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Stays

Rooms with a story: the hotels, palaces and hideaways our editors would pay for themselves.

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Stories in Stays

105 stories
The Eiffel Tower above the Seine at violet dusk, with river boats moored along the bank
01
Stays

The 7 Iconic Palace Hotels of Paris

France · 11 min
Aerial view of Munich's old town at sunset, with the tower of St. Peter's Church rising over Marienplatz and the rooftops of the historic center
02
Stays

Munich by neighborhood: where to book and where to think twice

Munich's transit makes every district close, so the neighborhood you book decides your evenings rather than your sightseeing - and one obvious-looking area is the city's standard mistake.

Germany · 11 min
The Leaning Tower of Pisa tilting over the Piazza dei Miracoli under a deep blue sky with scattered clouds, visitors crossing the square below
03
Stays

Where to Stay in Pisa: The Areas to Book, and the Ones to Skip

Pisa has two centres of gravity — the marble spectacle in the north and the living student city on the Arno — and which one you sleep in decides what kind of trip you get.

Italy · 10 min
The Colosseum in Rome at dusk, its arches glowing with warm light under a deep blue evening sky
04
Stays

The Storied Hotels of Rome: Where to Stay, Neighbourhood by Neighbourhood

In Rome, the address is half the experience. From the grand names above the Spanish Steps to hilltop resorts overlooking the dome of St Peter's, here is how to choose your Roman base.

Italy · 2 min
05Stays

Where to Stay in Ibiza: Neighborhoods and the Classic Hotels

Party strip or pine-forest cove? A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to basing yourself on the White Isle, with the island's genuinely legendary addresses.

Spain · 3 min
A traditional street in Kyoto's Higashiyama district at dusk, wooden houses leading to the Yasaka Pagoda
06
Stays

The Right Base in Kyoto: Areas to Book, and Areas to Skip

Downtown, Gion or the station: a candid guide to Kyoto's lodging districts, roughly what each one costs, and which ones quietly cost you your mornings.

Japan · 11 min
Close-up of a Japanese ramen bowl in a dim restaurant: sliced chashu pork, a soft-boiled egg, bamboo shoots and a sheet of nori over noodles in a blue-patterned bowl
07
Stays

Where to Stay in Osaka: The Neighbourhoods and the Classic Hotels

Kita or Minami? Beside the castle or on the bay? Osaka's neighbourhoods each make a different promise — here is how to match yours to the right base, with the city's most established hotels as landmarks.

Japan · 2 min
The Matterhorn mirrored in a still alpine lake surrounded by golden autumn larches
08
Stays

Where to Stay in Zermatt: The Areas to Book, and the Ones to Think Twice About

Matterhorn views, lift access and the walk home in ski boots — a candid neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to basing yourself well in Zermatt.

Switzerland · 2 min
Aerial view along Charles Bridge crowded with pedestrians, looking across the Vltava towards Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral at golden hour
09
Stays

The Prague Neighbourhoods to Book — and the Ones to Skip

Czech Republic · 2 min
The White Tower of Thessaloniki, the city's landmark Ottoman-era stone tower on the seafront promenade, Greece
10
Stays

Sleeping well in Thessaloniki on every budget

Thessaloniki is compact enough that no address is truly wrong, but each quarter sleeps differently — here is where the money goes furthest, from the seafront grande dames to the guesthouses under the Byzantine walls.

Greece · 12 min
The high-rise skyline of Lima's Miraflores district on green clifftops above the Pacific Ocean, with waves rolling toward the Costa Verde below
11
Stays

Where to Stay in Lima: Neighborhoods and Classic Hotels

Miraflores clifftops, bohemian Barranco, stately San Isidro, or the historic centre — Lima's best neighborhoods and its famous grand-dame hotels.

Peru · 2 min
Florence Cathedral: Brunelleschi's red-tiled dome and Giotto's bell tower rising above the rooftops of the city
12
Stays

Where to Stay in Florence: The Neighborhoods and the Classic Hotels

Duomo-side grandeur, artisan Oltrarno or a monastery in the hills? How to choose your Florence base, and the storied hotels that anchor each area.

Italy · 2 min
Seljalandsfoss waterfall in south Iceland plunging off a green cliff into a wide valley at sunset
13
Stays

Sleeping well in Iceland on every budget

From a design hostel in a former biscuit factory to lagoon-side suites with volcano views: the famous places to sleep in Iceland, and how to choose between city, coast and countryside.

