Italy: My Favourite Luxury Hotels

Italy remains one of the most compelling countries for luxury travel, largely because of the contrast it offers within relatively short distances. Historic cities, rural landscapes, islands and coastline all sit comfortably within a single itinerary, each demanding a slightly different way of travelling.

Hotel choice plays a defining role in how Italy feels. Design and location matter, but just as important are the people behind the experience. The best hotels are those where local knowledge, judgement and warmth quietly shape your stay, from the tone of your arrival to how you move through the destination. When this is done well, the hotel enhances the place rather than competing with it.

Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi Coast

This guide brings together my favourite luxury hotels in Italy, organised by region. It is not intended to be comprehensive. Every property included is one I have either experienced personally or booked repeatedly for clients, with consistently excellent feedback on the overall stay.

Italian Cities

Rome, Milan and Venice

Italy’s cities reward clarity. They are layered, busy and visually rich, and the right hotel makes a tangible difference to how enjoyable time spent there feels. These are places where location, flow and atmosphere matter more than retreat-style luxury.

The hotels below are those that handle city travel particularly well, balancing access with calm and offering a sense of order within otherwise intense environments.

Bulgari Hotel Roma, Rome

Hotel de Russie, Rome

A long-standing favourite and still one of the most dependable luxury hotels in the city. Set just off Piazza del Popolo, Hotel de Russie feels remarkably peaceful given its central position.

Rooms are elegant without being overstated, and the private garden is a genuine asset, whether for breakfast, aperitivo or a quiet pause during the day. It works especially well for first-time visitors who want to be well placed without feeling overwhelmed.

Bulgari Hotel Roma, Rome

One of the most impressive recent additions to Rome’s hotel scene. Located near the Mausoleum of Augustus, Bulgari Hotel Roma delivers confident, contemporary luxury with a strong architectural identity.

Interiors are sleek and restrained, and the spa is among the best in the city. This suits travellers drawn to modern design and precision, with service that is polished and quietly efficient.

Portrait Roma, Rome

Portrait Roma offers a more residential approach to staying in the city. With a small collection of suites rather than traditional hotel rooms, it suits longer stays and travellers who value space and privacy.

Service is personal and intuitive, and the rooftop terrace is a highlight throughout the day. This is a strong option for those who already know Rome and want something discreet in a prime location.

Casa Monti, Rome

Located in the Monti neighbourhood, Casa Monti feels youthful and characterful, with a relaxed energy that sets it apart from Rome’s larger luxury hotels.

Design is bold and eclectic, the atmosphere informal, and the rooftop terrace is a draw in its own right. It appeals to travellers who want to feel embedded in a neighbourhood while still enjoying high standards of comfort and service.

Bulgari Hotel Milano, Milan

Discreet and exceptionally well run, Bulgari Hotel Milano sits quietly behind gates near Brera, with a private garden that immediately softens the pace of the city.

The design is understated and contemporary, and the hotel works seamlessly for short stays, with strong dining, an excellent spa and easy access to galleries, shopping and restaurants.

Portrait Milano, Milan

Set within a former seminary near Corso Venezia, Portrait Milano is one of the city’s most compelling recent openings. The scale of the central courtyard creates a sense of space that is rare in Milan.

The atmosphere is modern and social, with spacious rooms and a layout that suits travellers who value privacy without isolation. It works particularly well for those who want Milan to feel current rather than traditional.

Palazzo Parigi, Milan

Palazzo Parigi offers a more classic interpretation of Milanese luxury. Located close to Brera, it combines generous room sizes with a formal, elegant atmosphere.

The spa and indoor pool are standouts, making it a good option for arrivals from long-haul flights or as a transition point within a wider Italian journey.

Aman Venice

Set within a 16th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal, Aman Venice feels more like a private residence than a hotel.

Interiors are grand yet restrained, with frescoed ceilings, vast rooms and an unusual degree of privacy. The garden is a true rarity in Venice, offering a quiet place to retreat after exploring the city. This is a hotel best suited to special occasions and travellers who value discretion and atmosphere over visibility.

Aman Venice

Airelles Venezia Palladio, Venice

Opening in April, Airelles Venezia Palladio is one of the most anticipated new openings in Venice. Located on Giudecca Island, it offers a calmer, more spacious alternative to the main islands.

Set within a historic monastery designed by Palladio, the hotel combines architectural significance with gardens, lagoon views and a sense of removal from the busiest parts of the city. Access to Venice is by private boat, which adds to the feeling of separation.

Ca’ di Dio, Venice

Ca’ di Dio sits in a quieter part of Venice near the Arsenale and offers understated, contemporary luxury within a historic setting.

Rooms are calm and well designed, and the internal courtyards create a sense of space that is often missing in the city. This is a good option for travellers keen to explore less tourist-heavy areas without sacrificing comfort.

Il Palazzo Experimental, Venice

Il Palazzo Experimental brings a relaxed, design-led approach to Venice. Located in Dorsoduro, it has a youthful, creative feel with a strong focus on interiors and food.

The canal-side terrace is particularly appealing in the evening, and the overall atmosphere is informal without losing quality. It suits travellers who want Venice to feel lived-in rather than ceremonial.

Lakes and Mountains

Lake Como and Lake Garda

Lake Como and Lake Garda are defined by their physical settings rather than their towns. Mountains fall steeply into the water, villas and hotels sit directly on the shoreline, and much of daily life unfolds by boat.

