Italy honeymoon hotels for a romantic trip with your amore

The magnolia-scented walled garden at Hotel Palazzo Castri 1874 sets the scene for a luxury honeymoon in Florence. Close to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella’s striking black and white facade, the accommodation is also ideally situated for exploring this dreamy city.

You’ll be given an internet-enabled smartphone to help you navigate your way around. But before stepping out for the day, refresh yourself in the rainfall shower lit up by a calming blue light and pamper yourself with La Limonaia bath products specifically created for the hotel.

While the 19th-century building is historical, the facilities are ultra-modern. There’s a spa with a Finnish sauna and a hydro-massage pool that starts indoors and extends outside. Slip into the sumptuously warm Turkish bath after a stint in the water, then relax under the sensory showers before opting for a hydrating facial with luxe Maria Galland Paris products.

Bookend action-packed days exploring Italy’s capital with a stint in your terrace hot tub at the all-suite The First Roma Arte. This five-star hotel is in a central location near Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, so you could even pop back for a dip in between sightseeing.

Don’t miss cocktails on the rooftop with panoramas over the Eternal City, either. Gaze at the view (or into your other half’s eyes) as you sample drinks such as Ariel, a blend of blue curacao syrup, fresh mint and lemongrass tea. The interior’s just as luxurious as the setting – it’s inside a former nobleman’s palace with renovations that keep the original 200-year-old features in mind.

Fluffy bathrobes and slippers are provided in rooms, so it’s easy to cozy up here. You’ll also find walls emblazoned in a curated collection of works by cutting-edge Italian artists. For food, head to the Michelin-starred Acquolina and peruse an upscale tasting menu made up of plates like boar with summer truffle and crusted John Dory fish.

Lake Garda is an idyllic destination, and Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda is one of the best honeymoon hotels on its shores. Book a stay here for views over the glassy blue waters and the surrounding mountains from the serene infinity pool.

Upgrade to a suite and you’ll have your own Jacuzzi tub or private pool. Whatever space you go for, the living room will be decorated with Italian furniture by century-old Italian brand Poltrona Frau. Bask in the water of your window-side whirlpool with a cup of coffee from your Illy machine. Or to make it a truly romantic Italy honeymoon, pull on your bathrobe from the spa kit and head down to the wellness centre.

This cavernesque spa is a retreat from the world. Unwind together in the La Luna nel Lago thalassotherapy pool, six saunas and five relaxation areas. Then opt for a soothing Grotto of the Gods ritual from the special Greek-inspired couples’ menu.

Il San Pietro di Positano is the only hotel in this sought-after Italian resort town with a private beach. Enter the lift in the lobby and it will whisk you down the cliff to a cove lapped by translucent waters with a parasol-covered seaside bar and restaurant. Can you imagine anything more luxurious?

Il San Pietro really has made the most of its resplendent surroundings, making it ideal for an Amalfi Coast honeymoon. Take the tennis court – it’s nestled beside the rock face and looks out onto the sparkling azure ocean. The half-circle swimming pool also has sea views, as well as panoramas of the Lattari Mountains and Praiano town’s houses tumbling down the hillside.

Look forward to dining at Michelin-starred Zass on a terrace flanked by vintage-style street lamps. Fresh produce is the focus here – in fact, many of the ingredients are sourced from the hotel’s fragrant gardens.

At the award-winning Ca Maria Adele, you’ll be right on one of the city’s famous canals. A Vaporetto stop away from Piazza San Marco, this hotel is well placed for exploring the main square’s jaw-dropping architecture. Staff can also give personalised tips on where to go, as well as book restaurants and organise personal shopping experiences.

Where better to bond with your new spouse than in a room decorated in romantic reds with silky drapes? The interior design scheme is sumptuous thanks to the plush bedding, ornately patterned wallpaper and dripping chandeliers. Select from five concept rooms inspired by Venetian aesthetics. The top-floor suites have panoramas over the city’s rooftops, making your Venice honeymoon even more special.

Communal areas are also grand. Rest on the terrace under the colourful Moroccan lighting, or curl up on a velour sofa beside a crackling fireplace in the lounge. For breakfast, order from a dizzyingly extensive menu of 70 choices and eat your pick on the flora-covered balcony overlooking Venice’s age-old architecture.

Views don’t get much more iconic on this characterful island than from Hotel Villa Carlotta. While you admire the vistas of Mount Etna from the restaurant’s rooftop terrace, sip a glass of wine grown in the vineyards on the volcano’s slopes. Meals are made from local ingredients too, with meat sourced from the island’s Nebrodi mountain range.

In the summer season, hop in the complimentary shuttle for the five-minute journey to Taormina Beach’s aqua-tinted shores. Alternatively, simply laze beside the pool among the palm trees and jasmine flowers with the villa’s honey-coloured stone walls as your backdrop.

Rooms at this hotel are designed by interior specialists Studio Area Firenze, and focus on combining the contemporary with the antique. Select the bright and airy Junior Suite Garden for your Sicily honeymoon, with its sun terrace perched above the Roman-style garden. Or opt for the Suite Garden for its Carrara marble bathroom’s walk-in shower, mosaic bathtub, and his and hers basins.

If you’re seeking Italy honeymoon ideas with a memorable twist, try La Locanda Delle Donne Monache. This ambient hotel is in a listed 18th-century monastery with views of the vibrant green Maratea countryside all around. While it feels appealingly rural, it’s also close to Spiaggia Del Porto beach, with a complimentary shuttle bus to take you there in 15 minutes.

Rooms are freshly whitewashed and retain the building’s original features, including bare rock walls and characterful alcoves. Book the Le Converse space if you’d like to take it easy in your own garden with your other half.

Rather lounge by the pool? Sunbathe while reading a book from the library, swim laps in the sparkling water or immerse yourself in the bubbling Jacuzzi. If you fancy a tipple, head over to Bar L’Alambicco for an expertly mixed cocktail in a blend of bright colours. Breakfast’s served among the hydrangeas, oleanders and bougainvillaea of the hotel’s courtyard – snack on a buffet ranging from fresh fruit to homemade tarts.

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, Hotel Mediterraneo Sorrento is in a prime position. Make the most of its setting by dining on elevated Italian classics like zucchini and truffles at Vesuvio restaurant’s roof terrace with its panoramic views over the calm Naples Bay. The rest of your Sorrento honeymoon can be spent cooling off in the clear blue shallows of the cliff-backed La Marinella beach, with private access directly from the hotel.

Rest underneath the swaying palm and orange trees at the resort’s pool area, too. If you’re ready and raring for an adventure, ask about private yacht trips with your own skipper. Canoes are also available to rent, so you can navigate your way in between hidden coves under your own steam.

Fittingly, there’s a nautical theme to the rooms, which are dressed in shades of white and blue. Opt for a space with a terrace looking out onto the deep blue sea, with the glassy surface punctuated by the islands of Procida and Ischia.