The 20 Best Hotels in Italy: 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards
It isn’t possible for the Condé Nast Traveler team to see and do everything, everywhere, all at once—though we try our best! Fortunately, we also have you, our readers. This year you cast an astonishing 757,109 votes in the 38th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, sharing your opinions on the very best in travel. You told us you were enchanted by Italian hotels, went on safari in Botswana, took to semiprivate aviation, and advocated for newcomers to the top American cities. We loved poring over the results to find out what’s sticking with readers and editors and spinning the data into a snapshot of the current moment in travel. Ahead: your manual for planning that next adventure, whether it's to a top-rated hotel or resort, or centered around a worthy cruise, spa, or island. These are the best hotels in the Italy (outside Rome, Florence, and Venice), as voted by our readers.
View our editors' picks for the top hotels in Rome here.
Susan Marianihotel20. Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa
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Hot List 2020 
Readers' Choice Awards 2025If there was an Italian (re)opening to define last summer, this was it. And should we even be surprised? After all, hotelier Marie-Louise Sciò, of Il Pellicano fame, has a knack for drawing the beautiful people with her chic brand of il dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing). But Ischia—Capri’s lesser-known, less flashy neighbor—was not the obvious choice for her family’s third hotel. Taking over the historic Mezzatorre on the island’s wild northwestern tip, Sciò had just four months to give the sea-urchin-colored building, set in a turreted former 16th-century watchtower and pirate’s lookout, a transformative tune-up before opening. Blue ikat and abstract coral prints add a kick to bedrooms, which are shrouded in solid quietude. In the basement, a deep-green-tiled thermal spa bubbles with pools of mineral water, and treatments use local nutrient-rich mud. But at the glorious outdoor saltwater pool and along the horseshoe terraces that wrap the bay, beneath navy striped parasols, is the gentle thrum of a scene. Low-key and languid, this is the Italy of Slim Aarons and The Talented Mr. Ripley (the film was partly shot around here). It’s the Formentera to Capri’s Ibiza, the Holbox to Tulum. In the age of authenticity, this feels like the real deal.
Courtesy Relais Borgo Santo Pietro/Stefano Scatàhotel19. Borgo Santo Pietro
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Gold List 2018, 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2024, 2025Unlike at some resorts, visitors here don’t block out the destination once they check in. The 300-acre estate is in Chiusdino, on the more rugged side of Tuscany, and feels like a microcosm of the region itself. The ricotta at dinner comes from the sheep you’ve spied on long walks through farms and forests; the fields of lavender and marigold provide ingredients for the face oils at the spa. None of this is to say that Borgo Santo Pietro isn’t sharp. Everything is done with a very Italian elegance: the manicured gardens and landscaped pool; the staff who appear with a Spritz and silver tray of truffled chips simply because they thought you needed it; the Trattoria sull’Albero, with its thick oak tree rising in the middle. During the harvest season, guests can pluck and stomp grapes at Borgo’s tumble of vineyards.
Courtesy Santa Caterinahotel18. Santa Caterina Hotel
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025I vividly recall my first visit 12 years ago to Hotel Santa Caterina: dips in the sea and in the saltwater pool at the edge of the cliff, accessed by the most beautiful lift in the world. We had fresh mozzarella for breakfast, lemonade, and all the sfogliatelle we could eat. I was enamored with the ceramic floors, the breeze swaying the vaporous curtains, and the ever-smiling staff serving delicious fresh pasta and fish. In short, I fell in love. On a recent return visit to Portofino, I saw how the hotel has grown. Two new villas have popped up, hidden among the terraced gardens that dot the cliffs. The hotel is now a sort of albergo diffuso, with an increased number of rooms and ever more privacy for guests who want it. Everything else remains perfect. The pool is still as salty and relaxing, the curtains dance the same waltz with the breeze, and the floors still sparkle. Santa Caterina is—and always will be—a dream.
hotel17. Aria Retreat & Spa
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2025We can't seem to decide which is more impressive—the 430,000-plus square feet of subtropical park, sprawling mountain ranges, and mirror-clear lake surrounding this northern Italian resort, or the instantly soothing interiors dressing the world-class spa. Whatever your preference, rest assured you'll never have to choose between the two here as panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows allow the outside and indoors to coexist in total harmony—feng shui followers behold. The spa facilities are limited to guests ages 16 and up, preserving a sense of absolute serenity, though younger guests ages three to 15 are welcome to romp through the neighboring Parco San Marco.