Iceland · 2 min
Aerial view of Marina Bay Sands’ three towers and SkyPark at dawn, with the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum in the foreground
14
Stays

Sleeping well in Singapore, whatever the budget

Singapore's reputation for eye-watering room rates is only half the story: the city sleeps well at every tier, if you match your budget to the right district.

Singapore · 12 min
The jagged peaks of Vestrahorn reflected on the black-sand beach of Stokksnes in southeast Iceland
15
Stays

Where to Stay in Iceland: Areas That Make Sense for Every Budget

Iceland's accommodation question is really a geography question. Here is how to choose your bases — from Reykjavik guesthouses to aurora-country lodges — without wasting money or daylight.

Iceland · 2 min
16Stays

Stockholm Stays for Every Budget: The Areas That Make Sense

Every Stockholm price tier has a neighbourhood that fits it — and the island you sleep on shapes the trip more than the hotel does.

Sweden · 9 min
The curved glass Flame Towers of Baku rising above green trees against a clear blue sky
17
Stays

Sleeping well in Baku, whatever your budget

Azerbaijan · 2 min
The minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech with the snow-capped High Atlas mountains behind it
18
Stays

Marrakech Stays for Every Budget: The Areas That Make Sense

Riad or resort, medina or new town? Where you sleep in Marrakech shapes your whole trip. A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to choosing well at any price.

Morocco · 2 min
Close-up of crispy battered fish and chips with a lemon wedge, ketchup and tartar sauce on a blue plate
19
Stays

The Storied Hotels of Dublin

In Dublin the grand hotels are characters in the national story — one hosted the drafting of a constitution, another is owned by rock stars. Here is where to stay, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

Ireland · 2 min
Vancouver's downtown skyline and Coal Harbour marina reflected in calm water under scattered clouds
20
Stays

Sleeping well in Vancouver on every budget

A castle-roofed grande dame, glass towers over Coal Harbour, an ivy-covered beach institution and the hostels that make an expensive city affordable.

Canada · 2 min
The United States Capitol dome seen down a broad Washington avenue with bike lanes, trees, and passing cars under a blue sky
21
Stays

Where to Stay in Washington, D.C.: The Classic Hotels

In Washington, the grand hotels are historic sites in their own right. A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to the capital's famous classics — and who each one suits.

United States · 2 min
A narrow cobbled lane between honey-coloured stone buildings and a vaulted arch in the medieval Old Town of Rhodes, Greece
22
Stays

Where to Stay in Rhodes: Neighborhoods and Classic Hotels

Medieval Old Town inn or Lindos captain's house? A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to basing yourself on Rhodes — including the island's storied classic hotels.

Greece · 2 min
A quiet residential canal in Venice lined with small moored boats, iron railings and weathered facades
23
Stays

Where to Stay in Venice: The Right Area for Every Budget

Venice pricing is brutal, but geography is negotiable. A sestiere-by-sestiere guide to sleeping well in the floating city — from grand-canal legends to quiet budget quarters.

Italy · 2 min
Close-up of Korean tteokbokki: chewy rice cakes, fish cake slices and instant noodles in glossy red gochujang sauce, topped with a halved boiled egg and spring onion
24
Stays

The Storied Hotels of Seoul

From the city's century-old grande dame to a suite in the clouds above Jamsil, Seoul's landmark hotels tell the story of modern Korea — here's which one, and which neighbourhood, fits your trip.

South Korea · 2 min
The gatehouse and red-and-yellow towers of Pena Palace above the forested hills of Sintra
25
Stays

Sleeping well in Sintra, whatever your budget

Portugal · 12 min
26Stays

Where to Stay in Baku: Neighborhoods and the City's Famous Hotels

Old City atmosphere, seafront grandeur or a room inside the Flame Towers? A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to sleeping well in Baku.

Azerbaijan · 2 min
27Stays

Sleeping well in São Paulo on any budget

In a city this size the district you sleep in decides how much of Sao Paulo you actually see — here is how the map, the metro and the price bands break down.

Brazil · 10 min
Three rustic crusty artisan loaves with floured, cracked crusts arranged with wheat stalks on a dark dusted surface
28
Stays

Sleeping well in Matera, from cave luxury to the town above

Candlelit cave suites, restored palazzi and sensible rooms on the plateau: how to choose your Sasso — and your budget — in Europe's most atmospheric hotel city.

Italy · 2 min
A Shinjuku street at night: the Hotel Gracery tower and colorful neon signs lining the road
29
Stays

The Storied Hotels of Tokyo

Earthquake legends, Olympic openings and a lobby so loved it was rebuilt piece by piece: where to sleep in Tokyo, neighborhood by neighborhood, among hotels with real history.

