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Expedia Italy: How to Find and Book the Best Hotels in Italy

Expedia Italy: Finding the Right Hotel for Your Italian Vacation

Choosing where to stay can make an enormous difference to a trip to Italy. A hotel overlooking the rooftops of Rome creates a very different experience from an agriturismo surrounded by Tuscan vineyards, a palazzo beside a Venetian canal or a cliffside hotel overlooking the Mediterranean on the Amalfi Coast.

With thousands of hotels, resorts, apartments, B&Bs and other properties scattered across the country, finding the right accommodation can also become one of the more complicated parts of planning an Italian vacation.

Expedia provides a convenient way to compare many of these options in one place, particularly when you want to compare locations, amenities, guest ratings and prices before deciding where to stay.

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Why Use Expedia When Booking Hotels in Italy?

Italy has an extraordinarily diverse accommodation market.

Visitors can choose among international luxury hotels, centuries-old grand hotels, boutique properties, converted monasteries, seaside resorts, country estates, apartments, farm stays and inexpensive family-run hotels.

The challenge isn’t usually finding somewhere to sleep. It is narrowing thousands of possibilities down to the property that best matches your itinerary and budget.

Expedia allows travelers to search accommodation according to criteria such as:

destination
travel dates
number of guests
price
property type
star rating
guest rating
neighborhood
amenities
distance from attractions
cancellation options

This becomes especially useful in cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice, where two hotels separated by only a few kilometers can offer dramatically different experiences.

Before choosing your hotels, see our Italy for First-Time Visitors guide for advice on constructing a realistic Italian itinerary.

Hotels in Rome

Rome has one of Italy’s largest selections of hotels, ranging from small pensioni to some of Europe’s most celebrated luxury properties.

Location deserves particular attention.

If this is your first visit, staying relatively close to the historic center can make sightseeing considerably easier.

Popular areas include:

Centro Storico – Excellent for Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and Campo de’ Fiori.

Spanish Steps and Via Veneto – Convenient for shopping, restaurants and many upscale hotels.

Monti – A fashionable neighborhood within walking distance of the Colosseum.

Trastevere – Particularly appealing for restaurants, nightlife and atmosphere.

Prati – A more residential option convenient for the Vatican.

Famous Hotels in Rome

Among Rome’s best-known luxury hotels are Hotel de Russie, near Piazza del Popolo; Hotel Hassler Roma, overlooking the Spanish Steps; Hotel Eden, near Via Veneto; and the legendary Hotel de la Ville.

Rome also has hundreds of excellent mid-range hotels, guesthouses and apartments.

When comparing properties, don’t look only at the number of stars. Examine the exact location on the map. Saving €30 a night becomes considerably less attractive if you spend much of every day traveling back and forth to the historic center.

Compare Rome and Italy Hotels on Expedia

For ideas about what to include in your itinerary, see Italia Mia’s Top Italian Destinations and Italian Cities.

Hotels in Florence

Florence is considerably more compact than Rome, which makes choosing accommodation somewhat easier.

For a short visit, staying within walking distance of the historic center is extremely convenient.

Look around:

Piazza del Duomo
Santa Maria Novella
Santa Croce
Santo Spirito
San Frediano

The Oltrarno, across the Arno River from the historic center, can be especially appealing for travelers who want restaurants, artisan workshops and a somewhat more residential atmosphere.

Famous Hotels in Florence

Florence has several legendary hotels, including Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Hotel Savoy, The St. Regis Florence and Hotel Lungarno.

Travelers looking for something less expensive will find numerous three- and four-star hotels within walking distance of Florence’s major attractions.

Because Florence is highly walkable, paying slightly more for a central location can sometimes eliminate the need for taxis and public transportation.

Read A Day in Florence for additional ideas about exploring the Renaissance city.

Hotels in Venice

Few destinations make hotel location as important as Venice.

A property that appears geographically close to an attraction on a map may require crossing bridges, navigating narrow alleys or taking a vaporetto.

That is part of Venice’s charm, but travelers carrying heavy luggage should take transportation into consideration before booking.

Popular areas include:

San Marco – Ideal for first-time visitors wanting to stay near St. Mark’s Square.

Dorsoduro – Artistic, attractive and generally calmer.

Cannaregio – Excellent for travelers looking for a more residential Venetian atmosphere.

San Polo – Convenient for the Rialto Bridge and markets.

Santa Croce – Practical for transportation connections.

