Best Luxury Hotels in Italy

Located in the historic centre of Modena, Hotel Rua Frati 48 is housed in a Renaissance-era building. The boutique hotel has brought contemporary furnishings and technology into the property, while sympathising beautifully with the existing period features. Most are relatively simply (yet luxuriously) decorated, with the exception of the opulent Presidential Suite, where frescoed ceilings, heavy drapes, gilt antiques and a marble fireplace are the norm. A notable change to its original state, is the wellness area, which comprises a small gym, a Turkish bath, a sauna and massage and beauty rooms. Pay a visit to the restaurant and bar for a refined Modenese menu.

A shrine to Italian modernist icon Gio Ponti, the Parco dei Principi opened in 1962 and retains many of the hotel’s original features. It may be outside the centre of the town, but this allows for true peace and quiet alongside incredible views and space for some fabulous facilities. The hotel boasts a private beach accessed by a tunnel through the cliff rock, an amazing salt water pool, the Gio Ponti restaurant with floor the ceiling windows of the sparkling gulf, a three-hectare botanical (and very romantic) garden featuring many rare plants, plus a lounge bar and high spec gym. Like many properties in the area, the land on which the hotel sits has some cultural and historical importance too as it belonged to the King of Naples, Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, who acquired the land in the 18th century to build a stunning villa for his cousin. The current building designed by Gio Ponti is a stunning example of the architect’s modernist work, a structure rooted in the earth, inspired by the ancient villa and the Sorrento coast. Inside, this inspiration continues through a 1960s-aesthetic mixed with blue and white tones influenced by the local natural beauty. Some may find the extensive cubism and cool colour scheme too minimal, but we think it makes for a very tranquil atmosphere throughout.

Situated slap bang in the middle of Sorrento town on the Piazza Tasso, Palazzo Jannuzzi has been a family owned hotel for years and offers warm and welcoming hospitality. From here, everything is within easy walking distance so no need to worry about transportation, and whilst the hotel is small and doesn’t offer a restaurant, you are so central, this doesn’t pose a problem. With just 12 spacious guest rooms all decorated in cheerful, vibrant, yellow tones offset with contemporary black, white and grey, the rooms at Palazzo Jannuzzi are bound to put anyone in a positive mood! Rooms are spacious, clean and modern with Mediterranean touches and tall French windows leading onto terraces and balconies. Whilst the hotel is compact and facilities are limited, it does boast a generous rooftop terrace, sunny public areas, a small but tranquil sitting area, and a reception open 24 hours a day.

Arguably one of the most stylish hotels in the area, we love this boutique hotel for its refreshing, breezy feel, perfect for escaping that Italian heat. Located right above Sorrento’s original fishing port, hanging onto the cliffs, La Minervetta is owned (and designed) by architect Marco de Luca and has the perfect contemporary nautical look for your ideal summer, seaside retreat! Walls are painted white throughout, whilst hand-painted Vietri tiles and colourful, vibrant ceramics and textiles really make the rooms pop. Many of the rooms have huge picture windows offering unrivalled scenes of the Gulf of Naples whilst open-plan public spaces with comfy sofas offer plenty of opportunities to sit back and relax. This hotel truly feels like someone’s (very stylish) seaside home, with the added luxuries of a sun terrace, a bar, a pool and a small whirlpool tub.

Radisson Collection Palazzo Touring Club boasts 89 luxurious rooms and suites in a historical building in Italy’s most fashionable city. It is located a mere 5-minute walk from the iconic Duomo of Milan and within walking distance from the world-famous Milanese Fashion District. An international breakfast is served at this hotel while the expertly-crafted menu at Bistrot Bertarelli 1894 Milano takes diners on a journey through food thanks to the expertise of travel influencer, Marko Morciano, and talented chef, Luca Franz. Guests are also welcome to unwind in the cosy Veloce Milano bar. There is a blissful spa facility for guests to relax and enjoy. This hotel is an ideal venue for hosting sophisticated meetings and events in one of six spaces. Radisson Collection Palazzo Touring Club is also pet friendly.

