Best Luxury Hotels in Europe: My Favorite Bucket List Stays
“Popular! I know about popular”
Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
I have a bit of a weakness for beautiful hotels. In fact, there have been quite a few trips where the hotel came first and the destination followed. I've booked stays because of an infinity pool I'd seen online, a room with an incredible view, or simply because the hotel itself looked like somewhere I wanted to experience.
Over the years, that has taken me to some pretty incredible hotels across Europe, from château-style stays in the French countryside to hotels overlooking the Amalfi Coast and mountain retreats in Switzerland. And while I love a beautiful hotel, looking good in photos isn't enough to make it onto this list. If I'm recommending somewhere to stay, I want the actual experience to be just as good.
That's why every hotel you'll find here is somewhere I've personally stayed and would genuinely recommend based on my own experience. This isn't simply a roundup of luxury hotels that look beautiful or regularly appear on lists of places to stay in Europe. I've actually checked in, slept in the rooms, eaten at the restaurants, used the pools and spas, and experienced the service myself.
They're not all here for the same reason, either. Some have locations that are difficult to beat, while others have incredible rooms, pools, restaurants, or views. And then there are the hotels where staying there is such a big part of the trip that I'd happily plan another vacation around going back.
I've also written full reviews of all the hotels on this list, where I go into much more detail about the rooms, food, amenities, service, and anything I think you should know before booking. So if one catches your eye, you can read about my full experience before deciding whether it's the right hotel for you.
In this guide:
(in no particular order)
Want to look beyond Europe? Here are 8 unique hotels around the world I've personally stayed at and recommend.
Ready? Let’s get into it!
1. Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como, Italy
Grand Hotel Tremezzo is one of those hotels where I'd happily plan the trip around the hotel itself. Sitting directly on Lake Como, it gives you two completely different ways to enjoy the setting. There's the iconic floating pool right on the lake, with a small beach next to it that almost gives you that seaside-resort feeling, even though you're obviously on a lake.
On the other side of the hotel, the garden pool is surrounded by greenery and has a completely different atmosphere — plus, very importantly, pizza. I loved being able to alternate between the two rather than feeling like we had to leave the hotel to experience something different.
But the pools are only part of why I recommend staying here. Grand Hotel Tremezzo feels like a proper Italian grand hotel, with beautiful historic interiors, lake-view rooms, and its iconic orange branding running throughout. Breakfast comes with views straight across Lake Como — and, if you feel like starting the day properly, a glass of champagne. You can even rent a boat directly from the hotel if you want to spend the day exploring the lake.
That's really why Tremezzo made this list. It's beautiful, of course, but it also has such a strong sense of place that I can't really separate the hotel from my experience of Lake Como.
2. Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
If you're going to Positano for that classic Amalfi Coast experience, Le Sirenuse is very difficult to beat. You're right in the middle of Positano, with those famous views across the colorful houses and out toward the sea, and the hotel feels completely connected to the destination rather than separate from it.
What surprised me was how quiet it feels once you're inside. Positano is incredibly busy, especially during the summer, and the Amalfi Coast as a whole isn't exactly somewhere you go to avoid crowds. But step inside Le Sirenuse and somehow most of that disappears. It almost feels like you're in your own little private world in the middle of one of the busiest places on the coast, which makes spending an afternoon at the pool feel even more relaxing.
The pool itself is one of the most recognizable parts of Le Sirenuse, with Positano as the backdrop while you swim or sit by the water. You can also experience the coast from the sea: the hotel has its own vintage wooden boat that takes you out along the Amalfi Coast, giving you a completely different view of the towns built into the cliffs.
Inside, Le Sirenuse has a very distinctive Italian style, with terracotta tones, tiled floors, antiques, and rooms that still feel full of character. Food is a big part of the experience too, especially La Sponda, the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant. Dinner surrounded by hundreds of candles with Positano outside the windows is one of those experiences that feels very specific to this hotel.
That's why Le Sirenuse made this list. You get everything you came to Positano for — the views, the food, the sea, and the atmosphere — but you also have somewhere quiet to retreat to when the crowds outside become a little too much. For me, that balance is a huge part of what makes staying here so special.
3. Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, Italy
Splendido is one of those hotels where the location almost doesn't feel real until you're actually standing there. Sitting above Portofino, you have an incredible view over the harbor, the colorful houses, and the surrounding hills. To quote Taylor Swift, “that view of Portofino was on my mind” — and after staying here, I completely understand why.
