Bari
Located a seven-minute walk from Bari railway station and around 1.5km from Bari's historical centre, this affordable option for budget travellers offers…
Must-see hotels in Southern Italy
Modica
Housed in an 18th-century palazzo just off Corso Umberto I, this family-run hotel has seen better days. Despite the cracks and peeling paint, it's a…
Taormina
Friendly and laid-back, this year-round hostel occupies a house with pretty tiled floors and a roof terrace commanding panoramic sea views. It's a snug,…
Trani
Located in a restored 17th-century palazzo overlooking a leafy square and close to the Villa Communale, this family run place oozes charm and value…
Giardini-Naxos
Right on the seafront, next to the tourist office, this unintentionally retro, family-run hotel offers individually decorated rooms with traditional…
Salina
Friendly couple Mauro and Amelia run this whitewashed 10-room hotel, whose main claim to fame is its peaceful end-of-the-line location in the hills above…
Cefalù
If you've got your own wheels, this rural getaway 5km east of Cefalù makes a peaceful alternative to the coastal hustle and bustle. Surrounded by citrus…
Salerno
A two-minute hop from the train station, the Plaza is convenient, comfortable and fairly charmless, especially the dowdy public areas. But it's not an…
Martina Franca
These charming apartments are located in original centro storico homes. Arched stone ceilings, large pastel-coloured rooms and antique furniture are…
Aeolian Islands
Sisters Marcella and Isabella preside over three simple but spic-and-span rooms with shared bathroom and communal balcony overlooking the port. It's less…
Azienda Agrituristica Gigliotto
Central Sicily
An ancient masseria (manor farm) dating to the 14th century, Gigliotto is set in rolling Tuscan-style countryside 9km south of Piazza Armerina. The…
Matera
A good option for budget and solo travellers, L'Ostello dei Sassi is located a short walk from good bars and restaurants. Accommodation options include…
Amalfi
Central it is, with small, functional rooms berthed in a building accessed via a tiny little piazza in the centro storico (historic centre). The joy is…
Matera
Established in 1996 (making it the first hotel in the sassi), the Sassi Hotel is set in a rambling edifice dating in parts to the 16th century. Some of…
Basilicata
This friendly B&B, set in the small hamlet of Cersuta, 5km northwest of Maratea, has three rooms decorated respectively in blue, pink and sea green. Rooms…
Procida
Converted-farmhouse B&B in the middle of the island featuring split-level, minimalist rooms with low-rise beds and contemporary furniture. Bathrooms are…
Tyrrhenian Coast
This sleek stone-walled inn in a former baronial palazzo has 15 well-appointed rooms clustered around a courtyard in the heart of town. Amenities include…
Lipari
This family-run hotel's top attraction is its superb seaside location, a few blocks south of Marina Corta. The pool terrace on the cliff edge is fabulous,…
Alberobello
This campground 1.5km out of town has some nice tent sites, a restaurant, a market, two swimming pools, tennis courts and bicycle hire. You can also rent…
Paestum
Paestum has numerous campgrounds, but this is where you should hammer in those tent pegs. The campsite is set in a mature landscaped area with lofty pines…
Cosenza
One of Cosenza's most central options, the Excelsior is a late 19th-century art-nouveau charmer. Regular renovations have kept the place comfortable and…
Promontorio del Gargano
A small hotel with shuttered windows, located on the main street across from the Santuario di San Michele, this traditional place has spacious rooms, some…
Mediterranean Coast
This hotel is an oasis of tranquillity 6km northwest of Sciacca. Housed in an 18th-century villa, and surrounded by orange groves, it retains a baronial…
Calabria
This three-star hotel in Camigliatello Silano has a stark and anonymous stone-clad exterior, but the timber and mirror lobby gestures to higher standards…
Vieste
This butter-coloured 17th-century family run palazzo in Vieste's historic centre makes the ideal base for a few days on the Gargano Peninsula. Steps…
Reggio Calabria
Right next to the port, the Continental does a brisk trade in overnight travellers bound for Sicily. The decor holds no surprises, but the service is…
Brindisi
Built in 1869 for English merchants en route to India, the Internazionale definitely offers grandeur, albeit of the rather faded variety. It has great…
Sorrento
Lacking the style of some of Sorrento's ritzier digs, the Rivage can at least beat them in price. Its bland rooms are clean and functional, plus there's a…
Calabria
In the picturesque Chianalea district, 'The Small Caves' is a sweet B&B housed in a 19th-century fisherman's house beside steps leading to the lapping…
Calabria
Situated on the hilly banks of Lago Arvo, surrounded by dark-green pines, this custard-yellow hotel is a solid choice. The rooms here are decorated in…
Ionian Coast
Just off Piazza Duomo, this four-room apartment occupies a restored 19th-century palazzo. Rooms are individually coloured and simply decorated, with…
Tyrrhenian Coast
Dating back to 1947 and renovated in 2012, this simple chalet run by the Club Alpino Siciliano is open year-round. Three meals are offered daily, and…
Vieste
This tree-shaded campground is right by a sandy beach at La Salata, around 8km from Vieste and accessible by bus. Activities include tennis, a sailing…
Puglia
This working farm offering stylish rural accommodation in honeyed 18th-century stone buildings amongst vineyards, olive trees, and cherry and almond…
Calabria
This friendly, family-run hotel can help arrange excursions, and has an excellent restaurant serving local specialities such as ciambotta (pepperoni,…
Lecce
A central and well-priced option located in a handsome palazzo near the cathedral. Rooms have marbled floors and wrought-iron beds, and breakfast is…
Peschici
The best campground in the area, 2km south of Peschici towards Vieste, Baia San Nicola is on a pine-shaded beach, offering camping, bungalows, apartments…
Basilicata
Sitting conveniently at the foot of historic Viggiano, this modern hotel is more comfortable than charming, but most rooms have fantastic views across the…
Pompeii
Located opposite the ruins, this unremarkable though satisfactory camping site includes basic, air-conditioned cabins. It also offers good-value all-day…
Mount Etna
Offering comfortable accommodation with a good restaurant, this place adjacent to the cable car is the closest lodging to Etna's summit.
