Positano's pastel houses climbing the cliff above the sea on the Amalfi Coast

Suites with a view: Italy's most beautiful places to stay

A terrace over the sea in Positano, a balcony on Lake Como, a room carved into a Cinque Terre cliff. Here's where to stay in Italy's most photographed places, and how to choose the right room.

Positano hotelsLake Como hotels

  • Independent, we don't run any hotel
  • Towns compared on location and access
  • Updated October 2026

Photo: Mihael Grmek, CC BY-SA 4.0

Italy’s coasts and lakes are full of small hotels in old villas and cliffside houses, where the best rooms come with a terrace and a view you’ll remember for years. This guide helps you pick the destination, then the town, then the room.

Choose your destination

Most wantedPositanoAmalfi CoastCar-free centerIconic views, couplesRead guide Amalfi CoastAmalfi, Ravello, PraianoFerries & busesChoosing a quieter townRead guide SorrentoBay of NaplesTrain from NaplesBase for Capri & PompeiiRead guide Lake ComoBellagio, VarennaAbout 1 hour from MilanVillas, gardens, calmRead guide

More: Capri and the Cinque Terre.

Room or suite?

A junior suite usually means a larger room with a sitting area; a full suite has a separate living room. On the coast, what really matters is the terrace and the view. Our suites guide explains what to ask for and when the upgrade is worth it.

The view decides the price: in Positano and Lake Como, two rooms in the same hotel can differ a lot in price because of the view. Check the room description for “sea view” or “lake view”, not just “partial view”.

Check prices on the Amalfi Coast

The best day on the water

Frequently asked questions

Where should I stay in Italy for sea views?

Positano and Praiano on the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento on the cliffs above the Bay of Naples, Capri, and the villages of the Cinque Terre. Rooms with a sea-view terrace sell out first, so book early.

When is the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como?

May, June and September offer warm weather with fewer crowds than July and August. Many hotels on the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como close from about November to March.

Is ItalianSuites a hotel?

No. ItalianSuites is an independent travel guide. We don't own, run or represent any hotel. Bookings are made with our booking partners.

Hotel guides by destination

Positano Hotels in Positano, Italy: the best areas to stay, sea-view rooms vs suites, steps and luggage, when hotels open and how to get there. Live prices and a map. Read guide Amalfi Coast Amalfi Coast hotels compared town by town: Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and Praiano. Luxury suites, better-value stays, transport and when to book. Read guide Sorrento Hotels in Sorrento, Italy: cliff-top sea-view rooms vs the old town, getting there from Naples, ferries to Capri and the Amalfi Coast, and live prices. Read guide Capri Hotels in Capri: Capri town vs Anacapri, why staying overnight beats a day trip, getting there by ferry and the best boat tours around the island. Read guide Lake Como Lake Como hotels on the lake: Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Como town compared, lake-view rooms and suites, ferries, getting there from Milan and live prices. Read guide Cinque Terre Cinque Terre hotels and accommodation: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola or Riomaggiore? Rooms with sea views, steps, the train and live prices. Read guide