174 Best Hotels in Italy

In a typical Ligurian terratetto on the old port, this charming locanda, or inn, is reminiscent of old-world voyages but with the amenities to make it a comfortable and relaxing stop for today's traveler. Rooms are decorated in warm tones and outfitted with modern bathrooms, and all offer views on to the harbor or the sea. Breakfast is taken in your room or in the quayside bar.

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.

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.

The graceful Marchesa Ginevra Niccolini di Camugliano has taken the palazzo of her husband's family (acquired by an ancestor in 1532) and turned it into a luxurious place that still manages to evoke a cozy, yet highly sophisticated, home. She refers to her lovingly restored hotel as her third child. Rooms have high ceilings, damask drapes, and spacious, marble-floored bathrooms. Some have original 18th-century frescoes, others terrific views. The well-priced Altana Deluxe Suite, with its remarkable view and hot tub, is worth a splurge.

In this lovely 15th-century palace, spacious rooms have high ceilings, tile floors, and 18th-century furnishings, and many have views of the valley below. Bathrooms throughout are tiled in local stone. Common areas are elegant, with deep, plush couches that invite you to recline. There's an ample breakfast buffet and you can arrange for a light lunch in the warmer months. The multilingual staff goes out of its way to be helpful.

A refined and comfortable country house offers numerous sitting rooms with terra-cotta floors and attractive stonework, as well as wood-beamed guest rooms filled with simple wooden furnishings and handwoven rugs. The grounds, flanked by vineyards and olive trees, are equally inviting, with lawns, terraces, and a pool. The Ristorante Vignale serves excellent wines and local specialties like cinghiale in umido con vin cotto (wild boar stew flavored with wine). 

The first luxury hotel in Piedmont, opened in 2002 inside a 17th-century monastery, is still one of the most extravagant places to stay in the region, with a 10,764-square-foot spa, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, and a Michelin-star restaurant. Guest rooms feature vaulted ceilings, and some boast fireplaces and terraces. The fabulous spa includes salt pools, a salt cave, and a hammam, plus there’s a heated outdoor pool and a gym in a separate building. They also offer wine therapy, with a bath and sauna inside repurposed Barolo wine barrels. The Michelin-starred restaurant Guido da Costigliole occupies the former cellars in the basement, while the more casual Origini Bistrot offers dishes with ingredients grown in their own gardens.

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.

Originally opened by César Ritz in 1894, this grande dame has a Belle Epoque lobby filled with classic and contemporary art, a ballroom with painstakingly restored ceiling frescoes, and an intimate library where you can sip a cup of tea or something stronger. Rooms and suites feature a crisp neutral color palette (either powder blue or cinnamon) and mix furniture in the Empire, Regency, and Louis XV styles.

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.

Renaissance gardens, beautiful rooms with high ceilings and elegant furnishings, a panoramic pool, and expert staff are just a few of the things that make a stay at this 16th-century villa memorable. A short walk outside the small town of San Casciano Val di Pesa—with bus service to Florence—Il Poggiale sits on a ridge with spectacular views of the Chianti hills. An excellent breakfast is served on an outdoor terrace in fine weather, and the hotel's restaurant provides a buffet of antipasti along with a menu of Tuscan dishes for guests in the evening. The numerous public sitting rooms are intimate and cozy, and a small spa, with a sauna, massage room, and whirlpool tub complete the picture.

In this tall and imposing villa, 15 minutes out of town, public rooms are outfitted in Renaissance style and guest rooms have high ceilings, plush carpeting, and deep bathtubs. A pool and beautiful views of the Arno are bonuses. So, too, is the up-to-the-minute spa. A shuttle bus runs every hour to and from the center of Florence, but the place is so peaceful, you might not want to bother.

The hotel, a 19th-century merchant's mansion modeled after a Chinese temple, has a pool, a private park, access to the famed clifftop walk, and magnificent ocean views; request a tower room for the best vantage point. This retreat is the best of both worlds, as you can enjoy peace and quiet or be in bustling Genoa in 15 minutes.

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.

From the cozy yet sophisticated lobby, with its stone columns, to the guest rooms decorated with prints, you might feel as if you're a guest in a manor house. In fact, painstaking care has gone into making this hotel among the prettiest and most intimate in town. It has the bonus of being in the center of the centro storico, making this a luxurious base from which to explore the city.

At this all-suites property, tucked away on a leafy street known for its art galleries, the amenities are top drawer, the design is contemporary, the restaurant features a verdant terrace, and the accommodations have a hip New York–loft feel. Some suites are in the main building at Via Margutta 19; others are in an annex at Via Margutta 54, which once held studio lofts used by Picasso and other great painters. Travelers looking for a little more privacy or space can rent the entire top floor of the annex, as the rooms are adjoining. These rooms are less expensive than the rooms in the main building, but don't come with breakfast; and note that light sleepers might be able to hear the Metro pass underground at night.

An open-hearth fireplace and hand-hewn stone porticoes hark back to the 13th century, when this was a fortress, and although it's now a small hotel with modern amenities, including a beautiful outdoor pool, the traditional tone is maintained by the wood-beamed ceilings and simple, country-style furniture. The scent of lavender and rosemary wafts from the gardens, and all rooms have soothing views of the surrounding vineyards and hills.

