Image courtesy of JK Place Capri
Italy’s Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are the sort of Italian cities to earn top billing on most travelers’ bucket lists. Unlike its Northern Italy neighbor, the Amalfi Coast stretches down the shoreline of Southern Italy and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its incomparable natural beauty. Because this region is larger, visitors can discover a bevy of old towns, charming Italian villages, archaeological sites (like the Herculaneum), and locally owned cafés to add to their travel guides. And did I mention the epic hotels?
Whether you base yourself in Capri, Positano or choose an island in the Bay of Naples, Southern Italy offers some of the world’s most stunning hotels. These include palatial accommodations overlooking the ocean to white-washed villas and private terraces that are guaranteed to make you feel famous. Plus, most hotels are accessible via a quick ferry ride to popular spots like Tuscany, Milan, Rome (I even included a bonus: a favorite hotel in Rome), Naples and Venice, and offer great day trips to nearby destinations such as Bari, Calabria or the island of Sicily. Read on for some of the best hotels in Southern Italy.
Capri Tiberio Palace
Image courtesy of Capri Tiberio Palace
One look at the Capri Tiberio Palace and its stunning mosaic-lined pool, and you’ll know that checking into this five-star hotel was the right choice. Housed in a 19th-century building, this boutique hotel is nestled in the heart of Capri, an island just off the Amalfi Coast. The Capri Tiberio Palace sits mere steps from the legendary Piazzetta and the trendy Italian shops lining Via Camerelle. When you aren’t living out your Southern Italian dreams at the Spa Tiberio and pool overlooking the Mediterranean, you’ll be indulging in Roman classics at the on-site Terrazza Tiberio restaurant.
Fora Perks:
$100 resort / hotel credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Grand Hotel Quisisana
Image courtesy of Grand Hotel Quisisana
This historic hotel has been catering to chic vacationers from all over Europe and beyond for generations, attracting guests with superb service and stellar ocean views. Also located on the island of Capri, the Quisisana’s Greek-like, white-washed rooms and blue mosaic floors are made more beautiful by the shimmering Mediterranean Sea peeking out from behind the billowing white curtains. Kick back with an aperitivo or indulge in an olive oil-drizzled meal (this is Italy, after all) at the on-site Colombaia Restaurant.
JK Place Capri
Image courtesy of JK Place Capri
JK Place Capri looks as if it might be a chic Italian villa. Found off the coast of Naples, the JK Place Capri is painted a dazzling white that contrasts with the sapphire-colored sea, giving off major Santorini vibes. Step inside, and the rooms are just as gorgeous — whether you’re overlooking the Bay of Naples and the Sorrento Peninsula, or facing Monte Solaro.
Fora Perks:
€60 spa credit.
Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa
Image courtesy of Mezzatore Hotel & Thermal Spa
Ischia is a volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples where you’ll find hot springs, stellar beaches and a wealth of history. (Don't miss the Aragonese Castle or the Roman remains beneath the seafloor at Cartaromana Beach.)
Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa celebrates the island’s natural bounty with its thermal pools and three on-site restaurants focused on cuisine from different parts of Italy. With the jasmine-scented air and the glistening bathtubs overlooking the bay, this hotel is especially romantic and perfect for couples.
Fora Perks:
$100 resort / hotel credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Le Sirenuse
Image courtesy of Le Sirenuse
The family-owned Le Sirenuse sits steps from the pedestrian center of Positano, a cliffside village in Southern Italy known for its beautiful vistas and historic Baroque attractions like the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta.
The hotel is home to the Michelin-Starred La Sponda Restaurant, where fresh seafood and olive oil-drizzled pastas are served beneath a canopy of flickering candles alongside live music. Catch one of the hotel’s complimentary boats to a nearby town on the Amalfi Coast or arrange a day trip to other coastal Italian cities like Salerno. Through the hotel, you can also set up day trips to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, the Herculaneum and the city of Naples, or a transfer to Naples’ airport.