But the view is only part of what makes Splendido so good. The whole hotel has this old-school Italian glamour that almost feels like stepping into the golden age of Hollywood. It's very luxurious, but not in the modern, over-the-top sense of the word you might find, for example, in Dubai. Splendido feels much more laid-back. The beautiful Italian interiors, greenery-covered terraces, and even the way the staff interacts with you all have this relaxed elegance that's honestly quite difficult to describe until you've experienced it.
The pool captures that feeling perfectly. You're swimming high above Portofino with the coastline spread out in front of you, but there's none of that feeling that you need to be doing anything other than ordering a drink, finding a lounger, and staying there for the afternoon. You can head down into Portofino whenever you want, but up at the hotel, everything feels much quieter and removed from the crowds around the harbor.
That's why Splendido made this list. It's glamorous without feeling showy, luxurious without feeling overly formal, and has the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to settle in and stay for a while. Add that view over Portofino, and honestly, it's no wonder Elizabeth Taylor didn't want to leave.
4. Hotel Villa Honegg, Ennetburgen, Switzerland
If I had to sum up my stay at Hotel Villa Honegg? I came for the infinity pool and stayed for the food. Like most people, I originally wanted to stay here because of that famous heated infinity pool overlooking Lake Lucerne. The view is every bit as beautiful in person, and swimming outside surrounded by the Swiss mountains is reason enough to put Villa Honegg on your list.
What I wasn't expecting was just how good the food would be. We were on a small road trip through Europe at the time and, somehow, one of the best meals of the entire trip ended up being at a small hotel in Switzerland. And I really don't say that lightly. The restaurant works with local farmers and producers, and the menu actually tells you where many of the ingredients come from. It sounds like a small detail, but you can genuinely taste the quality in the food.
The hotel itself is quite intimate, which I think is a big part of its appeal. You're high above Lake Lucerne, surrounded by countryside, and it feels much more like a quiet Swiss retreat than a large luxury resort. Of course, you can spend plenty of time in the infinity pool and spa, but this is also the kind of place where sitting down for a long dinner with a good bottle of wine becomes part of the reason you're there.
That's why Villa Honegg made this list. I booked it for one of Europe's most famous hotel pools, but years later, when I think about that stay, I still think about the food just as much. And considering we were eating our way through Europe on that road trip, that's saying something.
5. Shangri-La Paris, Paris, France
Shangri-La Paris is probably one of the few luxury hotels where I completely failed at pretending to be unfazed. Usually when I walk into a hotel like this, I try to fit in and act like I've seen it all before — “don't be suspicious,” as they say on TikTok. But the first time I walked into Shangri-La Paris, I very loudly said, “Oh wow,” so clearly that wasn't happening here.
The hotel is set inside the former residence of Prince Roland Bonaparte, and you really feel that when you're walking through it. There are grand staircases, incredibly high ceilings, chandeliers, ornate details, and beautiful rooms everywhere you look. It feels like a proper palace rather than simply a luxury hotel that's been designed to look grand. And the service feels every bit as royal as the building itself.
The rooms are incredibly spacious too, but if you're staying here, I think an Eiffel Tower view is really what takes the experience to another level. We stayed in a room with our own private terrace overlooking the Eiffel Tower, but somehow the view didn't stop there: we could even see it from the bathtub. Sitting in the bath looking out at the Eiffel Tower with nobody else around really is one of those moments where you think, okay, it doesn't get much better than this.
That's why Shangri-La Paris made this list. Of course, there are plenty of luxury hotels in Paris where you can see the Eiffel Tower, but here you're getting so much more than the view. The building, the service, the spacious rooms, and then having Paris quite literally outside your window all come together to make the stay feel every bit as impressive as that first “Oh wow” when I walked through the door.
6. Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle, Versailles, France
If there's one hotel on this list that I'd describe as a true once-in-a-lifetime experience, it's Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle. You're not simply staying near Versailles; you're staying within the palace grounds, with experiences that give you access to Versailles in a way you simply wouldn't get on a normal visit.
The hotel itself is relatively new, but the building certainly isn't. It occupies a historic building that was once connected to the running of the palace, and everything has been designed to make you feel like you've stepped back into the 18th century. The rooms are filled with antique furniture, canopy beds, and period details, while even the staff wear period-inspired clothing. That could very easily feel gimmicky, but somehow it doesn't. The level of detail, the setting, and the service make the whole thing feel incredibly well done rather than like you're staying in a Versailles-themed hotel.
