The Best Places to Stay in Italy in 2026

Are you planning a trip to Italy but unsure where to stay? I’ve been exploring this country since 2013, have lived here since 2019, and in 2025 completed a goal of travelling to, and staying in, all of 20 of Italy’s regions. Let me share my recommendations with you for the best places to stay in Italy, based on my own direct experiences from across the years.

If Bologna is northern Italy’s food capital, I contend that Sicily’s capital, Palermo, is the southern equivalent. Maybe I’m biased as Sicilian is my favourite regional cuisine, but between the city’s famous produce markets and street food, I go out of my way to visit Palermo and the nearby area whenever I’m in Sicily because the food here is that good.

Palermo is also a great option for anyone travelling on a budget, as eating and drinking is considerably cheaper compared to almost any other area of Italy. Most street food items will only cost just a few euros, and regular restaurants often come in at less than 50€ for two people dining with wine.

Sicily’s capital is spread out, but the historic center is compact. This makes for an easy food-focused trip here. Visitors should look for a base somewhere close to the iconic Quattro Canti crossroads, where all key locations in Palermo can be reached on foot.

One thing to note; Palermo is a busy, sometimes chaotic city (even more so than Naples in my opinion) all year around. If you’re looking for a slower paced trip but are keen to explore Palermo’s food scene, consider staying further up the coast in Cefalú. You can easily get into Palermo from here by train but enjoy a quieter stay. For more information about where to stay in Sicily, read my full guide here:

Italy’s world-class cuisine is only further complimented by its wine heritage, drawing visitors from around the world. Honestly I believe you could stay in any part of Italy and not be disappointed by the wine on offer, but in my experience, some areas stand out:

This is one for the red wine lovers; Barolo in the region of Piedmont is home to what is known as the ‘King of Wines’ in Italy. Named after the town from which it comes from, Barolo wine is renowned throughout the world for its bold flavour, which draws on the landscape’s unique position between the Alps and Mediterranean coast.

Staying in Barolo will mean you can fully indulge in the local produce, and while there are plenty of options in the town centre, we would recommend taking a look at Ciabot delle Aie. This family-run winemaker is located just a few minutes outside of the town of Barolo, they offer private tours of their winemaking facilities as well as intimate tasting experiences.

The best way to get to Barolo is via car, either driving yourself or via a taxi from Turin (Torino). The journey will take roughly a hour to an hour and a half, but the effort is worth it if you enjoy Italian wine as much as we do! The closest major airports to Barolo are those near Milan, with an average journey time via road of 2.5 hours.

Staying in northern Italy, moving east of Piemonte, my next recommendation is the area around Lake Iseo in the region of Lombardy. Smaller, and less visited than other famous lakes in this area such as Lake Como, this zone is a must for anyone who enjoys sparkling wine.

Italy’s equivalent of champagne, Franciacorta, hails from this area. You’ll also find no end of wineries and producers creating their own bollicine, as well as still reds and white wines using local grape varieties.

On a previous trip to this area for Sara’s birthday we treated ourselves to a stay at Podere Castel Merlo, which beyond being a beautiful hotel with spacious rooms, produces its own wines and offers on-site tours of their production facilities. Their amazing restaurant only added to our enjoyment and we are planning to return this year.

On the north-western coast of Sardinia, you’ll find one of my favourite places anywhere in Italy; the small Catalan/Italian town of Alghero. One of the many reasons I love Alghero is for the wine selection available throughout the town and nearby area. It’s particularly known for the production of white wines using Vermentino grapes.

Wine lovers should consider staying at the iconic Sella e Mosca vineyard just outside of the main town of Alghero for a full experience, but honestly, wherever you stay in this area you will have no trouble accessing Sardinia’s best wines in any restaurant or bar. For a full guide to the town of Alghero and more specific recommendations on where to stay, check out my full guide here:

The most obvious starting point is Vatican City, the spiritual centre of the Catholic world, located within the city of Rome. As the seat of the Pope and the Holy See, the Vatican is home to some of Christianity’s most significant sites, including St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.

As Vatican City itself is tiny and has no accommodation options, I’d recommend staying nearby in Rome’s Prati neighbourhood, which offers easy walking access to the Vatican while also being well connected to the rest of the city. This makes it a practical base not only for visiting the Vatican, but also for exploring Rome’s countless churches, basilicas, and religious museums spread across the historic centre.

