Plakias
This charismatic pad and 'Hoscar' winner for best Greek hostel is set in an olive grove about 500m from the beach. Serene and laid-back, it fosters an…
Must-see hotels in Mediterranean Europe
Iraklio Province
This relaxing Dutch-Greek retreat exudes style and will mesmerise you from the moment you step past its lavender bushes and pool. Once you’re ensconced in…
Merano (Meran)
This extraordinary small hotel, a 15-minute drive from Merano, nestles high on a secluded mountainside at 1230m. Run by an incredibly vibrant young couple…
Ürgüp
Ürgüp's hippest hotel. Nil Tuncer, with help from acclaimed interior decorator Oytun Berktan, has stamped the nine rooms with a minimalist design as much…
Lipari
Once you reach this peaceful hillside oasis 2km south of town, you may never want to leave. Artist Paola and physicist Marcello have transformed their…
Hania Province
One of Crete’s ecotourism trailblazers is the isolated mountain resort village of Milia. Inspired by a back-to-nature philosophy, 16 abandoned stone…
Asturias
This exquisite 19th-century country house in Amandi village, 1.5km south of Villaviciosa, oozes character. The wonderfully comfy rooms are endowed with…
Málaga Province
Ask to see the photo album that documents the Belgian owners' loving restoration of this exquisite small hotel. Original features have been retained as…
South Aegean
This stunner of a boutique hotel in the hills to the south offers a number of choices. The main inn, set in a 19th-century renovated house, counts five…
Andalucía
For four decades, the Chesterton family has been welcoming guests to their spectacularly sited salmon-pink farmhouse on a hilltop 10 minutes west of…
Lanzarote
Fancy sleeping in a stylish Mongolian yurt…in the Canaries? Fuelled by wind turbines and solar power, this fabulous British-owned creation hosts guests in…
Monterosso
Up in the hills between the beautiful, almost Cinque Terre, beach town of Levanto and Monterosso, La Sosta di Ottone III is a lovely hideaway that's also…
Naples
A stylish, eclectic oasis in the earthy Sanità district, this three-suite B&B is a homage to the late Neapolitan sculptor and designer Annibale Oste,…
Black Sea Coast
Dating to 1877, this lovely old mansion has a glorious lobby-cum-dining room, its bare stone walls lavished with antiques. The rooms come with rugs on…
Málaga Province
The kind of cathartic rural retreat that’ll make you want to up sticks and come live in Andalucía, Finca El Cerrillo is a longtime labour of love for…
Alicante Province
Run by brilliant Sofia and Toni, this is B&B taken to a whole new level and worth travelling a long way for. The five thoughtfully designed bedrooms come…
Bolzano (Bozen)
Set in its own lush gardens in the centre of town, this five-star hotel has large rooms overlooking the Dolomites or the Duomo, all endowed with a weighty…
The Dolomites
Niedermairhof is a delightful meeting of family B&B and stylish boutique hotel, set in a rambling old 13th-century farmhouse on Kathrin Mair and Helmuth…
Ürgüp
Jazz in the bathroom, whisky by the tub, secret tunnels to secluded walled gardens draped in vines – this is one of Cappadocia's most individual boutique…
Monti, Esquilino & San Lorenzo
More boutique chic than backpacker grungy, this small and stylish hostel has a glorious summer garden and a friendly traveller vibe. Dynamic American…
Andalucía
Tucked away amid cork/chestnut forest, La Fronda makes the perfect hillside hideaway. Modern-rustic charm abounds in the bright lounge, Mudéjar-inspired…
Bolzano (Bozen)
The Greif's pedigree dates back to its founding in 1816 as one of Bolzano's original hotels; Ezra Pound even immortalised it in poetry (his quote adorns…
Todi
What a delight! Danish duo Thomas and Lisbeth bring together old-stone farmhouse charm with Scandi cool at their gorgeous boutique B&B. The rooms combine…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
