23 of the Best Hotels in New England (2025)

The six states making up New England are alike in being historic and beautiful, but they’re very varied when it comes to the specifics. Maine has the sweeping coastline and the stunning landscape of the Acadia National Park, Massachusetts the clifftops and well-to-do Cape Cod, Vermont has the lush Green Mountains, New Hampshire has the White Mountains, and little Rhode Island has Block Island and a collection of other picturesque islands!

To help break it down: for a cultural break, head to Boston, Portland or Burlington where you’ll find the big museums and the vibrant arts and music scenes. If you're planning a foodie odyssey in the region, you might go to the seafood hotspots in Maine or the craft breweries of Vermont. History buffs will love Plymouth Rock and Pioneer Valley, Yale, Harvard and Salem. If natural beauty is your thing, you're spoilt for choice. There’s spectacular skiing terrain in the winter, autumn is known for its colour (especially in Vermont), and New England has some of America’s best beaches and mountainous vistas.

We scoured the region and put together what we think is a comprehensive list of the best hotels in New England, with an option for all budgets and all tastes, whether you're planning a luxury getaway or want to stay in a low-key B&B. So why not browse through our collection to start planning your next getaway?

For a historic hotel

• The Vanderbilt, formerly the Vanderbilt Hall, is a centrally located mansion that oozes Newport history. Fabulous rooms offer cool, sleek interiors, plus there are two pools, a fitness centre, a billiards room and a spa. Throw in a restaurant and a roof deck bar, and it's the perfect Rhode Island destination!
• Winvian Farm, near Litchfield, Connecticut, has everything going for it, including history dating back to the 18th century. Famous for its food as well as its ambience, Winvian prides itself on healthy organic produce, all presented with a masterly hotelier's touch.

For couples

• Nobnocket Boutique Inn is an adult-only hotel on Martha's Vineyard, which is perfect for a spot of romance! This island hideaway boasts a handful of rooms featuring designer interiors, Frette bed linens and towels, deep soaking stand-alone tubs, and vast walk-in showers. Breakfasts in bed and bikes to hire complete the picture. 
• Simsbury 1820 House had a long and distinguished history before becoming a hotel in the 1960s. Now guests benefit from the timeless elegance of this New England country inn, with its roaring fires and four-poster beds. It offers the best of both worlds in terms of historical ambience and top-level amenities, not to mention delicious food. Ideal for a getaway for two.

For a rural getaway

• No TVs or telephones ensure Vermont’s adults-only Rabbit Hill Inn is as cut off from the world as you would like. Rustic-style rooms, some with verandas, have peaceful views over gardens, forests and the White Mountains and rates include daily afternoon tea.
• Migis Lodge offers log cabin luxury in the pine forest looking over beautiful Lake Sebago. Lobster dinners, daily BBQ lunchtime cookouts and evening drinks on the veranda. There are plenty of activities thrown in too, including water skiing and pilates.

For a stunning view

• Modelled after ocean liners, the majestic 19th-century Wentworth by the Sea is a classic grand coastal hotel with fabulous sea views, pool and spa. The interiors are filled with history, and there is a wide range of activities on offer. An all-rounder suited to families and couples.
• Ideally located just where the Mystic River meets Long Island Sound, the Whaler’s Inn in Mystic, is the perfect place to sit and watch the boats go by. Full of old world maritime charm, the Whaler’s Inn is a testament to Mystic’s 300-plus years as one of New England’s premier fishing and whaling ports.

For families

• Castle Hill Inn was originally a Newport outlook post, so it has unrivalled views of the Atlantic from its perch on Newport’s western point. Dating from the 18th Century, this inn is surrounded by 40 acres and the restaurant offers farm-to-fork dining. With sailing, beaches and much more, this is ideal for all the family. 

For a pampering break

• The Spa at Norwich Inn is a historic hideaway hotel, widely known as a great place to relax, rejuvenate, and renew yourself amid wonderful garden settings. There are 37 treatment rooms plus all the usual spa perks and fitness facilities.
• Blantyre is a grand hotel on a sprawling 110-acre estate just outside Lenox, Massachusetts. The ivy-clad, castle-like building features elegant rooms with beautiful views. Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud heads up the magnificent dining experience, and the Potting Shed offers a wide range of treatments.

For an outdoor adventure

• The Inn at Sunrise Point is an elegant ocean-front B&B, perched on the Penobscot Bay in Lincolnville. The decor is seaside-chic, with blue on white tones and clean lines with plenty of natural light. Choose this for the wide range of activities including sailing, trekking, cycling, kayaking, and fishing.
• Tides Beach Club, Kennebunkport is the perfect perch for exploring the salt marshes around the Kennebunk River estuary, home to a rich selection of coastal birds, crabs, and other marine life. It's ideal for seaside relaxation in style, and commands superlative ocean views of Goose Rock Beach and beyond.
• Whether it’s fly fishing, trolling or ice fishing, anyone who likes to hold a rod will find something to satisfy them at the Lodge at Moosehead Lake, Greenville. This enchanting property, perched right on the Moosehead Lake, is a sophisticated wilderness escape.
• With golf, mountain-biking, fishing, tennis, skiing and kayaking all on-site or nearby — as well as a spa — there is little need to leave the Equinox Resort & Spa nestled in the Green Mountains near Manchester. Rooms are smart and contemporary, and there’s a choice of dining options.
• Surrounded by 300 acres of wilderness, the luxurious Twin Farms guarantees seclusion. In grand, country-house style — big rooms, high ceilings, huge fireplaces — rooms are furnished with antiques, and there’s a gourmet restaurant plus plenty of activities on-site.
• In the heart of the Green Mountain National Forest, Barrows House offers traditional country elegance and a fine-dining restaurant. As well as the obvious outdoor activities of trekking, skiing and riding, the hotel has tennis courts, a swimming pool and beautiful gardens.
• In the heart of the White Mountain National Forest, with hiking, fishing and skiing on tap, the charmingly rustic Notchland Inn offers superb five-course dinners to look forward to after a day’s exertions.

One of our favourite hotels in Maine

• The Blackpoint Inn, Portland, is a charming coastal hotel on a promontory jutting into the sea. Savour the local seafood in the fine dining restaurant and generally wallow in New England charm.

For the Berkshires

• The Red Lion Inn is the best-known hotel in Stockbridge, an attractive town in the Berkshires, the highland region straddling Massachusetts and Connecticut that is known as a cultural mecca. The Red Lion has a range of suites, each with their own unique character and charm. A hotel packed full of history.

For Connecticut

• The Homestead Inn, in Greenwich, is a place for those who like the finer things in life. Located in the Belle Haven residential area, Homestead has an air of timeless luxury, complemented by a renowned French restaurant, with each room full of art and artefacts, and views onto gorgeous gardens.

For New Hampshire

• The historic Hanover Inn — a late 18th-century inn — is at the heart of Dartmouth College campus and offers jaunty, spacious rooms with smart creamy colours and clubby, leather furnishings. There’s also a gym and a restaurant that focuses on local sourcing.

For Vermont

• A classic early 19th-century inn, Middlebury Inn has been restored to retain its original features of high ceilings, grand sash windows and fireplace, carefully mixed with a modern country-house style. Rooms are light and comfortable, plus there’s a small spa, an elegant restaurant and daily afternoon tea in the lobby.

Still not sure?

• Refine your search to all the best places to stay in Rhode Island, the best places to stay in Connecticut, the best places to stay in Maine, the best places to stay in Vermont or the best places to stay in Massachusetts
• Consider our recommendations for the Best Hotels in the Berkshire Hills or Cape Cod's Best Inns
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.