An 18th-century farmhouse nestled in the hills of Monterotondo di Gavi is home to this charming hotel—part of the Villa Sparina Resort—surrounded by a park and vineyards with a wonderfully secluded outdoor pool and a gourmet restaurant. Comfortable, spacious guest rooms include eclectic, homey furnishings and wood floors. La Gallina restaurant, open for lunch and dinner, serves up Piedmontese cuisine with a contemporary spin, and also offers a dedicated vegan menu. You can reach the large outdoor pool (open summers only) with a short walk through the vineyards, or try the spa with fitness center and steam bath. Wine lovers will want to make a reservation to visit on-site Villa Sparina winery for informative cellar tours and wine tastings.

Fashionable couples and families tend to favor the Aleph, a former bank–turned–luxury hotel, where the motto seems to be "more marble, everywhere." The abundant facilities include a rooftop pool and bar, a cigar lounge, a lobby bar, the casual 1930s Restaurant for breakfast and lunch, and the more upscale Sky Restaurant. Rooms are crisp and modern, and service is everything one would expect from a hotel of this caliber. If money is no object, book the Barberini Suite, which has its own terrace.

This charming hotel with a friendly staff is right off the main shopping drag, Via Fillungo. Terra-cotta floors and stenciled walls impart a cozy feeling, while the high brick and timbered ceilings create a sense of spaciousness. The sitting room, with its fireplace and bar, provides a lovely place to relax. Breakfast is served in a cheery room with sponged-painted walls.

You'll experience exquisite service and pampering at this neoclassical landmark on the Piazza della Repubblica built on the foundations of the Baths of Diocletian—it's now run by Anantara, a luxury hotel brand with roots in Thailand. The public spaces, including the reception, lobby bar, fine dining INEO Restaurant, SEEN by Olivier rooftop restaurant and bar (offering spectacular city views), and Anantara Spa with hydrotherapy treatments and an outdoor pool were renovated in 2022, so they feel sleek and modern, while the rooms have kept a more traditional style, with heavy draperies and antique furniture.

If you're looking for a room with a view you'll find it here, where just about every room looks out onto the awe-inspiring Duomo or the Arno (some even have small terraces). When it's warm you can sit on the rooftop terrace with a glass of wine and enjoy a 360-degree panorama. The tastefully furnished rooms, with their high ceilings and sweeping draperies, create a fine backdrop for historic Florence.

Just one block from bustling Via Nazionale and some of Rome's great shopping, this friendly hotel has clean, modern rooms. Guest rooms have big windows, desks, parquet floors, and baths with faux-marble tiles, and a generous buffet breakfast.

The former home of Queen Margherita of Savoy, the Baglioni Hotel Regina, which enjoys a prime spot on the Via Veneto, is still a favorite among today's jet-setters. Right across the street from the American Embassy and next to its noisy neighbor, the Hard Rock Cafe, the luxury hotel radiates royal elegance with sumptuous crystal chandeliers, rich red carpets, elaborate staircases, and decorative statues. Rooms have luxury brocades, wall silks, and period antiques. Eighth-floor suites enjoy superb views of the Eternal City. The Art Deco–style Brunello Bar and Restaurant serves elegant dishes inspired by local recipes.

At this good-value chain offering in the heart of the city, an ordinary apartment-building exterior gives way to a polished lobby and modern rooms, some with spectacular views. The location is ideal—near Via Roma, the grand shopping street, and one block from Piazza de Ferrari, which divides new Genoa from old Genoa. A choice of pillows, coffee makers in all rooms, a gym, and a spa are added bonuses. Some rates include breakfast.

Just outside Monteriggioni, this estate lined with lavender bushes and cypress trees has guest rooms featuring wood beam ceilings and terra-cotta floors in either the 17th-century villa or the adjacent workers' quarters (converted into 10 apartments. Festive striped fabrics in yellows, oranges, and reds cover iron canopies in some rooms. The facilities, such as the health club and the tennis courts, are those of a four-star establishment. A poolside restaurant is open in summer.

Situated in an elegant art nouveau palazzo, built in 1876 as a residence for Prince Philip Don Orsini, this charming hotel is furnished with original artwork and British textiles and feels like a private home. The attention to detail is evident at every turn, from the frescoed halls to the breakfast room. Guests enjoy satellite TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a free minibar replenished daily.

Nestled within Piazza Augusto Imperatore, Bvlgari Hotel Roma is an architectural gem born from a meticulous four-year restoration of a 1930s edifice. The interiors heavily incorporate opulent marble in varying shades, which were inspired by the floor of the Pantheon. With a team of four dedicated staff members per room, Bvlgari's white-glove service reigns supreme. Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito helms Il Ristorante Niko Romito, and his team oversees the ground floor Il Caffè, the Champagne Bar, and the sprawling rooftop terrace. The Bvlgari spa, an oasis spread over four floors, is worthy of royalty, with a pool featuring mosaics inspired by the Baths of Caracalla.

Located a little bit outside of Collesano, this old converted farmhouse offers visitors a farm stay experience with basic, bargain-rate rooms and a restaurant serving hearty Madonie mountain fare. 

The stone and brick chambers, prison cells, and chapels in this labyrinthine 13th-century castle (occupied by Trento's prince-bishops in the 16th century) today contain spare, rustic guest rooms with carved-wood trim, lace curtains, and heavy wooden beds—some of them canopied. Modern-art installations grace the grounds. The popular restaurant (nonguests welcome) serves lightened-up versions of ages-old seasonal recipes from the area for dinner, while the café-bistro offers breakfast and vegetarian four-course lunches from mid-April to September.