Remi André Lurud — Travel & Food

Paris invented the palace hotel, and its hospitality scene remains the benchmark against which all others are measured. But the city also excels at boutique properties — Left Bank hideaways, converted townhouses, and design hotels that capture Parisian elegance at every price point. Palace Hotels Le Bristol Paris — Discreet, elegant, and favored by those who know. Rooftop pool, legendary Epicure restaurant (three Michelin stars), and gardens in the 8th arrondissement. Hotel Plaza Athénée — On Avenue Montaigne. The red awnings, the courtyard, and Alain Ducasse's restaurant. Classic Parisian glamour. The Ritz Paris — Restored to its legendary splendor. Bar Hemingway, L'Espadon restaurant, and the most famous hotel pool in Paris. Four Seasons George V — Spectacular flower arrangements, Le Cinq (three Michelin stars), and the spa. The American palace. Boutique and Design Hôtel Rochechouart — In the 9th. A former 19th-century hotel revived with style. Rooftop bar with ...

The Gulf of Saint-Tropez offers accommodation from legendary five-star hotels to charming village rentals. Port Grimaud itself is best experienced by renting a canalside apartment, while nearby properties cater to every level of luxury. Luxury Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez — LVMH's stunning property on the waterfront. Three-Michelin-star restaurant, spa, and Saint-Tropez at its most refined. Byblos Saint-Tropez — The legendary hotel since 1967. Pool, spa, and the famous Les Caves du Roy nightclub. Château de la Messardière — The largest five-star in Saint-Tropez. Hilltop with panoramic views, multiple pools, and a spa. Boutique and Character La Bastide de Grimaud — In the medieval village. Provençal charm with pool and garden. Hôtel Giraglia — In Port Grimaud. Simple but well-located with pool and garden. Best Value Port Grimaud apartment rental — The most authentic experience. Canalside living with your own mooring. La Pinède Plage — Beachfront between Port Grimaud...

Athens hotels compete on one thing above all: the Acropolis view. The best properties offer terraces where you can watch the Parthenon glow golden at sunset — and that alone can define your trip. Luxury Hotel Grande Bretagne — On Syntagma Square since 1874. Grand luxury, rooftop restaurant and pool with the most famous Acropolis view in the city. The defining Athens hotel experience. King George — Next door to the Grande Bretagne, slightly more intimate. The Tudor Hall restaurant terrace rivals any view in the city. Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens — On the Athens Riviera in Vouliagmeni. Beach resort luxury, 40 minutes from the center. Boutique and Character AthensWas — Design hotel at the foot of the Acropolis. The rooftop terrace view is spectacular. Modern, comfortable, excellent location. Coco-Mat Athens BC — In upscale Kolonaki. Eco-friendly design, rooftop pool, and the natural-material comfort that Coco-Mat is known for. Perianth Hotel — On the edge of Psy...

Most visitors treat Sintra as a day trip, but staying overnight transforms the experience. After the tour buses leave, you have the misty forests and moonlit palaces virtually to yourself. Luxury Tivoli Palacio de Seteais — An 18th-century palace converted into a luxury hotel. Valley views, formal gardens, and the most romantic stay in Sintra. From around 200 EUR. Penha Longa Resort, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel — In the Sintra hills with a championship golf course, spa, and multiple restaurants. The grounds are magnificent. Boutique and Character Chalet Biester — A recently restored 19th-century chalet turned luxury boutique. Theatrical interiors and a connection to Sintra's romantic history. Lawrence's Hotel — Claiming to be the oldest hotel on the Iberian Peninsula. Lord Byron stayed here. Small, charming, and full of history. Best Value Sintra Boutique Hotel — Modern, clean, and well-located in the old town. Good base for exploring on foot. Moon Hill Hostel — For...

Cascais has evolved from fishing village to refined resort town. Clifftop palaces, design boutiques, and family resorts — all within reach of the beach and the train to Lisbon. Luxury The Albatroz Hotel — Clifftop above the bay. Former ducal palace with pool, spa, and the most prestigious address in town. Grande Real Villa Italia — Former residence of Italy's exiled King Umberto II. Gardens, pools, sea views. Boutique and Character Farol Hotel — Converted 19th-century mansion with contemporary design, rooftop pool bar, live music. Most social hotel in Cascais. Pestana Cidadela Cascais — Converted 16th-century fortress with pool, art installations, and historic rooms. Best Value Martinhal Cascais — Purpose-built for families. Kids' club, pools, spacious apartments. Hotel Baia — On the main beach. Simple, clean, and excellent location for the price. Which Area to Choose Center/Marina — Walking distance to restaurants and beach. Most convenient. Guincho — W...