Lake Como is compact and dramatic, with a concentration of historic properties clustered around a small number of villages. Lake Garda is broader and more relaxed, with gentler terrain and a wider sense of space. In both cases, staying put tends to be more rewarding than moving around frequently.

Passalacqua, Lake Como

Passalacqua, Lake Como

Passalacqua has become one of the most celebrated hotels in the world, named World’s Best Hotel, and it fully lives up to the recognition. Set within an 18th-century villa with terraced gardens descending to the lake, it feels intimate, romantic and deliberately personal.

Beyond the design and setting, this is one of the hotels that has generated the strongest and most consistent feedback I have ever received from clients. Service is warm and intuitive, the atmosphere relaxed rather than formal, and the experience feels genuinely special without trying too hard.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como

Directly opposite Bellagio, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is one of Lake Como’s landmarks. Its lakeside position, floating pools and expansive gardens create an immediate sense of occasion.

Despite its size, the hotel is well organised and works well for longer stays, combining classic glamour with strong facilities and a lively atmosphere.

Villa Serbelloni, Lake Como

Villa Serbelloni occupies one of the most enviable positions on the lake, sitting at the tip of Bellagio. Traditional in style and unapologetically grand, it appeals to travellers who appreciate heritage and ceremony.

Gardens, private beach access and generous indoor spaces define the experience. It feels rooted in Lake Como’s golden era.

Villa d’Este, Lake Como

Villa d’Este remains a benchmark for grand hotels worldwide. Set within vast Renaissance gardens in Cernobbio, it delivers scale, history and impeccable organisation.

Arriving by boat, walking the gardens in the early evening and dining by the water are central to the experience. It pairs particularly well with Milan.

Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, Lake Garda

Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, Lake Garda

Lefay Lago di Garda offers a different expression of lake travel. Positioned high above the western shore, the focus here is on wellness, space and uninterrupted views.

The spa is among the best in Italy, and the overall atmosphere is calm and restorative, suited to travellers prioritising wellbeing and downtime.

Cape of Senses, Lake Garda

Adults-only and contemporary in design, Cape of Senses feels deliberately pared back. Rooms are light-filled, views are wide open, and the mood is quiet and controlled.

It suits travellers looking for a modern, peaceful stay with an emphasis on privacy and scenery.

Tuscan Favourites

Tuscany lends itself to staying in one place and exploring slowly from there. Rather than moving between towns, most travellers base themselves in the countryside, combining quiet days on the property with short drives to nearby villages, wineries and cities.

The hotels that work best here are those designed for lingering, where much of the experience happens on site and pace is unforced.

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco sits within a vast private estate near Montalcino, with vineyards, woodland and open countryside shaping the stay.

It works well for longer visits and for travellers who want variety without changing hotels. Multiple dining options, a well-regarded spa and access to excellent wineries make it a reliable and well executed base.

Lupaia, Tuscany

Small, intimate and quietly atmospheric, Lupaia feels closer to a private home than a hotel. Rooms are individually styled, views stretch across Val d’Orcia, and the pace is deliberately slow.

Meals are a highlight, often shared and relaxed, and the experience is shaped by simplicity rather than scale.

Borgo Santo Pietro, Tuscany

Located near Chiusdino, Borgo Santo Pietro sits between a hotel and a working estate. Gardens, farm-to-table dining and attention to detail define the stay.

Much of the produce used on site is grown on the estate, creating a strong sense of connection between setting and experience.

Hotel Il Pellicano, Tuscan Coast

Although technically on the Tuscan coast, Hotel Il Pellicano is often paired with countryside stays. Set above the sea near Porto Ercole, it offers a coastal counterpoint to inland Tuscany.

The atmosphere is relaxed and confident, with a strong focus on dining, views and outdoor living.

Italian Islands and Coast

Italy’s coastal regions and islands require a different mindset. Distance, access and seasonality all shape the experience, and the strongest hotels are those designed around outdoor living, privacy and atmosphere.

Days tend to follow the rhythm of the sea, with long lunches, time in the shade and evenings shaped by light and temperature rather than schedules.

Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi Coast

Borgo Egnazia, Puglia

Borgo Egnazia is one of Italy’s most distinctive hotels. Designed to resemble a traditional Puglian village, it combines architectural identity with a strong sense of place.

Facilities are extensive, from pools and beach access to a well regarded spa and dining, yet the atmosphere remains relaxed and well managed. It works particularly well for families and multi-generational trips.

Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi Coast

Built directly into the cliffside above the sea, Borgo Santandrea combines mid-century inspired interiors with panoramic views and private beach access.

Rooms are light-filled, the beach club is a highlight, and boat access makes exploring the coast straightforward. Amalfi here feels elevated rather than hectic.

Four Seasons San Domenico Palace Taormina, Sicily

Set within a former monastery overlooking Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, Four Seasons Taormina is one of Sicily’s most iconic hotels.

Terraced gardens, historic architecture and polished service create a strong sense of occasion, while the location works well for exploring eastern Sicily.

Hotel La Palma, Capri

Recently reimagined, Hotel La Palma brings a more relaxed, contemporary energy to Capri while retaining a strong sense of style.

With rooftop spaces, beach club access and a social atmosphere, it suits shorter stays and works well as part of a wider coastal itinerary.

Every trip to Italy is shaped around the people travelling, the pace they prefer and the experiences that matter most to them. The hotels featured here are a starting point rather than a fixed route, and each can be combined in different ways depending on season, timing and travel style.

If you’re thinking about a trip to Italy and would like some personalised guidance on where to stay, when to go and how to bring it all together, I’d be very happy to help shape something that fits you.