Famous Hotels in Venice

Some of Venice’s most celebrated properties include The Gritti Palace, Hotel Danieli, Belmond Hotel Cipriani and Aman Venice.

These hotels represent the highest end of Venetian hospitality, but Venice offers accommodation at virtually every price level.

Another alternative is staying in Mestre on the mainland. Hotels can be considerably cheaper, although you sacrifice the extraordinary experience of waking up inside Venice itself.

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Venice is also featured prominently in our guide to Italy’s Top 10 Must See Destinations.

Hotels in Milan

Milan’s hotel market is different from those of Rome, Florence and Venice because the city attracts substantial business as well as leisure travel.

This can sometimes produce interesting differences in hotel prices depending on conventions, trade fairs, fashion events and weekdays.

Popular neighborhoods include:

Duomo – Best for being at the center of Milan.

Brera – Stylish, sophisticated and convenient.

Navigli – Excellent for restaurants and nightlife.

Porta Nuova – Modern Milan with contemporary architecture and excellent transportation.

Porta Venezia – Central and lively with numerous restaurants.

Famous Hotels in Milan

Luxury travelers can consider celebrated properties such as Four Seasons Hotel Milano, Mandarin Oriental Milan, Bulgari Hotel Milano and Park Hyatt Milan.

Milan can become particularly expensive during major events, especially Milan Fashion Week and Salone del Mobile.

If your travel dates are flexible, compare several dates before booking.

Hotels on the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast presents a completely different accommodation experience.

Here, the view can be almost as important as the hotel itself.

Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and Praiano contain spectacular properties built into hillsides overlooking the Mediterranean.

Famous hotels include Le Sirenuse in Positano, Il San Pietro di Positano, Hotel Santa Caterina near Amalfi and Caruso, A Belmond Hotel in Ravello.

Prices can be extremely high during summer.

Traveling in May, early June, September or early October may provide a better balance between weather, crowds and accommodation prices.

Our Best Time to Visit Italy guide explains the advantages and disadvantages of visiting different Italian destinations throughout the year.

Hotels and Agriturismi in Tuscany

Not every Italian vacation should revolve around cities.

Tuscany offers one of the country’s greatest selections of countryside accommodation.

Options include:

historic villas
wine estates
agriturismi
converted farmhouses
medieval castles
spa resorts
boutique hotels

The countryside around Siena, San Gimignano, Pienza, Montepulciano and the Chianti region is particularly attractive.

For travelers planning to explore rural Tuscany, renting a car can make a considerable difference because many countryside properties are difficult to reach using public transportation.

If you prefer city life, Florence, Siena, Lucca and Pisa can serve as convenient bases.

Lake Como Hotels

Lake Como has been associated with glamorous travel since long before modern tourism.

Some of Italy’s most famous lake hotels are found here.

The legendary Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni occupies a magnificent position in Bellagio, while Villa d’Este in Cernobbio has welcomed aristocrats, celebrities and international travelers for generations.

The lake now also includes contemporary luxury resorts alongside smaller family-run hotels and apartments.

Consider searching in:

Como
Bellagio
Varenna
Menaggio
Cernobbio
Tremezzo

Varenna and Como are particularly convenient for travelers arriving by train.

Hotels in Naples

Naples can be an excellent base for exploring Campania.

The city provides easy access to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, Ischia, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.

Popular areas include the historic center, Chiaia, Santa Lucia and the Lungomare.

One of the city’s most famous properties is the Grand Hotel Vesuvio, overlooking the Bay of Naples and Castel dell’Ovo.

Naples can also provide better value than Capri, Positano and some of the Amalfi Coast’s most famous resorts.

Hotels in Sicily

Sicily deserves a vacation of its own.

Palermo and Catania provide large selections of urban hotels, while Taormina has some of Italy’s most spectacular luxury properties.

The San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel has become internationally famous, while other historic Sicilian resorts provide views of Mount Etna or the Mediterranean.

Travelers seeking quieter accommodations should also consider smaller towns and countryside properties.

Sicily is large. Always consider driving distances before choosing one hotel as a base for exploring the entire island.

Hotels in Sardinia

For beach vacations, Sardinia offers some of Europe’s most beautiful resort hotels.

The Costa Smeralda is famous for luxury properties, particularly around Porto Cervo.

Among the island’s legendary names is Hotel Cala di Volpe, known for its distinctive Mediterranean architecture and spectacular coastal location.

But Sardinia is much more than the Costa Smeralda.