In the hills of Umbria sits Assisi, one of Italy’s most important pilgrimage destinations and a place that feels very different from Rome. Assisi is inseparably linked to St Francis of Assisi, whose life and teachings continue to influence Catholic thought worldwide.

The Basilica of Saint Francis dominates the town and is both artistically and spiritually significant. The town itself is small and mostly walkable (with some steep inclines), featuring stone streets and quiet piazzas which, when compared to Italy’s major cities and most other cultural centres, make it feel calm and reflective.

Accommodation in the town of Assisi tends toward small hotels, convent guesthouses, and family-run B&Bs, many which are within walking distance of the basilica. Assisi also works well as part of a wider Umbrian stay, combined with nearby Perugia or the region’s rural countryside. If you are looking for somewhere away from the town of Assisi, but offering easy access, check out Ripa Relais Colle Del Sole, one of mine and Sara’s all-time favorite places to stay in Italy.

Less obvious and often overlooked, Ravenna is no less important to Italy’s religious history. It was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire and later an important centre of Byzantine power in Italy. Today, it is famous for its extraordinary collection of early Christian mosaics including the iconic depictions of Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian and his Empress Theodora.

Sites such as San Vitale and Sant’Apollinare Nuovo showcase some of the finest religious mosaics in the world, dating from the 5th and 6th centuries. Staying in the historic centres of Ravenna allows you to explore these sites at ease.

Ravenna is compact, flat, and easy to navigate, with good train connections to Bologna and the wider Emilia-Romagna region. Accommodation is straightforward, with a good selection of central hotels and apartments close to the main religious monuments. Take a look at your options here:

Italy is surrounded by water in the east, west and south, peppered with lakes throughout, and features 450 islands along it’s long coastline. As such, finding somewhere to enjoy the water from could be overwhelming – here are my top choices:

Venice is one of the worlds greatest cities. It is truly unique; a medieval city, floating just off the northern Italian coast in a tidal lagoon. I was fortunate enough to live very close to Venice between 2019-2021 and visited as much I could, exploring famous sites such as Piazza San Marco (Saint Mark’s Square) and the Doge’s Palace.

Alongside Rome, Florence, and Naples, Venice is one of this country’s most visited places, but few people coming here really take the time needed to appreciate this special place. Most visitors visit for a day, but the city comes alive at night when the cruise ships depart and the last trains leave the island. I would recommend staying in Venice for a few days to explore the alleys and waterways at leisure.

The best location for any stay in Venice is generally anywhere within easy reach of the Grand Canal – opting for a hotel or apartment close to the city’s main artery means you’ll be able to use the vaporetti (water taxi) network easily. Getting to and from Venice is convenient, as the closest airport (Venezia Marco Polo) is a major international hub, the city is connected to Italy’s high speed and local train networks.

Staying in Venice also means you can easily reach the famous beach at Lido di Jesolo, or the natural thermal waters of the Euganean Hills. To understand more about staying in Venice, or the wider Veneto region, check-out my dedicated guide here.

The largest of the Napolitan islands, Ischia, is a little slice of paradise floating in the Bay of Naples that epitomises La Dolce Vita – the good life. A big part of this is for the fact that the island features beautiful beaches and immediate access to the stunning coastline of Campania, as well as an abundance of natural thermal springs.

The natural springs on Ischia are powered by volcanic activity, as the island is part of the wider volcanic system that sits under the Bay of Naples – in fact, Ischia is actually a volcano – one of the five in the bay area.

Based on my personal experience, and extensive research for Napleswise, I would recommend staying in the main town of Ischia for any visit to the island. Doing so means you’ll be able to get to and from the thermal springs easily, enjoy beach days at ease, and reach Naples and other parts of Campania via ferry easily.

This tiny island floating in the middle of the mediteranean is Italy’s most southern point, geographically closer to Tunisia in North Africa than it is to Sicily.

While Lampedusa has been a popular vacation spot with Italians for decades, only recently has it been discovered by visitors from abroad. This makes it a great choice for anyone looking to explore off the beaten path, and enjoy Sicily’s famous vita lenta – literally, ‘slow life’ but more akin to ‘relaxed life’.