Chris Dalton Photographyhotel16. Romeo Napoli, Naples
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2025This ancient Mediterranean beehive, often snubbed by travelers rushing to the Amalfi Coast, is in fact a fascinating and cultured place. Which is why the portside 84-room Romeo celebrates its hometown by incorporating portraits of the city by its most famous photographers. In fact, the art card is played everywhere at the Romeo, from the anodized aluminum and glass fish-scale facade by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange to expressly commissioned art by Italians Francesco Clemente, Lello Esposito, and Mario Schifano. For all of the pedigreed brand names—Caprai sheets, B & B furniture by Tramontano, custom-designed sofas by Philippe Starck—what’s really winning here are the adorable and smartly uniformed staff, and the stunning rooftop pool and spa. Rooms are rich-looking due to their brown- and tan-streaked tabu wood floors, and origami-clever in their efficient use of space, including a sliding glass door between bedroom and bath.
Courtesy Masseria Torre Maizzahotel15. Masseria Torre Maizza, A Rocco Forte Hotel
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025Puglia is famous for its masserie: ancient fortified farmhouses set a smidgeon back from the Adriatic coast, many now transformed into lush hotels. This one, in masseria-filled Fasano, between Bari and Brindisi, and on the waterfront below the pretty Valle d’Itria, has long been one of the best. But Rocco Forte’s 2019 revamp of the 16th- century property has taken things up a notch. The 28 rooms and 12 suites, designed by Olga Polizzi, take their lead from the olive grove out back—all pale green doorframes and more acid-toned furnishings for an upmarket take on rustic luxe. Outside is a vine-fronded pool, verdant, palm-studded grounds, and the hotel’s nine-hole golf course, melting into the flat coastal landscape. Set a little back from the sea, there are flashes of blue on property; better views (and stunning sunsets) from the rooftop Bougainvillea Bar; plus a private club on the public beach, a few minutes away and reached by hotel shuttle.
Andrea Cazzanigahotel14. COMO Alpina Dolomites, Italy
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2025Located in the heart of the Dolomites on the Alpe di Siusi—the highest Alpine plateau in Europe—in winter, its ski-in, ski-out location offers direct access to the pistes, and in summer, South Tyrol’s flower-flecked network of hiking and biking trails. As you’d expect from the brand, wellness and spa is at its core with a health-forward COMO Shambala menu on offer, plus hearty Tyrolean and Italian fare—as well as excellent Alto Adige wines—for those who don’t want to hold back. All of the wood-clad cozy rooms face the slopes and have a balcony or terrace. Valley-plucked apples and filtered bottles of still and sparkling water are left daily. It is reassuringly old school—a regular telephone with a windy cord gives you quick access to reception, and switches dim the lights (no pesky iPad here). The spa is, of course, a must—where treatments on offer include deep tissue, Indian head, Balinese, and drainage massage alongside Tyrolean-skewed treatments. Their hay bath is an acquired taste—being sandwiched between two lots of hay is meant to improve circulation. Sauna is a serious operation here, with herbal and Finnish saunas and salt and aroma steams (get the etiquette right—there are no swimsuits allowed, towels are optional, and most go naked) with a convivial outdoor seating area in the snow where half-clad spa-goers chatter. In summer the hotel offers multiple activities including biking, hiking, climbing, trail running, paragliding, zip lining, lake/wild swimming, picnicking, and helicopter rides.
Courtesy Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa/Maurice Naragonhotel13. Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025We all dream of a romantic, seaside Italian getaway and this one just might be it. The hotel occupies a restored 17th-century monastery just three miles from Amalfi. With 20 rooms, terraced gardens, clifftop Mediterranean views, and a pool that seems to float over the sea, you'll find yourself right at that point of enjoying the seclusion without feeling isolated. Stroll the four levels of terraced gardens, and don't miss the spa, which includes sauna and steam rooms, a hydro pool, and tepidarium. You can enjoy a martini with a side of chess at the library and bar before dining on local Campanian specialties at Il Refettorio, the Michelin-starred restaurant, where the charming servers are straight out of central casting. They still make sfogliatelle (sweet, shell-shaped, filled pastries) according to the nuns’ original recipe—a treat to savor with the sweet life on offer here.
