2 Best Hotels in Portofino, The Italian Riviera

This 1920s luxury hotel oozes charm, taste, and lovely scenery, with a particular attention to color—from the coordinated floral linens in corals and gold in the guest rooms to the fresh flowers in the reception rooms, the two restaurants, and on the large terrace. Offering a tennis court, water sports, boat excursions, and plenty of activities for children, the hotel has become quite family-friendly, and a spa offers further pampering. A frequent shuttle runs down to Portofino's center.

At this intimate hotel, comfortable and soothingly designed guest rooms—some with canopy beds, pastel walls, and ultramodern bathrooms—are spread across two small 19th-century town houses on a quiet backstreet. The hallways can seem like a labyrinth, but every corner of the hotel is graced with a high level of service. There's also a lovely garden, with a hydromassage Jacuzzi, where breakfast is offered in warm-weather months.