The Best Hotels to Book in Tuscany

Housed in a lavish Florentine ancestral home, this boutique hotel is a space where tradition meets contemporary design. You’ve got 14 individually designed rooms that vary in decor, size and views, all in a most elegant atmosphere with high ceilings and a standalone, curved bath in situ. Enjoy your complimentary buffet breakfast of homemade fare, including farm eggs, prosciutto, local cheeses and freshly baked pastries, out on the wraparound terrace overlooking the luscious gardens.

In the heart of Siena, just minutes from the stunning medieval town’s main sights, this charming guest house and bistro welcomes you to enjoy true Tuscan hospitality in intimate surroundings. The five stunning suites, all named after famous local Sienese figures (an architect, a politician, a pope, a saint and an apostle), are a treat for the senses: elegant, spacious and decked out in mid-century furnishings. Breakfast is served in the bistro or can be requested straight to your room, and you can enjoy lunch or dinner at tables in front of the Baptistery of Siena.

This luxury accommodation spreads across the entire medieval village of Il Borro, in the rural hills between Florence and Arezzo. Its 38 exclusive suites are furnished with sleek, simple interiors and equipped with all contemporary comforts – plus there’s a beautiful outdoor pool. Each of the discrete suites reflects an element of the village’s character, and staying in the medieval village gives guests an insight into Tuscan community spirit: meeting up in the square, strolling the alleys and shopping in the artisans’ showrooms. The Concierge located in the village centre is available to guide guests with suggestions to make the most of their stay.

On the north coast of Tuscany, in the centre of Forte dei Marmi, the Augustus Lido Hotel is the former Villa Agnelli – the seaside home of the famous Turin family. This period property oozes elegance throughout its 19 bedrooms, with preserved original furnishings chosen by the Agnelli family and distinctive hues of green, pink and blue over the three floors of the villa. It prides itself on exclusiveness and privacy, with an underpass offering direct access to the nearby beach built by the Agnellis: a unique underground driveway, which is still used by guests today.

This jaw-dropping castle, with foundations that go back as far as the 11th century, is a staple on the Tuscan wine-making scene. Now a boutique accommodation and organic winery, in the depths of the Chianti region, guests here can enjoy peace, harmony and fine wines galore. Whether you’re in the market for a walking holiday or indulging in some deep relaxation by the swimming pool, a stay here will tick the right boxes (especially if you’ve got a weakness for red, red wine).

The delightfully ornate, 18th-century palazzo turned luxury hotel sits in central Florence, overlooking the River Arno and just minutes from the city’s world-famous sights. A stay here is modern, while furnished in typically Florentine antiques – keeping a Renaissance aesthetic throughout. It’s fitted with decadent crystal chandeliers, custom frescoes and deep rich colours. The 80 spacious guest rooms and 19 distinctive suites are just as opulent, and guests staying in premium deluxe Arno River view rooms can watch the river pass by.

The Hotel Villa Cora is another stunning period property in Florence that’s found within an ancient park that neighbours the famous Boboli Gardens. The 19th-century Villa Cora is a feast for the eyes, awash with eclectic architecture and decor commissioned by its first owner, Baron Oppenheim. The in-house dining, across a number of bars and restaurants, is equally as tasty. Chef Alessandro Liberatore brings a modern twist to Tuscan classics via a multi-course, indulgent tasting menu (or there’s always pizza and Champagne, served as a match made in heaven by the outdoor pool). And that’s before we even mention the spa, which is equipped with a small gym, tepidarium, sauna, hammam and three treatment rooms.

An upmarket rural hotel in Capalbio, in southern Tuscany, Locanda Rossa is unique. Set in rolling green countryside of olive groves and endless lines of trees, a stay here is a true break from city life, as you find yourself immersed in nature and incredible views. The exquisitely modern building offers privacy and tranquility in spacious, contemporary rooms that look out over the 52-acre (21ha) estate, which houses a spa, two outdoor swimming pools and the sublime Italian restaurant Larossa – which specialises in mouth-watering homemade pasta and prime cuts of local meat from the grill.

While Portrait Firenze is certainly luxurious, it prides itself on providing guests with intimate, personalised service at this all-suite property that offers privacy and exclusivity. The award-winning hotel (granted the prestigious five-star rating by Forbes) is a proud member of the Leading Hotels of the World, offering crisp, sophisticated suites that fuse shimmering steel with cosy cashmere fabrics. There are three dining spaces here, as stylish and refined as you’d expect – most notably the Michelin-star restaurant Borgo San Jacopo, whose tasting menu includes a risotto with sea urchins, anchovies and fennel.