Known as the Eternal City, Rome is an eternal destination for travelers seeking a place where the past and present converge. Here, ancient ruins sit alongside Renaissance art collections and 20th-century art deco architecture to create a dazzling tapestry of style, history and grandeur. The atmosphere of la dolce vita permeates throughout the city’s winding streets, hidden courtyards and, naturally, its hotels. These award-winning properties encapsulate Rome’s timeless luxury.

You can trust our list — we have been rating hotels since 1958 using an objective and independent process. Our incognito inspectors pose as ordinary guests and check in for a three-day, two-night stay at each property. The inspectors test hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, which accounts for 70 percent of a property’s rating. The remaining 30 percent comes from the quality and condition of the facilities.

Here are the best hotels in Rome:

Five-Star Hotels in Rome

Hassler Roma

Hassler Roma, owned and managed by Roberto Jr. and Veruschka Wirth, the sixth generation of a famous family of hoteliers, is an iconic luxury hotel long known for its regal design, personalized service and perch atop the Spanish Steps right in the historical heart of the Eternal City.

The Hassler’s returning guests extol the charming doormen, all-knowing concierge and attentive staff. Exclusivity, discretion and personalized service are why VIPs who want to enjoy the glitter of Rome without the glare of paparazzi have booked the gilded guest rooms since the hotel’s 1893 inception. Read more.

Hotel de la Ville, a Rocco Forte Hotel

With sweeping Eternal City views and a design inspired by 18th-century grandeur, Hotel de la Ville, a Rocco Forte Hotel sits atop Rome’s Spanish Steps. The 104 rooms and suites combine contemporary style with Rocco Forte’s inimitable touch to create a luxurious boutique hotel experience.

The rooftop Cielo Bar boasts unparalleled 360-degree views of Rome’s historic center and Vatican City, while courtyard dining area Mosaico offers a bistro-like charm.

This sense of style is complemented by a wellness focus. De La Ville Spa specializes in organic treatments featuring Irene Forte Skincare products, while the fitness center has the latest Technogym equipment. Read more.

Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel, is a hidden oasis in Rome’s busy historic center. Once the go-to spot for international luminaries such as Pablo Picasso, composer Igor Stravinsky and poet Jean Cocteau, the early-19th-century de Russie unveiled a new, contemporary look in 2000 that quickly propelled it to the top of Rome’s luxury hotel scene.

The de Russie’s modest façade cloaks an incredible palazzo and garden where glitterati from around the world love to take refuge. And since tranquility and discretion are paramount to the de Russie service, guests are guaranteed a peaceful and private getaway. Read more.

Hotel Eden

When it debuted in 1889, Hotel Eden defined Roman elegance, a title it maintains to this day.

The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel is known for having the best address in the Eternal City — a corner in the Via Veneto neighborhood, the inspiration for the Fellini film La Dolce Vita. The area is known for its tranquility and stunning views of the city.

Hotel Eden proudly reigns as the undeniable harbinger of style and hospitality. The hotel updated its look to classic yet contemporary art deco, with high-ceiling rooms, custom furniture and wide spaces. Read more.

J.K. Place Roma

Housed in Rome’s former school of architecture, J.K. Place Roma has a stellar location, an abundance of style and a staff that exudes warm hospitality. It feels simultaneously exclusive and welcoming.

On a quiet street off Rome’s busy Via del Corso, it looks more like a tucked-away townhouse than a buzzy boutique hotel close to the beautiful piazzas, famous museums, cafés and boutiques. The entrance opens up to a large living room and library available only to guests. Inside, vibrant jewel tones duel with luxe neutrals, and glam midcentury modern furniture mixes with traditional Roman touches like ornate moldings and gilded accents. Read more.

Portrait Roma — Lungarno Collection

Sitting on a coveted corner on Via dei Condotti, the city’s high-end shopping street, Portrait Roma – Lungarno Collection offers both a luxury getaway and a gateway to fashion. The haute hotel comes from the distinguished Ferragamo family, the same one behind the Salvatore Ferragamo fashion house. Fittingly, it sits above a Salvatore Ferragamo store, close to the Spanish Steps.