Japan · 2 min
30Stays

Where to Stay in Prague: The Right Bank, the Left Bank and the Grand Old Hotels

Old Town spectacle or Malá Strana calm? A neighborhood-first guide to basing yourself in Prague, with the city's most storied addresses.

Czech Republic · 2 min
31Stays

Where to Stay in Kyoto: The Right Neighborhood, the Classic Addresses

Ryokan or grand hotel, temple district or downtown buzz — in Kyoto, the neighborhood you sleep in decides the trip you have. A district-by-district guide.

Japan · 2 min
A temple complex in Bangkok on a clear day: the gilded Loha Prasat and traditional Thai temple roofs
32
Stays

A bed in Bangkok for every budget: from riverside legends to hostel lanes

Bangkok rewards you for choosing position over price: river, Skytrain or old city decides your trip more than your nightly rate ever will.

Thailand · 11 min
Golden-hour view over Edinburgh rooftops from Calton Hill, with the Balmoral clock tower and the Scott Monument in silhouette
33
Stays

Where to Stay in Edinburgh: The Neighborhoods and the Grand Old Hotels

United Kingdom · 2 min
Church bell towers and red rooftops of Vilnius Old Town in warm evening light
34
Stays

Where to Base Yourself in Vilnius: A First-Timer's Guide

Old Town romance, boulevard convenience or bohemian Užupis — how to pick the right corner of the Lithuanian capital, and the addresses worth knowing.

Lithuania · 2 min
A classic Greek salad in a blue-rimmed taverna bowl, topped with a thick slab of feta drizzled with olive oil and oregano over tomatoes, red onion, green pepper and cucumber
35
Stays

Athens Stays for Every Budget: The Areas That Make Sense

In Athens the smart question isn't which hotel — it's which neighborhood. From grande-dame luxury on Syntagma to backpacker Psyrri, here's where to base yourself.

Greece · 2 min
36Stays

Choosing Your Edinburgh Base: A First-Timer's Field Guide

Old Town drama, New Town calm or Leith value — the decision logic that matters more in Edinburgh than in almost any other European capital.

United Kingdom · 2 min
The neoclassical, Doric-columned Church of St George inside the Old Fortress of Corfu, set against the cliffs and the Ionian Sea, Greece
37
Stays

Where to Base Yourself on Corfu: A First-Timer's Guide

Corfu is bigger than first-timers expect, and where you sleep decides which half of the island you actually see — a base-by-base guide with costs, seasons, transport and the order to do it all in.

Greece · 11 min
38Stays

Your First Chiang Mai Base: Moat, River or Nimman?

Chiang Mai's three bases - the moated Old City, the Ping riverside and the Nimman cafe district - deliver three genuinely different trips, and choosing between them is the most useful decision you make before landing.

Thailand · 11 min
The monumental triumphal arch and curved colonnades of Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels under a blue sky with scattered clouds
39
Stays

Where to Base Yourself in Brussels: A First-Timer's Guide

Brussels is a city of distinct quarters, and your hotel's postcode decides your trip. Here is how the center, the Sablon, Ixelles and the EU district compare — and the storied address worth knowing.

Belgium · 2 min
40Stays

Where to Stay on Mahé: Coves, Classics, and Grand Resorts

From Beau Vallon's easy crescent to the villa resorts of the wild southwest — a neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to Mahé's famous addresses.

Seychelles · 2 min
The ceremonial plaza of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, with manicured gardens and the orange-roofed National Theater and Concert Hall on either side under a blue sky
41
Stays

A First-Timer's Guide to Choosing Your Base in Taipei

Taiwan · 2 min
Aerial view of Barcelona with the Sagrada Família rising from the octagonal blocks of the Eixample grid
42
Stays

Where to sleep in Barcelona: the neighborhoods, decoded

The Gothic Quarter or the Eixample? Beachfront or hillside? Choosing the right base matters more in Barcelona than in almost any city — here is how the districts divide up.

Spain · 2 min
Zurich's Limmat riverfront under a blue sky, with boats moored at a jetty and the twin towers of the Grossmünster and old-town spires in the background
43
Stays

Basing Yourself in Zurich: The First-Timer's Neighborhood Guide

Old town for romance, Bahnhofstrasse for grandeur, Zurich-West for edge — a first-timer's guide to choosing a neighbourhood in a city where every tram ride is short and every bed is expensive.

Switzerland · 11 min
Panoramic view from Victoria Peak at dusk over the lit skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbour
44
Stays

Hong Kong stays for every wallet: the areas that make sense

Harbour-view legend or Mong Kok guesthouse, the real decision in Hong Kong is which side of the water you wake up on. A district-by-district guide to basing yourself well.

