Sirmione
Blue-and-white-striped umbrellas line the lakeside deck at this stylish, family-run hotel. The quietly elegant, light-filled rooms, some with balconies…
Must-see hotels in Italy
Cala Gonone
Conveniently located just steps above the port, this blindingly white hotel has pleasant, cool blue rooms done up in traditional Sardinian fabrics. Adding…
Genoa
A real attention to design is evident in these rooms and apartments, set on the upper floor of a stately palazzo. The larger ones (sleeping up to six)…
The Dolomites
A suitably high-style super-luxe lodge for one of the world's most beautiful high-altitude plateaus. A stunning contemporary building of wood, stone and…
Northwestern Sardinia
One of a number of B&Bs in the hilltop historic centre, this homey place has all the trappings of a rustic guesthouse: period furniture, wrought-iron…
Elba
Set on the edge of a crab-claw harbour 9km east of Portoferraio, this family-friendly hotel has a resort feel. A blue-and-white colour scheme lends things…
Calabria
L'Antico Borgo's five rooms are tucked away in Gerace's medieval labyrinth adjacent to the restaurant and pizzeria of the same name. Decor is relatively…
Northwestern Sardinia
A stunning location and easy access to one of Sardinia's most celebrated beaches are the key selling points of this seasonal three-star. Its rooms and…
Naples
For a taste of Neapolitan glitz, book into this lofty four-star on the upper floor of the Galleria Umberto I. Rooms are quiet and lavishly attired with…
Trastevere & Gianicolo
Polished antiques and rich fabrics decorate this old-world guesthouse, on the 2nd floor of an old building in backstreet Trastevere. There are six rooms,…
Mantua
Expect a warm welcome, ultra-cool decor and boutique rooms full of soft greys, crisp lines and occasional splashes of orange. Creative touches can be…
Venice
These achingly cool suites designed by Mauro Mazzolini are arranged around an ancient Gothic courtyard and hung with modern art. All four of them look out…
Messina
Just off Piazza del Duomo is this cheerful B&B, run by the young, charming Guendalina. Rooms are simple, clean and functional, with modular furniture and…
Pistoia
Perfectly placed down a side street by the distinctively striped Chiesa di San Giovanni Fuorcivitas, this swish 27-room hotel is within easy strolling…
Lake Garda & Around
Elegant, charming rustic-swish accommodation, beside a nature reserve in the middle of the Po river plain, 35km west of Mantova. There are bicycles for…
Taormina
This B&B wins points for its prime location on Taormina's pedestrian thoroughfare and its rooftop breakfast terrace. The three doubles are simply…
Lake Garda
With direct access to the beach and an olive garden equipped with swings, Al Molino is a rare budget find. Valentina Manzana and her family have been…
Northwestern Sardinia
This popular diving centre provides simple accommodation in a white cliffside villa near Fertilia. As well as an enchanting setting and laid-back…
Lecce
A warm welcome awaits at this stylish five-star hotel in the centre of Lecce. The rooms are spacious and refined with high ceilings, modern furniture and…
San Teodoro
Only the rustle of the olive trees and birdsong interrupt the pin-drop peace at this lovely agriturismo on the fringes of San Teodoro. The bright,…
Genoa
Stay in rarefied splendour at this antique-clad B&B near the Porto Antico. On the top two floors of a lofty building, its palatial rooms (some with shared…
Camogli
The Cenobio's name means 'gathering place of the doges', and yes, the Genovese dukes used to holiday here aeons ago. A private beach and waterfront…
Peschici
La Chiusa delle More offers an escape from the sometimes hectic coast. An attractive stone-built agriturismo, only 1.5km from Peschici, it’s set in a huge…
Tyrrhenian Coast
For an atmospheric sleep with full-on views of the floodlit castle after the tour buses leave, rent one of these two stone-walled apartments on the…
Como
A short stroll west of the centre, this popular hostel has earned high marks for its friendly service, well-maintained rooms and appealing lounge areas…
La Spezia
Friendly Andrea will be there to greet you at this small B&B and can be counted on for his local knowledge and restaurant tips. Rooms are spotless, airy…
Padua
Graced with smart contemporary furniture and Flos bedside lamps, the neutrally toned rooms at Belludi37 feature high ceilings, queen-sized beds and a free…
Centro Storico
This quiet guesthouse provides a cosy base for exploring the historic centre. Housed on the 1st floor of an ornate late 19th-century palazzo, its seven…
Valle d'Aosta
Straddling two traditional stone-and-wood buildings, this friendly, family-run spot has cosy, all-wood rooms in a peaceful location a short stroll from…
San Gimignano
Three rooms with a view (two over the countryside and one over San Gimignano's main piazza) are on offer in this 13th-century building; though well worn,…
Lake Maggiore
In a stout orange building set amid greenery and just back from a modest sandy beach just north of central Angera, this hotel is an excellent deal. Rooms…
Panarea
Perched atop a point just south the port, this whitewashed family-run hotel (Panarea's oldest) has sea views in two directions, including some dreamy…
Ragusa
Housed in an 18th-century Liberty-style villa, this welcoming place has spacious, high-ceilinged rooms, walls hung with family portraits and a flower…
Monti, Esquilino & San Lorenzo
Six comfortable and attractive rooms with bathrooms so clean they gleam are on offer at this elegant 3rd-floor B&B on a quiet side road near busy Via…
Bolzano (Bozen)
A thriving local alternative to both hotels and Airbnb, Booking Bolzano has a growing collection of stylish, pristinely maintained apartments scattered…
Peschici
Staying here is like entering a large, welcoming family home. It's by the cliffs with fantastic views and it's air-conditioned, should you visit in the…
Naples
This modest and friendly hotel sits opposite the Mergellina marina, a fact not played down in the decor – think portholes, barometers, and bedheads in the…
Pescara
A glitzy three-star place with decorative columns and gilt furniture in the brightly frescoed lobby, the Alba provides comfort and a central location…
The Veneto
Why not quit worrying about the challenges of prosecco tasting and driving, and instead bed down at this farmstay amid 14 hectares of vines in the heart…
Sassari
Occupying a renovated medieval palazzo (mansion), this friendly three-star provides corporate comfort at reasonable rates. Rooms are decent enough, if…
