123 Best Hotels in Italy

Pope Alexander VII of the famed Sienese Chigi family gave this palace to his niece as a wedding present in 1600, and, through the centuries, it has been a private home as well as a grand hotel—one that exudes elegance from its stately pillared entrance to its crisp-linen sheets. Some guest rooms take in panoramic views, whereas others have 18th-century frescoes and massive chandeliers. The excellent staff is reason enough to consider a stay here.

You'd never guess from the blandly modern exterior that this is the oldest of the city's great seafront hotels—the place where Enrico Caruso died, where Oscar Wilde dallied with lover Lord Alfred Douglas, and where Bill Clinton charmed the waitresses—but, fortunately, the spacious, soothing interior compensates for what's lacking on the outside. Guest rooms, the best of which overlook the bay, are luxurious and traditional, with antique accents, vibrantly colored walls, and gleaming bathrooms. On-site amenities include the famous Caruso restaurant, the rooftop Sky Lounge, a small gym, and a spa with myriad (though pricey) pampering services.

A stunning mansion dating from the 1880s has been transformed into this elegant secluded hotel that blends gold tapestries, crystal chandeliers, marble floors, canopy-draped beds, vaulted ceilings, and other Belle Époque treasures with modern amenities such as a luxury spa with a gym and an illuminated pool. It's set on a rocky promontory—above the sea but still near the center—affording great views from the spacious balconies of every room. Guests often congregate in the main lounge or the adjoining billiards room for after-dinner drinks. In summer, the outdoor saltwater pool, beach bar, and sun terrace are great places to relax. Service is sophisticated and impeccable, especially in the restaurant, where black-tie waiters suavely deliver silver-domed seafood and vegetarian platters (not meat), and the sound of live piano music and, occasionally, an opera singer set a suitably upscale tone.

Most guest rooms here have balconies with spectacular views of Monte Bianco, and the plush fabrics, wood-burning stoves, and Alpine prints on the walls give the feeling of a cozy country inn. A massage in the hotel spa can be the perfect ending to a day of hiking or skiing.

This centuries-old villa has old-fashioned guest rooms that are lovingly decorated with antique quilts and handmade wooden furnishings yet are also equipped with modern appliances. The owners are authorities on the surrounding area and happily draw maps and suggest wine-tasting and touring routes. Follow signs for San Marcellino Monti to get here.

Nestled in the verdant hills between Lacco and Forio, Botania is a serene, chic retreat with white washed lodges in beautiful grounds dotted with pools, olive-arbored corners, and top-notch facilities. The spacious rooms and villas have muted earthy color palettes and botanical-theme touches, many with private, covered verandas. Within the extensive grounds there are places to gather—poolside bars, three restaurants including the covered alfresco Il Corbezzolo, where the abundant breakfast is taken, as well as secluded spots for quiet sunbathing and contemplation.      

For a taste of old-school Italian glamour just outside of Merano, you can’t do better than this elegant Relais & Chateaux property high up in the mountains, set amid 4 acres of gardens and featuring a Michelin-starred restaurant and spa that both use products sourced from the land. Enormous individually decorated suites boast country-chic decor, sitting rooms, and terraces or balconies; some of the spacious bathrooms include claw-foot tubs and infrared saunas. Guests can choose from the more gourmet Prezioso restaurant for dinner or the lighter-style Orangerie, which offers a large panoramic terrace, for lunch or dinner. Amid the lovely gardens, you’ll find a heated pool, whirlpool, and freestanding fitness center, while the cozy spa includes three saunas and a steam room—as well as treatments from the hotel’s very own “modern alchemist,” who creates bespoke creams and lotions using plants and herbs from the very same gardens.

Now relaunched under Hilton’s Conrad banner, the Chia Laguna hotel still has its captivating position overlooking Monte Cogoni beach and the sleek expanse of Chia lagoon, and its five-star facilities are geared to maximizing guests’ enjoyment of these natural advantages. One of the resort’s alfresco restaurants, La Terrazza, also enjoys sea views, as do most of the modern, spacious, and light guest rooms. Other facilities include curving, lawn-surrounded pools, tennis courts, and a small gym. Milanese designers have made the interior an appealing blend of modernity and Sardinian motifs, with traditional island artifacts set amid ceramic-tile floors and sand-hued walls.

