10 Destination Hotels in Europe 2026: Unique Properties Worth the Trip

The lost art of villeggiatura on Lake Como

Voted the world’s best hotel by The World’s 50 Best Hotels two consecutive years, Passalacqua embodies the Italian art of living in its purest form. According to The World’s 50 Best Hotels, this 18th-century villa captivates with its atmosphere of a private home, far from the ostentation of classic grand hotels.

The estate unfolds its spectacular terraced gardens down to the turquoise waters of Lake Como. Just twenty-four rooms, spread across the main villa, the Palazzina and the Lake Cottage, guarantee absolute privacy. Chef Viviana Varese orchestrates exceptional Mediterranean cuisine, while secret tunnels — remnants of a romantic era — lead down to the private marina.

Highlights

• atmosphere of a family estate
• listed terraced gardens
• private marina accessible via underground passages
• cuisine by Viviana Varese
• floating pool on the lake.

A 15th-century Venetian palazzo reborn

The most anticipated opening of the year in Europe. According to Hospitality Net, this 15th-century neo-Gothic palace in the authentic Cannaregio district required eight years of meticulous restoration, orchestrated by Lebanese-French architect Aline Asmar d’Amman.

The Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli revives the magic of grand rail travel in a Venetian setting. Every detail evokes the golden age of the legendary train: lacquered woodwork, precious marquetry, the famous Wagon Bar that transports guests into an Art Deco atmosphere. Arrival is by private boat, as befits Venice, to the secret garden of Santa Fosca — one of the few private gardens in La Serenissima.

The most exclusive suites reach 20,000 EUR per night, but every room offers that unique feeling of residing in a private Venetian palace, away from the tourist crowds of San Marco.

Highlights

• neo-Gothic architecture restored by Aline Asmar d’Amman
• Art Deco Wagon Bar
• Santa Fosca secret garden
• private boat arrival
• Cannaregio district preserved from mass tourism.

Michelangelo’s monastery overlooking Florence

Perched on the hills of Fiesole, this 15th-century monastery whose facade is attributed to Michelangelo reopens on April 28, 2026 after a renovation by Belmond. According to Luxury Travel Advisor, the new Grand Tour Suite — housed in Napoleon’s former residence — is one of the most extraordinary hotel rooms in Italy.

Villa San Michele spreads its 39 rooms between the centuries-old monastery walls and the outbuildings nestled in the Renaissance gardens. The new Guerlain spa offers treatments in a sublimated monastic setting. The « Leonardo woods, » wooded gardens said to have inspired Leonardo da Vinci, offer a meditative stroll with a breathtaking view of the Florence Duomo.

Every evening, the sunset transforms the restaurant terrace into a living painting: Brunelleschi’s dome stands out against a pink sky, and Florence lights up at your feet.

Highlights

• facade attributed to Michelangelo
• Grand Tour Suite (Napoleon’s former residence)
• Guerlain spa
• Renaissance gardens
• panoramic view of Florence.

Eco-luxury in the heart of a UNESCO vineyard

In the UNESCO-listed Douro Valley, Six Senses has transformed a 19th-century manor into a temple of eco-luxury. According to Six Senses, the property embodies their « less is more » philosophy: 60 accommodations spread across eight hectares of vineyards and forests, a 2,200 sqm spa dedicated to vinotherapy, and an uncompromising environmental commitment.

The Earth Lab invites guests to create their own cosmetic products from local ingredients. The Wine Library houses 750 Portuguese wine references, including some vintages impossible to find elsewhere. During the September-October harvest season, guests can participate in the grape picking and tread the grapes in traditional granite lagares.

The estate practices regenerative agriculture: organic vegetable garden, beehives, full composting. Every meal tells the story of the terroir, from garden to plate, accompanied by the finest ports and Douro wines from the region.

Highlights

• UNESCO landscape
• vinotherapy and 2,200 sqm spa
• Earth Lab
• Wine Library (750 references)
• participatory grape harvest
• regenerative agriculture.

The Irish castle with 365 stained-glass windows

Adare Manor is the kind of place that makes you understand why Irish aristocrats never wanted to leave their estates. This neo-Gothic masterpiece, distinguished with 3 Michelin Keys according to the Michelin Guide, features 52 carved fireplaces, 365 stained glass windows and 840 acres of breathtakingly beautiful Irish countryside.

The Michelin-starred Oak Room restaurant serves contemporary Irish cuisine that elevates produce from the estate. But Adare Manor goes far beyond gastronomy: the falconry places a Harris Hawk on your arm, the Tom Fazio golf course — which will host the 2027 Ryder Cup — is considered one of the finest in Europe, and the riding school lets you explore the estate on horseback through centuries-old forests.

This is a place where time flows differently, punctuated by the crackling of a turf fire in the Gallery, walks along the River Maigue and pints of Guinness at the pub in Adare village, one of the most picturesque in Ireland.

Highlights

• 3 Michelin Keys
• Michelin-starred Oak Room
• Ryder Cup 2027 golf course
• falconry
• horseback riding
• historic Adare village
• 52 fireplaces and 365 stained glass windows.