Armani Hotel Milano is a 5-star escape and embodies the Milanese essence of sophistication and style. There are plenty of options when it comes to the spacious guestrooms and suites including private balconies and terraces and featuring the exclusive Armani Presidential Two-Bedroom Suite with its rooftop terrace and spectacular skyline views. Exquisite dishes are on offer at the incredible Armani/Ristorante and Armani/Bamboo Bar with its unique Alchemy of Flavours menu – designed to take guests on an unforgettable gastronomic journey. Serenity is achievable in this vibrant city thanks to the Armani/Spa and its sensational treatments. There is also a high-tech gym which is open 24 hours a day. Armani Hotel Milano prides itself on elegant event spaces for hosting anything from a business meeting to a private wedding celebration.

Walking through the grounds and up the steps to the main doors of the Ashbee Hotel feels like wandering through the pages of a classic English novel and the illusion is perfectly maintained throughout the establishment. In terms of style, the rooms are decorated in soft grey and silver tones that are perfectly accented by royal purple furnishings for a real taste of decadent class, while the grounds are set with stone statues and gently bubbling fountains. Guests will want to make sure that they book early in order to secure one of the 25 rooms and suites and the hotel is so majestic that simply sitting down to dinner feels like a grand affair.

Set on a clifftop on the edge of Taormina, the Excelsior Palace Hotel provides guests with a first-rate experience combined with plenty of luxurious and stylish touches. Couples are sure to love dining on the terrace after dark as the waves crashing on the beach provide a natural backdrop combined with the glittering lights of the town that stretches along the curving bay. Each of the hotel’s 85 rooms are extremely elegant and provides guests with exclusive touches such as large beds and bathrooms, while those who want to enjoy the best should opt for a suite with views of Mount Etna.

Those who want the chance to get back into the swing of things while surrounding themselves with pure luxury are sure to love this boutique resort, which comes complete with its own 18-hole golf course. Guests are treated to more than 4,000 metres of space to explore or for those who like something less strenuous, they can retreat to the serenity of the expansive spa.  The Landscape suites provide guests with stunning views of the beautiful Sicilian beach, while those who opt for a Deluxe or Junior suite will be able to gaze out at the ocean from their private balcony.

ME Milan Il Duca is a unique, contemporary, 5-star escape designed by Aldo Rossi at Porta Garibaldi. The hotel is located in Piazza della Repubblica and close to the iconic Duomo of Milan. There is a range of rooms and suites on offer, including interconnecting options and stunning city views. There are two restaurants serving Italian specialties including the STK Milan Steakhouse. Guests can also enjoy the tranquil Radio Rooftop Bar with its sensational views, sunsets, and cocktail selection. The hotel offers a 24/7 gym facility for guests looking to keep up their fitness regime on the go and is completely pet-friendly. ME Milan Il Duca boasts four sophisticated event spaces, perfect for hosting any function from a business event to a truly unforgettable wedding. The hotel is also part of the MeliáRewards loyalty programme.

Set within the Isola Bella Nature Reserve, this luxurious resort features its very own beach club, meaning that guests will find it very easy to enjoy their time in the sun. The resort underwent a full refurbishment in 2016 and guests are sure to love the modern amenities, which include the award-winning Expire Spa featuring a Turkish bath, Jacuzzi and a selection of skin treatments, the onsite Fusion Restaurant and more than 200 sun loungers set right on the sand. There are just 58 guestrooms and three large suites, which means that guests at La Plage Resort are treated to plenty of privacy and a feeling of intimate decadence that is absent from larger establishments. Taking the cable car down the side of the hill to reach the town centre is an enchanting experience that guests who have a strong sense of adventure will not want to miss.

Clinging to the cliffs below the main coastal road, this family-owned hotel has achieved legendary status since its opening in 1970. Popular with celebs like Gregory Peck, Peter O’Toole, Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, King of Jordan, and more recently Julia Roberts and George Clooney., the San Pietro is suitably glamorous, but discreetly so. The star dust from the fabulous regulars mixed with the attention to detail and friendly service characteristic in a family-run affair, creates an ideal luxury hotel. Facilities here are second to none with everything you would want on site from private boat hire and a Michelin-starred restaurant to a private beach and tennis courts. The rooms and suites echo Positano’s set-up as they graduate down the cliff side in a series of terraces, each with its own private outside space and of course, stunning sea views. Décor is fresh and vibrant with white walls, hand-painted ceramic tiles, and bright textiles in Mediterranean-inspired colours.