284 Best Hotels in Italy

A cheerful hotel with irreverent art that overlooks Tiber Island, citizenM’s first Italian property has a young sensibility and is located close to Rome’s most ancient attractions. The modern rooms aren't exactly spacious, but they are smartly designed, comfortable, and ring in at reasonable rates while still offering a few frills like iPad controls and rainfall showers.

Behind a brick wall, just over the bridge from the Frari church, this palazzo named "Beyond the Garden" is hard to find but well worth the effort: a sheltered location, large canal-side garden, and individually decorated guest rooms make it feel like a country house. Although furnished with antiques and other period touches, the prevalent white-and-pastel color scheme lightens the tone, making the hotel seem less formal than other Venetian lodgings. The owner's service is as conscientious as the renovation. As for pedigree, in the 1920s, Alma Mahler, a 20th-century femme fatale, lived here while she was married to author Franz Werfel.

The decor in this eclectic, extremely hip hotel at the foot of the lively Corso di Porta Ticinese and by the Navigli canals features sports memorabilia from golf, horseback riding, boxing, and others. The lobby area is anything but traditional: check in while sitting in a barber's chair, as you plot to carve out time on the inviting dark leather couches or perhaps enjoy a cocktail at The Doping Bar, or dinner in the Mediterranean-style restaurant, Zaïa. Despite all the design, the ambience is casual and welcoming. Some suites even have their own terraces where you can chill in private.

Aethos breaks the traditional Alpine lodging mold with ultramodern furnishings, a rock-climbing wall inside and an ice-climbing wall outside (winter only), an indoor-outdoor spa, and even a Japanese steak house and cocktail bar, near the sleepy Alpine village of Champoluc. All-suite rooms, with private terraces, maximize the space with double-decker spaces featuring beds and bathrooms upstairs and sofa beds with another bathroom downstairs. You can sign up for lessons on the indoor climbing wall that dominates one side of the lobby—there’s also a twice-weekly “kids’ hour” for ages 5 to 10—while true adventurers can hone their ice-climbing skills on the 39-foot ice wall attached to the hotel. The inviting spa extends from indoors to out: The inside features an 82-foot swimming pool with floor-to-ceiling windows, a steam room, sauna, whirlpool, cold plunge, and well-equipped gym, while the outdoors has another pool, more saunas, and wooden hot tubs with mountain views. The Summit restaurant prepares an eclectic mix of Alpine-inspired Italian cuisine, while 1568 Japanese Steakhouse features Asian-inflected raw fish and grilled meats. For a pre- or postdinner tipple, the Doping Champoluc cocktail bar, an outpost of one in Milan, has a large selection of Japanese whisky and specializes in Japanese-style cocktails along with finger foods.

The intimate upstairs terrace of this hospitable 16th-century palace inn is a perfect spot to survey the nearby Rialto scene while enjoying evening aperitivi and their fabulous homemade breakfasts. The interior, from the clubby yet cozy Venetian lounge-bar and library to the spacious guest rooms, is sumptuous, with brocade-tufted walls, period-style furniture, and hand-decorated exposed beam ceilings.

This elegant pink-washed hotel in a 16th-century building overlooks the main square and has wide views over picturesque Asolo or its leafy hinterland. This was once the actress Eleonora Duse's preferred haunt, and you can choose to stay in the room where she regularly entertained the poet and libertine Gabriele D'Annunzio. All the rooms are large and furnished with turn-of-the-last-century antiques. Decoratively tiled, the bathrooms have massage showers, which might come in handy for legs that have climbed up the hill for a view (or spent time in the fitness room). The terrace is a great place for a sunset drink or dinner in summer.

The Castello Aragonese, on its own island, is the unrivaled location for this unique hotel with a peaceful ambience and simple but comfortable rooms overlooking the Mediterranean. The superb restaurant on the spectacular terrace (also open to nonguests) provides sophisticated adaptations of local island cuisine, using much produce from the castle's vegetable garden. The hotel is hugely popular, so book way in advance.

In addition to guest rooms with four-poster beds and sweeping drapes, this 19th-century palazzo has a charming, flower-filled terrace where you can sip a glass of wine while taking in a view of Brunelleschi's cupola. Complimentary coffee, tea, and fruit are on hand all day in the comfortable sitting room; there's also an honor bar with both wine and spirits. Single rooms are large by Italian standards—a boon if you're traveling alone.

This swank place, with decor inspired by European design of the 1930s, is in a little piazza just minutes from Piazza Maggiore. Clean lines and elegant restraint are the hallmarks of the rooms, the lobby, even the elevators—and equally well-dressed people like to stay here. It's well worth paying extra to upgrade from a basic double, as other rooms are that much bigger. The ample breakfast includes eggs, and every evening the bar hosts a happy hour. Those considering a longer stay might want to avail themselves of one of two luxurious apartments in a nearby palazzo, where the effortless style of the Novecento prevails.

The location of this stylish and welcoming family-run hotel can't be beat: it's right around the corner from Piazza Maggiore on a quiet piazza. The inviting living room has Oriental rugs and comfortable couches. Rooms are mostly painted yellow, with hardwood floors, and some have antique clocks and tremendous views of 14th-century Palazzo Comunale just across the way. The ample breakfast includes fresh fruit, and the staff are uniformly friendly and professional. 