If you ever fancied a luxury stay in a small museum, Fiermontina is a magical world set within a courtyard, with four stunning suites dedicated to the arts and a museum you can wander around at night with a lantern, all the captivating legacy of painter Antonia Fiermonte and her love and friendship with two sculptors. Nearby Fiermontina Luxury Home has a pool while atmospheric Palazzo Bozzi Corso is steeped in history with artworks and interiors reflecting family connections with some of the leading creatives and cultural icons of the 20th century.      

Used as a hunting lodge in the 19th century, the Fasano has matured into a seasonal hotel with high standards, opulent rooms, and many amenities—including an Aveda Destination Spa and a well-regarded restaurant, Il Fagiano, in addition to three more casual eateries (one a short walk away). There are also two golf courses in the vicinity. To one side you face the deep waters of Lake Garda; on the others you're surrounded by a 31,080-square-km (12,000-square-mile) private park where the original Austrian owners no doubt spent their days chasing game.

A little up the hill from Chiaia, with fine views of the bay and distant Capri, this landmark hotel first opened in 1870 and continues to offer a supreme dose of elegance. The glittering interior is an homage to the neoclassical style brought to Naples by Napoleon and his general Joachim Murat, with gilt-trimmed Empire bureaus, shimmering chandeliers, fluted pilasters, and ornate ceilings. Drink in the view from the superb rooftop-garden at George's restaurant, which serves outstandingly good regional specialties—its chef, Domenico Candela, has been awarded a second Michelin star.

The entryway's marble relief of St. Theodolus reminds you that this was once a hermitage, but asceticism has given way to comfort and elegance—a fire is always glowing in the enormous hearth, the dining room is candlelit, the bright bedrooms have balconies, and the suites have antique fireplaces and 18th-century furnishings. You can enjoy its extensive health and beauty amenities and play 18 holes at the Cervino Golf Club. Note that summer rates are roughly half what they are in winter.

Once you get a taste of the resort's lush gardens, fabulous spa, and fantastic pools—all set on an exclusive island called Isole Delle Rose, a 20-minute boat ride from Venice—you may find yourself quickly settling in to la dolce vita.

At an altitude of more than 1,800 feet, this converted farmhouse is probably the loftiest luxury inn in Chianti. Its views are breathtaking, looking down on Volpaia and Radda, with Siena and the hills of southern Tuscany as a backdrop. The infinity pool, set on the hillside, takes full advantage of the magnificent panorama. Guest rooms are simple but tasteful, with high beamed ceilings, painted, as was once the tradition in these parts, in pale pastels. To get here, take the bumpy gravel road 2 km (1 mile) northwest from Volpaia.

Blending beautifully into the mountain landscape, this deluxe lodging just south of Madonna di Campiglio features one of the largest and most impressive spas in the Alps. Elegant, spacious suites incorporate local materials such as wood and stone into the contemporary Alpine decor; all include balconies or terraces with mountain and valley views, and some feature private Jacuzzis and saunas. The 5,000-square-meter (54,000-square-foot) spa includes a dizzying range of pools, saunas, and Turkish baths, along with a fitness center and exceptional spa treatments. The two restaurants, Grual (only for ages 12 and older) and Dolomia, feature seasonal ingredients with a focus on local producers. A shuttle transports skiers and hikers directly to the Pinzolo ski lifts.

Atop a hill surrounded by vineyards, this modernized country house–turned–cozy inn offers all the comforts needed for a relaxing stay—large-size guest rooms with comfy beds, a tasty restaurant focused on farm-fresh ingredients, and an inviting indoor/outdoor pool. Each of the 12 rooms are individually decorated and furnished with antiques from Piedmont mixed with contemporary pieces; most offer gorgeous vineyard views. The restaurant features dishes from both Piedmont and Liguria, many using grains, fruit, vegetables, and meats from the surrounding land. The spa, while small, includes a sauna, hammam, and fitness room. Don’t miss a visit to their biodynamic winery, La Raia, accessible by a half-hour walk (or short drive) past contemporary site-specific artworks organized by Fondazione La Raia.

