Image courtesy of JK Place Capri
Italy’s Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are the sort of Italian cities to earn top billing on most travelers’ bucket lists . Unlike its Northern Italy neighbor, the Amalfi Coast stretches down the shoreline of Southern Italy and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its incomparable natural beauty. Because this region is larger, visitors can discover a bevy of old towns, charming Italian villages, archaeological sites (like the Herculaneum), and locally-owned cafes to add to their travel guides. And did we mention the epic hotels?
Whether you base yourself in Capri, Positano, or choose an island in the Bay of Naples, Southern Italy offers some of the world’s most stunning hotels. These include palatial accommodations overlooking the ocean to white-washed villas and private terraces that are guaranteed to make you feel famous. Plus, most hotels are accessible via a quick ferry ride to popular spots like Tuscany, Milan, Rome, Naples, and Venice, and offer great day trips to nearby destinations such as Bari, Calabria, or the island of Sicily. Read on for the very best hotels in Southern Italy.
Capri Tiberio Palace
Image courtesy of Capri Tiberio Palace
One look at the Capri Tiberio Palace and its stunning mosaic-lined pool, and you’ll know that checking into this 5-star hotel was the right choice. Housed in a 19th-century building, this boutique hotel is nestled in the heart of Capri, an island just off the Amalfi Coast. The Capri Tiberio Palace sits mere steps from the legendary Piazzetta and the trendy Italian shops lining Via Camerelle. When you aren’t living out your Southern Italian dreams at the Spa Tiberio and Pool overlooking the Mediterranean, you’ll be indulging in Roman classics at the on-site Terrazza Tiberio restaurant.
Fora perks:
$100 resort / hotel credit.
Breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out, based upon availability.
Grand Hotel Quisisana
Image courtesy of Grand Hotel Quisisana
You know the old saying, “when it works, you work it?” Well, that might as well be the mantra for the Grand Hotel Quisisana, a destination which has been “working it” since its opening in 1845. This historic hotel has been catering to chic vacationers from all over Europe and beyond for generations, attracting guests with superb service and stellar ocean views. Also located on the island of Capri, the Quisisana’s Greek-like white-washed rooms and blue mosaic floors are made more beautiful by the shimmering Mediterranean Sea peeking out from behind the billowing white curtains. Kick back with an aperitivo or indulge in an olive-oil drizzled meal (this is Italy, after all) at the on-site Colombaia Restaurant.
JK Place Capri
Image courtesy of JK Place Capri
JK Place Capri might have an unassuming name, but the hotel looks as if it might be another chic Italian villa belonging to George and Amal Clooney. Found off the coast of Naples, the JK Place Capri is painted a blinding white that contrasts with the sapphire-colored sea, giving off major Santorini vibes. Step inside, and the rooms are just as gorgeous—whether you’re overlooking the Bay of Naples and the Sorrento Peninsula, or facing Monte Solaro.
Fora perks:
One €60 spa credit.
Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa
Image courtesy of Mezzatore Hotel & Thermal Spa
Ischia is a volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples where you’ll find hot springs, stellar beaches, and a wealth of history – from the Aragonese Castle to the Roman remains beneath the seafloor at Cartaromana Beach. To stay on Ischia, look no further than the Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa, a property which celebrates the island’s natural bounty with its thermal pools and three on-site restaurants focusing on cuisine from different parts of Italy. From the jasmine-scented air to the glistening bathtubs overlooking the bay – this hotel screams romance at every turn. And before you start imagining a Pompeii-style disaster, don’t worry about booking a stay on a volcanic island – there are no active volcanoes here, as the last eruption was in 1302.
Fora perks:
$100 resort / hotel credit.
Breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom, served in La Torre.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out, based upon availability.
Le Sirenuse
Image courtesy of Le Sirenuse
Family-owned Le Sirenuse sits steps from the pedestrian center of Positano, a cliffside village in Southern Italy known for its jaw-dropping vistas and historic Baroque attractions like the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta with its Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary. The villa – which has since expanded into neighboring buildings – is home to the Michelin-starred La Sponda Restaurant, where fresh seafood and olive oil drizzled pasta are served beneath a canopy of flickering candles and live music. Catch one of the hotel’s complimentary boats to a nearby town on the Amalfi Coast or arrange a day trip to other coastal Italian cities like Salerno. Through the hotel, you can also set up day trips to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, the Herculaneum, the city of Naples, or a transfer to Naples’ airport.
