Outline
- Introduction
- Review and Selection Methodology
- The 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Europe
- Some Characteristics of an Ideal Luxury Hotel
- Other Great Luxury Hotels in Europe
- Summary
- Conclusion
Introduction
Cardinal to any travel endeavour is accommodation. Luxury hotels provide accommodation and hospitality services to guests at the most upscale level in a given destination considering the utmost convenience and comfort of the guests. From lavish rooms and exquisite suites to an abundance of amenities, opulence, exclusivity, personalized services, quality and great attention to detail describe luxury hospitality and in this post, you will discover the 10 best luxury hotels in Europe.
Europe is one of the most coveted and the most visited travel destinations in the world. In 2022, Europe received over 500 million tourists and accumulated more than $300 billion in revenue continent-wide.
France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom (UK), Austria and Greece are the leading tourist destinations for the whole continent [Source].
After compiling and reviewing a list of over 150 best hotels in Europe using criteria such as luxury, beauty, price, exclusivity, accessibility and popularity, here is my highlight of the best luxury hotels in Europe or, the best of the best Hotels in Europe!
Review and Selection Methodology
To say a hotel is the best among several hundred or even thousands of hotels in let’s say a region of interest (e.g. Europe in this case), there must have been some specific factors and characteristics that distinguished the best hotels from the rest.
I have carefully selected the 10 best luxury hotels presented in this post after compiling and reviewing a long list of the “best European hotels”.
My criteria for inclusion and consideration as one of the best luxury hotels in Europe include the beauty of the hotel; how luxurious the hotel is; the price of rooms, suites and services; exclusivity; is the hotel conveniently accessible; and how popular is the hotel.
These selection criteria are briefly highlighted as follows:
- Beauty. The physical appearance of a hotel is the first thing that catches the attention of a guest. A true luxury hotel must not just only offer “expensive” services, a great deal of effort must also be put into the hotel infrastructure and appearance (buildings, amenities and environment) which must be equally visually appealing. A rule of thumb that I used in assessing the beauty of luxury hotels in this post is that “If it doesn’t ‘tickle my fancy’ in 1 second, I pass to the next!”.
- Luxury. The quality and depth of luxury services offered are significant in grading the luxury levels of a hotel. From the rooms (and suites) to the restaurants, amenities (swimming pools, spas, beaches, restaurants, bars, sporting facilities, etc.), attractions, and other services, a luxury hotel must offer high-class, authentic, quality and exclusive luxury experiences to its guests.
- Price. The best luxury hotels are also almost always among the most expensive. Some of the luxury hotels selected are among those with the most expensive rooms/suites on the continent. Though a hotel might be pricey, the price must be adequately justified by the quality and authenticity of the facilities and services offered.
- Exclusivity. For most luxury travellers, privacy is very important. Privacy and unique attention to the interests and needs of guests are paramount to their overall experience, hence the perception or rating of such hotels among its several visitors.
- Accessibility. A fabulous luxury hotel while it upholds high-level class, opulence, exclusivity and authentic luxury experience must also be easily accessible to guests. A tiresome commute to a “luxury” hotel can choke out all the preliminary excitement for any guest. And also, no one wants to be in a hotel that feels as if he is completely isolated from the rest of the world.
- Popularity. This list of the top 10 best luxury hotels in Europe only includes European hotels whose data are publicly available and accessible. And, most of the luxury hotels in my list have also been featured among the top hotels in Europe in several professional and guest/customer reviews – they are well-known!
Now that I have made my criteria of selection or inclusion clear, which of the European (luxury) hotels actually made the list?
You May Also Check Out: The Defining Model of Luxury Travel
The 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Europe
Considering the beauty, level of luxury, price, exclusivity, accessibility and popularity, my top picks for the best luxury hotels in Europe in no particular order of significance or rank, are:
- Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul, Turkey
- Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como, Italy
- Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez, Cannes, France
- Hotel Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda Sardinia, Italy
- Hotel President Wilson, Geneva, Switzerland
- Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, France
- The Dolder Grand Zurich, Switzerland
- The Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens, Greece
- Waldorf Astoria, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and
- One&Only Resort Portonovi, Montenegro
1. Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul, Turkey
Ciragan Palace Kempinski is a five-star luxury hotel in Istanbul Turkey. The hotel features lavish rooms and suites, exquisite dining, a spa, an infinity swimming pool and a helipad.
The hotel building was a former Palace, the only Ottoman imperial palace and hotel on the Bosphorus Strait.