You'll experience refined upscale living on a landed aristocratic estate when you stay at this stylishly renovated villa surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The villa has been cleverly converted so that it can be rented as a whole (it sleeps 12) or as three separate apartments (sleeping two- to four people each) with a chef to provide all catering. Exposed stone walls—some taken from the site of Selinunte several hundred years ago when such things were not frowned upon—are combined with terra-cotta and ceramic tiles and wooden beams. Private terraces are accessible through contemporary glass doors, ensuring inner spaces are full of natural light. Many of the doors are antique—including an 18th-century carved oak door with a cat hole—while the tastefully tiled showers have hammam-style benches that invite long steamy soaks. Textiles are all exquisite and understated. The grounds include a magnificent saltwater swimming pool. Although all three apartments have independent entrances, the two apartments in the main house are separated by doors rather than walls.

Opened in 1925 and still run by the same family, the Bellevue provides timeless charm, gracious hospitality, delectable cuisine, and a second-to-none spa, along with astounding views of the Gran Paradiso, the highest mountain entirely within Italy. Individually decorated rooms have wood floors and are furnished with antiques; some have balconies, Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, or saunas. Le Petit Bellevue, with only five tables, serves Aosta Valley specialties; Bar à Fromage focuses on (what else) cheese, with superlative fondue, raclette, and meat dishes; Bellevue serves creative Italian cuisine; and La Brasserie de Bon Bec creates more informal plates to be shared. Ask for a tour of the expansive wine cellar, which stores about 15,000 bottles, along with the cheese cellar—and, if the weather’s nice, don’t miss dining on the enormous terrace overlooking the mountains. The very unique spa is another must-do, with two heated swimming pools, a wide range of saunas including mountain pine, citrus, and hay, a salt cave, and a compact fitness center.

This small, rustic-chic hotel between Assisi and Gubbio, dating from 1266 but thoroughly modernized inside, is a relaxing base for exploring the pretty Umbrian countryside. Spacious rooms feature beamed ceilings and stone walls; some have kitchens, soaking tubs, and terraces. Many rooms can be connected and equipped with extra beds for children—perfect if you’re traveling with family. Osteria Panicaglia’s chef, who hails from Naples and has cooked around the world, prepares delicious gourmet lunches and dinners that incorporate local ingredients, including herbs and vegetables from the hotel’s garden. In summer, you can enjoy the Borgo’s outdoor pizza oven, outdoor cinema, and last but not least, the expansive swimming pool. Note that there's a seven-night minimum stay in July and August.

This lovely little guesthouse on the seafront promenade of Noli is stylishly done with wood floors, uncluttered white walls with splashes of bright colors, and modern decor. A bountiful breakfast is served in a cheerful dining and sitting room, and a nice beach club owned by the same family is just across the road. There's a two- or three-night minimum stay outside the winter months, and children are not accommodated.

One of the city's most intimate and elegant getaways blends terrazzo floors, dramatic Murano chandeliers, and antique-style furnishings with contemporary touches, particularly in the African-wood reception area and breakfast room. Impressively, five dramatic "concept rooms" take on themes from Venetian history; the Doge's Room is draped in deep-red brocades, while the Oriental Room is inspired by the travels of Marco Polo.

This modern version of an albergo diffuso (scattered hotel) features rooms in five different traditional and colorful Burano houses, updated with design features created by local artisans and other Italian craftspeople. Since there's no central reception, guests check in at sister hotel Venissa, about a 10-minute walk; room rates also include breakfast at Venissa. Clean and contemporary guest rooms include oak floors and four-poster beds; tiled bathrooms have showers, while some also include tubs. Guests can also book personalized experiences with locals, such as lacemaking, gardening, and boating.

Ron and Susi Gaud have transformed an 18th-century town house into a cozy little B&B nestled in the heart of Barga. Most rooms, simply yet elegantly furnished, have tremendous views of the dramatic mountainscape a stone's throw away. A welcome drink and a chat with Ron and Susi (whose love for their adopted town is infectious) is the perfect way to start a stay. A flower- and vegetable-filled garden provides a wonderful place to sunbathe or enjoy a glass of wine; there's an outdoor table covered by vines that offers a terrific spot for a light snack. Breakfast, served in the cantina, features Susi's homemade pastries. This is a great base to enjoy the delights of Barga as well as hiking in its environs: Ron and Susi, ardent hikers, are quite knowledgeable about paths in the area.

Enchantment reigns at this tiny 13th-century countryside hamlet, part of the fiefdom of the aristocratic Florentine Guicciardini family and reinvented by the modern Count Roberto Guicciardini. A castle, church, and cobbled streets set the stage. Guest rooms vary in style; high wood-beam ceilings, terra-cotta floors, and modern bathrooms are the rule throughout. Apartments sleep as many as eight people and have as many as two baths.

