223 Best Hotels in Italy

The first Italian outpost of the French brand Mama Shelter, this hip hotel features a funky design with lots of colors and patterns and playful touches like graphic ceilings painted by French street artist Beniloys and vintage pinball machines you can play. Rooms have comfy beds, flat-screen TVs with free movies (including adult movies), and bathrooms with colorful tiles and organic toiletries. The main restaurant, Giardino d'Inverno, draws a trendy local crowd for classic Italian dishes with creative twists, plus live music and DJs from Thursday through Sunday. There's also a pizzeria and, in the warmer seasons, a rooftop terrace and a ground-floor garden restaurant with a cabana bar. The shop in the lobby sells branded merch, as well as handcuffs and other sex toys.

This charming boutique hotel, set in an 18th-century palace overlooking the main square, has spacious, individually decorated rooms, where original frescoes and beamed ceilings contrast with modern furnishings and some bathrooms have deep soaking tubs. In the medieval cellars, a small spa with a Turkish bath, sauna, and saltwater soaking pool is for the private use of two guests at a time and can be reserved by the hour.

Marchese Vittorio dalla Rosa Prati has converted part of his family's 15th-century palace on Piazza del Duomo into luxurious, self-catering accommodations, and those with connecting rooms are ideal for families. Each is different, but all have pastel walls, hardwood floors, large beds, small kitchenettes, and spotless bathrooms. Many have amazing views, either of the Baptistery next door, or of the stunning piazza; others face a quiet courtyard, ensuring a fine night's sleep. For a longer stay, opt for one of the even more spacious apartments, all of which are furnished with the same simple elegance as the palazzo.

Superbly positioned in front of the Duomo on a quiet seaside piazza, this small, handsome, beautifully maintained hotel has guest rooms with contemporary wooden furniture, white and azure fabrics, and marbled bathrooms. Attractive stonework and vaulted ceilings are featured in the Regia restaurant, where the regional seafood bounty are given imaginative twists. Reservations are essential for Sunday lunch and for dinner on summer weekends.

This hotel in a renovated, 14th-century, historic center palace is an appealing mix of antiquity and modernity, including an expansive spa with a sauna and Turkish bath; a swimming pool that features a glass bottom so you can see the Roman ruins beneath it; and magnificent guest rooms with frescoed walls, vaulted ceilings, and charming decorative fireplaces. Though there’s no restaurant on-site, there's easy access to many choices in Urbino’s center.

Fabulously landscaped gardens, complete with fountains and sculptures, along with panoramic views provide a grand entrance to this late 13th-century residence turned charming hotel high up in Spoleto's old town. Atmospheric rooms have beamed ceilings, plenty of antiques, and views onto the Umbrian hills. Though there's no on-site restaurant, rates include breakfast, and it's just a short walk to wonderful restaurants in town.

Accessed from a quiet courtyard situated between Palermo's two great theaters, with large, airy rooms and a charming host, this top-floor apartment is part of a beautifully renovated palazzo dating from the mid-19th century. Everything is clean and tidy, and the high-ceilinged, tangerine-hued guest rooms, accommodating up to five guests, are well-equipped with spacious bathrooms and mini-refrigerators. Generous buffet breakfasts of pastries, cannoli, ham, cheeses, and fresh orange juice are served in a conservatory area. There's an elevator, too.

The Bianconi family oversees this elegant hotel, which is housed in a 16th-century palace—just around the corner from Norcia’s main square—and features stone floors, vaulted ceilings, and a Michelin-star restaurant. Comfortable, spacious guest rooms have oak or terra-cotta floors, antique furnishings, and black granite or Turkish marble bathrooms. The palace itself has lots of comfortable public spaces, including a library and sitting rooms. Reservations are essential for the renowned Vespasia restaurant, which serves inventive tasting menus using local ingredients. The small basement spa has a hot tub along with a steam bath and sauna; massages can be booked by appointment.

One of the region's most famous residences, this patrician villa halfway between Frascati and Grottaferrata is now a first-class hotel with frescoed halls and salons---though the guest rooms are admittedly less ornate and standard-issue. Modeled after Rome's Villa Farnesina, the house, built in 1580, was owned over the centuries by the regal Borghese and Odelscalchi families and was nearly destroyed by bombs in World War II. Luckily, the vast reception rooms on the main floor—covered with frescoes of landscapes, mythological figures, and garden scenes by eminent 17th-century painters—survived mostly unscathed. The showpiece remains the South Gallery, frescoed by Giovanni Paolo Pannini in a swirl of trompe-l'oeil scenes, a masterpiece of Baroque decorative art. By contrast, the guest rooms tend to be plain, with white walls and traditional furniture; but you can opt to stay in the less formal Garden Rooms in the former Limonaia, which is just a short distance across the lawn. The elegant Acquaviva restaurant garners rave reviews and transforms into an alfresco dining venue in summer, with tables laid out on the terrace overlooking the Roman countryside, and the pool is a welcome treat on sunny days. The hotel can also provide a shuttle to and from the Frascati train station.

