585 Best Hotels in Italy

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.

On a princely perch overlooking the town, the Greek theater, and the bay, this truly grand hotel, Taormina's oldest, wears a graceful patina that suggests la dolce vita, with a splash of Baroque and a dash of Mediterranean design in the lobby, which has tile- and brickwork walls and vaulted ceilings. Fine linens and drapes, Oriental rugs, and gilt-framed prints decorate the rooms, which all have balconies or terraces—many with a panoramic outlook. A meal at the restaurant or a drink on the terrace also comes with one of Italy's most memorable vistas.

With amazing service, wonderful rooms, fab restaurants, and a large pool and spa—all just a five-minute boat ride from Piazza San Marco (the hotel water shuttle leaves every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day)—the Cipriani is Venetian luxe at its best. Those craving A-lister exclusivity can splash out on a lavish suite facing San Marco in the adjoining Palazzo Vendramin.

In a prime location on its own private beach at Taormina Mare, this elegant hotel in a late-1800s villa offers phenomenal views of the water, attentive service, and luxurious and comfortable guest rooms. The main perk is access to a glorious private beach; cabanas are available to rent for a fee. Sparkling off-white guest rooms all have balconies or terraces, most with sea views. There's also a heated infinity pool, a small spa, and a fitness center. A free shuttle service runs to Taormina (about 15 minutes away) every half hour in season, and there are free boat tours in summer.

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.

Spread across five buildings, this elegant lodging used to be a small medieval town, but now it's given over to luxury, which is immediately apparent upon entering the reception area—white walls, high vaulted ceilings, and furniture covered in exquisite chintz prints mingle with tasteful etchings and watercolors. Rooms have tile floors, spacious bathrooms, and windows that open out onto peace and tranquillity. The Michelin-starred restaurant, Il Poggio Rosso, serves Latin-influenced Italian cuisine.

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.      

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.

For the cognoscenti, famous or otherwise, this is the place to stay in Anacapri, thanks to its spa, designer boutique, exceptional restaurants, suites with private pools, and rooms with art or film themes (ask for the Monroe, Callas, or Warhol). The Capri Beauty Farm operates from here. If you can tear yourself away from the hotel, you can avail of one of their private boats. The entrance is hidden behind a long hedge as you leave the town for Villa San Michele, with a corridor of windows showing underwater swimmers and an installation by sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro.

This authentic rural accommodation on the Centonze olive oil estate rings is a short drive from the coast and from the temples of Selinunte. The two big pools—one with a 500-year olive tree beside it—along with the children’s pool, small playground, and little farm zoo (home to geese, goats, tortoises, chickens, and ducks) make this an ideal choice for families. Rooms are in clusters of whitewashed outbuildings, each with its own terra-cotta-tiled terrace. The restaurant is open every evening and for Sunday lunch, with a daily changing fixed menu, and olive oil tastings can be arranged.

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.

This 11th-century monastery has been transformed into a luxurious hotel with, among other things, a large spa, indoor and outdoor pools, two restaurants (Cantina, serving traditional Tuscan food, and the more upscale Contrada), and expansive guest rooms featuring beamed ceilings and wallpaper showing local landscapes. There are also tennis courts and an open-air gym.

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.

This atmospheric, 12th-century castle 15 km (9 miles) from Gubbio has spacious, antiques-filled, individually decorated rooms—some with decorated or beamed ceilings and stained glass, many with whirlpool tubs—as well as excellent in-house breakfasts and dinners. In the evening, the menu in the stone-walled dining room, where there's a roaring fire in colder weather, features regional specialties, including many dishes prepared with Chianina veal raised on the castle grounds, as well as a special menu of medieval dishes.

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.

This architecturally stunning property in the Alpe di Siusi, with a facade of wood and quartzite, has three restaurants, a serious spa area, and its own ski rental service. Spacious rooms, in light blue tones with wood floors, all include Dolomites views and oversized bathrooms. The Sassolungo restaurant serves Mediterranean and international plates with local ingredients, while Trattoria Dell’Alpe offers dishes from the Veneto region; there’s also the Alpina Chalet Grill and Bar for casual cuisine on the slopes. The large spa area has both an indoor and heated outdoor pool, saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation rooms; there’s also a good-sized gym. For even more exercise in the warmer months, opt for an e-bike tour with one of the hotel guides. The kids aren't left out with their own club for ages 4 to 12.