A Belle Époque palace at the foot of the Alps

Since 1904, this Belle Epoque palace has stood at the foot of Mount Titlis, embodying the finest Swiss hotel tradition. According to Fodor’s, the Kempinski Palace Engelberg brilliantly combines the historic charm of a grand Alpine hotel with the most contemporary amenities.

The centerpiece: a rooftop infinity pool with a panoramic view, where the gaze embraces the snow-capped peaks at 360 degrees. The famous Ladies in Red — the concierges in red dresses, a Kempinski brand signature — attend to every detail of your stay with quintessential Swiss discretion.

A short walk away, the Benedictine monastery of Engelberg, founded in 1120, continues to produce artisan cheese that you can taste directly at its cheese dairy. In winter, skiing on the Titlis glacier offers guaranteed snow; in summer, hiking trails wind through alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers.

Highlights

• panoramic rooftop infinity pool
• Belle Epoque palace since 1904
• skiing on the Titlis glacier
• Ladies in Red
• millennial Benedictine monastery.

The 800-year-old Tuscan farm-hotel

Borgo Santo Pietro is not a hotel. It is a world apart. This 800-year-old medieval estate, nestled in the Tuscan hills between Siena and the sea, houses 22 suites within a 300-acre organic farm. According to Wexas Travel, it is the property that best illustrates the concept of « slow luxury » in Europe.

The Michelin-starred Meo Modo restaurant practices « garden to plate » cuisine in its most accomplished form: aromatic herbs are picked minutes before service, vegetables grow in the estate’s gardens, truffles are hunted in the surrounding woods with the property’s dogs. The Seed to Skin cosmetics brand, developed on-site from garden plants, offers spa treatments that have become legendary.

Here, luxury is measured by the quality of silence, by the golden light bathing the vines at dusk, and by that rare feeling of being at home in an extraordinary place. Days unfold between cooking classes, truffle hunting, horseback rides and naps by the heated pool, lulled by the song of cicadas.

Highlights

• Michelin-starred Meo Modo restaurant
• 300-acre organic farm
• Seed to Skin cosmetics
• truffle hunting
• 800-year-old medieval estate.

Europe’s first One&Only on the Bay of Kotor

The first — and still the only — One&Only in Europe chose one of the continent’s most spectacular natural settings: the Bay of Kotor, a Mediterranean fjord listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to Best At Travel, it is the ultimate under-the-radar destination for travelers seeking exclusivity without the Riviera crowds.

The Chenot spa — a global reference in longevity and wellness — offers bespoke programs combining Chinese medicine, scientific nutrition and cutting-edge technologies. The Tapasake Club, feet in the water, serves Japanese-Mediterranean cuisine in a sophisticated beach club atmosphere.

The private beach opens onto the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic, framed by vertiginous mountains. Boat excursions to the old town of Kotor, Perast and the island of Our Lady of the Rocks turn every day into a maritime adventure. Montenegro remains largely unknown to mainstream European tourism — take advantage before the secret gets out.

Highlights

• UNESCO Bay of Kotor
• Chenot spa (longevity)
• Tapasake Club
• private beach
• still an under-the-radar destination
• first European One&Only.

The art-hotel that reinvents hospitality

Forget everything you know about hotels. At Blow Up Hall 5050, there is no reception desk. No room number. The room chooses you. According to the Michelin Guide, this art hotel housed in a former 19th-century brewery at the heart of the Stary Browar shopping center is one of the most avant-garde hotel experiences in Europe.

The digital installation by Mexican artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer — BAFTA award-winning — greets you at the entrance: cameras capture your face and project it into a giant mosaic among those of previous visitors. You are given an iPhone that guides you to your room, different each night if you wish. The 22 rooms are works of art in their own right, each designed by a different designer.

With rates starting at 150 EUR per night, Blow Up Hall 5050 is also proof that a destination hotel does not necessarily mean a stratospheric budget. Poznan itself is a revelation: its Renaissance market square, inventive cocktail bars and booming food scene make it one of the most exciting cities in Eastern Europe.

Highlights

• no-reception concept
• BAFTA-winning digital installation by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
• each room unique
• affordable rates
• Stary Browar art shopping center
• emerging Poznan.

London’s royal monument turned luxury palace

Commissioned by King Edward VII in 1910, the Admiralty Arch is one of London’s most iconic monuments — the triumphal arch linking Trafalgar Square to The Mall and Buckingham Palace. According to One Mile at a Time, its transformation into a Waldorf Astoria hotel, scheduled for summer 2026, is the most ambitious opening London has seen in decades.

The Grade I listed building — the highest level of heritage protection in the United Kingdom — once housed the offices of Winston Churchill and the Admiralty services. The dining offer promises to be exceptional: Clare Smyth (Core, 3 Michelin stars) and Daniel Boulud (New York institution) together hold seven Michelin stars. The rooftop cafe will offer a sweeping view of The Mall, with Buckingham Palace on one side and Trafalgar Square on the other.

Sleeping in a national historic monument, at the exact crossroads of British power and culture, with the Changing of the Guard visible from your window — that is an experience only London can offer.

Highlights

• Grade I monument facing Buckingham Palace
• former Churchill offices
• Clare Smyth + Daniel Boulud restaurants (7 stars)
• rooftop cafe
• The Mall location.