Best hotels in Europe

Palé Hall

Hotel Llandderfel, Gwynedd, Wales

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

Queen Victoria and Churchill have both sojourned at this fantasy Victorian mansion on the fringes of the Berwyn Mountains and Snowdonia National Park. It's furnished with impeccable style, wows diners with imaginative riffs on regional, seasonal ingredients, and holds Wales’ first Michelin Green Star. Read expert review

From

£ 278

per person

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Ballyfin

Hotel County Laois, Ireland

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

Splendid Ballyfin is one of Ireland’s finest country houses, now restored to elegant and graceful life, and reopened as a luxurious hotel. The beauty of the great house and its spacious demesne and lake, and the stratospheric standards of hospitality here, makes this hotel a truly remarkable place. Read expert review

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£ 700

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Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof

Hotel Hinterthiersee, Tyrol, Austria

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

A tonic for mind, body and soul, a stay at the family-run Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof is as uplifting as the surround views of the Austrian Alps. Come to clean your chakras, detox and tank up on good energy, and leave as if walking on air. Read expert review

From

£ 230

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Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

Hotel Berlin, Germany

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

Berlin’s most glamorous hotel address has hosted Michael Jackson and Her Majesty the Queen, among other luminaries. Overlooking the Brandenburg Gate, the hotel's prestigious location is matched to top-notch facilities (a two-floor spa, several restaurants) and flawless service. Read expert review

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£ 270

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Santa Ponsa

Hotel Menorca, Spain

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

The centuries-old history of a Menorcan country palace meets modern luxury at this 22-room hotel. Lush Moorish gardens descend in traditional terraces to a dazzling spa, housed in an ancient cistern. Between the fabulous indoor and outdoor pools and the excellent restaurant, there’s plenty to do. Read expert review

From

£ 241

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The Gritti Palace

Hotel Venice, Veneto, Italy

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

The Gritti – in an enviable spot on the lower reaches of the Grand Canal – has been a favourite with top-tier travellers since the 15th-century palazzo became a hotel in 1895. The splendid interior is packed with antiques, frescoes and neatly concealed technology. There's also a cooking school and an exquisite spa. Read expert review

From

£ 887

per person

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Les Hortensias du Lac

Hotel Hossegor, Aquitaine, France

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

This upscale, 25-room surf lodge combines a relaxed atmosphere with top-of-the-line luxury. Enjoy lakefront views from the heated pool under the pines, relax in the 450-square-metre spa, or paddle on the lake before dinner at the lovely restaurant, one of the area’s most refined. Read expert review

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£ 183

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Belmond Hotel Cipriani

Hotel Giudecca, Venice, Italy

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

With sweeping views across the Venetian lagoon, the 96-room Belmond Hotel Cipriani is the definition of luxurious perfection. Guests can count on stellar – and discreet – service at this five-star resort in addition to Michelin-starred dining, an Olympic-sized pool filtered with seawater and gorgeous grounds. Read expert review

From

£ 1,196

per person

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Il San Pietro di Positano

Hotel Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

Often included in 'World's Best' lists and frequented by such stars as George Clooney and Julia Roberts, the legendary and oh-so-glam San Pietro lives up to its reputation. But the luxuriousness and spectacular setting belie what is, at the heart, a family operation, so the five-star service comes with genuine warmth. Read expert review

From

£ 820

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Terre Blanche

Hotel Tourrettes, Provence, France

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

Set in wine and walking country, this swish hotel, spa and golf resort is popular with the Monaco set. Surprisingly, Terre Blanche also suits families, drawn by the sprawling grounds and smooth service in a sleepy part of Provence. From city-slickers to cool kids, it’s a clever trick to pull off. Read expert review

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£ 440

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Chateau de Berne

Hotel Lorgues, Provence, France

10 /10 Telegraph expert rating

Indulge your fantasies as Count of Provence in a postcard-perfect estate that serves as a model for wine resorts well beyond the Riviera. From grand living and fine-dining to country pursuits and spa-wallowing, it’s fit for a countess too. The mood is as quaffable as the estate’s best-selling rosé. Read expert review

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£ 272

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Cap d'Antibes Beach Hotel

Hotel Cap d'Antibes, Provence, France

9 /10 Telegraph expert rating

The Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel offers five-star luxury on the sandy sea shore, topped by a Michelin-starred restaurant in the form of Les Pêcheurs. A film set cast of staff curate this astounding emplacement in France’s sunniest, chicest – and costliest – corner. Read expert review

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£ 414

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Rock House

Hotel Edinburgh, Scotland

9 /10 Telegraph expert rating

A heavenly 18th-century house hidden on Calton Hill with a courtyard garden to the front, a pretty and surprisingly large walled garden to the rear, a striking separate Belvedere studio and a self-contained annexe. It offers unusually flexible accommodation, tremendous views and an enviable city-centre location. Read expert review

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Domaine Les Crayeres

Hotel Reims, Champagne, France

9 /10 Telegraph expert rating

Possibly the château of your wildest French dreams. Les Crayères is a class act from start to finish. Walk in manicured grounds, book Champagne cellar tours and tastings, dine in two-Michelin-starred finery, and drink deep of the regal ambience of this hyper-luxe Reims retreat. Read expert review

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£ 472

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Kókkini Porta Rossa

Hotel Rhodes, Greece

9 /10 Telegraph expert rating

Originally a 14th-century knight's abode, Kókkini Porta Rossa is the most fascinating place to stay in Rhodes. Spend time with the worldly proprietors speaking about their native island and the backstory of their antique-filled boutique lodging, a true labour of love. Read expert review

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£ 336

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Bovey Castle

Hotel Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor, England

9 /10 Telegraph expert rating

This grand stately pile on a sporting estate in Dartmoor National Park caters for every whim, whether rugged outdoor pursuits or fine dining and pampering. Facilities galore and excellent service make it hard to fault. Read expert review

From

£ 195

per person

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La Bastide de Gordes

Hotel Gordes, Provence, France

9 /10 Telegraph expert rating

Perched on medieval ramparts in the prettiest village in the Luberon is this Provencal retreat framed by hanging gardens. With its dynastic portraits and clubby bar, it feels more like a stately home, albeit one with a swish spa, superb restaurants and service smoother than you are. Read expert review

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£ 585

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The Mandala Hotel

Hotel Berlin, Germany

9 /10 Telegraph expert rating

An oasis of zen-like serenity amidst the bustle of the city. This stylish five-star offers exclusive apartment-style suites, an innovative top-floor spa and double Michelin-starred dining right on Potsdamer Platz. It’s rounded out with a slick bar and highly polished service. Read expert review

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£ 198

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The Yeatman

Hotel Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, Portugal

9 /10 Telegraph expert rating

From a decanter-shaped pool and the 25,000-bottle cellar to the grape-pip treatments at its spa, this stylish hotel revolves around wine. It has a Michelin-starred restaurant and mesmerising views over Porto, with spacious rooms to boot. Read expert review

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£ 258

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Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow

Hotel Moscow, Russia

9 /10 Telegraph expert rating

As the first international five-star hotel in post-Soviet Russia, the Kempinski has kept up with the competition via constantly renovated luxurious interiors, top-notch amenities and pristine service. The prime location across the river from Red Square and the Kremlin doesn’t hurt either. Read expert review

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