—some antique—and full kitchens; some units have fireplaces. Half-board is available.

In the foothills between Florence and Fiesole are these lovely apartments, which sleep 4 to 11 people, and rooms, which vary in size, have private bathrooms, and sleep up to two adults and two children. Many accommodations are in a former convent, and some are scattered around the farm; all have wooden floors, simple and sturdy furniture, and apartments have modern kitchens; most also have splendid views onto olive groves (olive oil is produced by the fattoria owners). 

At this elegant hotel, swank reception rooms have comfortable couches and contemporary artwork, and guest rooms feature parquet floors, high ceilings, and furnishings that combine Scandinavian sleekness with the Italian love for fine fabric (think: damask draperies).

Set in a 19th-century neoclassical palace, this cozy boutique hotel was remodeled to feature high-tech, elegant guest rooms while keeping the core structure, including unique windows and tall ceilings, intact. Spacious rooms feature plush blue velvet furniture, oak desks and bookcases, elegant marble bathrooms, and free Illy coffee. The two-Michelin-starred restaurant, Acquolina, serves innovative seafood dishes. The Acquaroof offers drinks and Mediterranean and Roman cuisine on the romantic top-floor terrace, with incredible 360-degree city views.

In the valley below the temples, fiery sunsets and moonlight cast a glow over the ancient 12th-century watchtower at the center of this farmhouse-hotel complex, which is composed of stone buildings surrounding a peaceful geranium- and ivy-filled courtyard and the garden beyond. Standard rooms, some with temple views, are simple but charming, with antique furniture and modern bathrooms. The restaurant, Accademia del Buon Gusto, serves tasty foodie fare in a beautiful setting overlooking the temples. The hotel is on an unmarked dirt road about 3 km (2 miles) southeast of the old town.

This 15th-century palazzo is perhaps the city's most luxurious hotel, where many guest rooms have original 17th-century frescoes, and an 11-acre garden is dotted with centuries-old trees. There's also a pool, a state-of-the-art spa, and 16th-century courtyard that sweeps along to an elegant bar where Florentines enjoy aperitivi.

Built in the 15th century as a convent, with a colonnaded cloister, this sophisticated retreat certainly exudes a feeling that is anything but urban. Although this hotel is the perfect location for serious shoppers, it's on a quieter side street slightly apart from the fray. Parts of the original frescoes can still be seen in the lobby and lounge, and some rooms have balconies looking onto a glassed-in courtyard. The sophisticated spa area boasts a lap pool beneath 19-century vaulted ceilings along with modern treatment rooms and a well-equipped fitness center.

With decor elements such as original wood-beamed ceilings, retro tiles, rich fabrics, contemporary art, and furniture that nods to 1930s and '40s Italian design, there's a hipster feel to this hotel inside a 17th-century palazzo around the corner from Piazza Navona. Top-floor rooms have little terraces where you can enjoy your morning cappuccino; other amenities include free Wi-Fi throughout the building, a coffee and tea maker in every room, and a ground-floor caffè and exhibition space that often promotes works by local artists. 

Occupying a historic building off Piazza delle Erbe in the ancient heart of Verona, this hotel is a romantic fantasia of ornamentation, rich fabrics, and period-style furniture. The abundance of decoration can be overwhelming, but it generally creates an appealing atmosphere. You can relax outdoors in the medieval courtyard or indoors in a plush, welcoming living room.

In a converted 18th-century palace on a quiet street behind Palazzo Ducezio, this smart hotel's main draw is its wonderful panoramic roof terrace bar, while offering less striking but nevertheless spacious, understated rooms. Though amenities are few, the public spaces make up for that: guests can enjoy breakfast outside in the charming garden. Noto's many restaurants and sights are just a few minutes away.

High design resides at this art showcase near the Ponte Vecchio, where sleek, uncluttered rooms are dressed mostly in neutrals but have luxe touches such as leather headboards. The coolly understated public rooms have a revolving collection of photographs by artists like Helmut Newton adorning the walls; the reception area is subtly but dramatically lighted. Both the bar and restaurant attract sophisticated, fashionable locals.

This large property, rising above the lava rocks, right on the sea feels a bit like a time capsule. You can easily imagine the Rat Pack making it their home on a Sicilian holiday. For some, that means the property is stuck in the past and could use a reboot, but for others, it's the perfect amount of old-school panache.

Time seems to have stopped at this charming hotel housed in a 19th-century convent belonging to the Stimmatine Sisters. It is located at the base of the Capodimonte hill and adjacent to the Catacombe di San Gennaro and the Madre del Buon Consiglio church, but a fair walk from the central city sights. The large, tastefully furnished Bourbon-style guest rooms open onto an internal courtyard, dominated by an ornamental skylight. Ask for a quiet room on this side of the hotel.