Fora perks:
$100 spa credit.
Breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out, based upon availability.
Il San Pietro di Positano
Image courtesy of Il San Pietro di Positano
Il San Pietro di Positano is literally carved into the Italian cliffs with rooms so beautiful that you’re guaranteed to have post-vacation blues when you return from your Southern Italy trip. Every room in this 5-star hotel comes with a private terrace and is uniquely decorated with hand-painted ceramic tiles and carefully selected furniture upholstered in buttery fabrics. The on-site Michelin-starred restaurant, the Zass, offers an international menu utilizing produce from the hotel’s organic vegetable garden and local suppliers. But, by far the best part of Il San Pietro di Positano just might be its beach club, which gives guests access to a private oasis tucked away in a natural cove, where bright orange sun chairs sit positioned in front of crystal-clear waters. If you can pull yourself away from the beach club for a day trip, visit the city of Matera in the region of Basilicata, another beautiful area worth exploring in Southern Italy.
Fora perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out, based upon availability.
Eden Roc Hotel
While many Positano hotels are tucked away from the main town, Eden Roc Hotel – which has a sister hotel in Miami – is the place to stay if you want to feel closer to town. A short walk from Spiaggia Grande, Positano’s main beach, and the many restaurants and cafes nearby – this is the hotel to choose if you want to feel more connected to the local Italian community rather than tucked away in a romantic enclave. This isn’t to say Eden Roc doesn’t deliver on the goods either – the hotel has sea-facing terraces, gorgeous rooms, Turkish baths and an on-site spa.
Palazzo Margherita
Image courtesy of Palazzo Margherita
The Palazzo Margherita is a luxurious boutique hotel housed inside a 19th-century Italian palazzo built in 1892. The hotel falls under the Coppola family name (as in the director, Francis Ford Coppola, and his daughter, actress, and director Sofia Coppola). This town was where grandpa Coppola (AKA Agostino Coppola) was born. His grandson, Francis, purchased this villa in 2004 to honor his family’s roots, eventually transforming it into the Palazzo Margherita. The hotel sits inland from the Amalfi Coast, offering a different experience from other Positano hotels. Here, the surrounding countryside—originally settled by the Ancient Greeks before Roman times—is an Eden of thriving agriculture and produce. Expect impossibly fresh food paired with a side of Greek and Roman history. Palazzo Margherita is in a region nestled between the toe and boot of Italy, serving as a great jumping off point to head south to destinations like Tropea or Palermo and Sicily, or up towards places like Bari or Lecce.
Fora perks:
Complimentary lunch or dinner for two people per room, once during stay.
Breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out, based upon availability.
Borgo Egnazia
Image courtesy of Borgo Egnazia
Inspired by the Mediterranean culture of Southern Italy, the Borgo Egnazia is amongst the leading hotels in Europe. Found in a place called Savelletri di Fasano, down the coast from the Italian city of Bari, the Borgo Egnazia sits in a scenic spot where the hills of the Itria Valley seemingly roll into the Adriatic Sea. The Borgo Egnazia is inspired by the style, shape, and decor of a typical Italian Puglia village – from the delicate blue glass windows to the hand-cut stone paths leading to gardens shaded by olive trees. While here, don’t skip the Piazza in the heart of Borgo, where local markets bring together travelers and locals alike. When craving something to eat, this Southern Italy hotel has a few on-site restaurants to choose from, including Mia Cucina, which serves traditional dishes from Puglia.
Fora perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out, based upon availability.
Forte Village Resort, Sardinia
Image courtesy of Forte Village Resort
You caught us – Sardinia isn’t technically in Southern Italy, but this storied island has all the magic of the coast (and then some). We love the Forte Village Resort, with its pitch-perfect blend of Dolce Vita and crowd-pleasing resort amenities. Travelers of all types will be well-fed, well-entertained and properly relaxed upon visiting this multi-resort village, located on the island’s sandy southern coast. Boasting dozens of restaurants, eleven pools and countless activities (including sports programs on rowing, climbing and tennis), the resort’s real pièce de résistance is its spa, complete with seawater pools and 30 treatment rooms.
Fora Perks:
Upgrade & extended check-in/out, based upon availability.
$100 food and beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
20% discount on spa treatments.
