Arctic Highway
Don't be deterred by the bland facade that somehow slipped past planning authorities. Fru Haugans (the original owner; see her stare from her portrait in…
Must-see hotels in Europe
Rovaniemi
In Rovaniemi's former 1950s town hall, with original fixtures including wood panelling, a vintage lift and wrought-iron balustrades, Lapland's top hotel…
The Far North
About 6km from Karasjok along the Rv92, Sven Engholm has built this wonderful haven in the forest with his own hands. Each rustic cabin is individually…
Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords
The historic wooden Utne Hotel was built in 1722 after the Great Nordic War, giving it claim to the title of Norway's oldest hotel, and has an interesting…
Orkney
Just a short walk from the centre of Stromness, but with a lonely, king-of-the-castle position overlooking the town and bay, this exceptional place offers…
County Down
In the quaint little village of Crawfordsburn, 3km west of Bangor on the B20, the 1614-established Old Inn claims to be Ireland’s oldest hotel. Its…
Ålesund
Right on the waterfront and designed by superstar architects Snøhetta, this former warehouse is one of Norway's most charming hotels. Wonderful old beams…
Merano (Meran)
This boutique hotel encapsulates Merano's beguiling mix of stately sophistication, natural beauty and gently bohemian backstory. The remodelled townhouse…
Córdoba
A 15th-century building in a quiet lane 1km east of the Mezquita has been superbly converted into a welcoming boutique hideaway combining comfort and…
Valbona
Pioneering tourism in Valbona since 2005, the Albanian-American–run Rilindja is a fairy-tale wooden house in the forest 3km downhill from Valbona village…
Copenhagen
The revamped Danmark is a svelte boutique hideaway steps away from major sights. Though most of its 88 rooms are rather petite, they're all flawlessly…
Pristina
Pristina's best hostel is run by a group of well-travelled locals who took a derelict house into their care, painted the tree in the courtyard white and…
Catania
Creative hosts Giovanni and Patricia Manidoro have poured their hearts into creating these four family-friendly apartments on a peaceful dead-end alley,…
Girona
Stargazers will adore this unique, owner-designed country hideaway, 16km north of Girona. Fabulously combining old stone and modern plastic, it offers…
Lucca
This four-star boutique hotel sits in a couple of terraced 15th-century town houses on a peaceful lane. Its 24 sunny suites and doubles – named after…
Catania
Perfectly positioned on pedestrianised Via Crociferi, this B&B in a beautifully decorated family home affords easy access to Catania's historic centre…
Cappadocia
From the foyer's statement-piece ceiling of recycled hezen (telegraph poles) to the gourmet breakfasts on the terrace with 360-degree village views, every…
Turquoise Coast
A destination hotel if ever there was one, this complex of stone buildings is a rural oasis up in the Taurus Mountains, with astounding views across the…
Slovakia
Behind an attractive art-nouveau facade, Hotel Elizabeth (built in 1902) has high-ceilinged, business-chic rooms, in a neutral palette with swish modern…
Turku & Finland's South Coast
A little piece of Finnish paradise, this family-run haven sits on a secluded forested island (linked by bridges) between Loviisa (35km) and Kotka (32km)…
Castilla y León
Now here's something a little bit special. Fernando and Carmen have been largely responsible for bringing this charming stone village back to life. Their…
Central Norway
This high-altitude hotel is pretty much the only option this high on the Hardangervidda – and luckily, it's lovely. There's a strong mountain vibe here,…
Poznań
Housed within the solid ex-brewery walls of the Stary Browar shopping mall, this unusual hotel offers an experience that feels a bit like sleeping in an…
Madrid
Given the location of their hotel (halfway between the city and the airport), the owners knew they had to do something special – to build a self-contained…
Andalucía
Andalucía's first European Eco-Label hotel, this brilliantly restored 200-year-old house bordering a stream in the heart of Alájar runs on geothermal…
Møn, Falster & Lolland
It's hard to imagine a more delightful B&B, especially in this modest price range, than this lovingly upgraded historic priests' house, located 10 minutes…
Camogli
Villa Rosmarino's motto is 'you don't stay, you live' and it's apt. Simply taking in the views here is life affirming. This elegant pink 1907 villa is a…
The Ardennes
The kind of place James Bond might stop at for a romatic interlude, this vaguely Scandinavian-styled lodge attatched to a rural recording studio is the…
Trieste
Yes, there are seven suites and they are, indeed, historical, nestled on the beamed attic floor of a grand 1884 commercial building. Still, their lavish…
Serbia
Regional Serbia's best hostel gets a thumbs-up for being environmentally conscious, with furniture made of recycled material, solar-energy panels, waste…
Tampere
With its contemporary Nordic design, switched-on staff and good facilities, this hostel is consistently ranked Finland’s best. Narrow dorms (mixed and…
High Tatras
Everything you'd expect from a sumptuous hotel chain, with the bonus of dreamy lake views, the Kempinski is Štrbské Pleso's best address. Elements of…
Positano
For such a talked-about hotel, the San Pietro is remarkably discreet. Built into a rocky headland 2km east of Positano, it’s almost entirely below road…
North Iceland
A slice of guesthouse nirvana, Skjaldarvík lies in a bucolic farm setting 6km north of Akureyri. It’s owned by a young family and features quirky design…
Ascoli Piceno
On its hilltop perch above Ascoli's historic centre, and reached by a seemingly never-ending flight of steps, this villa is a delight. Salvatore, your…
North London
This fantastic 630-bed hostel is housed in a 19th-century magistrates' courthouse where Charles Dickens once worked as a scribe and members of the Clash…
Vienna
An enormous taxidermied horse stands in the reception area of this ultra-hip hotel. The Grand Ferdinand is shaking up Vienna's accommodation scene by…
Northeastern Mallorca
Rising like a dream of Mallorcan aristocratic luxury from fields of almond, olive and carob, capped by a 16th-century stone tower, this traditional finca…
Rías Baixas
A dream base for enjoying the Rías Baixas, unique Quinta de San Amaro sits surrounded by vineyards 12km south of Cambados. With inspired traditional-meets…
Rethymno Province
Hemmed in by vines, olives and fruit trees, these 10 traditional-style houses have a view over rolling hills to the sea. The modern rooms have stone…
