135 Best Hotels in Italy

The friendly sisters of Santa Brigida oversee simple, straightforward, and centrally located accommodations in one of Rome's loveliest convents, with a rooftop terrace overlooking Palazzo Farnese. You won't find iPhone charging docks or flat-screen TVs here, and breakfast is served only after the sisters have finished their morning prayer. Still, the atmosphere is serene, and the rooms are perfect for their rates. The Brigidine sisters, who wear a distinctive habit and veil with a caplike headband, are known for their gentle manner; they sometimes offer guests tickets to the papal audience. Breakfast is included, and you can elect to eat other meals (€25 per meal) here as well; however, your money might be better spent on meals elsewhere. The guesthouse entrance is around the corner from the church at Via di Monserrato 54.

Some pleasant if generic guest rooms overlook a sunny fondamenta and canal, and others a spacious private garden, where breakfast is served in good weather. The interiors are pleasant and comfortable, with traditional furnishings that complement the Venetian terrazzo or parquet flooring. Young owners Matteo and Mattia are attentive and helpful, and the location is around the corner from campos Santa Margherita and San Barnaba, convenient for exploring the sights from San Marco to the Zattere, with easy vaporetto access, too.

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.

Stay in a fortified castle, which was built more than a millennium ago, was rebuilt during the Renaissance, and is now a charming inn and a prestigious wine estate where you can taste local vintages. Throughout the main building and two nearby farmhouses you'll find wonderful heavy wooden furniture.

Located in a quiet, panoramic spot, this chalet is ideal for exploring the mountains or simply relaxing amid the beauty of the Alps. Family-owned and -operated for more than 40 years, it is a prime example of the hospitality found in the Dolomites region. Rooms are cozy with balconies offering panoramic views of Lake Antorno and the Tre Cime.

Caryatids stud the grounds of this well-kept neoclassical villa (it's been a hotel since 1870), where a small garden invites reading, and guest rooms are functional, airy, and reasonably quiet. The location—minutes from the main sights but near the long-distance bus terminal and parking area—is a big plus here, as is the pleasant staff. Single rooms are not the usual monastic-cell size. Head downstairs to the restaurant for inexpensive meals.

This calm, quiet mountain lodge offers commanding views of the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks from the balconies of its simply furnished wood-paneled guest rooms. The restaurant is one of the few dining spots in town to offer regional Valdostana cuisine, and though its wood beams and tables are typical of a ski resort, meals are produced with greater care than your average après-ski affair.

The family that owns this farmhouse took special care not to change too much when they began accepting guests—faded family photos and bric-a-brac of all kinds decorate the common areas, and each room is simply furnished with antiques that are typical of the late-18th and early-19th centuries in Chianti, including heavy wooden wardrobes, marble-top chests, and woven straw–seat chairs. There's a large pool and splendid views of the valley to the south of Castellina from the garden.

Near the most expensive shopping street in Rome, Via Condotti, and one block from the Spanish Steps, this group of hotels and apartments is all about peace, comfort, and location. Common areas and guest rooms in the main building have elegant, walnut period furnishings, gilt-edge mirrors, and top-notch linens and fabrics in warm, relaxing tones. The guest rooms exude a classic charm, though they tend to be on the smaller side. There are annex rooms and larger apartments with fully equipped kitchens spread out over seven buildings in the neighborhood.

For a complete change of pace, you can stay in the company of five Franciscan friars at this 13th-century convent, which is managed by a religious organization and has simple, quiet guest rooms with en suite baths. Four rooms accommodate three people, and one room has four beds. You are given keys, so there's no curfew, and you can participate in some spiritual activities or skip them altogether. The city center is a 10-minute walk away.

If you're looking to escape the 18th-century-style decor that predominates in Venetian lodging, check out these spacious, carefully renovated rooms where ceramic lamps, tapestries, and carved platform beds are combined with standard Venetian features such as beamed ceilings and parquet flooring. Unwind in an intimate, interior courtyard and garden after a day of exploring, sharing discoveries with other guests or checking email using the free Wi-Fi. Mother-daughter owners Deborah and Amelia (of Italian-American descent) provide efficient, personal service. Make sure you get detailed directions and cross-check on a good map before arriving.

Located blocks away from Piazza di Spagna, Crossing Condotti is a chic, apartment-style escape in an 18th-century palazzo that comes with a curated pantry stocked with complimentary snacks and a library lounge. Rooms and suites are outfitted with vintage furniture by the likes of Hans Wegner and stocked with bath products by L'Occitaine.

Although this inn dates from the 18th century, the interior is minimalist and clean-lined—Rooms 7, 8, 11, and 12 redress the balance with picture-perfect views of the town's upper castle, while other windows look out onto the city walls or olive-tree-filled terraces. Some rooms can add an extra two beds for families. The buffet breakfast can be taken on a tranquil terrace or in a small, cozy breakfast room with quirky modern paintings. The inn can organize tailored tours and bike hire. Considerable advance booking is required for the weekend of the chess game.

