Following is a list of hotels in Italy that I personally recommend. I have stayed in all of them and found them adequate if not absolutely superb.
I am a very practical traveler, often opting for budget-friendly stays over more opulent ones. Most accommodations in this list are mid-range (3-star) hotels, are great for families, and offer free breakfast.
Hotels in Abruzzo
Agriturismo Casolare di Nonno Mario. Near Parco Majella and mountains. Staying at this farmhouse really felt like staying at one’s grandparents’ house. The sweet owners also sent us away with jams and wine!
B&B Palazzo La Loggia. In Barisciano, This very lovely hotel – a renovated stone palazzo – is located in an unassuming town not far from L’Aquila, ski resorts, and Santo Stefano di Sessanio. The owners were gracious, the breakfast bountiful, and the rooms were big, clean, warm, and comfortable. It was a perfect base for exploring the best of Abruzzo.
Hotel Cristallo. Right across from the beach in Giulianova. Basic and clean. Nice stabilimento (beach service with chairs and umbrellas) and lively beach bar. Giulianova is a lovely beach town.
Hotels in Campania
Villa Diomede. Pompeii. Very basic accommodations steps from the ruins. I went in the off-season (February), so I have no idea how loud and busy it can get. If you don’t want to stay overnight in Pompeii, check out this article on how to take a day trip from Rome to Pompeii.
Hotel Paradiso Residence. Castellabate. Great spot for a beach vacation in Campania near Salerno and Paestum. Fabulous food.
Il Leone di Mare. Procida. Relaxing, spacious hotel perfect for a beach trip with family. We had a patio (useful for drying bathing suits at the end of the day or watching the sun set). Beach and dinner options were a five-minute walk away; uphill on the way back. A/C worked well and staff were super friendly and helpful.
Hotels in Lazio
Arch Rome Suites. Rome. I could not have been happier with the location — I could see a sliver of the Pantheon’s dome from my window! Centrally located, clean, spare but modern furnishings. I would definitely stay here again.
I haven’t stayed at too many hotels in Rome or its region, Lazio, because I lived there. But here are two places to stay if you want to do more than a day trip to the beaches of Lazio.
Belvedere Monte Leano. Near Terracina. Not the easiest to find location. But I had one of the best meals I’ve eaten in Italy in its restaurant.
Colline degli Ulivi B&B. Itri, near Sperlonga. Gorgeous pool and grounds have a belvedere over the surrounding countryside as it dips into the sea.
Hotels in Liguria
B&B Bruxelles Margherita. Genoa. Very comfortable, quiet room with a very large bathroom. The staff were very friendly and made us feel at home throughout our stay. The view of Genoa and the mountains was incredible – the photos don’t quite do it justice. And the location was ideal – we walked to all the sites while we were there. If you are traveling here by train, I recommend going to Genova Brignole, which is closer (about 5 minutes by taxi) and less busy than the main station.
Hotels in Lombardy
Experience Milano Fashion. Milan. I dislike the name of this place but it is a very chic and comfortable apartment in a great location. We loved being steps away from a cafe (since there was no breakfast). We didn’t have a chance to use the kitchen but it seemed well stocked. Spacious bathroom with tub and great water pressure. We were right around the corner from the Duomo and subway.
Hotels in Le Marche
Torricini Skyline. Urbino. Gorgeously furnished. We loved having a view of Urbino’s “torricini” (little towers) from our room and really enjoyed all the nice touches in the guest house, from the enlarged professional prints of Renaissance art hanging in the rooms and halls to the modern fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen. I would highly recommend for two families traveling together to book the whole space.
Hotels in Molise
B&B Il Tomolo. Agnone. This hotel is located near most of the tourist sites of this small town in Molise, including historic churches and cheese shops. Carlo was an attentive host and made sure our room was clean and cozy. Breakfast was ample but there was a chic cafe (Caffè Letterario) across the piazza perfect for coffee, snacks, and aperitivi.
Hotels in Piemonte
Loger Confort. Turin/Torino. Near the train station, so easily accessible for a quick weekend visit (we went for a Juventus game). The hotel is a collection of rooms on floors in a residential building but the service felt very professional and cohesive. Large, comfortable, modern rooms with gleaming bathrooms.
Hotels in Puglia
Antico Belvedere B&B. Lecce. The room here was average but comfortable. The staff (Valeria) was a delight. The entry to the hotel is very pretty and I loved the location, just a stroll from everything we wanted to see. The best thing about our room was the shower. Sometimes all you need is a good, hot, powerful shower to make your vacation and this room delivered! Free wifi was also hassle-free (quick logon) and fast.
Hotel Tenuta San Francesco. Near Barletta. Spacious and clean. Beautiful pool. Big breakfast.
Note: I also had a terrible stay in Puglia at a hotel whose name I will not name! But you can read more about that stay and my tips on booking accommodations in Puglia for the summer.
Hotels in Sardinia
Gabbiano Azzurro Hotel & Suites. Golfo Aranci. Read my full review.
Villa del Golfo Lifestyle Resort. Cannigione. Read my full review.
Hotels in Tuscany
Al Mercato B&B. Siena. Basic accommodations but very close to the center of Siena. A practical choice for a one-night stay if you’re on a budget.
Borgo Magliano Resort. Magliano in Toscana (near Maremma, southern coast). This is a self-catering resort with a large swimming pool and a restaurant. Borgo Magliano Resort sits on a hill across the valley from the lovely little medieval town of Magliano and is a short drive away from olive groves, vineyards, and the beach. I have stayed here with my family at least three times and it seems to be a hit with families from Italy and Europe.
Hotel Botticelli. Florence. I am not particularly loyal to hotels or brand names, but I am to Hotel Botticelli — for a good reason. This comfortable and elegant hotel is near the Mercato Centrale, a fantastic food market in central Florence.
Hotel La Cisterna. San Gimignano. This hotel couldn’t have been in a better location. It fronts the piazza of the same name and my room had a small balcony from which I could view the Tuscan hills. Quiet, clean, a good value. I was very pleased and would have stayed longer had my itinerary allowed it. One thing to note is that if you’re driving, it’s rather complicated to get to the hotel while properly observing ZTL restrictions. That’s just part of the deal when staying in a UNESCO Heritage Site. I had to park rather far away, but the city center streets are made of smooth brick, so you can easily wheel your suitcase from point A to B.
Il Molinaccio di Montepulciano. Montepulciano. This is the kind of rustic property I dream of. Large rooms with sturdy farmhouse furniture, a manicured lawn giving way to one of the best-looking swimming pools I’ve ever swum in. Breakfast was ample (didn’t expect scrambled eggs!). A purring cat lazed on the patio chairs when it wasn’t chasing lizards and beetles. The place makes its own wine, which is to be expected in a place like Montepulciano.
Hotels in Umbria
Brigolante Guest Apartments. Assisi. My writing pal Rebecca has been living in Italy for years and has three fabulous self-catering apartments in the countryside near Assisi. The apartments are very cozy, clean, and spacious and are the perfect base from which to explore one of Italy’s most pristine cities.
In Villa. Montefalco. We were in Montefalco to enjoy the bounty of autumn, so we didn’t get a chance to swim in this hotel’s beautiful pool. But we loved the beautiful settings, the well-appointed rooms, and the friendly, capable owners who gave us lots of dining and touring tips.
Disclaimer: I have booked almost all of my recommended accommodations in Italy via booking.com because I find the site a practical way to find and compare hotels. Note that I am also a member of Booking’s affiliate program, so I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you choose to book a stay at one of these hotels.