151 Best Hotels in Italy

Lush, landscaped gardens surround this large hotel, an oasis of quiet and cool with lots going for it: an elevator whisks you to and from sea level and a private beach; the pool area practically leans out over the bay; guest-room decor marries cool hues with bright accents; and there are both indoor and alfresco dining options.

From afar on the Amalfi Drive, this 1960s structure looks like a shimmering white palazzo, and although its interior isn't decorated palatially, it nevertheless offers unfussy, light-filled charm—not to mention flagstone terraces and gardens set amid rock pinnacles that take full advantage of the dizzying location. The seaside bathing area, accessed by an elevator excavated through 1,000 feet of rock, is jaw-dropping and complete with private beach, rocky tunnels, buffet, and bar. Not jaw-dropping, however, are the public and guest rooms, all very standard-issue and staidly traditional in style. Still, they are comfortable and come with grand views of the sea and nearby Praiano. All in all, this is a delightfully low-key and relaxing place. Should you wish to give thanks for the region's natural wonders, a grotto on-site contains a small rock chapel.

In Italian, belvedere means "beautiful view," and it's an apt name for this enchanting spot, where the modern rooms have classic touches such as antique furniture, decorative tiles, and marble bathrooms. The hotel has been in the Martinelli-Manoni family since 1880, and the unbroken tradition of service makes it some of the best lodging in town. Terraced gardens, a lovely pool, and a spa have replaced the vineyards that once surrounded the house.

Set in a grande-dame villa—featuring salons top-heavy with overstuffed sofas, a ravishing seawater-pool area, and a rocky beach—the tranquil Belvedere is equidistant from Conca dei Marini's lagoon and Saracen Tower and can arrange shuttle service for trips to Amalfi. The decor may be dated, but then this is the sort of place where guests ask for the room their great-grandparents favored. Happily, everyone, not just regulars, is treated like family here, and you'll find it difficult to say goodbye to the remarkably friendly and helpful staff.

Above the Spiaggia Grande, a fisherman’s tavern later converted into a guesthouse—where some of the airy guest rooms have sea views and others overlook the majolica dome of Santa Maria Assunta—has long held center stage, as evidenced by the photos of glitterati guests (Steinbeck, Hemingway, Jackie Kennedy) that line the walls. Spacious upper floor rooms with terraces are worth seeking out. The breakfast and dining terrace is a wonderful sunny spot for eating and gazing at the views, while the restaurant features such specialties as homemade scialatielli ai frutti di mare and gambaretti alla Clark (named after the American general who docked here during World War II and promptly requested a prawn cocktail). There's no pool, but who needs one this close to the beach?

"All rooms with a view" touts this pensione (modest lodging)-turned-four-star-hotel—and the views are indeed expansive: from the hotel's waterfront location near lively Via Garibaldi, your windows swing open to a panorama that sweeps from the Lido across the basin to San Giorgio and San Marco; upper-floor vistas are particularly inspiring. Decor could be termed "understated maritime," meaning deep mahogany wood tones, brass accents, and nautical appliqué abound, from railings to reading lamps to hallway lighting. Enjoy breakfast, a sunset aperitivo, or a nightcap on the quayside terrace.

Conveniently near the train station, this boutique hotel couples 18th-century elegance with modern amenities; the decoration, inspired by Venetian style, includes lush damasks, gold-framed mirrors, and plenty of Murano glass and Rezzonico-style floors. Even if you don't splurge for a room facing the Grand Canal, ask for a room with a view and avoid the annex. The breakfast room with its red-velvet chairs overlooks the Grand Canal. Guests can enjoy a drink on the scenic, albeit small, terrace.

An oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Venice embodies the glamour and elegance of the mid-20th century: excellent service, elegant, peaceful rooms that blend historic and contemporary styles, some with spectacular views of the lagoon, and a heated salt-water swimming pool. Red-clay tennis courts and a wellness center round out the resortlike facilities, and the grounds truly are splendid: enjoy a restful afternoon poolside, or have an aperitivo at one of the attractive bars while listening to live jazz music. A free shuttle brings guests to St. Mark's Square every 15 minutes.

Welcoming guests with one of the most sumptuous, quintessentially Venetian loggia-lobbies (part of the late-14th-century Palazzo Dandolo, built by the family of the doge who conquered Constantinople), this fabled monument of Venetian history retains much of its luxury luster, with marble columns here, carved archways there, and plush furniture everywhere. Guest rooms are decorated in 18th-century Venetian fashion—many contain authentic period furniture. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Danieli was the principal Venetian stopping place for literary and musical notables such as Goethe, Wagner, and George Sand; in fact, you can stay in the room where Sand and Alfred de Musset carried on their love affair in 1833–34. Best of all, if you stay in one of the lagoon-view rooms, you can delight in a most inspiring panorama: over St. Mark's basin to Palladio's San Giorgio, Longena's Salute church, and the mouth of the Grand Canal. The same view is available, plus a view of the Dolomites on a clear day, from the rooftop dining terrace.

