135 Best Hotels in Italy

The grounds of this former Etruscan settlement—a series of low-slung medieval stone buildings with barrel-tile roofs—feature cobbled paths and cypress trees; the interior has unfussy rooms with terra-cotta tile floors, attractive woodwork, and elegant but comfortable furnishings. The fire-lit reading room with a bar is particularly inviting.

A broad sun terrace and white, plant-filled decor make this sleek boutique hotel a good choice, as do the spacious and surprisingly quiet—given the busy location—guest rooms, all of which have modern bathrooms and some of which have private balconies. Buffet breakfasts are served on the terrace in fine weather.

Flooded with light and kissed by the island's winds, this bright and airy B&B brings stylish comfort to the harsh Alicudi terrain. Breezy fabrics in classic white and blue soften the stone dwelling that perches high above the sea. Lounge on the two water-facing terraces (one of which is shaded from the unforgiving sun) for panoramic views and unparalleled star-filled nights.

Formerly the retreat of a rich noble family, this 15th-century house is now one of Rome's most intimate and luxurious hotels, with gorgeous terraces and a rooftop bar affording views of the never-ending theater of the Spanish Steps. Even the Hassler, Il Palazzetto's iconic sister hotel on the other side of Piazza Trinità dei Monti, can't make this claim. The four tranquil guest rooms are outfitted in soothing taupes and creams (three look out over the Steps); none of them have room service, but guests enjoy full use of the facilities at the Hassler. Without the 24-hour attention of the Hassler, and with their sense of privacy and independence, Il Palazzetto's accommodations feel more like small, luxury apartments than hotel rooms—something that's seen as a major perk by guests, who tend to book up the rooms months in advance.

A tiny paradise perched on a cliff overlooking the port of Filicudi, the small hotel is family owned and operated (since 1972) by brother Vincenzo and sister Grazia (also the hotel restaurant’s chef) and their father Pietro, who still tends to their vegetable garden, La Canna is a true hidden gem with a family feel, an approach to hospitality that is friendly and laid-back, much like the overall ambience here, as well as the most breathtaking views of the sea and the Eolie. 

It's not every day you can be a "guest" of a famed 17th-century church, but this distinctive B&B was once part of the giant complex of Santa Maria della Sanità, the main landmark of the Sanità quarter. Before visions of gilded frescoes fill your head, keep in mind that this church was erected by the Franciscans: the hotel's decor would please the spartan taste of their patron saint, though modern majolica flooring and art photographs of local street life inject an upbeat flavor. Guest rooms, however, are minimal modern. La Sanità is a lively, sometimes rough neighborhood, busy with scooters and other traffic, but double-glazed windows cut down on the noise. The owner, Sergio, also offers a comfortable apartment sleeping up to six in the same building, runs an excellent trattoria nearby, La Locanda del Monacone, and  is also responsible for selling tickets to the catacombs of San Gaudioso, situated next door, and those of San Gennaro.

Stepping into this charming apartment off Piazza della Rivoluzione is like entering a different time zone: a taste of Old Palermo where the elegant furnishings evoke a romantic world you might think only exists today in novels. Crystal chandeliers, rococo mirrors, painted and coffered ceilings, oriental rugs on parquet or majolica floors, and doilies on polished oak tables all create a warm ambience you'll find difficult to leave. It's not all Old World—the owner has stamped her own taste on the decor by adding striking works of 20th-century art. It's in a lively neighborhood, with plenty of bars and restaurants in the vicinity. Extensive breakfasts cost €12–15 extra per person. A self-catering option is also possible for longer stays.

A cut above other lodging options in the Cinque Terre, these small, white-walled guest rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, marble showers, and comfortable bedding and have views of the sea or the port, which can also be enjoyed at their most bewitching from a shared terrace literally suspended over the Mediterranean. Call ahead to be met on arrival in the village for help with finding the place and carrying luggage—and make sure to reserve far ahead, as the four rooms book up quickly. There's a two-night minimum stay. 

This lovely manor house is on a hill overlooking the historic center, surrounded by dolcetto and nebbiolo vines. Beautifully decorated, reasonably priced rooms and suites are in the main house and an adjacent farmhouse, and some have kitchens.

Located in the center of Petralia Soprana, a stunning, castle-esque house has been converted into a B&B with modern, comfortable rooms and welcoming hosts.