Tufa quarries are a feature of Favignana's landscape, and this designer hotel to the southeast of town has been built within one that has been abandoned. Surrounded by the sheer walls of the quarry, the clean style and architecture of the building reflect its unique setting. The prevailing tone is fashionably minimalist—even Spartan—but creature comforts and the spirit of luxury have not been sacrificed. Tufa is used in the good-size bedrooms, too, keeping them cool and soothing. You can relax on decks or lawns in the grounds scattered with tall agave, colorful oleander, and pomegranate trees, and enjoy refreshing dips in the impressive, L-shape pool. If you want a break from the top-notch food in the restaurant, take the free shuttle to dine in town. From the hotel, it's a pleasant 15-minute walk to Cala Azzurra beach.

Perched majestically above Camogli's beaches, the former summer palace of Genoa's doges features many guest rooms with expansive balconies and commanding vistas of the city's port. This is indisputably among the best addresses in town. Aside from enjoying the lovely lounges, you can relax in the well-kept park, or swim and soak in the sun. There's a week's minimum stay in July and August.

Contemporary minimalism, a soothing color palate, and cool design, including travertine-lined spa-like bathrooms and mood lighting, make this central boutique B&B a reliably serene and clean choice. As well as a basic but comfy double with balcony, there are two more spacious king rooms with spa bathrooms, a suite with a swanky terrace, and a studio with kitchenette. 

Bang smack in regal Piazza Unità d'Italia, this grande dame of a hotel is beautifully furnished in Venetian Renaissance style, with dark-wood antiques, rich carpets, and plush fabrics. In the basement, below sea level, is one of northern Italy's most impressive indoor pool-spa complexes: it's reminiscent of ancient Roman baths. On the ground floor is Harry's Restaurant and there are a few smart apartments, especially handy for families. Suffice it to say this place has come a long way since its original incarnation as a 19th-century dockers' café.

This friendly, intimate hotel in the center of town combines history with modernity in its spacious, minimalist suites—some with original ceiling frescoes—inside a house dating from 1450. Guest rooms, all suites, are done up in muted colors and use reclaimed wood in the furnishings. Many visitors come just for the top-notch restaurant, where owner Florian Fink is the chef. Perhaps the most unique feature is the spa inspired by Roman baths, which includes a sauna, steam bath, and hot and cold Roman baths.

This country mansion, once the home of a local bishop, is full of art and warm Sicilian hospitality, having been transformed into the kind of easy, informal place where guests are put instantly at their ease, as if they were old family friends. The food is hearty and fantastic, most of it grown on their organic farm, and is created in a vibrant, cozy family kitchen with wood-burning oven—and it is here that guests can have cooking lessons with the indominable chef, Maddalena; other tours can be arranged on-site. Accommodation is simple and comfortable, and there is a lovely garden and swimming pool.

This palatial, Liberty-style hotel has catered to a demanding European clientele since 1863, and although its spacious salons and guest rooms still have lavish turn-of-the-last-century furnishings, there are signs of modernity, including a redesigned bar (Hemingway Bar), low-calorie and gluten-free options at the restaurant, and extensive wellness treatments. The views, lakeside grounds, and amenities (like a whirlpool tub in every room) render this hotel a true luxury destination.

As you enter this 1890s-vintage hotel above Piazza Acquaverde, you’ll be transported from the modern city to a more glamorous era, thanks to details such as the original marble floors and lush gilt and richly colored velvet furniture in common areas. Traditionally styled guest rooms have details like steamer trunks, wooden minibars that evoke an age of grandeur, and artwork that depicts Genoa’s maritime history. Some rooms have soaking tubs, and there are also a fitness room and a small spa with a private waterbed and a hot tub room.

One of the city's finest hotels, the Sitea is in the historic center and decorated in a warm classical style; the common areas and guest rooms are elegant, spacious, and comfortable. Top-notch service is provided by a courteous and efficient staff, and the breakfast buffet is fit for royalty.

You’ll get a warm welcome at this charming family-run hotel in the Sarentino Valley, which has incorporated natural materials into the design and an innovative philosophy into the menus, including a substantial cellar of natural wines. Bright, large rooms use local Alpine woods and have sleek, modern furnishings and views into the Sarntal Alps. Restaurant Alpes serves traditional dishes with a modern twist; La Fuga (Laboratory for Future Gastronomy), held for part of the year, offers a modern take on natural food and wines, served over many courses. Ask to get a peek at the impressive wine cellar, which holds more than 600 types of wine, mostly natural. The expansive spa offers a wide range of relaxing treatments, including pine, juniper, and hay baths, as well as an impressive outdoor “farmer’s bath,” with two saunas, a pool, an outdoor relaxation room, and two outdoor wood tubs. If you're after a vacation from your vacation, this is it.

At this recently renovated cozy inn—more than 500 years old and still one of the region's best—each room is unique, and many are filled with antiques and paintings. The name comes from the 1551 visit of King John III of Portugal, who stopped here while leading an elephant (a present for Austria's Emperor Ferdinand) over the Alps. Housed in the large park are a pool, tennis courts, and the separate Villa Marzari, with 12 rooms and a sauna. Two in-house gourmet restaurants (one with a Michelin star) serve tasty fare.