Gian Luca Ponti via Flickr

It’s been a hard job, but someone has had to relax on all those beautiful sun terraces appreciating the near-perfect views. And someone has had to try out all those wonderfully welcoming hotel pools - even the ones which float gracefully on top of the lakes themselves. And someone has had to dine out in all those restaurants, and sleep in a slew of graceful rooms. But now it’s done, and here are our Gurus' recommendations for the 15 best Italian Lakes hotels.

Our Gurus have arranged their choices for the 15 best hotels in the Italian Lakes based on the type of break you're planning, so they have the most romantic hotels on the Italian Lakes, the best hotels in the Italian Lakes for families, the best value hotels in the Italian Lakes and the best hotels views on the Italian Lakes - for example. But if you'd prefer to search by location here are some of

Our Guru’s Italian Lakes Collections:

• The Best Places to Stay on Lake Garda
• The Best Places to Stay on Lake Como
• The Best Places to Stay on Lake Maggiore
• The Best Places to Stay on Lake Orta
• The Best Places to Stay on Lake Iseo

The 15 Best Hotels in the Italian Lakes

The Best Hotel Views in the Italian Lakes

• The lakeside Locanda San Vigilio in Garda is an elegant, 14 room hotel owned and run by an Italian count! It’s been a hotel for 500 years and it’s immaculately decorated with antiques and beautiful objets. The hotel even has it’s own Emporium where you can buy beautiful things.
• The Bellevue San Lorenzo, right on Lake Garda in Malcesine, is a pretty Belle Epoque villa turned 52 room hotel. As well as being surrounded by beautiful grounds and having lovely lake views, the villa has an outdoor pool, fitness centre and spa.
• Or try Lake Como’s opulent Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, an old elegant grand dame in Bellagio, with all the trappings of old fashioned luxury. Think doric columns, beautiful antiques, frescoed ceilings, grand sun terraces, spectacular lake views - of course - and a Michelin starred restaurant. They also have a private boat.

The Most Romantic Hotels in the Italian Lakes

• The Hotel Florence, in Lake Como’s glamorous Bellagio, is a stunning hotel with design mimicking its Florentine namesake. It has just 27 lovely rooms and sumptuous suites, some with private balconies and spectacular views - of course! There’s also a gourmet restaurant and a small spa, and all starting from around £130 per night.
• The Relais Villa Vittoria in Laglio is a wonderfully romantic hotel right on the edge of the lake. As well as beautiful views, this hotel has 11 delicately sumptuous rooms, an excellent restaurant, and peaceful terraces overlooking the lake. Perfect for honeymooners.
• The Villa Feltrinelli in Gargnano, Lake Garda, is a beautiful aristocratic villa conversion, with 21 rooms boasting restored interiors incluing antiques, beautiful fabrics and paintings. There’s also a Michelin starred restaurant. A stunning property and perfect for the most romantic of honeymoons.....if the budget will stretch that far!
• Or there’s Gardone Riviera’s Villa Fiordaliso, a grand 19th Century Liberty-style villa with beautiful, historic interiors and a gourmet restaurant. There are just five rooms, which are traditional but timeless, and all with beautiful views of the lake. There’s also Michelin starred dining and lovely gardens and terraces.

The Best Lakeside Hotels in the Italian Lakes

• The Grand Hotel Tremezzo has 89 elegant rooms right on edge of Lake Como. Five stars worth of beautifully understated interiors plus generous sun terraces, an excellent restaurant and spa and parklands surrounding the hotel. Plus, one of the pools actually floats on the lake!
• Sirmione’s Villa Cortine Palace is a grand, old fashioned villa hotel, with 54 rooms and an absolutely splendid setting on a spit of land jutting into Lake Garda. The rooms are grand, and Art Deco in style, with some beautiful frescoes and antiques, and there’s a private jetty, a swimming pool and lovely neoclassical landscaped gardens all around.
• Salò’s Hotel Laurin is a stunning hotel with 30 rooms and suites right on the shores of Lake Garda. Converted from an elegant 20th Century villa, guests can expect parquet floors, frescoes and Art Nouveau furniture. There’s also a lovely pool in shady gardens and an excellent restaurant.

The Best Traditional Hotels in the Italian Lakes

• If you want to be right on Lake Como, try the Villa d'Este, one of the more traditional five star hotels, the kind with grand state rooms, chandeliers, heavy fabrics, private balconies and private boats.

The Best Hotels in the Italian Lakes for Families

• Also in Sirmione, the Villa Pioppi is an elegant, seven room villa set within two hectares of beautiful parkland, with a swimming pool, a sun terrace and a private beach. The rooms are large, and some have lake views and private balconies. And they also offer a babysitting service.

The Best Value Hotels in the Italian Lakes

• Gardesana, in the pretty fishing village of Torri del Benaco on Lake Garda, has 34 simple, comfortable rooms, great views and excellent food. It’s also wonderful value, with room starting from under £100 per night, and it’s quite romantic.
• Originally built for the imperial family, the Grand Hotel Fasano in Lake Garda’s Gardone Riviera, is an historic grand hotel in a privileged lakeside position. The architecture is romantic with fairytale turrets and lovely details, but its private terraces, pebbly beach, spa and tennis courts mean it’s also a good choice for families. The 76 rooms start from around £100 per night.
• The Osteria Antico Brolo in Gardone Riviera, Lake Garda, is a gorgeous restaurant with four chic, all-white rooms and suites you can stay in. Private and comfortable, and very good value, with rooms starting from around £60 per night.

Still not sure?

• If you're looking for lake views you could refine your search to our Guru's list of the 20 Best Italian Lakeside Hotels?
• or refine your choice by location and search for just the Best Places to Stay on Lake Garda? the Best Places to Stay on Lake Como? or the Best places to stay on Lake Maggiore? or the Best places to stay on Lake Orta? or the Best Places to stay on Lake Iseo?
• Or consider our Guru's recommendations for the 10 best hotels with a view on Lake Como? or the 10 best hotels on Lake Como for foodies? or the 10 most romantic hotels on Lake Garda?
• Or you contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

The 15 Best Hotels in the Italian Lakes