At this mountain-chic inn in the center of Cortina, from the same owners as Puglia’s famed Borgo Egnazia resort, sustainable materials and chill vibes add up to the most modern boutique hotel in town. Comfortable guest rooms made almost solely of pine include pops of bright colors on the chairs, tables, and headboards. When you don’t feel like partaking in Cortina’s nightlife scene, De Len Restaurant and Bar De Len make for great dining and drinking options. The rooftop spa has saunas, a heated pool, and a whirlpool, all with panoramic views of the mountains; guests can book it for an hour of private use, included in their stay.

This intimate boutique hotel from the team behind the Pierluigi restaurant is a top spot for wine lovers. The general manager is a sommelier, the wine cellar has 1,500 labels, each room comes with a personalized wine fridge, and the hotel organizes tastings with producers. Don't miss the complimentary aperitivo at Charade Bar, which has wallpaper illustrated by a local artist.

A key scene in A Room with a View was shot in this pensione, which is today a luxury hotel adorned with chintz and marble. Many rooms have luscious views of the Arno, and a few have their own terraces. Breakfast is served in opulent surroundings—check out the crystal chandelier and the frescoed ceiling in the dining room.

Maharajahs, emperors, and Hollywood legends have stayed at this grand-tradition Chiaia seafront outpost, which opened in 1908 and has an interior that's a symphony of soaring columns, gilded French doors, and Venetian chandeliers. Discreet but attentive service is the goal here—if you want to hire a yacht, the concierge will oblige. After a day of sightseeing, repair to the peaceful rooftop bar and restaurant, with its sweeping bay views.

This hotel on a private bay provides access to a sandy white beach from the bar and restaurant. A central building and several surrounding cottages contain guest rooms with simple white-wood desks and beds with ironwork insets. Some rooms have balconies.

Worldly cares are softly washed away by the comforts of the rooms (some damask linens, tapestry-like canopies, marble highboys), the superlative attentiveness of the staff, and the hotel's magnificent garden setting. A buffet lunch is served on a canopied terrace above the pool, and numerous smaller terraces are tucked away on the sloping cliffs, perfect for a peaceful afternoon nap. Chaises and white umbrellas sit ocean-side on the beach. Some rooms are in separate cottages. If absolute privacy is your main concern—and you're willing to pay for it—one suite has a private pool.

Established in 1925, this art deco--style hotel feels like an authentic time capsule of a more glamorous era. Exquisite wallpaper and fabric prints are coordinated in guest rooms, and some are decorated with antiques—the grandest suite has a red ceiling hand-painted in Venetian style. Everything is lovingly supervised by the owners. There's bar service on the panoramic roof garden and in the courtyard, and complimentary bicycles are available if you feel like braving the traffic. No wonder it's a favorite of filmmaker Wes Anderson, among other illustrious guests.

Founded as a convent in 1222, allegedly by St. Francis of Assisi himself, the hotel has coved ceilings, graceful arches, marble columns, Flemish artwork, religious artifacts, antique furnishings, and mosaic flooring—all of which blend seamlessly with modern comforts. Past guests include Otto van Bismarck, Benito Mussolini, Ingrid Bergman, and Tennessee Williams. One of the restaurants and its bar are in the 15th-century Saracen tower, perched on a rock over the sea, providing a view that spans from Capo dei Conca to Capo d'Orso. The famed southern Romanesque cloisters and the beautiful Baroque chapel form the heart of the hotel, which has been owned by the Barbaro family since 1822. Below the tower is a solarium and seawater pool. Ask for a room in the renovated wing, and try to get one with a balcony over Amalfi's bay.

Private terraces with views of the Arno and the Palazzo Vecchio are among the draws in many of this hotel's accommodations. One studio suite in a 13th-century tower preserves details like exposed stone walls and old archways, and looks over a little square with a medieval tower covered in jasmine. The chic interiors approximate breezily elegant homes, with lots of crisp, white fabrics with blue trim.

This ultrastylish all-suites boutique hotel in a former perfume factory has Italian-designed furnishings; paintings by local Brera Academy artists; and sleek, white accommodations—each with its own signature scent (such as fruity, woodsy, or floral) and all overlooking one of two tranquil courtyards. Brightly colored leather couches, king-size beds, and oversize bathrooms round out some of the in-room amenities. Although there's no lobby per se, the library hall is a comfy space to read a book or get some work done. The well-regarded on-site restaurant, Da Noi In, turns out creative modern Italian dishes, and it's only a short stroll to the Navigli canal side streets for more dining and people-watching options.