Casa Angelinahotel12. Casa Angelina
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025Unlike the grande dames of the Amalfi Coast, Angelina is sleek, modern, and a startling, almost Greek-style interloper to the cliffside above pretty Praiano. All 36 rooms are white-on-white, accented by views of the bright blue sea below from their private terraces; if you want to be more at one with nature, go for the newly added Vermarine Suite and the classic Suite Azure. Down on said beach is a club for all hotel guests; if you can’t face the climb, there are indoor and outdoor pools on the main property. The house boat, meanwhile, will swivel you around the coast, and even over to Capri. The property has recently added the Lady Angelina to its fleet as well. Back on site, Michelin Starred Un Piano nel Cielo (A Floor in the Sky) takes just-netted fish to new heights (literally—it’s the rooftop restaurant), while Seascape Cocktail Bar, cantilevered over the bay, does a fine line in limoncello-infused mojitos. Note that children under 12 are not permitted. Before you leave, don't miss the new Terrazza Costiera, a terrace set against the property's panoramic vistas.
Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotelhotel11. Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025A stay at this five-star hotel perched on a cliff’s edge on the Amalfi Coast may feel like a religious experience—and with very good reason. The property occupies a monastery with parts that date back to 1212, and it was home to the Capuchin monks from 1583 to 1826, before the complex was converted into a hotel. During those early days, it was a favorite stop for globetrotting travelers on their Grand Tour of Europe, and over the years, it has housed the likes of Victor Hugo, Elizabeth Taylor, and Greta Garbo. Don’t expect monastic simplicity, though guest rooms do intentionally skew toward the comfortable and unfussy, with white linens and terra-cotta tiles. Chef Claudio Lanuto’s Dei Cappuccini Restaurant serves playfully reimagined Mediterranean dishes with equally sumptuous views out over the coastline, while the poolside La Locanda is the place to be for lunch in the sun.
Courtesy Le Sirenusehotel10. Le Sirenuse
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2019 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025A legend even along a coast full of legends, this classic hotel is more than the sum of its parts. The center was the aristocratic Sersale family’s summer villa in Positano. Four siblings opened the house to guests in 1951 with eight rooms and a large terrace facing the sea. Franco Sersale was responsible for a major expansion and refurbishment in the 1990s; he was not only a passionate art collector but also an inveterate world traveler and photographer. Today, it remains proudly family-run, led by Antonio and Carla Sersale, along with their sons, Aldo and Francesco, and their personal touches are everywhere. Most bedrooms are not huge, but are lovely, with traditional tiled floors, antique chests, and balconies with tables and chairs overlooking the steep climb through the village down to the beach. La Sponda, the hotel's main restaurant, offers fine dining at its most elegant, with four- or six-course tasting menus and a bougainvillea-strewn dining room. It is one of the coast’s top dinner spots, as much for the atmosphere as for food.
Courtesy Duetorrihotelshotel9. Grand Hotel Majestic "già Baglioni"
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2025Bologna boasts a history stretching all the way back to the third century BCE, and a stay at this regal hotel is perhaps the most stylish way to survey the city's storied past. Something of a relic itself in the best sense of the term, Grand Hotel is Bologna's oldest standing hotel, located fittingly on the main street of Via dell’Indipendenza, where Piazza Maggiore and the Due Torri are well within walking distance. Styling in each of the 106 rooms down to the famed I Carracci Restaurant mixes chic antiques with modern amenities. Step into this delightful time capsule and bask in la dolce vita.
Courtesy Belmondhotel7. Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025The first hotel in Taormina, Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo still dazzles guests with views and history that have been here for more than a century. The hotel overlooks the terra-cotta rooftops of the medieval village and, beyond that, the coast toward Mount Etna. In the foreground, there are manicured gardens, unapologetically opulent guest rooms, and a wellness center with a focus on natural, organic products with healing local herbs and neroli oil. The Literary Terrace was frequented by the likes of D.H. Lawrence, Truman Capote, and Tennessee Williams, and inside, the 16-seat Otto Geleng restaurant holds a Michelin star.
Cremerius/Courtesy Forestishotel6. Forestis Dolomites
$$ | Gold List 2026 Hot List 2021 Readers' Choice Awards 2025Nature dictates everything at this CO2-neutral A-list hideaway in the Italian Dolomites. The site was chosen for its abundant sunshine, spring water, mountain air, and views of the jagged Odle massif, which is framed by picture windows in all 62 minimalist suites. The landscape is also woven into the biophilic architecture, Celtic wellness rituals, and intricate “forest cuisine.” After hiking or skiing in the Plose mountains, guests can recharge over a tasting menu in the amphitheater restaurant as the sun sets with all the drama of Mount Doom. The history of the complex is similarly dramatic. It was conceived in 1912 as a sanatorium for Austro-Hungarian aristocrats but lay dormant for years. For its relaunch in 2020, Stefan and Teresa Hinteregger added three 12-story towers and an astonishing spa with a swim-in, swim-out pool. A villa for 10 followed in December 2024, and a concept restaurant, Yera, which celebrates the fruits of the forest around a fire pit in a cave, arrived in June.
