Best Luxury Hotels in Italy

This was a palace back in the early 16th century. Now it’s a palatial boutique hotel with 25 bedrooms that are fit for royalty. Just five minutes walk from the waterside, it has a suitably grand exterior, which gives way to minimal North-Italian designer interiors that are skillfully blended to accentuate original features (think beams, terracotta tiles and frescoes). There’s no restaurant as such, but a memorable breakfast is taken on the rooftop terrace. And with so many Genoan culinary hotspots on the doorstep, you’ll want to try as many as you can manage during your time here.

Enjoying the dually beautiful location of the small town of Bellagio and Lake Como’s Bay of Pescallo with the Alps in the background, Hotel Belvedere is a charming hotel that has been in the same family for five generations, since 1880. Just a short walk away from the picturesque town centre, this hillside gem is a true retreat complete with swimming pool, jacuzzi, and spa. Luxury rooms and suites, a library, a bar, a restaurant that serves the best of local produce, and immaculate gardens make the Hotel Belvedere an ideal place to enjoy Lake Como.

A 19th-century mansion at the water’s edge, this five-star hotel by R Collection occupies an idyllic spot, surrounded by extensive gardens. Inside, the Art-Nouveau design building celebrates art concepts and Made in Italy. It has a lake view restaurant and gourmet restaurants, two bars, an outdoor heated swimming pool and a Technogym. Grand Hotel Victoria’s Erre Spa is quite something, with water paths, aroma and chromotherapy, an ice room, Himalayan Salt Room, tropical and waterfalls showers, a Kneipp path and an indoor pool surrounded by four-poster day beds. Rooms are sleek and contemporary, with style nodding to the early 20th century. Some come with balconies, but all have minibars and aircon.

Located in the coastline town of Lezzeno, Filario Hotel has a modern aesthetic but a traditional sense of hospitality. Each room and suite has cosy balcony overlooking the lake and has an earthy, natural décor to connect with the surroundings while still being fitted with the best mod cons expected of a top-class hotel. The Filo restaurant takes you on a journey of traditional Italian food in a romantic setting and you can work off the excesses in the fitness room, a bicycle tour around the lake and mountains, or order en-suite massages and spa treatments.

Enjoying its status as the only 5-star hotel in Bellagio, Villa Serbelloni has been owned and run by the Bucher family since 1918. One of the oldest and most elegant hotels in this area of Lake Como, this hotel offers 95 air-conditioned rooms and suites decorated in classic and antique Italian styles with all mod cons including flat-screen TVs. Guests can enjoy a swimming pool with large sunbathing area, a spa with sauna and steam room, a fitness room, and beach facilities. A choice of restaurants and bars, a jazz trio performance each night, and white-gloved service means a pleasurable stay in luxurious surroundings.

With a view across to the lovely village of Bellagio, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo is one of the most imposing hotels in the heart of Lake Como. Set in lush gardens with the Grigne Mountains as the backdrop, the lovely art nouveau hotel offers luxury accommodation in rooms and suites including a number of historic suites with facilities such as access to private garden areas, and also rooftop suites for spectacular views. Guests can dine in excellent gourmet restaurants (once patronised by Greta Garbo), enjoy treatments in a luxury spa, and swim in various lovely pools and from the lake’s only private beach.

A Michelin-starred restaurant and freshwater infinity pool set right on the lake are just two standout features of this luxury hotel in the village of Torno. Offering luxury accommodation (suites only) decorated by a Wallpaper Magazine Designer of The Year, Il Sereno has Lake Como lapping at its foundations. Panoramic views are complemented by high style and classic Italian design and guests can enjoy excellent facilities including a spa (in the original century-old boathouse) with sauna and steam room, beautifully kept gardens, on-site cooking lessons, and fishing.

Converted and extended from a 19th-century villa, Villa Flori is a luxury 4-star hotel standing between Como and Cernobbio. As well as a selection of rooms and suites, it offers the spectacular Gran Lago Suite right on the waterfront complete with wraparound terrace and lush gardens that offer almost complete privacy. Hotel guests can dine in the sophisticated elegance of the Raimondo restaurant complete with terrace or relax in the lounge bar or wind down in the mini spa which also offer Technogym machines for a bit of a workout.

The chance to spend the night in a former 16th century monastery is sure to appeal to anyone who has an interest in history. The Belmond Hotel Splendido has managed to maintain much of its original structure while also making room for luxurious touches such as a tennis court, sauna and large swimming pool. Guests can follow in the steps of the former monks by taking a stroll through the large and lovely gardens, while stunning views are waiting to be enjoyed at the Terrazza restaurant. The spacious sea facing suites are simply sumptuous and feature wraparound terraces.

Set between Portofino Harbour and the mountains just two hundred metres from the heart of the village, Eight Hotel Portofino features elegant and very comfortable rooms for style lovers to choose from. Each of these rooms boasts beautiful wooden floors and has been decorated in warm and inviting colours. A special shuttle service is provided to the nearby Baia Di Paraggi beach, while guests can also splash around in the onsite swimming pool. This pretty pool comes complete with a sun deck that is set with hammocks and sun loungers, while there is also a Turkish bath and sauna to make use of. Food lovers will want to make sure they sample the Chef’s menu, which includes a whole host of gourmet treats that highlight the best of authentic Italian cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood.

Providing guests with stunning views of the bay of Portofino, this refined hotel is set on the lush hills set above the fishing village. There are just sixteen rooms and suites for guests to choose from, which gives the hotel a very exclusive and intimate feel. Guests should make sure that they secure one of the rooms that look out over the village, which come complete with pretty wrought-iron balconies and spacious en suite bathrooms. The hotel really excels when it comes to its amenities and people who want the chance to get fit while having fun are treated to large tennis courts to make use of as well as a pretty outdoor swimming pool. Those who simply want to unwind in style will love the sauna and luxurious spa.

Patria Palace is a historic 18th-century palace that has been transformed into a luxurious hotel, combining modern design with its storied past. The hotel, located in nestled in the heart of Baroque Lecce, was originally designed by 18th-century architect Mauro Manieri, and underwent a meticulous four-year renovation, preserving its classic and Baroque features while incorporating contemporary Art Deco details. It operates from March to December, benefiting from Lecce’s mild Mediterranean climate. With its prime location overlooking the Basilica of Santa Croce, the hotel offers 58 artfully designed rooms and suites, a stunning rooftop bar, a gourmet restaurant, and an outdoor lounge. Despite its central location, it provides a serene escape, embodying the ‘slow’ lifestyle of Salento. The Patria Palace has a long history of hospitality, evolving from a noble residence to a welcoming inn and now a five-star hotel, that emphasises quiet luxury and attentive service. Guests can also enjoy activities like guided city tours, food tours, and a shuttle service to a partnered beach club during the summer months.