With over 300 rooms including 31 suites (20 hotel suites and 11 palace suites) and a wide range of luxury hospitality services, the Ciragan Palace Kempinski is one of the best luxury hotels in Turkey as well as in Europe.
All rooms at Ciragan have a balcony that overlooks the Bosphorus – what a great way to start a perfect day!
Check-in into one of Ciragan’s Palace’s posh hotel rooms or palace suites. You can also experience fine dining in one of its high-class restaurants such as Tugra and Bellini or wind down in one of its bars – The 47, Le Fumoir and Berthold.
This majestic luxury hotel also offers Spa and Wellness Services (Sanitas Spa), Valet Parking, a Fitness Center with a Gym, Helicopter Services and signature Private Palace Lodging in one of its 11 Palace Suites.
Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is accessible by land (car), water (yacht) or air (helipad).
Address: Yildiz Ciragan Cd. No:32, 34349 Besiktas/Istanbul, Turkiye (Turkey)
Official Website: Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul, Turkey
2. Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como, Italy
Facing Lake Como and offering spell-bounding views of Bellagio and the Grigne mountains, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is an ultra-luxurious hospitality facility in Italy with sophisticated interiors, opulent rooms, a private beach, a marina, fine dining, a spa and 3 swimming pools.
A perfect luxury retreat to experience authentic Italian cuisine, cruise or just relax on Lake Como and offering 76 classy rooms and 12 magnificent suites, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a vintage hallmark of Italian hospitality.
You should definitely experience the Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s T SPA, a Spa and Wellness facility that features a sauna, relaxation lounge, and outdoor hot tub that overlooks the lake.
With a good number of wine bars and lounges to select from, the iconic La Terrezza rooftop restaurant is one of the highlights of the hotel where you can indulge in fine Italian cuisine.
The hotel is only a 5-minute walk from Cadenabbia harbour for boat trips across Lake Como, a 3-minute walk from Villa Carlotta and its botanic gardens and about an hour’s drive from the world-fashion city of Milan.
Address: Via Regina, 8, 22016 Tremezzina CO, Italy
Official Website: Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como, Italy
3. Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez, Cannes, France
Sitting majestically along the famous Boulevard de la Croisette, Hotel Martinez is a 5-star hospitality jewel on France’s Cote d’Azur (French Riviera).
Hotel Martinez is one of the signature creations of the Hyatt Luxury Hotel chains, a part of its “Unbound Collection”.
Elegantly sited on the Mediterranean Coast, facing the Bay of Cannes, the Lerins Islands and about 500 metres from the Palais des Festivals (the venue of the world-famous annual Cannes International Film Festival), Hotel Martinez offers 409 gorgeous and brightly-lit hotel rooms (including 99 posh suites) and 4 exquisite restaurants.
All rooms in the 7-floored Hotel feature chill air conditioning (perfect for the warm Mediterranean weather), multi-channel television, free Wi-Fi, a direct dial phone, a smoke detector, a refrigerator, and magnificent marble bathrooms.
From the hotel, you can shop at one of the supermarkets nearby or take a short drive to U Express Supermarket. Access to pristine sandy Mediterranean beaches is also a 5-minute stroll from the hotel.
You can enjoy delicious cuisines at its Palme d’Or restaurant (a Michelin two-starred restaurant) or any of its other two restaurants – Le Jardin du Martinez and La Plage du Martinez.
Hotel Martinez is children-friendly and it also offers spacious meeting facilities including 15 nifty meeting rooms.
Address: 73 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Official Website: Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez, Cannes, France
4. Hotel Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda Sardinia, Italy
Hotel Cala di Volpe is a magnificent one-of-its-kind 5-star luxury hotel in Italy’s exclusive Costal Smeralda – the Emerald Coast!
What totally hooked me about this hotel is the depth of its details and the extent of luxury recreational facilities it features – the hotel even features 3 tennis courts!
The hotel is the epitome of Mediterranean hospitality in a perfect environment with intricate local artisanal characters amidst extraordinary modern opulence.
Beyoncé, Princess Diana, Elton John, Grace Kelly and Robbie Willams are some of the celebrities who have personally experienced Sardinia’s Hotel Cala di Volpe. The hotel was also renowned as the location where Roger Moore was filmed as James Bond for the movie The Spy Who Loved Me [Source].
Beautifully situated in the northeast of Sardinia, Hotel Cala di Volpe is surrounded by a flourishing, green Mediterranean landscape.