In the countryside about 20 minutes by car south of Ragusa, this charming family-run monastery-turned-hotel features friendly service and a relaxed but luxurious vibe, with unique rooms in former monks' chambers that vary in size and lay-out but are all quiet and well-appointed. All of them come with antiques, stone floors, wood-beamed ceilings, and tapestries; some also have fireplaces, whirlpools, and/or balconies. The restaurant offers a selection of Sicilian standards, and there's a lovely patio, where guests can enjoy the expansive breakfast buffet.

Amid rolling vineyards and olive trees, this fattoria (farmhouse) produces fine wine and olive oil and accommodates guests in apartments (sleeping up to 6) and a separate house (sleeping up to 14). The main stone house retains its enormous stone fireplace and a 16th-century family chapel next door. Lodgings have traditional wooden furniture—some antique—and full kitchens; some units have fireplaces. Half-board is available.

The airy white rooms, period-style furnishings, and ceramic flooring make this third-floor pension directly opposite the port cozy and characterful. Venetian glass chandeliers hang in the air-conditioned rooms, some of which have sea views and are decorated with ceiling frescoes, though most are courtyard-facing. Family rooms are also available. Expect polite, friendly service with basic English spoken from the host family. Basic breakfasts, included in the price, are available at one of the open-air cafés under the atmospheric arcades of Via Roma, below. The bus and train stations are steps away.

If you're looking for a place within the town walls, this is a fine choice—one where contemporary furnishings in the guest rooms are softened by warm, umber-color walls and floral artwork. Rooms at the back of the hotel have magnificent views and some have panoramic terraces. The Gigli family has run the hotel since 1886.

Stroll around the wonderful gardens on this restored country estate dating from the 14th century, where guest rooms with arched windows and oak-beam ceilings are in two houses that look out on vineyards to the north and Siena to the south. The homey furnishings include antique wardrobes and ladder-back chairs. The dining room, open to guests only, has a prix-fixe menu. In summer, enjoy dinner by the pool surrounded by rolling green lawn.

High above Sorano, this austere-looking 11th-century Orsini castle has spectacular views of the town and surrounding countryside. Wood-beam ceilings hang above white and pastel walls in most rooms, and windows have dark-wood shutters. A careful mix of antique and modern furniture—Rococo chairs and upholstered couches—makes for a pleasant and comfortable stay. The hotel closes for some time during the winter; the length and month of the closure vary annually.

This clean and spacious B&B is just a short walk from ski lifts and the bus stop, and all guests have access to the spa and pool areas. Listed prices are for hotel rooms (which often have a week minimum stay), but there are also mini-apartments available on a weekly basis that offer an equally great value for the area. A discount is available at the restaurant for hotel guests.

For reasonably priced accommodations, it's hard to beat this garni (bed-and-breakfast) right on Piazza Duomo, where some of the simple rooms have wonderful views. Family-run since 1912, this tidy place offers some handy amenities that include paid parking, a 10-minute walk away.

Across from the Herculaneum archaeological site, this budget-friendly bed-and-breakfast could use a refresh, though it has views of the ruins and the sea and is much quieter than its counterparts in Naples, making it a good base for exploring nearby Pompeii and Oplontis as well as Herculaneum. There's space to relax on the terrace and breakfast room; some rooms have small balconies with views of the archaeological site.

A sense of freshness comes from the terra-cotta floors, high wood-beamed ceilings, and soothing whitewashed walls in this hotel's guest rooms. The serene garden, facing the town wall, is filled with oleanders, geraniums, and olive trees.

Horseback trail rides through Tuscany's cowboy country are an integral part of the experience at this family-run country inn, where your hosts can arrange picnics, suggest itineraries, and organize weeklong tours. But nonriders don't have to mope at the bar—this agriturismo also has a pool and idyllic views. Rooms are plainly decorated with modern wooden wardrobes and desks; most are carpeted; some are enlivened by wood-beam ceilings.

Convenient to Rio Marina's charming town center and gravel beach, this comfortable hotel has pretty sea views, especially from one of the five rooms that have terraces facing the sea. Use of beach chairs and umbrellas is complimentary.

Amid a large garden on the hillside above Tremezzo, this hotel offers small, private, comfortably simple rooms; a pool with a nice view; and a popular restaurant that serves tasty Italian classics. A shuttle for arrival and departure at the Tremezzo ferry stop can be arranged.

For a quiet and welcoming lodging on a residential street a stone's throw from the Basilica di San Vitale, look no further—it even has a delightful garden. Common rooms, like the sitting area, have cheery yellow walls, Oriental rugs, a bit of chintz, gleaming hardwood floors, and Arts and Crafts furniture. Breakfast is served in the garden when it's warm enough, and later on you can relax here with a drink from the honor bar. Rooms and bathrooms are surprisingly large by Italian standards. Several have private terraces overlooking the garden (two open right on to it), and two can connect, making it good for families.

The atmosphere here is welcoming, hospitable, and enthusiastic, and the staff goes out of their way to ensure a fine stay; rooms in the back look out onto the lush grounds or the countryside in the distance. When it's warm, breakfast is served in the flower-filled garden with a view, providing a gorgeous start to the day.