Travelers can often find less expensive accommodation around:

Alghero
Cagliari
Villasimius
Orosei
Santa Teresa Gallura

July and especially August are high-demand periods. June and September can be excellent alternatives.

Finding Affordable Hotels in Italy

Italy doesn’t have to be an expensive destination.

One of the easiest strategies is simply to look beyond the most famous streets and squares.

A hotel overlooking Piazza San Marco in Venice will naturally command a premium. Moving several neighborhoods away may produce significantly different prices.

The same principle applies in Rome, Florence and Milan.

Another strategy is traveling during shoulder season.

For many destinations, consider:

March–April – Good for cities and cultural travel.

May–June – Excellent weather but increasingly popular.

September–October – Particularly attractive for cities and countryside destinations.

November–February – Potentially excellent value in cultural cities, excluding major holidays and special events.

Read our complete Italy Travel Guide for more help planning your itinerary.

Don’t Compare Hotels by Price Alone

A €140 hotel is not necessarily a better deal than a €170 hotel.

Consider what is included.

Check for:

breakfast
Wi-Fi
air conditioning
parking
airport transfers
resort or destination charges
cancellation conditions
room size
elevator access
accessibility
proximity to transportation

Parking is especially important when traveling by car.

Historic centers throughout Italy frequently have restricted traffic areas known as ZTLs. Driving into one without authorization can result in a fine.

If you’re planning an Italian road trip, read Italia Mia’s guide to Driving in Italy before choosing accommodation inside historic city centers.

Read the Most Recent Hotel Reviews

Guest reviews can be valuable, but the overall numerical score doesn’t tell the entire story.

Read several recent reviews and look for recurring comments.

Pay particular attention to remarks concerning:

cleanliness
noise
air conditioning
mattresses
bathrooms
elevators
breakfast
Wi-Fi
neighborhood
transportation
staff

A single angry review may not mean much.

Twenty recent travelers complaining about the same problem deserve attention.

Check the Hotel Location Carefully

One of the most common mistakes when booking accommodation in Italy is searching for the name of a famous destination rather than examining the property’s exact location.

“Venice” can sometimes produce accommodation outside historic Venice.

“Florence” can include properties far beyond comfortable walking distance of the Duomo.

“Amalfi Coast” encompasses numerous towns spread along a complicated coastline.

Always open the map before completing a reservation.

Consider where you will arrive, what you plan to visit and how you will get from the hotel to those places.

Luxury Hotel or Boutique Hotel?

Italy excels at both.

International luxury hotels typically provide extensive services, including concierges, restaurants, spas and large staffs.

Boutique hotels can offer something different: fewer rooms, unusual architecture and a stronger connection with the surrounding neighborhood.

Neither is automatically better.

For a honeymoon or special anniversary, a famous luxury hotel overlooking Lake Como or the Amalfi Coast may be worth the expense.

For a week exploring Florence, a small boutique property in the Oltrarno might provide a more intimate experience.

Consider an Agriturismo

For Tuscany, Umbria, Sicily, Puglia and other rural regions, don’t automatically limit your search to conventional hotels.

An agriturismo is a working agricultural property offering guest accommodation.

Depending on the property, visitors might stay among vineyards, olive groves, orchards or farms.

Some are simple family establishments. Others have evolved into sophisticated countryside resorts with swimming pools, restaurants and spas.

They can provide one of the most distinctive ways to experience rural Italy.

Build Your Hotel Around Your Itinerary

The best hotel isn’t necessarily the most luxurious property or the one with the highest review score.

It is the hotel that works best for your trip.

Someone spending three days exploring ancient Rome may benefit from being able to walk to major attractions.

A couple spending a week on the Amalfi Coast might prioritize a terrace overlooking the sea.

A family touring Tuscany may care more about parking, a swimming pool and easy road access.

Before booking accommodation, decide where you actually want to go.

Italia Mia’s Top Italian Destinations and Italian Cities and Italy for First-Time Visitors are good places to start.

Ready to Find Your Hotel in Italy?

From a romantic room overlooking a Venetian canal to a Tuscan farmhouse surrounded by vineyards, Italy offers accommodation for almost every style of travel and budget.

Start by establishing your itinerary and travel dates. Then compare locations, prices, recent reviews, amenities and cancellation conditions before making your decision.

Search hotels, resorts and other accommodation for your next Italian vacation:

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Whether you’re planning your first Italian vacation or returning to discover another region, choosing the right base gives you more time to experience what you actually came to Italy for: its cities, landscapes, art, food and unmistakable way of life.