Porto's hotel scene has blossomed in step with the city's rise as a top European destination. The standout properties take full advantage of the dramatic setting — the Douro River, the steep granite hillsides, and the crumbling beauty of the old city. From wine-cellar luxury to converted palaces, the options are excellent. Luxury The Yeatman — Porto's finest, in Vila Nova de Gaia overlooking the city and the Douro. Wine-themed throughout (each room is sponsored by a Portuguese wine estate), with a decanting room, two Michelin stars, a spa with barrel-shaped treatment rooms, and the best pool view in the city. Pestana Palácio do Freixo — A Baroque 18th-century palace on the Douro, east of the center. Dramatic architecture, beautiful grounds, and a spa. Feels like staying in a museum. InterContinental Porto — Palácio das Cardosas — On Praça da Liberdade, in a converted 18th-century palace. Central location, elegant rooms, and a rooftop terrace. Boutique and Desig...

Lisbon's hotel scene reflects the city itself — layers of history, creative energy, and an emerging luxury market that maintains Portuguese warmth. From converted palaces to design-forward boutiques, the best properties here offer something that many European capitals have lost: genuine character at reasonable prices. Luxury Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon — Overlooking Eduardo VII Park. A mid-century landmark with large rooms, an art collection, and CURA restaurant (one Michelin star). Recently refreshed while preserving its character. Bairro Alto Hotel — In Chiado, the most central luxury option. Elegant rooms, an outstanding rooftop bar with Tagus views, and the perfect base for exploring on foot. Olissippo Lapa Palace — A 19th-century palace in the embassy district. Gardens, a heated pool, and a quieter atmosphere away from tourist crowds. Old-world elegance. Boutique and Design Memmo Alfama — In the heart of the old Alfama district. A small terrace pool with views...

Barcelona's hotel scene matches the city's creative energy. Restored medieval palaces in the Gothic Quarter, design-forward properties in Eixample, and beachfront hotels in Barceloneta — the options reflect the diversity of the city's neighborhoods. Luxury Hotel El Palace — Grand luxury on Gran Via since 1919. Crystal chandeliers, a rooftop garden, and the kind of service that has hosted royalty for a century. Recently renovated rooms balance heritage with modern comfort. Mandarin Oriental Barcelona — On Passeig de Gràcia. Sleek, contemporary design by Patricia Urquiola. The rooftop pool and Moments restaurant (two Michelin stars) are highlights. Hotel Arts Barcelona — The 44-floor tower on the seafront. Panoramic views, Enoteca Paco Pérez (two Michelin stars), and a luxurious spa. Boutique and Design Hotel Neri — In the Gothic Quarter, a medieval palace converted into a boutique hotel. Stone walls, contemporary design, and a rooftop terrace overlooking a quie...

Madrid's hotel scene has transformed in recent years, with a wave of openings that have elevated the city alongside Paris and London as a European hotel destination. Restored palaces, design-forward boutiques, and international brands competing for the best rooftop pool — the options are excellent across every category. Luxury Rosewood Villa Magna — On Paseo de la Castellana, recently reopened after a complete renovation. Madrid's most refined hotel — elegant rooms, a world-class spa, and the outstanding Amós restaurant by Jesús Sánchez (three Michelin stars in Cantabria). Four Seasons Hotel Madrid — In a stunning conversion of seven historic buildings near Puerta del Sol. Rooftop pool and bar with city views, the Dani Brasserie by Dani García, and the central location in the new Canalejas district. Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid — The grande dame of Madrid, reopened after a meticulous restoration. Classic luxury with a Palm Court, beautiful gardens, and Deessa res...

Gran Canaria's accommodation ranges from sprawling resorts in the sunny south to characterful hotels in Las Palmas and converted rural houses in the mountains. The key decision is which part of the island to base yourself. Luxury Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia — The finest on the island. Subtropical gardens near Maspalomas dunes, large pool, spa, and refined restaurant. Canarian colonial architecture. A Leading Hotels of the World member. Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel — Las Palmas landmark from 1890, recently restored. Beautiful gardens, excellent restaurant, rooftop terrace with city and ocean views. Lopesan Costa Meloneras — Upscale resort near Maspalomas with multiple pools, gardens, and direct beach access. Boutique and Character Hotel Rural Las Calas — Converted rural estate surrounded by mountains. Peace, hiking trails, genuine hospitality. La Hacienda del Buen Suceso — A banana plantation estate in Arucas. Charming, with beautiful grounds and a p...

Malaga's hotel scene has caught up with the city's cultural renaissance. A decade ago, options were limited to chain business hotels and beach properties. Today, there are beautifully restored historic buildings, design-forward boutiques, and rooftop terraces that rival any in southern Europe. The compact old town means most of the best hotels put you within walking distance of everything worth seeing. Luxury Gran Hotel Miramar GL — Malaga's crown jewel. A 1926 palace meticulously restored and reopened in 2017, with gardens, a spa, an outdoor pool, and views over the Paseo de Reding to the sea. The building alone is worth the visit. From around 250 EUR per night. Palacio Solecio — In a beautifully converted 18th-century palace in the heart of the old town. The rooms blend historic architecture with contemporary comfort, and the interior courtyard is stunning. Design and Boutique Molina Lario — Opposite the cathedral, with a rooftop pool and terrace offe...