This old farmhouse has been transformed into a marvelous hotel in the midst of vineyards. The three common rooms are cozy but elegant, filled with well-stuffed upholstered couches and chairs; the breakfast room looks out on a sweeping panorama of hills, and a well-stocked honor bar is available for the use of guests. The chirping of birds is about the only noise you'll hear on the grounds awash in flowers. Timbered ceilings hang above beds covered with floral comforters.

Set in an early-20th-century villa amid Franciacorta's hilly vineyards, this Relais & Chateaux property is a true sanctuary, with an enormous spa, a botanical garden, and vast, sculpture-filled grounds to explore. Each guest room is different, though all are decked out with luxurious fabrics; most have balconies or terraces with garden, lake, or Alpine views, and some feature Jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces. The hotel is owned by the same family as the neighboring Bellavista and Contadi Castaldi wineries, and you can sample these wines with your meals in the on-site gourmet Leone Felice or L'aurum restaurants or La Filiale pizzeria. You'll want to devote time to the spa's top-notch treatments—including hydrotherapy, body scrubs, facials, and massage—as well as its large pool, sauna, Turkish bath, and gym.

Perched up in the hills 4,035 feet above Merano, this striking Alpine hotel takes full advantage of its superlative views with floor-to-ceiling windows in the guest rooms, a panoramic restaurant, and an infinity pool. Guest rooms have a mountain feel, with wood accents (many with light birch-wood paneling), a muted color palette, and sleek Scandinavian-style furnishings; all come with balconies overlooking the mountains. Some suites also include Finnish saunas or Jacuzzis. There’s a choice of three restaurants: the more formal Panorama, which offers tasting menus; the more traditional Miramonte Stube; and the casual Classic Restaurant. You very well might stay at Miramonti just for the spa, spread out across several levels, which includes two pools (one infinity and one heated onsen pool), a forest sauna, and a gym and activity room—all with those wonderful vistas.

This former private villa in a secluded park is known for its bucolic lakeside setting, charming decor of the older rooms, and accommodating staff. The hotel dominates a low hill, and the grounds—a mixture of lawns, trees, statues, fountains, and a clay tennis court—go right down to the lake. The villa itself dates from the early part of the 19th century, although a wing was added in 1952: ask for a higher floor for a better lake view.

Steeped in lavish Venetian ambience, junior suites are palatial, superior rooms comfortably sized, bright, and well appointed, and ornate frescoes, pastel bas-reliefs, and splendid coffered and carved beamed ceilings abound. What is not original is reproduced to seem so. Carrara marble lines bathroom walls hung with Venetian-style mirrors. After crossing the private bridge that leads to the hotel, guests are greeted with a glass of Prosecco in a green, open courtyard. Many of the common areas, including the spectacular breakfast area, overlook the courtyard. Ask for rooms with views over a quiet side canal. For even larger spaces, try the adjacent apartments, under the same ownership.

Sea and mountain views, top-quality cuisine, and chic and spacious guest rooms are the main draws at this romantic boutique hotel outside the picturesque village of San Pantaleo. Heavy oak tables and wood-beam ceilings lend a farmhouse character to the lounges, and the Michelin-starred restaurant, Il Fuoco Sacro, has a stunning veranda overlooking the verdant hills and the sea in the distance (booking early for Il Fuoco Sacro is recommended, and there's a second, less formal osteria). In addition to the hotel's heated outdoor pool, six of the suites have their own private pool, and guests also have access to a wellness center equipped with a Turkish bath, a Roman sauna, and a menu of massage treatments. The hotel, perched on a hilltop covered by junipers, olive trees, and white granite boulders, is a few kilometers inland from the Costa Smeralda, and a 10- to 15-minute drive from some prime beaches. No children under 12 are permitted.