The main draw for visitors coming here is the natural beauty of the island’s coastline, its pristine beaches and crystal clear waters. Life on Lampedusa revolves around the sea, and visitors who love the water will find no end of boat tours and snorkelling excursions on offer.

For a complete overview of where to stay on Lampedusa, including my specific B&B recommendation, check out my full guide here:

If you are coming to Italy for its natural beauty and stunning scenery, once again there are almost too many options to only pick three to showcase here. That said, some places I love more than others – here are my top picks:

At Italy’s most western point you’ll find the summit of Monte Bianco, the highest mountain in the Alps, and in the whole of Europe.

At the base of Monte Bianco sits the town of Courmayeur, the last Italian town before you enter the tunnel that runs under the mountains where you’ll exit the other side in France.

From Courmayeur you can access the numerous hiking paths up the mountains, as well the ski slopes that this part of Italy is known for.

If, like me and Sara, you prefer the mountain views without exerting yourself too much, be sure to visit the Monte Bianco Skyway. By taking a pair of modern and safe cable cars you can visit the top of the mountain, breathe in the fresh air at the world’s highest botanical garden, and enjoy an alpine lunch before descending back to Courmayeur.

In Courmayeur you’ll find large hotels catering to hikers and skiers, small B&Bs and chalet rentals. Getting to Courmayeur is only really viable by road – you’ll need to drive here, either coming north from Piedmonte or Lombardy, or from the French side of the border.

Umbria is referred to as the green heart of Italy, and when you arrive, its easy to see why. This region is one of Italy’s few landlocked regions, but because of its elevation and unique geographic position in the centre of the country, nature flourishes here.

Beyond the green hills and sweeping valleys, Umbria is also home to some of Italy’s most scenic lakes, such as Lago Trasimeno, where you can pass your days swimming in the fresh, cooling waters.

Our favorite boutique hotel in Umbria is Ripa Relais Colle de Sole just outside of the small village of Ripa, not far from the cities of Perugia and Assisi.

We love this place as the country-styled rooms are homely, the pool and drinks terrace offer amazing views of the countryside, and the on-site restaurant serves some of the most delicious food we have eaten anywhere in Italy. Seriously, the menu at Ripa Relais is truly special and worth visiting just to try in my opinion.

To get to Umbria you’ll need to drive, or use Italy’s train network – there is no major airport in this region, which is maybe why the nature is so unspoiled…

Mount Vesuvius, the infamous volcano that dominates the Bay of Naples is referred to by locals as ‘The Boss’. This is because, beyond the fact that an eruption could mean destruction and death for Naples and the wider area, the volcanic material deposited on the land by historical eruptions makes this area incredibly fertile, producing some of Italy’s most delicious produce.

The scenery of this area, shaped over millions of years by the activity of Vesuvius and the wider volcanic system here, makes this the single most beautiful area in Italy in my opinion.

Wide plains give way to mountains, which in turn fall in to the sea as dramatic cliffs. Nature lovers are spoiled here when it comes to things to do; you can hike Vesuvius, arriving at the crater where signs of volcanic activity can often be seen, you can snorkel or scuba dive to discover the marina fauna and wildlife that thrives off the coast of Campania, or simply appreciate the epic landscape on a tour of Naples, Pompeii or Sorrento.

Getting to Vesuvius is easy; on arrival in Naples (where you’ll find a well-connected international airport) you can either drive for around 30 minutes to the volcano, or take a train and then hike or use the bus to reach the crater.

On the slopes of Vesuvius you’ll find several places to stay, which can elevate your experience while on the volcano – both physically as most are fairly high up the mountain, and pratically as they offer more immediate access to hiking routes. For more information about visiting Vesuvius, check out Napleswise here:

Italian culture is very family-orientated so you’ll find a lot of great places up and down Italy that are perfect for a family vacation – here are our top picks:

Located on the edge of the Venetian Lagoon, the town of Jesolo and adjoining beach (Lido di Jesolo) has been a popular location for families on holiday for decades.

Sara used to come here frequently as a child with her parents and siblings, and since then the offering for families has only improved. You’ll find large resorts and huge beaches, perfect for kids and parents to explore and relax in.

The nearest major airport to Jesolo is Venice Marco Polo with is well connected to the UK and Europe. if you are coming to Jesolo from the US, you’ll need to take a connecting flight to land at Marco Polo.