Of course, you can expect stylish, classic yet contemporary interiors in line with the brand. The 14-suite property was designed by Michele Bonan to showcase the Ferragamo lifestyle and Italian artistry, with photographs of 1950s Rome and the shoe designer’s original sketches on the walls. Read more.

Four-Star Hotels in Rome

Baglioni Hotel Regina

Ask someone from Baglioni Hotel Regina to define the aesthetic of the property and he might say something along the lines of “sophisticated elegance” or “classic sumptuousness.” That translates to timeless fabrics, original furnishings and Murano chandeliers that mesh in a wondrous way.

As you arrive at Baglioni Hotel Regina you’ll be greeted by the well-dressed doorman and a statue of Neptune. The Roman god of the sea may never utter a word, but his presence near the wrought-iron staircase announces that the Italian Art Nouveau movement will proudly be on display at this 1904-built treasure. Read more.

Gran Meliá Rome Villa Agrippina

Rome is not exactly known for relaxation, but guests at Gran Meliá Rome Villa Agrippina will have ample opportunity to do just that. Inside this urban luxury resort, you’ll find respite in the gardens, large pool area, generous spa and beguiling cocktail lounge.

On the edge of the Trastevere neighborhood and steps from the Vatican, the hotel is within ideal walking distance to major Rome sights, including Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and shopping area Piazza di Spagna. Read more.

Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel best exemplifies the dual nature of the Eternal City’s personality — decadent dolce vita and a magnetic sense of history. Its Monte Mario location in a lush and green 15-acre park with panoramic views of Rome and Vatican City sets it apart from the rest of the city.

At this luxurious hideout, you can swim in beautiful alfresco pools amid the trees, peruse a museum-worthy private art collection, unwind in a spacious spa that gleans inspiration from ancient Rome and dine at the rooftop La Pergola, one of the city’s best restaurants before retiring to your plush, opulent accommodations. Read more.

The St. Regis Rome

This gilded landmark hotel has held court in the heart of the ancient city since it was founded in 1894. It’s filled with opulent ornamentation — Murano glass chandeliers, marble columns, hand-painted frescoes and rich velvet divans — that intermingle in every room and hall.

In December 2018, the historic hotel debuted a renovation from renowned interior design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon. But it retained some charming historical touches, such as the 1874 wrought-iron elevator, one of the oldest in Rome.

With refreshed public spaces, re-imagined accommodations and a beautifully curated art collection, the storied hotel steps stylishly into the 21st century. Read more.

Villa Spalletti Trivelli

If there’s one thing that a visit to Villa Spalletti Trivelli proves, it’s that hospitality runs through this family’s veins. Starting in the early 1900s — when Gabriella Rasponi, the widow of Count Venceslao Spalletti Trivelli, bought land across from the Quirinal Palace and had the villa erected — the address has welcomed everyone from politicians to Nobel Prize winners.

Though a private residence throughout the 20th century, the desire to continue the family’s hospitality legacy returned. In 2006, Villa Spalletti Trivelli officially said hello to the public as a world-class hotel with the coziest and most refined of sensibilities. Read more.

Recommended Hotels in Rome

Grand Hotel Palace

Late architect Marcello Piacentini’s résumé reads like an Italian design anthology — Reggio’s Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, Genoa’s Arco della Vittoria and Brescia’s Piazza della Vittoria are among his revered works — and one of its standout chapters, Grand Hotel Palace, sits in the heart of Rome. Standing at vias Veneto and Liguria, the curved building commands your attention.

Inside, your eyes are drawn to 1920s frescoes, 1970s colors and unexpectedly shaped furnishings that could have come from any decade. With a bold look, an internationally influenced spa and vibrant culinary flavors, Grand Hotel Palace is a feast for the senses. Read more.

Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa

Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa deserves notice for its beautiful, opulent interior design and royal treatment of guests.

Located next to Villa Borghese Park, the hotel is close enough to the city’s historic center to enjoy a taste of Roman chaos and culture, and far enough to attract those looking to travel with a lower profile and a sense of calm.

Classic Old World charm permeates every inch of the property, from the elegant rooms to the stately lobby to the renowned restaurant that overlooks a lovely Italian garden. Read more.

Stay tuned for more: Forbes Travel Guide will announce its 2024 Star Award winners on Feb. 7.