With 121 lavish luxury rooms and suites, world-class restaurants to satisfy your culinary appetite and a wide range of luxury leisure activities such as horse riding, yachting, diving/swimming, golfing, shopping and cruising in luxury cars, Hotel Cala di Volpe deserve to be on any savvy luxury traveller’s bucket list.
[External Link: Destination Coasta Smeralda – Hotel Cala di Volpe]
Address: SP160, 07020 Capriccioli SS, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy
Official Website: Hotel Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda Sardinia, Italy
5. Hotel President Wilson, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Geneva, Switzerland
The Hotel President Wilson Geneva is a majestic hospitality edifice on Lake Geneva near the headquarters of the United Nations (UN) in Switzerland.
The Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson is one of the most expensive hotel suites in Europe. The suite is priced at $80,000 per night [Source].
With several rooms providing amazing views of the Lake and the Swiss Alps, Hotel President Wilson is a great luxury accommodation facility to experience authentic Swiss refinement and a pure Genevan lifestyle.
Set against the backdrop of the Mont-Blanc, Hotel President Wilson features 204 guest rooms and 22 suites. All rooms and suites are equipped with the highest quality entertainment systems including Bang & Olufsen LCD screens.
This 5-star luxury hotel located in the Geneva City Centre area has hosted world leaders such as Bill Clinton and Mikhail Gorbachev [Source]. Hotel President Wilson is also one of the favourite hotels for international diplomats and business moguls visiting Geneva.
Address: Quai Wilson 47, 1211 Genève, Switzerland
Official Website: Hotel President Wilson, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Geneva, Switzerland
6. Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, France
Located within a 15-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars at the Centre of “the City of Lights” with an amazing view of the River Seine, the 5-Star Shangri-La Hotel Paris provides luxury accommodation to all classes of guests and visitors who seek high-quality opulent and exquisite stay in the bustle of Paris.
As the name suggests, Shangri-La is a reflection of both Asian hospitality and French art de vivre (the art of living).
The Shangri-La Hotel Paris offers 100 rooms and suites that provide spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower and River Seine, 1 bar and 2 restaurants among which 1 (of the restaurants) is Michelin-starred.
A perfect fusion of Asian and French hospitality, culinary and aesthetics, Shangri-La Hotel Paris is host to France’s only Chinese Michelin star restaurant – the ‘Le Shang Palace”. Restaurants in the hotel offer both French and Asian cuisines.
Shangri-La Hotel Paris does not allow smoking in any of its rooms.
Address: 10 Avenue d’Alene, 75116 Paris, France
Official Website: Shangri-La Paris, France
[A Personal Note: This hotel is perfect if you are an art or antique lover]
7. The Dolder Grand Zurich, Switzerland
The Dolder Grand is a 5-star magnanimous hotel that sits majestically on Adlisberg Hill within a refreshingly natural green zone about 2 kilometres (1.2 ml) from the centre of Zurich, Switzerland.
The hotel conveniently covers a land area of over 40,000 square kilometres offering 175 rooms and suites including 15 single rooms, 101 double rooms, 48 junior rooms, 7 suites, 4 Top Suites, 1 residence, two (2) restaurants and a bar.
Dolder Grand features world-class restaurants, a spa covering 4,000 square metres, spacious event (banqueting, meeting and seminar) facilities and an art collection boasting more than 100 artworks.
The towering location of Dolder Grand Zurich which stands at about 200 metres (600 ft) above Zurich gives astonishing views of the city, Lake Zurich and the Swiss Alps.
Aside from standard lodging services, the Hotel provides an extended range of services that includes a safe deposit box, VIP check-in/check-out, express check-in/check-out, currency exchange, multilingual staff, tours/ticket assistance, and doctor-on-call.
All rooms are equipped with an air conditioning system, heating, mini-bar, soundproofing, patio, dressing area, satellite tv, free Wi-Fi and tea and coffee facilities.
The hotel is accessible by a road which connects it to central Zurich as well as the Dolderbahn rack railway.
While the Dolder Grand welcomes children (children-friendly) and allows pets, smoking is not allowed within the hotel’s premises.
Address: Kurhausstrasse 65, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
Official Website: The Dolder Grand Zurich, Switzerland
8. The Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens, Greece
Grand by name, by deed and by character, the Grand Resort Lagonissi is nestled on an extravagant 300-km2 peninsula in southern Attica on Greece’s Athenian Riviera.
The 5-star Grand Resort Lagonissi offers elegant rooms and beachfront bungalows.