This resort town on the Adriatic Sea (east coast) is one of Italy’s all-time original vacation spots, and is as popular now with Italians and tourists as it ever has been.

Rimini’s lungomare (seafront/prominade area) has been recently renovated, boosting the access to the city’s famous beaches from the town and major hotels.

Rimini’s old town is also ripe with history; there are numerous significant Roman ruins which showcases the city’s importance at the official end of the Via Flaminia ancient highway, running north out of the Eternal City.

You’ll find a small airport in Rimini which offers flights to other Italian cities, as well as some UK and European destinations. Visitors from beyond will need to connect via another flight, or arrive in Rimini from train or road.

Liguria is a region often overlooked by visitors coming to Italy, who tend to focus on the ‘headline’ cities and regions of Rome, Florence, Naples and Venice.

It wasn’t until the summer of 2025 that I first visit Liguria and spent a good amount of time here, and what I found was a region full of amazing scenery, friendly people and delicious food.

We visited Diano Marina, a small town on the coast of Liguria, approximately 115km from Genoa (the regional capital). When we arrived it became immediately obvious that this town was a welcoming place for tourists, but in particular, for families.

Our hotel, Hotel Torino, was in a central location and offered everything that a family could want; a supervised pool, casual dining and easy access to the beach. The staff were fantastic in all aspects based on our experience, and we felt that any families staying here would have a fantastic time.

Arriving in Diano Marina is best via road where you’ll find it just off the major autostrada that connects this part of Italy with southern France (Nice is only 90km, around 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Diano Marina).

There are plenty of great places to base yourself in if you are exploring Italy on a budget – here are my top picks:

Situated at the very end of the boot of Italy, as if ready to kick Sicily, you’ll find the city of Reggio Calabria. Statistically, the region of Calabria is one of Italy’s least wealthy regions, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. In fact, where it means that accommodation costs are lower than the national average it makes for a great base for money-concious travellers.

Reggio is a small city full of hotels and rental options making finding somewhere easy. Our go-to place when visiting Reggio Calabria to stay at is Maison R Boutique, located only 10 minutes walking from the centre of the city and with off-road, private parking.

Eating out in Reggio Calabria very reasonable in price, without having to sacrifice on quality. You’ll also find that getting around the city and visiting key sites such as the Museum of Magna Grecia modest in cost.

As the capital of the Calabria region, Reggio is well connected to the rest of Italy. It is at the end of the mainland autostrada network, and the main train line which links it directly with Naples, Rome and more. You’ll also find a small airport (with mostly domestic routes) here, and ferry services to and from Messina in Sicily.

Around an hour by road from Palermo, you’ll find this medium-sized town on Sicily’s north-western coast. In all my adventures around Italy across the years, I have not found many places as affordable as Castellammare Del Golfo, considering what the town and surrounding areas offer visitors.

You’ll find large sandy beaches, picturesque villages, stunning countryside and incredible historical sites all within easy reach – every time I visit I cannot believe that it has not become more popular with visitors.

The actual town itself features a nice historic centre full of great bars, restaurants and shops, and there are even a couple of nice beaches within easy walking distance.

My take is that the afforability of this part of Sicily is tied to the fact that to get to the town, and explore the wider area easily, you need a car. There are few public transit links to and from Castellammare Del Golfo from other parts of Sicily, and only a simple bus network locally for getting around.

Admittedly, renting a car might make a visit here less affordable overall, but if you are travelling in Italy with your own vehicle, consider a stay here to enjoy this under appreciated corner of Sicily.

Located around 45 minutes by road/rail from the centre of the Eternal City, with a direct train link that connects to Rome’s metro link, Ostia on the Lazio coast makes a great choice for budget-conscious travellers who want to visit Italy’s capital without breaking the bank.

Hotels and apartment rentals are far cheaper per night here compared to the centre of Rome, and with immediate Fiumicino airport less than 30 minutes away, staying here is also convenient and low-stress.

The central area of Ostia is full of great bars, restaurants, and offers visitors immediate access to some of the region’s top beaches and cleanest waters. Admittedly I’m biased as I have lived here since 2021, but if I didn’t believe Osita was a valid recommendation for travellers coming to Italy, I absolutely wouldn’t include it in this guide.