There's nothing remote or rough-and-ready about this gorgeous bed-and-breakfast in the higher part of Marettimo, where tasteful modern design combines with personable hosts to create the perfect island getaway. You may find it difficult to tear yourself away from the sun-drenched roof terrace, equipped with sunbeds and shade sails, from which village and sea spread serenely before you—and it's perfect for star-gazing, too. The four air-conditioned rooms are spacious, airy, and immaculately clean, with rain showers in the en suite bathrooms. Breakfasts include bread straight from the oven, as well as delicious home-baked cakes, tarts, biscuits, and fresh fruit.

On a quiet street in the upper part of town, these unpretentious lodgings are given sparkle by the welcoming and friendly service of the owners, Roberto and Vittoria Giardinelli. Rooms are a bit kitschy and filled with family knickknacks, but each has a private, modern bathroom. Your lively hosts are on hand to serve breakfast in the morning and an honor bar is available to all guests. There's also a quiet garden terrace for lazy afternoons.

The historic Palazzo Perotti in the center of old Viterbo's San Pellegrino district is the setting for three stylish double rooms. In good weather, breakfast is served outside on the adjoining roof garden, where you can admire the sweeping view over the rooftops of the old town.

This instantly beguiling and intimate country resort with just four sensitively restored dammusi stands in the utter peace and quiet of the village of Mueggen. The glory of this spot is that its owners Matilde and Giancarlo are completely in tune with the land and landscape, and they would be happy to invite people to stay simply for the joy of sharing what they have created with like-minded people. Everything they grow on their land is preserved and served to guests during the months they are open, as witnessed by the storehouse of homemade pestos, jams, sott’olio (vegetables preserved in olive oil), juices, and olive oils. They even make their own ricotta from their four goats using the traditional island method of adding seawater to help the curds form and collect eggs every morning from their lovingly tended chickens. Grounds include a small woodland area (with a treehouse for massages) and a pavilion where breakfast and aperitivo are served. Dinner is served on request. In summer, Giancarlo can take guests on trips in his own boat and can lead them on country walks.

In an evergreen forest at Perrères, just outside Cervinia, this family-run inn is quiet and cozy, with three big fireplaces and a nice view of the Matterhorn. An excellent restaurant serves local specialties.

Neatly decorated and light-filled rooms between St. Marks Square and the Rialto Bridge offer guests something rare in Venice—a central yet quiet base from which to explore the city. Five of the seven rooms have their own en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning, two have a shared bathroom and ceiling fan, and a few have canal views. A simple breakfast is served in a cheery breakfast room that overlooks a canal. The hospitable owner is around during the day to answer questions and offer restaurant suggestions; during the night, you are on your own.

Pastel lacquered furnishings and mock-flock wallpaper pay tribute to 18th-century Venetian style in the six bedrooms of this small pensione on a charming Castello campo; ask for one that overlooks the neighborhood life out front. You'll easily spot the canopied entrance, flanked by two topiaries and umbrella-topped café tables where you can take your breakfast or sip a late afternoon Prosecco in the sunshine.

Founded by Giuseppe Cipriani in the late 1920s, this intimate locanda (inn) on the island of Torcello remains in the Cipriani family and retains the simple, classy character of the period. The lovingly furnished rooms have large beds, plush armchairs, vaulted ceilings, and modern amenities—but absolutely no televisions; instead, each room comes with a well-stocked library. The in-house pastry chef provides a fresh breakfast each morning in either the dining room or in the garden under a pergola of roses; guests can also choose to dine at the locanda's excellent restaurant. Ernest Hemingway stayed in one of the comfortable rooms while writing "Across the River and Through the Trees."

Tucked behind Campo San Stefano in a charming little courtyard, this oasis offers small but peaceful rooms decorated in 18th-century Venetian style. Palazzo Grassi, Museo Fortuny, and the Accademia Museum are just steps away; San Marco and Rialto are both about a 15-minute walk. In the warmer months, breakfast is served alfresco amid the flowering garden overlooking Campiello Novo. Discounts are given for payment in cash.

The space for part of this tiny guesthouse has been carved out of the tufa rock beneath the aqueduct at the entrance to the old town. Rooms are small and simply decorated, with painted armoires, floral print chair rails, and wood dressing tables. Only one room, the smallest, has no air-conditioning, and all are immaculately clean. A two-bedroom apartment with private terrace is available for minimum three-night stays.