Fora Perks:
$100 spa credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Il San Pietro di Positano
Image courtesy of Il San Pietro di Positano
Il San Pietro di Positano is carved into the Italian cliffs. Every room in this five-star hotel comes with a private terrace and is uniquely decorated with hand-painted ceramic tiles and carefully selected upholstered furniture.
The onsite Michelin-Starred restaurant, the Zass, offers an international menu championing produce from the hotel’s organic vegetable garden and local suppliers.
The best part of Il San Pietro di Positano just might be its beach club, a private oasis tucked away in a natural cove, where bright-orange sun chairs sit in front of crystal-clear waters. If you can pull yourself away from the beach club for a day trip, visit the city of Matera in the region of Basilicata, another beautiful area worth exploring in Southern Italy.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Eden Roc Hotel
While many Positano hotels are tucked away from the main town, Eden Roc Hotel, which has a sister hotel in Miami, is the place to stay if you want to feel closer to the action. The hotel is a short walk from Spiaggia Grande, Positano’s main beach, and the many restaurants and cafés nearby. The hotel has sea-facing terraces, gorgeous rooms, Turkish baths and an onsite spa.
Palazzo Margherita
Image courtesy of Palazzo Margherita
The Palazzo Margherita is a luxurious boutique hotel housed inside a 19th-century Italian palazzo built in 1892. The hotel belongs to the Coppola family. Francis Ford Coppola purchased the villa in 2004 to honor his family’s roots, eventually transforming it into the Palazzo Margherita.
The hotel sits inland from the Amalfi Coast, offering a different experience from other Positano hotels. The surrounding countryside — originally settled by the ancient Greeks — is an Eden of thriving agriculture and produce. Expect fresh food paired with a side of Greek and Roman history. Palazzo Margherita is in a region nestled between the toe and boot of Italy, serving as a great jumping off point to head south to destinations like Tropea and Palermo, or up toward places like Bari and Lecce.
Fora Perks:
Complimentary lunch or dinner for two people, breakfast daily for two, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Borgo Egnazia
Image courtesy of Borgo Egnazia
Inspired by the Mediterranean culture of Southern Italy, Borgo Egnazia is amongst the leading hotels in Europe. Found in a place called Savelletri di Fasano, down the coast from the Italian city of Bari, the hotel sits in a scenic spot where the hills of the Itria Valley meet the Adriatic Sea.
Borgo Egnazia is inspired by the style, shape and decor of a typical Italian Puglia village, from the delicate blue glass windows to the hand-cut stone paths leading to gardens shaded by olive trees. Don’t skip the Piazza in the heart of Borgo, where local markets bring together travelers and locals alike. When craving something to eat, this Southern Italy hotel has a few onsite restaurants to choose from, including Mia Cucina, which serves traditional dishes from Puglia.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Forte Village Resort, Sardinia
Image courtesy of Forte Village Resort
Sardinia isn’t technically in Southern Italy, but this storied island has all the magic of the coast (and then some). I love the Forte Village Resort, with its perfect blend of dolce vita and crowd-pleasing resort amenities. Travelers of all types will be well fed, well entertained and properly relaxed upon visiting this multi-resort village, located on the island’s sandy southern coast.
Boasting dozens of restaurants, eleven pools and countless activities (including sports programs for rowing, climbing and tennis), the resort’s real pièce de résistance is its spa, complete with seawater pools and 30 treatment rooms.
Fora Perks:
$100 food and beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade, extended check-in/out whenever possible and additional exclusive amenities.
Bonus: Six Senses Rome, for an urban moment
Image courtesy of Six Senses Rome
The Six Senses Rome, which opened earlier in 2023 to much fanfare, is all about wellness and world-class luxury. Expect all the trappings of a crowd-pleasing resort, including an impressive kids' club and amenity-filled rooms with modern comforts and plenty of natural light. But what sets the Six Senses apart is its true Roman sensibility: I love the serene spa complete with Roman baths (as well as holistic therapies and personalized fitness programs). Don’t miss a cocktail at the postcard-perfect NOTOS Rooftop, with panoramic views of the Eternal City.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out, based upon availability.