The Best Hotels to Book in Lombardy

Perched above Lake Garda on 11ha (27 acres) of grounds surrounded by olive groves, this luxurious spa hotel is a cut above. Here, wellness offerings include a vast, award-winning spa with six saunas, a salt lake, hammam and 21 treatment rooms where you can get everything from traditional massage to acupuncture and lymphatic draining. Suites are spacious and comfortable, with lake views, and there is a family option. Cuisine in the two restaurants is local, ethical and sustainable.

Near the ski resort of Teola in Livigno, this hotel is a cosy retreat after a day in the mountains. There’s a lodge-style feel to it, with plenty of wood, from the sun-soaked balconies outside to the natural oak floors and walls inside. There is a spa with a pool enriched with Himalayan salt, and treatments including sports massage and reiki.

Tucked away at the end of the peninsula of Sirmione on Lake Garda, this contemporary hotel is ideal for a pampered break. It has an excellent wellness centre, comfortable accommodation and a range of eating options. Linger by the pool or on the lakeside deck, or head to the spa with a Turkish bath, chromotherapy showers and a salt cabin. All rooms have a balcony or terrace, and the lakefront restaurant offers an à la carte dinner menu.

Perfectly positioned near Milan’s Duomo, this design hotel is as fashionable as the Milanese locals. The 34 rooms and suites have smart marble floors, neutral colour schemes and king-size beds with back-lit headboards. The suites are more spacious, with living areas, private terraces and jacuzzi tubs. Other facilities include luggage storage and a gym. The buffet breakfast is best eaten in the sunny, enclosed garden.

There’s a fun and vibrant feel to this centrally located hotel in Milan, with bold colour schemes, contemporary artwork and neon signs. It has a prime position, just a stone’s throw from the Duomo area and a 10-minute walk to the fashion district. The 85 rooms feature vintage touches, such as retro armchairs and brightly coloured tiled bathrooms. Interconnecting rooms and cots are available for families. There’s no onsite restaurant, but the buffet breakfast is available until noon.

There’s wellness on tap at this spa hotel, located on the water’s edge of Lake Garda. Some 200 treatments are available, from anti-cellulite mud wraps to rejuvenating facials, plus salt rooms, saunas, whirlpools and steam rooms. The breakfast also has health in mind, with fresh fruits and homemade dishes among the spread. Rooms have a contemporary feel, with white and terracotta colour schemes and slipper baths in the wellness suites.

Located in the ski area of Bormio, this four-star hotel offers an idyllic mountain escape, no matter the season. In winter, the fires are lit and the spa’s cosy saunas and whirlpool bathtub become even more enticing; in summer, it becomes a bike hotel with wall-mounted bike hooks, a repair centre and guides to show you the best trails. Interconnecting rooms and family suites are available, while honeymooners will enjoy the four-poster bed and balcony views of the Reit Suite.

The epitome of glitz and glamour, this Lake Como residence oozes class with glittering chandeliers, marble pillars and majestic accommodation. Once home to royalty and aristocracy, the building has been a five-star resort since 1873. The regal feel extends to the rooms and suites, which are spread across two buildings and feature rich, printed fabrics, antique furnishings and balconies with splendid lake views.

Positioned by the Varenna jetty in Lake Como, this canary-yellow hotel has art nouveau interiors, 10 spacious rooms and an ideal location near the historical centre of Varenna. Built in 1896, the building retains original features such as ceilings with decorative motifs. A spiral staircase leads to the rooms, which have parquet wood flooring and floral bedspreads. The restaurant serves traditional lake fare in a decorative dining room and at tables outside.

This hotel in the city of Bergamo is positioned beside the ancient Tower of Gombito, and blends the old part of the building with contemporary flair. Expect original stone walls and pillars fused with modern art and vivid colour schemes. The 13 rooms are available in four categories, from fuss-free classic rooms to two-floor suites, one of which has an unusual oxidized iron ladder.

For a mountain escape in Livigno, consider this family-run hotel, which has cosy rooms, a wellness centre and sustainable credentials. The building is made from environmentally friendly materials including wood fibre, and water is heated by a system that produces no harmful substances. The daily teatime is a highlight – tuck into traditional finger food, from miniature muffins to bite-sized cheese rolls, all washed down with a glass of good local wine.

Surrounded by the vineyards of Franciacorta, this luxurious residence offers elegant accommodation, wonderful countryside views and a state-of-the-art health and medical spa. Dating back to the 19th century, the hotel retains some original frescoes, adding to the charm. Rooms vary in size and decor – the suites are splendid, and each has its own unique style. The Espace Chenot Spa offers everything from beauty and massage treatments to tailor-made wellness and dietary programmes.