Northwestern Sardinia
This smart country set-up – and 24-hectare working farm – offers decent year-round accommodation in a series of independent lodges peppered around a large…
Must-see hotels in Italy
Bolzano (Bozen)
Although it's just a short walk from the historic centre, the surrounding gardens make this beautiful 1905 villa seem like you're already out in the…
Southern Tuscany
The Swiss owners of this 46-hectare estate, 5km outside of town, have built an ecologically sustainable farm operation where they cultivate grapes and…
Noto
Accessed via an imposing vaulted hallway, this snug B&B sits in a palazzo near the top of town. It's a friendly, homely affair, where a cheerfully…
Lipari
This centrally located, older hotel will either charm you with its quirkiness or drive you crazy with its clutter. Just 100m west of the centre, its rooms…
Venice
Restrained baroque may sound like an oxymoron, but here you have it: burl-wood bedsteads, pearl-grey silk draperies, polished parquet floors and spotlit…
Vieste
With a location opposite Vieste's main beach, Albergo Labotte is well placed for a convenient stay. All rooms were refurbished in 2018 to a modern and…
Venice
Barely a stone's throw from San Marco, this small, friendly hotel offers good value. Arranged around a vine-clad central courtyard, rooms are understated…
San Gimignano
The sense of heritage here is palpable: stone arches and winding stairs lead to a handsome breakfast salon, and some rooms have frescoes and period…
Trastevere & Gianicolo
Squirrelled away behind a wall in the heart of Trastevere is this old convent, today a 20-room hotel arranged around a courtyard peppered with orange…
Naples
Run by a team of young, civic-minded Neapolitans, Casa Tolentino occupies part of a 16th-century monastery, complete with terraced gardens, swoon-inducing…
The Dolomites
Chickens greet you at the gate of this converted farmstead 4km west of Brunico, home to an intriguing mix of campsites and comfy wood-panelled apartments…
Siena
Rooms at this friendly and efficiently run hotel have old-fashioned but pleasant furnishings and plenty of amenities, but vary greatly in size. Opt for a…
Udine
Don't be put off by the unprepossessing locale, this is a rare find. Five colourful, cutely decorated rooms occupy a top-floor apartment and have mosaic…
Modena
Modena's businesslike HI hostel has 76 beds in single-sex dorms and family units. Pluses include the convenient location between the train station and…
The Veneto
The delightful La Meridiana B&B is set in a 1600s stable, with five beautifully renovated guest rooms with a rustic feel – ask for the garden room with…
Basilicata
Expect a warm welcome at this family-owned B&B in the coastal hamlet of Cersuta, 5km northwest of Maratea. The main building and other standalone cottages…
Alghero
A modern landmark near the Giardini Pubblici, the four-star Catalunya is well positioned for both the old town and seafront. Its sunny, white rooms,…
Sunflower Beach Backpacker Hostel
Rimini
One of the two Rimini hostels under the Sunflower umbrella, this seasonal hotspot is the party hostel of choice in town, with its own live-music stage and…
Taranto
These meticulously refurbished apartments are arranged on the ground floor of this otherwise utilitarian building on the western edge of the new town. The…
Orvieto
Bunk down in the shadow of the Duomo at this friendly three-star where the church bells will most likely be your wake-up call. Orvieto-born artist Livio…
Livorno
Be it a tent pitched beneath trees or the deluxe version with wooden terrace and sun lounges on the pebble beach, this pool-clad campground by the sea –…
Ancient Rome
Near the Bocca della Verità, the plain grey facade of this boutique four star gives onto a bright modern interior, full of sunshine and sharply designed…
Pisa
This doyen of Pisan hotels, run by the Piegaja family since 1837, offers old-world luxury accompanied by warm, attentive service. Its 38 rooms exude a…
The Dolomites
Nestled behind the church in the original 'high' village, this artist-owned hotel is friendly and full of character, with bright, simple rooms, a heritage…
Assisi
A serene convent run by Franciscan sisters, this guesthouse makes for a lovely base. It's a modest affair but rooms are clean and some even come with…
Salina
Friendly hosts Dario and Serena run this well-situated nine-room hotel only paces from the ferry dock. Best are the two superior rooms upstairs, with…
Polignano a Mare
In sleepy Monopoli, 8km south of Polignano a Mare, Albergo Diffuso Monopoli offers a collection of rooms, suites and apartments all scattered around the…
Aeolian Islands
This peach-and-white honeycomb of rooms is the first thing you'll see when docking at Alicudi...meaning you don't have far to lug your bags! The rooms,…
Cefalù
Convenient location and spectacular views are the two big selling points at this B&B halfway between the train station and the cathedral. Romanian owner…
Eastern Sardinia
As the name implies, this unique accommodation in Ulassai is all about creating a welcoming atmosphere for climbers. Guests can choose between dorms or…
Centro Storico
This well-placed hotel offers a range of handsome rooms in a 15th-century palazzo near Piazza Navona. The fresh, crisp decor marries white walls with…
Eastern Sardinia
On a leafy hillside near Aritzo's southern entrance, this terraced hotel complex immersed in flowery gardens offers large, airy rooms (many with balconies…
Assisi
Ideal indeed, this welcoming family-run hotel is conveniently located near the bus stops on Piazza Matteotti. Many of its bright, simply decorated rooms…
Cefalù
Jockeying for the title of Cefalù's most unique accommodation, this convent rents out simple rooms with fabulous sea views, smack in the historic centre…
San Polo & Santa Croce
In a 1227 building that was once a hostel for knights and merchants, the smart guestrooms here haven’t lost their sense of history – some have frescoes or…
B&B La Mimosa da Rosina Barbuto
Aeolian Islands
A steep walk 100 vertical metres uphill from the port brings you to the salmon-pink home of Rosina Barbuto, who has rented out simple dorm-style rooms on…
Friuli Venezia Giulia
Located in a village 12km to the west, Casa Oberrichter is something of a destination in itself, a special place with interiors that take the Friulian…
Venice
Set in a quiet location overlooking the San Marcuola canal, this family-run hotel has 23 rooms furnished in a smart neoclassical style with striped…
Siena
Close to both the train station and the busy shopping and eating strip of Via Camollia, this well-priced modern hotel offers a range of accommodation,…