Beguilingly comfortable guest rooms set on lovely grounds—where gardeners go quietly about their business—along with a small but charming spa and a well-regarded restaurant make this historical hotel south of Perugia worth a stay. For memorable ablutions, take advantage of the huge showerheads, commissioned from a Florentine artist. The hotel's excellent restaurant, the Pantagruel, has a wine list with more than 500 labels.

Proprietor Antonio di Resta shows his impeccable sense of style and love of all things French in a lovely little bed-and-breakfast just a few steps from the Duomo. Both mansarded rooms have been eclectically and painstakingly decorated with treasures found in markets both in Italy and Provence (among other places). Floors are hardwood, and the sheets on the amazingly comfortable beds are linen. The small sitting room provides a perfect place to unwind, and the little kitchen up a flight of stairs provides city views. Breakfast is served just down the street at Mon Café, the café and bistro owned by the B&B. If two couples, or a family, are traveling, both rooms can be rented, and the public rooms become yours.

This exquisitely restored and furnished Art Nouveau palazzo is perhaps the most improbable hotel on the entire island of Sicily: it sits in the heart of Montallegro, a humble agricultural town with not many tourist highlights, yet the Briuccia and its fine-dining restaurant are special enough to deserve consideration as your main base for exploring this part of the island. It’s an easy driving distance of Agrigento, Scala dei Turchi, and Torre Salsa, and inland, you’ll find unspoiled landscapes where pointed peaks rise above undulating hills planted with olive and almond groves. With beautiful wallpapers, wooden staircases, beamed ceilings, encaustic tiled floors, and antique furniture, rugs, and mirrors, Briuccia is a little world of its own. The former courtyard has been transformed into a winter garden, where dinner and breakfast are served. There are just five rooms, the highlight being the suite with its own terrace (and hydromassage bath) on the top floor. Owner/chef Damiano Ferraro also runs cooking classes for guests. For breakfast, guests are presented with an elegant platter of seasonal fruit, yogurt, and delicious sweet and savory Sicilian morsels.

Set in an aristocratic 18th-century house in the center of the borgo antico and near Purità Beach, the Relais Corte Palmieri has been tastefully renovated to meet modern standards while preserving its frescoes, mosaics, antique doors, and other historical features. Soft pastel shades prevail, though no two rooms are alike. The roof garden affords spectacular views, and the spa offers massage and reflexology treatments.

Deep in the countryside beyond Polizzi, this resort offers a little luxury amid its idyllic natural surroundings, with unfussy, well-maintained rooms in various sizes plus delicious locally sourced food at the excellent on-site restaurant.

Designed and run by charming Torino couple Cinzia and Dario, this stone-built former seminary turned chic, peaceful retreat near seaside Sampieri has rustic yet sophisticated rooms, panoramic terraces, and a gorgeous pool. The cozy social hub lounge/bar/dining area opens onto a large terrace with comfy loungers overlooking cacti- and olive tree-dotted gardens and pool, with the countryside and shimmering sea beyond.

In the small, charming town of Linguaglossa, this boutique property located in a former palazzo offers a very tranquil retreat, with rooms awash in white and lots of natural light. In common rooms, you can still see the restored frescoed ceilings of the original structure. 

In the vicinity of Parco di Monte Claro, about a 15-minute taxi or bus ride from Cagliari's center, this trendy hotel offers contemporary styling and upscale guest rooms in a 15-floor circular tower with sweeping city views. What feels like a grand business-hotel lobby leads to a full-service bistro, restaurant, and sunken bar defined by a striking upside-down cone, beyond which a partially covered outdoor courtyard is decked out with pools, giant plant pots, and seating areas. The 207 spacious, soundproof rooms are impeccably designed with Philippe Starck furnishings and equipped with modern bathrooms. Guests can work out in the gym and receive discounted massages and beauty treatments, while the TSpa (closed Monday) offers 90-minute sessions in a hydrotherapy pool, a Finnish sauna, and a Turkish steam bath for €29. Friendly and attentive staff serve excellent breakfasts, refreshments, and international cuisine year-round, making this lively hotel a popular gathering spot for locals.

Hardwood floors, vibrant wallpaper, extensive original artwork, and spacious rooms are the hallmarks of this charming boutique property. On the ground floor, there's a small shop full of stylish housewares that feels like a photo stylist's prop closet. And though the property is located on one of the city's principal streets, the heavy windows ensure a good night's sleep. Two of the rooms have private terraces.