The hotel is host to 191 rooms including 76 suites. All the rooms in the Grand Resort are spacious, and feature marble-lined bathrooms and lavish seating areas. The opulent rooms of the hotel provide unhindered views of the Saronic Gulf.
There are world-class health and wellness facilities in the hotel which include the state-of-the-art ThalaSpa Chenot Spa which offers unmatched rejuvenation spa treatment in a tranquil environment for guests.
The Grand Hotel have a total of 10 restaurants, and most serve both international and Greek cuisine. The hotel also features an acclaimed Italian-inspired eatery and an open-air Greek Galazia Akti. Several of the hotel’s restaurants hold 5-Star Diamond Awards from the American Academy of Hospitality Science.
Premium luxury services including concierge, VIP check-in/check-out, butler service, helicopter and limousine service, yacht rental and private jet (Lear jet) booking are provided to guests (on request).
Private sandy beaches and coves are also available for guests who desire quality timeout alone.
A beauty salon, children’s playground, meeting and events facility, marina, fitness centre, tennis court, water sports and wedding chapel are a few of the other characteristics that make the Grand Resort exceptional.
Just about a 30-minute drive from Athens City Centre and 22 KM from Athens International Airport, the Grand Hotel Lagonissi is accessible, elegant and truly remarkable.
Address: 40th km Athens – Sounion Avenue – Athens, Lagonissi 190 10, Greece
Official Website: The Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens, Greece
9. Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Curated from six (6) 17th- and 18th-century double-front canal Palaces, Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam is the hallmark of Dutch luxury Hospitality.
This classy hotel is set along the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Herengracht.
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, a luxury 5-star hotel with authentic Dutch characters, is located in the heart of the city only 150 metres away from the upbeat Rembrandtplein, 1.5km from PC Hoofstraat (a renowned shopping street in Amsterdam) and within 2km from the Museum Quarter which is home to the Rijksmuseum.
The 93 rooms and suites of Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam provide luxurious modern amenities, abundant space, intuitive Dutch designs, spacious noble bathrooms, free WiFi and comfy bed and living spaces. You can easily have a glimpse of the canal from many of the hotel rooms.
Two of the signature features of Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam are its Guerlain spa and the Spectrum, a Two-Star Michelin restaurant and one of the hottest restaurants in the city. The luxurious Guerlain spa provides access to the indoor swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna and treatment rooms.
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam also offers personal concierge services and bike tours.
Schiphol Airport is 20km away from the hotel.
Address: Herengracht 542-556, 1017 CG Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Official Website: Waldorf Astoria, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
10. One&Only Resort Portonovi, Montenegro
Located in the heart of Boka Bay, One&Only Portonovi occupies 60 acres of sprawling resort land that overlooks a scenic coastline of mountains and pristine sapphire waters.
One&Only Portonovi, Europe’s first One&Only, is a luxury seaside hotel on an expansive land on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast.
The hotel features a Chenot Espace spa, gourmet dining, a sandy beach with various watersports, swimming pools, a kid’s club, private beaches and a tennis court.
What makes the One&Only Portonovi a unique resort is that this ultraluxury hotel is the finest on the Adriatic, it represents a new European Riviera in the making, and the resort serves as a one-of-its-kind nautical playground for luxury travellers, the wealthy who desires utmost exclusivity and generally people who enjoy the finer things in life.
A spectacular location, marina and a village, Riviera style dining, buoyant bedrooms designed for living, iconic villas with private pools and sandy beaches, and its Palatial designs are few of the characteristics that make this 5-star hospitality marvel an awesome luxury destination in Europe.
The hotel offers a total of 123 guest rooms including 105 luxury rooms, 6 posh suites and 12 opulent villas.
All the rooms, suites and villas in One&Only Portonovi feature lustrous fireplaces, roomy bathrooms, large bedrooms with living spaces to recline and lounge, and floor-to-ceiling windows and terraces enabling guests to relax and enjoy the sights of the mountain and bay.
This jewel of a resort is served by gourmet restaurants and lively bars such as Sabia (a refined Riviera-style Italian restaurant), Tapasake Club, La Veranda, and Caminetti Bar.
The Tivat Airport is 10.6 miles from the hotel.
Address: One&Only Portonovi Resort, Herceg Novi 85340, Montenegro
Official Website: One&Only Portonovi, Montenegro
Some Characteristics of an Ideal Luxury Hotel
While the features of a luxury hotel vary across the world and with divergent preferences existing among luxury lovers, here are my 6 primary characteristics of an ideal and perfect luxury hotel or resort.
