Orta San Giulio
Bagging the prize for the Italian Lakes' most extravagantly ostentatious villa (no mean feat) is this over-the-top Moorish creation in Orta topped with an…
Must-see hotels in Europe
Safranbolu
From the engraved banisters to the carved ceilings, this welcoming hotel, run by Hakan and Nihal, offers a step-back-in-time experience for lovers of…
The Northern Fjords
What a beauty: a historic mountain hotel that's been given a thoughtful, charming overhaul by the young Rønning family. The decor in the rooms is sparse…
North Devon
There's every chance you'll fall utterly in love with this enchanting encampment of restored Romany caravans. The three brightly painted wagons boast log…
Ohrid
By far the most charming place to stay in Ohrid, this 1856 mansion offers nine rooms in the heart of the Old Town. There are old-world furnishings, creaky…
Western Estonia & the Islands
If money’s no object, here’s where to part with it. This manicured bayside estate encompasses the restored manor house (14 rooms and a fine-dining…
Holyrood & Arthur’s Seat
If the blond wood and brushed steel of modern boutique hotels leave you cold, then this is the place for you. A 17th-century mansion set in 8 hectares of…
Catania
Not many B&Bs welcome you with a 3m-high pink flamingo at reception, but then this is no ordinary slumber pad. Its six 'Art Rooms' are designed by…
Tirana
Albania's first-ever hostel continues to go from strength to strength. Housed in a charmingly decorated house, with a 1970s air of hazy hippy backpacker…
Sultanahmet
Travellers love this terrific-value hotel overlooking Gülhane Park, with its impeccably clean, well-sized and amenity-laden rooms, some with park-facing…
The Golden Circle
A beautifully unique lakeside boutique (originally built in 1928 by Guðjón Samúelsson) identifiable by its distinctive peaked green roofs. The interiors…
Tinakilly Country House & Restaurant
County Wicklow
This magnificent Victorian Italianate house 4km northwest of Wicklow town is one of the most elegant country homes in the county. You have a choice…
Western Sicily
An enchanting sunken garden full of centurion lemon trees frames this cosy whitewashed guesthouse, home of Gaetana and Giuseppe. Rooms open onto the lemon…
The South
This sleek black-window-fronted hotel has merged with the former next-door Hótel Edda. It sits on the eastern edge of town with 88 rooms, some suitably…
Northern Lapland
Run by a reindeer-owning family who taught at the local school, Porotila Toini Sanila is a great place to learn about the Skolt way of life. A series of…
Valencia Province
Enthusiastic management makes for a wonderful stay at this enchanting place, set amid city walls, the ruins of a convent and palm and citrus gardens…
Lyon
A stellar new addition to Lyon, the Mob Hotel is a magnet for designers and the creative set. Metal lacework encases the avant-garde building overlooking…
Suffolk
Marvellously medieval and utterly indulgent, the Swan might just spoil you in terms of other places to stay. Tasteful furnishings team oatmeal with olive…
Sultanahmet
Few of Sultanahmet's family-run pensions can compete with the Marmara's cleanliness, comfort and thoughtful details. Owner Elif and team go out of their…
Southwestern Donegal
Overlooking the ruins of the 15th-century McSwyne’s Castle, Castle Murray is not a castle, but a boutique hotel in a sprawling modern beach house. Most of…
South Devon
Pack your dinner jacket or flapper frock: at gorgeous, glamorous art-deco Burgh Island, guests definitely dress for dinner. The gleaming-white palace sits…
Barcelona
Designed by Domènech i Montaner from 1908 to 1911, this sumptuous Modernista mansion is one of Barcelona’s most luxurious addresses. Rooms are individual…
Castilla-La Mancha
In a 16th-century manor house in the centre, the Casa de la Torre makes a memorable base for delving into the world of Quijote. The handsomely designed…
Barcelona
With a creative soul, fun atmosphere and custom-designed furniture alongside European and Sri Lankan antiques, this thoughtfully styled Poble Sec boutique…
Eastern Mediterranean
This 1920s eclectic building was once owned by the president of Syria and contains 24 tastefully furnished (though smallish) rooms across four floors;…
Golfe du Morbihan
Manuel and Valérie are the widely travelled, bilingual couple behind La Villa de Jade. They have created a one-of-a-kind, gorgeous B&B in a stunningly…
Lviv
Lviv’s first real boutique hotel is a delightfully intimate 29-room place, accessed through an inconspicuous entrance in the historical centre. Rooms ooze…
Córdoba
Offering top-end boutique luxury a stone's throw from the Mezquita, the 10-room Balcón is a riveting place with a charming patio, slick rooms and ancient…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Hidden down a stone-paved alley, this mansion is a magical address. Its five sweeping designer suites are decorated with retro flea-market finds, but it's…
Tröllaskagi
Personality shines through in this cool guesthouse, where vintage furniture is paired with contemporary art and ultra-modern bathrooms in the hotel wing…
Bratislava
Even travellers with aristocratic tastes will raise an approving eyebrow at the neobaroque furnishings, sophisticated restaurant and exemplary service at…
Central Norway
This charming and historic place of intriguing early-18th-century timber buildings is 13km north of Hjerkinn on the E6. Every room is different although…
The West End
What can you say about a place that has lent its name to the English lexicon? This 136-room hotel, opened by the eponymous César in 1906, has a…
Azerbaijan
With the comfort of a midrange hotel but the personal charm of a great homestay, this is far and away the most appealing choice in Lahıc, with verandah…
Braga
A delightful hostel, lovingly run by two well-travelled women who met in Paris (one of whom was born in the hostel's living room), restored the family…
Alto Alentejo
Run by a friendly, well-travelled couple from South Africa and Scotland, the Place offers four stylish modern rooms, trimmed with artwork and set with all…
The Dolomites
This modern family-run chalet, launched in the 1970s by award-winning skier Gerard Mussner and now lovingly managed by his two well-travelled daughters,…
Èze
If you’re looking for a place to propose, well, there can be few more memorable settings than this wonderful clifftop hotel, perched dramatically above…
Clermont-Ferrand
Punching well above its midrange price tag, Le Lion has a royal-blue colour scheme and offers royal treatment to match. Staff bend over backwards to make…
Nuremberg
Aristocratic in its design and service, this centrally located treat of a historic hotel has been in the same family since the turn of the 20th century…