This hotel graces a coastal promontory, once the site of fisherman's cottages, in Amalfi town itself, so many of the rooms and the breakfast terrace have dreamy views. The heavily trafficked seaside road in front might seem like a deal killer, but because the Marina Riviera is on a bend, traffic is never too fast. By the time you ascend to the hotel's second floor, you might even imagine that you've escaped into a cocoon, one that's decorated with antique furniture, 18th-century ceramics, and vintage photos. And you'll feel right at home, thanks to the Gargano family, who greet you in the welcoming coved-ceiling reception area. Owner Antonio prides himself on his buffet-style breakfast. Each guest room is different, with ceramic fittings in the bathrooms. A thalasso pool and steam bath has recently been opened on the third-floor solarium.

Combining understated old-world charm and contemporary chic—and blessed with a garden with citrus trees, sweeping bay views (ask for a room with a balcony), and beach access—Hotel Mediterraneo seems worlds away from bustling Sorrento, though it's just a 1-km stroll from town. There's dining and quaffing in style with panoramic views from both the Vesuvio restaurant and Vista Sky Bar, plus a pool and the relaxing LePietre spa facilities. 

This trendy boutique hotel boasts a prime location, with the main shopping street of Corso Umberto on one side and sea views on the other. Modern touches abound in the 17th-century building, with bright, airy rooms done up in light colors with contemporary furnishings; most are suites, including a terrace spa suite with a Jacuzzi ideally sited on a panoramic terrace. You can hear live jazz in the attractive bar most evenings. In season, take advantage of the infinity pool, or head to the private beach—just a free 10-minute shuttle ride away.

On a rock jutting dramatically above the tiny cove of Marina dei Praia and overlooking a Saracen tower and coastal ridges, this popular, picturesque hotel has gorgeous flower-fringed terraces, elegantly designed bedrooms, and public areas with panoramic glass walls and marble flooring; nearby is the plush Villa Corallium, which provides six additional gorgeous "modern classical" rooms, with either terrace sea or garden views.  A path winds down to the beach, where daily boat excursions leave for Positano, Capri, and Ischia.

Viareggio's first hotel—opened in 1871 to host those on the Grand Tour, as well as many Russians who stayed for extended periods—still exudes old-world charm, even though it's been completely updated to suit 21st-century tastes. Public rooms filled with lovely brocaded furniture provide the perfect place to have an aperitivo. Guest rooms have high ceilings, large windows with damask drapes, and hard-wood floors; bathrooms are surprisingly large. La Terrazza, the top-floor restaurant, has views of the sea and a creative young chef whose innovative, tasty food makes a stay here even more worthwhile.

The Poseidon is more than just another family-run hotel with an amazing view and a terrace thanks, in no small part, to the pergola-dappled panoramic terrace with restaurant, cocktail bar, and pool, and their Beauty Center L'Onda with its gym, Turkish bath, and treatments. All rooms have private terraces, most overlooking the bay—and a range of events can be organized, from boat rides to group excursions to weddings.

Owned by the Gargano family for generations, this quietly elegant, supremely comfortable hotel has long been one of the treasures of the coast; indeed, it once served as a romantic escape for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Just outside Amalfi proper, giving it a grand vista of the town, the Santa Caterina takes full advantage of its hillside location. There are vast, terraced gardens and orchards overlooking the sea, and down by the water is a luscious seawater-pool area, complete with an idyllic thatched-roof, open-air café. The lobby is charmingly coved, while decor is unobtrusively traditional, with Belle Époque accents. The luckiest guests are allowed to book the hotel's extraordinary, 19th-century hunting-box chalet, set at water's edge at the far end of the hotel's romantic orchards.

Suspended over the azure sea and set amid legendary rose-filled gardens, this Gothic-style castle was once home to Lord Grimthorpe and a hideaway for Greta Garbo; since the 1990s, it's been an exclusive if pricey visitors haven, with guest rooms ranging from palatial to cozy. A newer wing has a bevy of options with sea and pool views. Furniture, artworks, and vintage art books that belonged to the lord's daughter still grace the enchanting sitting room and 19th-century music room. Gourmet restaurant Il Flauto di Pan is well regarded.

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.

Built in 1750, this expansive house embodies the local vibes of Stromboli, with its white walls, sea and volcano views, outdoor thermal soaking pools, and majolica tile everywhere (including on the geothermal heated floors). Surrounded by 3 acres of pine and citrus trees, it sleeps up to 10 people and offers a calm retreat for groups, especially anyone who wants to soak up the island's serenity for an extended time. Owner Davide Liuni can also arrange private yoga sessions and art therapy workshops on-site.  

The lobby might be a glamorous white-on-white extravaganza of Caprese columns, tufted sofas, shimmering crystal chandeliers, silver ecclesiastical objects, and gilded Baroque mirrors, but the charming staff ensure the vibe is elegantly casual, the guest rooms are well equipped and spacious, and the rooftop pool area has magnificent bay and Vesuvius vistas. The garden is also a delight, but that's no surprise, as owner Enzo Manniello also runs Sorrento's famous garden restaurant O' Parrucchiano.