- Location. A luxury hotel must sit conveniently on a generous environmentally friendly land (or space) and not be stuffed at the corner of a city. You want to be in a luxury hotel that feels large inside and outside and in many cases where you can stretch your legs or simply relax and take in fresh natural air without leaving the hotel premises.
- Natural Features. Whether it is deliberate or a coincidence, it is common to see several luxury hotels and resorts set against the backdrop of a natural feature. A perfect luxury hotel must feature at least one natural landmark which could be a river, sea, lake, mountain, forest, etc. The feel of “I am close to nature” in a luxury hotel is irreplaceable!
- Luxury Facilities & Services. A true luxury hotel must meet all the requirements for at least 5-star lodging and hospitality [See]. Some hotels are classified as 7-star hotels! Among others, some of the expected facilities and services in a luxury hotel include ritzy guestrooms and suites; swimming pools; spa and wellness centre; high-end restaurants and bars; concierge services; recreation & sporting facilities; personalized services; and depending on the location, beach(es), marina and watersports amenities.
- Accessibility. As I mentioned earlier while discussing my selection criteria, a luxury hotel must be easily accessible for guests. Easy access through either or a combination of road, rail, air or water is not just a necessity, it is imperative! Some luxury hotels do well to have a helipad and most are not too far from an airport.
- Rooms & Suites. There is nothing called a hotel without a room(s). The rooms and suites of an ideal luxury hotel must be clean, well-lit (with a natural bright ambience), spacious and with quality modern furniture and fittings from the bed to the living space, bathroom and balcony. The walls and ceiling must also be decent – except you are an art lover, I wouldn’t want my hotel room to be bloated with murals of strange figures and characters (this is strictly personal though)! Quality entertainment and communication facilities are a must. Some green plants and a few fresh flowers are also great for an ideal luxury hotel room or suite.
- Hotel Personnel. Outstanding customer service is critical to the overall experience of a guest in any hotel. Authentically cheerful, helpful and polite staff gives guests a unique and unforgettable human touch to their stay in a hotel and this can greatly influence, make or break their views and general satisfaction at the hotel.
Other Great Luxury Hotels in Europe
Since no assessment can be 100% perfect, designs and configurations of luxury hotels are not the same, and the interests, preferences and objectives of luxury lovers vary significantly, I, therefore, included in this section a list of 6 other amazing luxury hotels in Europe that are worth a check-in.
These hotels include:
- Mardan Palace Hotel, Antalya, Turkey (this extravagant 5-star hotel deserves a place in my top 10 list)
- The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland
- The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
- The Hotel Majestic Barriere Cannes, France
- The Peninsula Paris, France, and
- W Barcelona, Spain
Summary
After a long list and review of several European luxury hotels and considering factors such as beauty, extent of luxury, price, exclusivity, accessibility and popularity, my top picks for best luxury hotels in Europe as presented in this post are:
- Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul, Turkey
- Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como, Italy
- Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez, Cannes, France
- Hotel Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda Sardinia, Italy
- Hotel President Wilson, Geneva, Switzerland
- Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, France
- The Dolder Grand Zurich, Switzerland
- The Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens, Greece, and
- Waldorf Astoria, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and
- One&Only Resort Portonovi, Montenegro
Location, availability of natural features, quality luxury facilities and services, easy accessibility, posh and up-to-date guestrooms and suites, and amazing staff cum excellent customer service are the 6 major characteristics of an ideal luxury hotel.
See also: The Top 10 Best Cities to Visit or Live in Central Europe
Conclusion
Hospitality is central to tourism. And luxury travel is growing at a faster pace than it was decades ago.
At the core of luxury tourism are upscale hotels and resorts.
Europe is the most coveted and most visited travel destination in the world today.
In this post, I presented my top pick for the 10 best luxury hotels in Europe.
With various methods and systems for assessing the quality of hotels, I based my selection and inclusion of European hotels in this list on 6 major criteria which include: beauty, luxury, price, exclusivity, accessibility and popularity.
From the prestigious President Wilson Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland to the Athenian Grand Resort Lagonissi in Greece and the exclusive Adriatic Jewel, the One&Only Resort Portonovi Montenegro, Europe is a destination of both great historical significance and indispensable modern relevance, a stay at any of these posh hotels is a noble experience for any savvy luxury traveller or guest.
Therefore, I felt safe to conclude that these 10 best luxury hotels presented in this post are the best of the best luxury hotels in Europe – a critical guide to your next luxury hotel “shopping” in Europe!
Let me know in the comment section your personal top luxury hotels in Europe and what you think about this post.
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