Run by an American couple, this welcoming, community-oriented hostel near Termini Station offers private rooms as well as regular hostel beds in dorms. There's a lovely garden for lounging with a cup of coffee and a bagel in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening. Aperitivo evenings feature cocktails, beer, and organic wine. There are no TVs in the rooms, but all rooms have air-conditioning. Rooms with a shared bathroom have a sink in the room. All rooms have access to self-catering kitchen facilities. Dorm beds start from as little as €25–€30 in low season.

Spending time at this charming guesthouse secreted away down narrow Calle Racheta near the Ca' d'Oro vaporetto stop is like staying with a friend: service is warm and helpful, with lots of suggestions for dining and sightseeing. Attractively appointed guest rooms overlook canals or the spacious enclosed garden and patio—a perfect spot to scribble postcards.

This rustic farm stay and restaurant is a few miles out in the countryside beyond Polizzi, but a stay here gives you a sense of tranquility and the opportunity to admire the beautiful landscape of the Madonie.

This family-run agriturismo is set on a working farm surrounded by gently rolling hills, 4 km (2½ miles) southwest of Corleone. The farmhouse dates from the 19th century and has warm-color guest rooms that brim with character (one has a vaulted ceiling and a four-poster bed) and are equipped with air-conditioning and private bathrooms. There's also a self-catering apartment that can accommodate a family. For many, the best part of staying here is the evening meal, when large portions and numerous courses of rustic fare are served, so half- or full-board is definitely recommended. There's a small swimming pool, and horseriding is available for beginners or experts.

The refreshingly funky surroundings in this self-styled art hotel include sponge-painted walls, brush-painted chandeliers, and views of the spires and cupolas of the Basilica di Sant'Antonio. The color-theme guest rooms, from eye-popping red to meditative white, upend sterile hotel decor, and there are tranquil corners including a flowery courtyard garden.

Understated Venetian decor, original exposed-beam ceilings and terrazzo flooring, and large rooms suitable for families or small groups are hallmarks of this intimate, family-owned guesthouse. Guest rooms overlooking tranquil side canals are the best in terms of size and view. The spacious common salon overlooks the Rio San Sofia. The location is serene, but only a short street away from the main Cannaregio thoroughfare (Strada Nova), the Ca' d'Oro vaporetto stop, the traghetto across to the Rialto Market, and the San Marco area. Al Palazzetto is also good for small groups or families, as there are triple and quad rooms; some are connecting. Spring for the attic suite if it's available.

Ask for a room with a balcony: the view of the imposing Dolomites is the real attraction in accommodations that pleasantly blend rustic and contemporary furnishings. The reception area is spacious and welcoming, and the spa is a lovely place to relax.

Originally opened in the late 19th century and restored a century later, this small, charming place exhibits a Venetian influence, with Murano chandeliers hanging from the high coffered wood ceilings in common rooms. The second floor, where most of those are sited, is well appointed, with antique furniture and chandeliers, and the breakfast room is adorned with a vibrant border of 17th-century frescoes. Such simple elegance extends to guest rooms, with their comfortable beds and sweeping drapes; the Sogno Amaranto suite has gorgeous frescoes. On-site is a lively wine bar serving light meals, lunches, and dinners, plus a restaurant serving local specialties.

A stone's throw from Piazza Maggiore, this place that started out as a pensione in 1875 has endured into the 21st century with a winning combination of comfort, affordability, and some family-size rooms. Rooms are simply furnished, and those facing the inner courtyard (without a view) are really quiet; many are triples and quads. The bathrooms are large by Italian standards (though not all rooms have a private one). A copious buffet breakfast includes breads, pastries, yogurt, and cheese, along with local specialties like mortadella. Parking is usually available in the nearby square. Note that a major renovation will mean that no rooms will have any view of the city until the completion of work in early 2021.

One of the best-situated hotels in the city provides understated modern rooms and public areas that tend toward the minimalist without being severe, while the intimate breakfast room with mid-century Eames Eiffel chairs and adjoining terrace is a tranquil place to start the day. The hotel's combination of well-maintained rooms, friendly staff, and a quiet yet central location make it an attractive choice. There's 24-hour room service but no minibars in the rooms.

A feeling of relaxation prevails in this 19th-century building, and the neighborhood—the church that houses The Last Supper is a block away—is one of Milan's most desired and historic. Half the rooms face a courtyard and the others a back garden; many have balconies, and one ground-floor room has a private garden with table and chairs. Though the buffet breakfast is not included in the lowest rates, it's available for an extra charge and earns high praise from guests.

A true Venetian institution, this small, historic hotel with a beautiful garden restaurant has hosted such famous guests as Gabriele D'Annunzio, Ezra Pound, Robert De Niro, and David Bowie. Works by many of the artists who stayed (or dined) here are displayed on the restaurant's walls, a remarkable gallery of 20th-century art. Modernization of the facilities hasn't altered its unabashedly old-fashioned atmosphere, and some of the rooms are, for Venice, surprisingly spacious.