Even dinner continues that experience. Alain Ducasse created the menu specifically for Le Grand Contrôle, drawing inspiration from the food and dining traditions of the French court and some of Louis XIV's favorite foods. It's a menu you can only experience here, which makes dinner feel like part of staying at Versailles rather than simply having a fine-dining restaurant inside the hotel.
But the reason I will probably remember this stay forever is what happens after Versailles closes. As part of your stay, you get access to private tours of the palace outside normal opening hours. Walking through the Hall of Mirrors in complete silence, wearing a dress, with nobody else around is something I will absolutely never forget. It's one of those rare travel experiences where I knew while it was happening that I'd remember it for the rest of my life.
That's why Le Grand Contrôle made this list. The rooms, food, and service are all incredible, but ultimately, you're booking an experience that I genuinely don't think you can find anywhere else. Lots of hotels can make you feel spoiled for a night, but very few can give you Versailles almost entirely to yourself.
7. Miramonti Boutique Hotel, Dolomites, Italy
Speaking of iconic infinity pools, Miramonti Boutique Hotel has one of the most recognizable ones in Europe. Located high in the mountains of South Tyrol, Italy, this family-owned boutique hotel feels completely removed from the towns below. And while the pool might be what initially gets your attention, I think the setting is what makes you want to stay.
We stayed here as part of our European road trip, and after spending days driving from one city to the next, Miramonti was exactly the kind of break we needed. There isn't a long list of attractions waiting for you outside the hotel, and that's really the point. You can spend the morning in the spa, swim in the infinity pool overlooking the mountains, have a long lunch, and suddenly realize you haven't actually gone anywhere all day. It's a really nice place to step away from everything for a couple of days without feeling like you should be out sightseeing.
The hotel itself also feels much more intimate than some of the larger luxury hotels on this list. There are several restaurants, plenty of regional South Tyrolean wines to try, and the mountain setting follows you pretty much everywhere around the property. In winter, you can combine your stay with skiing nearby, while the warmer months are perfect for hiking and spending more time outside.
That's why Miramonti made this list. Yes, the infinity pool really is as beautiful as it looks in photos, but I wouldn't stay here just for the pool. It's the kind of hotel I'd choose when I actually want the hotel to be the destination — somewhere you can disappear into the mountains for a few days, eat well, drink good wine, and temporarily forget that you have anywhere else to be.
8. Le Meurice, Paris, France
If there’s one thing that really defines Le Meurice for me, it’s the art. The hotel has been connected to artists for generations — Salvador Dalí famously stayed here regularly — and that relationship with art still feels like a huge part of its personality today. You’ll find contemporary pieces mixed in with the very classic Parisian interiors throughout the hotel, so there’s always something slightly unexpected to look at.
And I think that contrast is what makes Le Meurice so interesting. It’s one of Paris’s official Palace hotels, so you still get all the grandeur you’d expect: ornate rooms, marble bathrooms, beautiful public spaces, and incredibly polished service. But then you’ll turn a corner and find a contemporary artwork that completely changes the feel of the space. It keeps the hotel from feeling too traditional or overly serious.
Then there’s Restaurant Le Meurice Alain Ducasse, because that dining room deserves a moment of its own. Inspired by the Salon de la Paix at Versailles, it’s easily one of the most spectacular dining rooms I’ve ever eaten in. Between the chandeliers, gilded details, huge windows, and views toward the Tuileries Garden, the room alone is worth experiencing. And you don’t actually have to stay at Le Meurice to do that. You can book dinner or even breakfast here without staying at the hotel, which I really recommend if you want to experience the dining room for yourself. It’s a pretty spectacular setting for your morning coffee.
That’s why Le Meurice made this list. It’s obviously a beautiful luxury hotel, but it’s the art and the little unexpected details throughout the hotel that made it stand out to me. And if it was good enough for Dalí — and apparently Beyoncé — I think we’re in pretty good company.
9. Airelles Gordes La Bastide, Gordes, France
Airelles La Bastide is another hotel where the view alone could probably earn it a place on this list. Sitting high above the Luberon Valley in Gordes, you have those classic Provence views almost everywhere you look, but the pool might be my favorite place to enjoy them. Surrounded by greenery and overlooking the valley, it’s exactly where you want to be on a hot summer afternoon in Provence.
But having now stayed at more than one Airelles property, I think the service is a huge part of what makes these hotels so good. The properties are relatively small, so everything feels incredibly personal. At La Bastide, the staff knew our names — and I don't just mean the people we'd already spoken to. We'd walk past someone we'd never seen before and they'd casually say, “Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. xxx,” while we were left wondering how on earth they knew who we were.