On Ortigia's eastern shore, this hotel, in an unusual twist, is owned by Ursuline nuns, who help to make the mood placid and peaceful, but the accommodations are simple rather than monastic. Guest rooms are bright, modern, and decent for pricey Ortigia; some have sea views, while the others have balconies overlooking the street. There's also a slightly more expensive sister hotel, Domus Mariae Benessere, across the street, with a spa, pool, and fitness room that all guests can use.

Its location—set amid hills of olive trees yet steps from the village center—makes this hotel with bright rooms and contemporary furnishings one of the best places to stay in Lerici. Junior suites have large terraces and spa baths, but any sea-view room is a value. The welcoming, relaxing atmosphere is evident in a sitting area surrounded by a garden, an ideal place for enjoying a bountiful breakfast. The restaurant specializes in fresh seafood.

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.

Close to Randazzo and with stunning views towards Etna, this immaculately restored 19th-century farmhouse is set in beautiful grounds against a backdrop of lava flows. Clustered around the palmento, the imaginatively designed guest rooms feature chestnut beams and furniture and wooden sinks: the accent here is on curves rather than straight lines. Activities such as ambling along on a donkey, saddling up for a horse ride, or olive oil and wine tasting might lure you away from the swimming pool and its shady terraces. The staff couldn't be nicer, breakfast is super fresh and there’s an excellent restaurant to boot. 

Overlooking the Bay of Naples, this luxurious Belle Époque dream has been in the same family since 1834, which means that public spaces are virtual museums—with elegant Victorian love seats and stile liberty (Art Nouveau) ornamentation—and guest rooms are spacious, with soigné furnishings and balconies and terraces that overlook gardens or the bay. Dine in the open-air seaside Bosquet restaurant or the magnificently grand Vittoria. Grounds lined with arbored promenades, shaded by orange trees, and studded with statues contain a giant pool.

Atop a cliff at the end of a rocky track on Sardinia's southernmost tip, a working lighthouse dating from 1856 contains this unusual hotel—a self-described "door suspended between the sky and the sea"—where it's easy to switch off and tune out amid luxurious surroundings. It’s small and select but still has space for lounges and a library, all blending vintage furnishings with elegant modern pieces. Some guest rooms are in a separate annex. It's a bit of a trek to go out in the evenings, but top-notch four-course dinners are available in the dining room for €100. A wide terrace with gazebos and an infinity pool overlook the sea, and a Jeep is on hand for shuttling you to nearby beaches.  Request a Sea View Suite for 360-degree coastal vistas.

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.      

It’s all about the views at this minimalistic yet quietly luxurious retreat (for guests age 14 and over) high up in the mountains at 1,800 meters (5,900 feet), reached by winding roads through the pretty forest—rooms in the main building exude cozy mountain chalet vibes, while those in the Tower have a more polished feel along with astounding Alpine views in the suites and penthouses, two of which boast their own fireplace, sauna, and outdoor pool. The restaurant, with floor-to-ceiling views of the majestic Dolomite peaks, serves up an innovative nightly changing seven-course dinner menu using local ingredients. The lovely spa includes saunas, steam rooms, an indoor/outdoor pool, and relaxation areas, and daily scheduled activities include yoga, sauna treatments, and DJ nights. An added perk: ski-in, ski-out access to the Plose ski and hiking area, small but less crowded than other Dolomites standbys.

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.

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.

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.

The 19th-century luxury at this grand lake hotel—originally designed to cradle nobility and still a refined haven for the discreetly wealthy—has not so much faded as mellowed: guest rooms remain immaculate and plush; public areas are still awash with gilt ornamentation and marble; and breakfast is served in a ballroom. The staff are unobtrusive and very knowledgeable about lake transportation and sightseeing. One of the restaurants, Mistral, features inventive molecular gastronomy dishes along with a more traditional menu.