Ideally positioned on the edge of Bergamo Alta, a stone's throw from the old town's delightful shops and restaurants, this ultramodern luxury hotel nods to its historic location by incorporating Roman ruins found during construction into the restaurant and bar. The stylish black-and-white guest rooms, some with terraces overlooking the valley below, include rain showers (some also have oversize tubs), Moulton Brown toiletries, and Nespresso coffee makers. The small yet sophisticated spa includes a sauna, steam room, and salt relaxation room—perfect for chilling out after a day wandering Bergamo's medieval streets.

If you need somewhere to lay your head after a day of visiting the nearby wineries, this ultramodern property near Lake Caldero, owned by the Moser family, has beautiful views, an expansive spa, a private beach area on the lake, and its own vineyards. The contemporary rooms with wood floors and detailing all have balconies overlooking the lake, vineyards, or garden; some include private infrared saunas in the bathrooms. The restaurant serves local cuisine with Mediterranean flair, or sample meats, cheese, and wine in the charming stone wine cellar. The nearly 39,000-square-foot spa includes an outdoor pool (heated between March and October), an adults-only indoor-outdoor pool, a kids’ pool, whirlpool, steam room, and several saunas, including a lakeside sauna open from November to January. Try the wines from the hotel’s own winery, Mosel Winery, or beers from their microbrewery.

Walking through the heavy bronze sculpted door of the Sikelia is a step into an utterly luxurious retreat, where time stands still and the stresses and cares of the world evaporate. With just twenty exquisitely curated suites, it is ideal for anyone who wants to escape the world and be pampered. With soft gray walls, reinstated floors, and divine linens in shades of gray, cream, pale lemon, and smoky lilac, rooms are therapy for the eyes as well as the body. Bathroom products are Jardin sur le Nil by Hermès. The grounds are shaded with palms, with a beautiful pool and elegant spaces for breakfast or an evening aperitif (with drinks accompanied by crisp-fried caper leaves and sun-blush tomatoes). There is a menu for pillows and sheets (linen or cotton), and staff are trained to note guest preferences at the first breakfast so that future breakfasts can be tailored to their tastes. In summer, cocktails are served on the roof. Boat trips available on the hotel boat.

Dating from the mid–19th century and set amid one of southern Italy's largest spas (the spot where Giuseppe Garibaldi bathed is conserved in a corner), this hotel is believed to have started the "thermal tourism" movement; as you'd expect, the decor is sybaritic, with hypercolorful mosaic columns, gilded Empire-style furniture, and lots of Las Vegas–ian glitz. The staff is ready to pamper you (and nonguests) with every kind of beauty treatment imaginable, and you can top it all off in the open-air roof pool, surrounded by Ischia's rich vegetation.

Bellosguardo (meaning "beautiful view") is perched atop a hill minutes from the viale, and reached via a narrow road dotted with olive trees. The reception area has soaring ceilings with frescoes by Francavilla (1553–1615). Guest rooms are simple and pleasing. Proprietor Signor Franchetti keeps a small menagerie on the grounds (including donkeys, rabbits, and chickens), and maintains a beautiful, peaceful garden, to which guests have access.

The 18th-century Villa Athena, updated into a sleek, luxurious place to stay, complete with gorgeous manicured gardens and swimming pool, holds a privileged position directly overlooking the Temple of Concordia, a 10-minute walk away—an amazing sight both during the day and when it's lit up at night. Although the hotel's bar and lobby area are on the small side, the whitewashed guest rooms have either pretty blue-tile or polished wood floors, and many feature a balcony or terrace; just make sure to request a room with a temple view, since some overlook the parking lot instead. The amenities are top-notch, too: the well-regarded restaurant serves up a bountiful breakfast buffet, and the spa is a lovely place to unwind after a day hiking around the temples.

Set inside a 12th-century monastery, this romantic boutique hotel is surrounded by greenery and filled with art. Rooms fuse mid-century modern with Italian style; most have king-size beds and underfloor heating. Some suites offer a private terrace, garden, or whirlpool tub. The restaurant focuses on local, organic ingredients, with vegetables at the center. The outdoor pool is lovely, and although there’s no spa, treatments are offered in the rooms upon request.