That attention to detail carries through the entire stay. After turndown service, we'd come back to find a different gift waiting in the room, from personalized luggage tags to pajamas and sun hats. They're small things, but together with the service, they make the hotel feel much more personal than simply staying at a beautiful five-star property.
That's why Airelles La Bastide made this list. The location in Gordes is beautiful, the pool and views are exactly what you want from a summer in Provence, but it's the service that really sets it apart. And after experiencing that same level of attention at Le Grand Contrôle in Versailles, I'm starting to think Airelles has completely ruined regular hotel service for me.
10. One&Only Portonovi, Herceg Novi, Montenegro
One&Only Portonovi is a little different from most of the hotels on this list, starting with the fact that it's in Montenegro. If you're looking for a luxury summer trip but want to go somewhere beyond the usual spots like the French Riviera or the Amalfi Coast, this is such a good alternative. You're surrounded by mountains and the Bay of Kotor, but you still get everything you'd want from a proper summer resort.
There’s also so much choice in how you spend your day. You have several pools, including a livelier one with a DJ, a beautiful spa if you want something quieter, and a sandy beach — something you don't find very often in Montenegro. The sand was actually brought in from Egypt, which means you get that proper sandy beach feeling while still having the mountains and Bay of Kotor around you.
Even though it's a large resort, it never really felt like one. Everything is spread out enough that it’s easy to find your own space. We were actually told that Penélope Cruz was staying there at the same time as us and never saw her once, which probably tells you everything you need to know about the level of privacy.
That's why One&Only Portonovi made this list. The rooms are huge, with beautiful bathrooms and balconies overlooking the mountains and bay, there’s plenty to do without leaving the resort, and you get all of it in a destination that still feels a little different from the usual European summer trip.
11. The Lanesborough, London, England
The Lanesborough might be one of the grandest hotels in London, but what surprised me most was how quickly it felt like a home away from home. The interiors are traditional and full of character, with beautiful fabrics, antique furniture, chandeliers, and rooms that feel more like they belong in a private residence than a hotel. Basically, it feels like home — if your home happened to be a very fancy countryside palace in the middle of London.
A lot of that feeling comes from the service as well. The staff is incredibly friendly and personal, and despite how luxurious the hotel is, it never feels overly formal or like you have to be on your best behavior all the time. It's the kind of place where you quickly settle in, which isn't always something I can say about hotels at this level.
And then, of course, there's Lilibet, The Lanesborough's resident Siberian Forest cat. You'll find her wandering around the hotel, sleeping wherever she feels like it and generally acting as though the entire place belongs to her — which, to be fair, it probably does. As a cat person, this obviously earned The Lanesborough some extra points from me.
That's why The Lanesborough made this list. There are plenty of beautiful five-star hotels in London, but it's that combination of grand interiors, genuinely warm service, and the feeling that you've somehow moved into an extremely fancy London home for a few days that made this one stand out to me. Lilibet is just a very fluffy bonus.
12. The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Scotland
Gleneagles somehow manages to feel grand and homey at exactly the same time. It’s a huge country estate with so much to do that you could easily fill several days without leaving the property, but then you walk inside and find roaring fires, cozy corners, and rooms that make you want to settle in for the afternoon. It has all the facilities of a luxury resort without ever really feeling like one.
And there really is an almost overwhelming amount to choose from. You can play golf, go horse riding, spend time at the spa, try different country pursuits, or work your way through the restaurants and bars. You can also head out into the surrounding countryside to meet some of the locals, aka the Highland cows. I definitely had a little bit of FOMO because there was no way we were going to fit everything into one stay. But weirdly, Gleneagles is also a place where I didn't mind doing very little. Sitting by the fire with a drink feels just as much a part of the experience as any of the activities.
I think a lot of that comes down to the atmosphere. For such a grand hotel, it never felt stiff or overly formal to me. There’s something very inviting about it, almost like you've arrived at an enormous Scottish country home rather than checked into a luxury resort — albeit a country home with a spa, golf courses, multiple restaurants, and considerably better service than most of us have at home.
That’s why Gleneagles made this list. You get the freedom and choice of a resort, the grandeur of a Scottish country estate, and somehow still that home-away-from-home feeling. My only problem was leaving with a mental list of everything we didn't have time to do… which I suppose is a pretty good excuse to go back.
Any of these spots calling your name for your next getaway? If you’re still looking for the right hotel, browse all my hotel recommendations, organized by the type of vacation you're planning.
If you’ve got any questions or need more details about these stunning hotels, feel free to reach out.
Happy travels and happy planning!
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