You'll find enough classic Venetian characteristics to remind you of where you are, but not so many as to be stuffy or ostentatious. The homey yet elegant feel is accentuated by period furniture, parquet and Venetian terrazzo flooring, and tall windows, some of which open onto small balconies (ask for a room with a canal view). While you're not "steps from San Marco," you are still handy to some major tourist attractions, in addition to the characteristic shopping, eateries, and residential ambience in San Polo and Santa Croce. Service is personal, thorough, and thoughtful. There's no elevator, but all rooms are on one level, one flight up.

Opened in 2018, this well-run B&B, in a striking burnished yellow and Pompeiian red stile liberty palazzo, has spacious, high-ceilinged, whitewashed rooms with azure tiles; the two doubles have garden views, and the cavernous three-person room has a mezzanine with an extra bed.

Up on the Hyblean plateau, a good 15-minute drive north of Noto, this rural masseria (farm) is surrounded by tastefully designed two-story lodgings and immersed in olive groves. Though it's close to Noto Antica and some fabulous hiking, you could be forgiven for spending your day drifting between the pool, bar, and restaurant.

Beautifully restored, with high-style interiors, this 19th-century former masseria is an oasis of comfort just a short drive from lovely Otranto. In its long history, the building has also served as a monastery, herbal pharmacy, discotheque, and restaurant. Now it offers whitewashed Mediterranean minimalist chic, with wrought-iron beds, arched ceilings, gorgeous stone-and-marble bathrooms, and flowing white drapes—and the lobby looks like something out of a magazine. Much of the delicious food is plucked from the hotel's own garden, which includes dozens of fruit trees, and lunch can be taken poolside.

Run by the friendly famiglia De Mauro, this modern B&B ticks all the boxes for those seeking great value in a tranquil, scenic setting near the beach. The decor throughout is functional and minimalist, and there are good triple-room options. The highlight for many guests, though, is the rooftop deck. It's a pleasant stroll into town.

This smart and central B&B offers a calm alternative to staying in Palermo whether or not you're primarily here to visit Monreale. It's clean, modern, and tastefully designed and furnished, with spacious rooms that are named after operas by Verdi (the hosts are both former professional musicians). Extras include underfloor heating for the cold winter months and saunas to replenish body and spirit after sightseeing fatigue. Breakfasts are generous and evening meals are available on a small terrace. Guests can also benefit from a pick-up service for the airport.

The guest rooms at this 14th-century palace are named for signs of the zodiac, but the astrological reference stops at the painted symbol on the door, as each elegant room is unique—an antique sewing-machine table serves as a nightstand, a medieval-looking chandelier with a forged-iron ring and a globe hangs from a ceiling, elegant striped silk covers a wooden settee. Some rooms have ivory-color drapes hanging from baldachin beds—iron canopy beds with a painted medallion on the headpiece. A lovely garden opens behind the hotel. Five cheaper rooms, named for constellations, are available in an annex.

This carefully restored 19th-century town house has charm and character that set it apart from the other, more business-oriented hotels in Alba. The rooms are decorated individually in a contemporary style, and the location—on a quiet backstreet steps from the city center—can't be beat. A fine buffet breakfast is served in the vaulted basement.

This ultraprivate hotel is free from noise except for the lapping of waves on the rocks; terraces and flowering gardens spill down a rocky cliff to private beaches below, and on the hill above, the owners raise purebred donkeys that you can ride over the mountain and goats that produce fresh yogurt and cheese for breakfast. Rooms feel more like those of a private home than a hotel; to complete your sense of relaxation, hydromassages and mud baths are available at the hotel's spa. You can only get here via the hotel's private boat.

A 17th-century palace has been refurbished with 21st-century amenities to provide a lovely place to rest one's head: the suites are under the same management as the Parizzi restaurant (it's a shared entrance), so you can just glide downstairs for a marvelous meal. (Alternatively, room service of the highest quality is available.) All suites—with hardwood floors, high ceilings, and well-supplied kitchens—offer simple elegance at reasonable prices. One is perfect for families; another will suit sybarites who might want to splash around in the Jacuzzi. Rates are lower for weeklong (and long-term) stays.