781 Best Hotels in Italy

Set in a refurbished 1902 Victorian palace, the Sofitel—which has a long-standing good reputation with business travelers—exudes old-world elegance with modern-design sensibility. The hotel is cleverly situated on a quiet street between the hot spots of Via Veneto and the Spanish Steps. The ethereal guest rooms are decorated in subdued tones with flowing white drapes and peeks of pastel frescoes. All feature amenities such as Diptyque toiletries, Bose stereo systems, and Nespresso machines. The rooftop restaurant, Settimo, is the perfect place to watch the sun set over the city.

Drawing inspiration from the neighborhood's artsy ethos, the first international hotel brand to open in San Lorenzo functions as a members club, with both traditional rooms and apartments. Amenities include wraparound balconies on every floor, a club restaurant that serves international cuisine, a spa, a state-of-the-art gym, a 42-seat screening room, a content-creation studio, and a rooftop terrace with a pool and outpost of Cecconi's with 360-degree panoramic views. Pets are accepted if they're certified as emotional support animals.

Although just a short walk from the Porta Messina on Corso Umberto, this modern and upbeat hotel is far enough away from the hubbub of the town to guarantee a peaceful night's sleep. The balconies of the airy and spacious guest rooms, the panoramic terrace where breakfast is taken, and the rooftop pool all pander to the view. Tuck into your breakfast pastries, sip your poolside cocktail, and soak it all up. And the staff couldn't be more pleasant. 

A pastel oasis of calm amid hectic Piazza Garibaldi, this sleek, clean, and stylish hotel has up-to-date, comfortable rooms. The big pluses are the excellent staff and emphasis on fine food—the chef here is known to invent dishes with what's available at the market on a given day. Other draws include a panoramic roof terrace and a small gym. The closest hotel to the station, Terminus is also near the main highways to Rome and the south.

At this comfortable lodge with a distinctive wooden facade, flower-bedecked balconies catch the sun, and contemporary guest rooms and suites have views of the forested slopes. The restaurant serves home cooking as well as international dishes.

On the edge of Camigliatello, less than 1 km (½ mile) from the ski slopes, this hotel is in a peaceful, picturesque location. Don't be put off by its '70s-era look—the lodge is well equipped with plenty of space for evening entertainment, including live music, and relaxation after a day of hiking or skiing. There is a sun terrace shaded by a walnut tree, and all rooms have balconies. Keep an eye out for good full-board deals in summer.

Driven by their passion for wine and the island of Lipari, the visionary Lentsch family decided to embark on a project of great scale beginning in 2006 (spanning 2,000 square meters) ending with the beautiful and unique result that you see today: three micro-residences designed with the most modern amenities and plant technologies in keeping with full respect of nature. Everything on this property is eco-friendly (solar chimneys, a wind tower, and thermal labyrinth to name a few) and features primarily local products, an external lava stone pool, and a patio completely immersed within the vineyard. This is slow Sicilian living to the utmost degree. 

At this working farm about 3 km (2 miles) from Paestum's Greek temples, befriend the resident dogs so they will accompany you on country walks or bike rides, and opt for half board to enjoy home-produced mozzarella and rich buffalo stew. You'll dine at a table with other guests before withdrawing to your charming wood-beamed guest room in one of the 19th-century baronial buildings. The Baronessa Cecilia herself presides over all, aided by sons Ettore and Massimino. Cookery courses and visits to the family's nearby cheese-making farm (meet the buffalo!) can be organized, and bicycles may be borrowed.

Spa living might not get any more top-notch than at this resort, where you can roam in a plush white bathrobe (waiting in your room) before dipping into the 37.5°C (100°F) sulfurous pools and where seemingly every possible health and beauty treatment is available. Sleek elegance pervades public and private rooms: tall windows have floor-to-ceiling draperies in rich colors like steel blue and gray or burnt umber and sage; floors are polished wood. Eclectic furniture includes some sleigh-shape benches and oval night tables. You can opt for half or full board to complete the experience.

You need to make your way north to the Campo Carlo Magno Pass to reach this grand if dated hotel, the former summer residence of Habsburg emperor Franz Josef, replete with verandas, Persian rugs, and bay windows. A modern wing has been added, but there's still tons of old-world charm. In summer the golf course attracts a tony crowd. Note that the hotel requires minimum night stays during many months.

The only five-star hotel on the island, this dramatically situated resort excels at the concept of Italian benessere (well-being) with a spa that uses salt water in their treatments. Opt for a massage outside overlooking the sea. Four on-site bars and restaurants (including one vegetarian option and two with one Michelin star) mean that you can fully relax into vacation mode and never leave the property.

A perfect retreat for families, this tranquil hilltop agriturismo (farm stay) offers simple, comfortably decorated accommodations on extensive grounds 5 km (3 miles) from the hubbub of San Gimignano. Directly on the Via Francigena, a medieval pilgrimage route, it's also ideal for those who like to walk; you can order a relaxing massage at the end of a day of trekking. A restaurant is on the premises, so you may choose to stay put in these pleasant surroundings for meals.

For a taste of medieval Florence, stay in one of these character-filled guest rooms—some with canopied beds, some with balconies—housed within a 13th-century tower. The Torre Guelfa once protected the wealthy Acciaiuoli family; now it's one of the best small hotels in the center of Florence. A simple yet ample breakfast (think Continental-plus) is served in a serene glassed-in loggia.