SARAMAGNI/Il Serenohotel5. Il Sereno
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2024 Hot List 2017 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025When it launched a few years ago in Torno, Il Sereno, Lago di Como caused a sensation. It was the first hotel in the area of Lake Como to be designed by a world-renowned architect—and Patricia Urquiola, the Spanish starchitect and a longtime resident of Milan, did a fabulous job. Il Sereno’s lobby is elegant, soft, and welcoming, filled with the best of Italian design—furniture by Cassina, Moroso, B&B Italia—as are the 40 rooms, all with a view, and the exquisite vertical garden by Patrick Blanc. The delicious and simple (albeit Michelin-starred) food is courtesy of Raffaele Lenzi and features local freshwater fish and vegetables, served alongside sensational cocktails (even the alcohol-free ones). As if so much contemporary beauty were not enough, there’s still the wooden motorboat, a beautiful Riva, ready to take you around the lake or to Villa Pliniana, a 16th-century palace with another 17 bedrooms—a perfect setting for listening to the music of the villa’s beautiful grand piano while gazing upon the waters of Lago di Como.
hotel4. Jumeirah Capri Palace
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2025Anacapri is a relatively quiet, more relaxed base than overcrowded Capri town, and the coastal chic Capri Palace Jumeirah hotel—all cool white arches and vaulted ceilings, flower-festooned terraces and contemporary, sometimes wacky artworks—is the best place to stay. Bedrooms come in shades of beige and cream with canopied beds, balconies, and sea or garden views; the Signature Suites have private pools. Michelin star dining is on offer at sleek L’Oliv,o and the Capri Medical Spa is famous for its award-winning medical treatments (including the famous Leg School) along with a whole slew of massages and facials. If you prefer beach to pool, you can hop on the free shuttle to the Il Riccio beach club, where there’s also a brilliant fish restaurant on the rocks.
Mattia Aquila/Belmondhotel3. Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2020, 2022, 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025It takes a hotel of a particularly high caliber to salve the sting of a lifelong travel dream’s finale. And does Splendido offer such reprieve. This princely albergo on the Ligurian coast was built as a Benedictine monastery and is now adorned with pink azaleas on almost every balcony from which guests can take in postcard views of Portofino Bay, glimmering and viridian. The landscape looks just as it did in the 1960s, when the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardner first checked in to this seaside hideaway. But the hotel has been updated since then; for the 2025 season, Splendido will reopen with the main building completely renovated. Outside, the redone saltwater pool shimmers with new tiles color-matched to the sea, and the open-air restaurant La Terazza is as perfect a spot as ever, serving trofie al pesto and spritzes on its perch high on the hill. All told, Splendido’s sensibility is elegantly understated, allowing its people and environment to shine.
Courtesy Mandarin Orientalhotel2. Mandarin Oriental, Milan
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Hot List 2016 Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025This 70-room, 34-suite property opened in Milan down the street from the famed La Scala opera house in the summer of 2015 and is within walking distance of Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga for exclusive shopping binges. Highlights include a holistic spa with six private treatment rooms and indoor pool, the Seta restaurant focusing on Chef Antonio Guida’s native southern Italian cuisine which earned its first Michelin star only four months after opening (guests can watch him at work in a glassed-in kitchen or dine alfresco in a peaceful courtyard), and a hair salon helmed by celebrity stylist Massimo Serini. The Mandarin Bar has quickly become one of the hottest spots in town to see and be seen. Rooms are spread out among four beautiful restored 18th-century houses—the best being those that have access to oversized private terraces and a distinctive nod to 1940s interior design elegance created by designer Antonio Citterio.
Courtesy Belmondhotel1. Villa Sant'Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina Mare
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025Currently closed for the season through March of 2024—springtime in Taormina being well worth the wait, our readers agree—this Belmond entry is lauded in large part for its sublime location and the views afforded as a result. The villa was originally built in 1919 by a family of aristocrats to serve as their private retreat, and the intimacy of such a setting fabulously survived the property's transformation into a hotel come the 1950s. There are, of course, modern splashes: a complimentary shuttle brings guests into Taormina proper in around 15 minutes, with a similarly free-with-admission, White Lotus-style boat excursion during the summer months. Onsite dining restaurant Brizza, which can accommodate just 12 guests at a time, gets special mentions from our readers, with one writing wistfully, “A dinner at Brizza, barefoot...”
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