Set inside a tower that dates from the 1300s, this small but cozy hotel offers two private rooms on the edge of the historic center. Each room takes up an entire floor of the medieval building and has been outfitted with an irresistible mix of antique furniture and modern fixtures, all curated by the husband-and-wife owners who happen to be former students of architecture.

Lying 5 km (3 miles) outside the hustle and bustle of San Vito in the Castelluzzo neighborhood, this hotel has gardens planted with olive trees and is surrounded by wonderful scenery. There's no pool, but it's within easy distance of some superb beaches. Guest rooms are large and tastefully furnished, and bikes are available for exploring the environs. There's a four- to five-night minimum stay in summer, and, unusually for this area, the hotel remains open in winter.

This seaside resort hotel and spa offers basic rooms and mini-apartments (some with balconies), as well as a pool, restaurant, and the opportunity for a family-friendly experience. 

Set within a thoughtfully restored palazzo, UNA HOTELS Trastevere blends modern comfort with the character of one of Rome’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Its comfortable, light-filled rooms feature contemporary details like universal sockets and smart TVs. Set an easy walk from Trastevere’s lively piazzas, the hotel provides quiet escapes as well—whether in the tranquil inner courtyard or on the rooftop terrace with views of the city all the way to the Apennine Mountains.

Just across the street from Villa Borghese, this four-star boutique hotel, built in 1889 and decorated like a throwback to that era, is popular with American business travelers. The hotel is handsomely adorned with Oriental rugs, oil paintings, and fresh flowers throughout the common areas. Floral prints and fabrics are a common theme in the guest rooms, on wallpaper and matching bedspreads and drapes. Make sure to ask for a room on one of the upper floors to get a glimpse of the gardens.

The former home of James Joyce is a real gem of a hotel—with stylish, unfussy traditional decor and a just-out-of-town location that's convenient for both local sightseeing and trips into the Karst mountains. Beyond the grand lobby, there's a handsome wood-filled breakfast area and a lovely little library and lounge with funky armchairs. The latter is perfect for relaxing with Ulysses or one of the weighty design tomes. Many of the spacious rooms have gorgeous parquet flooring, elegant furnishings, and tasteful artwork.

An elegant villa painted antique rose appears at the end of a tree-lined driveway perched on top of a hill off the main road just before Montemerano. It has expansive views and quintessential Tuscan charm. Tastefully decorated rooms—with curly ironwork or tapestries as bed headboards—are in both the main villa and a guesthouse. The farm that fans out around the villa produces fine wine and olive oil.

A 10-minute walk from the Piazza Duomo, this secluded hotel with a garden is family-run and shares the same exhilarating view of the Bay of Salerno as Ravello's most expensive hotels. Rooms are generally small (some feature an outside space with a table for two) and have modern furnishing; suites are in a different league.

With a superlative panoramic view over the Bay of Cartaromana, Villa Antonio offers a quiet haven close to the action, and direct access to the sea is a few private steps away from the casual whitewashed villa. Sun beds, though, abound at several garden levels, so most guests tend not to stray too far. Guest rooms are basic, but all have air-conditioning and sea views. The owner's brother is a sculptor—his granite and marble works are scattered around the flower-decked terraces, and his studio is in the square by the hotel.

This Stile Liberty villa in the seaside village of Acquafredda has original features and period pieces, a tranquil garden, a pool where you can idle the days away, and a flowery terrace for sunset dining. In the summer, a shuttle bus operates between the villa and the town's beach. Note: there's a minimum four-night stay in high season.  The spectacular coastline traced by the SS18 road from Sapri to Acquafredda near the hotel stars in the 2021 Bond film, No Time to Die.

From its 19th-century furnishings to a 21st-century spa and a romantic garden, this luxurious 16th-century villa turned hotel strives for opulence. Once owned by the Venice restaurateur and hotelier Giuseppe Cipriani, the property is now owned by Massimo Zanetti, the coffee magnate. Superior-class rooms have views; the two suites with private terraces are pricey, but views are absolutely stunning. The restaurant terrace overlooks the garden and hills, a perfect place to sip an aperitif.

Not far from Ragusa Superiore's cathedral, this smart hotel in a handsome 1700s-era stone palazzo has comfortable, spacious rooms with understated decor, a grand breakfast room with ornate ceiling, and a lovely garden with pool. Expect a curious and intriguing mix architectural styles, from grand noble saloni to rustic, stone-coved ceilings in the corridors. Unfortunately, while the building's unique historical features dazzle, the modern guest rooms can be slightly underwhelming.    

A narrow winding road takes you from town to this imposing villa, now a luxurious hotel retreat thanks to its valley and lake views and its peaceful grounds, which have an outdoor pool and a tennis court. You may think twice about a busy sightseeing itinerary once you've settled into a sunny spot, cool drink in hand.

When the Eternal City becomes too chaotic for you, head to this budget hotel inside a 19th-century Roman villa just minutes from Termini Station. There's a tranquil rose garden where guests typically have breakfast or sip afternoon tea. Rooms are simple and functional, decorated in soft neutral tones.

A practical choice near Pompeii's archaeological site, this hotel run by a friendly staff has a pleasant sun terrace and spacious, ultramodern rooms, five with kitchens and cooking utensils.

The former summer residence of a local aristocrat has been converted into a luxurious hotel in which each individually styled guest room is furnished with antiques and has a balcony with a view. The public spaces include an intimate wood-paneled library. The vast roof terrace, where a fantastic breakfast is served, takes in a wide panorama embracing Etna and the bay below. There is a shuttle bus service to the town.