China · 2 min
Colorful houses along the Inn river in Innsbruck beneath the snow-capped Nordkette mountains
45
Stays

Where to Stay in Innsbruck: Neighborhoods and the Classic Hotels

From a 600-year-old inn by the Golden Roof to the grand dame by the station — choosing your Innsbruck base, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Austria · 2 min
A traditional fiaker horse-drawn carriage passing in front of the curved neoclassical facade of the Hofburg's Neue Burg in Vienna
46
Stays

The Storied Hotels of Vienna

Vienna's grand hotels are cultural institutions in their own right - which district to sleep in, what a bed actually costs, and the weeks to avoid.

Austria · 11 min
A Spanish tapas spread on a dark wooden bar table: a paella pan, a board of jamon and cheeses, plates of pintxos and montaditos, skewers, and glasses of vermouth and gin tonic
47
Stays

The Storied Hotels of Seville

In Seville the address matters as much as the thread count. A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to where to sleep — from converted patio palaces to the grande dame built for a king.

Spain · 2 min
48Stays

The Storied Hotels of Paris

Choose your Paris by choosing your neighborhood: the legendary addresses of the Right Bank, the literary Left, and which corner of the city each one suits.

France · 2 min
49Stays

Where to Stay in Singapore: The Neighborhoods and Their Classic Hotels

Marina Bay spectacle or shophouse charm? A district-by-district guide to basing yourself in Singapore, and the landmark hotels that anchor each one.

Singapore · 2 min
Aerial view of Dubrovnik's walled Old Town on the Adriatic, with terracotta rooftops, the Old Port full of moored boats and sea fortifications
50
Stays

Where to Stay in Dubrovnik: Neighborhoods and Classic Hotels

Inside the walls or above the sea? A district-by-district guide to basing yourself in Dubrovnik, from historic grande dames to family-friendly Lapad.

Croatia · 2 min
The medieval Belfry of Bruges rising above the Markt square at golden hour
51
Stays

Where to Stay in Bruges: Neighbourhoods and Grand Classics

Day-trippers leave at five; the city belongs to those who stay. A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to sleeping well in Bruges.

Belgium · 2 min
The ornate Gothic marble facade of the Duomo di Milano under a blue sky, with crowds and pigeons filling the cathedral square below
52
Stays

Basing Yourself in Milan: A First-Timer's Guide to the Right Neighborhood

Milan is compact and Metro-laced, but book in the wrong district and you will spend the trip commuting past the city's charm instead of living in it. Here is how the neighbourhoods actually differ.

Italy · 12 min
The village of Vernazza in the Cinque Terre glowing at dusk, its lights spilling down the cliff toward the Ligurian Sea
53
Stays

Choosing Your First Cinque Terre Base: A Practical Guide

Which of the five villages to sleep in, what a bed actually costs, and why many experienced visitors deliberately base themselves in La Spezia or Levanto instead.

Italy · 11 min
Breaded schnitzel served with pan-fried potatoes, a lemon wedge, and a small pot of cranberry sauce on a white plate — classic German tavern fare
54
Stays

Basing Yourself in Frankfurt: A First-Timer’s Guide

Frankfurt is small enough to cross on foot, but its quarters diverge sharply after dark — here is which one to book, roughly what it costs, and when the trade-fair calendar will double the bill.

Germany · 9 min
55Stays

Your First Barcelona Base: The Classic Addresses, Decoded

The grand hotels of Passeig de Gracia, Gran Via, the old town and the seafront work as a map of Barcelona's neighbourhoods - here is what each base really costs you in money, walking time and season.

Spain · 12 min
Rolling Tuscan hills at misty sunrise, with a stone farmhouse ringed by cypress trees on a ridge and a winding white road below
56
Stays

Where to Stay in Siena: Neighborhoods and Grand Classics

Inside the walls near the Campo, in a converted monastery just outside them, or amid Chianti vines: a neighborhood-led guide to Siena's most storied places to sleep.

Italy · 2 min
Half-timbered houses and flower boxes along a canal in Strasbourg's Petite France quarter
57
Stays

Sleeping well in Strasbourg on every budget

France · 8 min
Sunset glowing over the Naka River canal between buildings in Fukuoka
58
Stays

Sleeping well in Fukuoka, whatever your budget

Fukuoka is compact enough that the hotel choice is about character rather than commute: station-side efficiency in Hakata, downtown polish in Tenjin, or a bay view out at Momochi.

Japan · 11 min
Aerial view of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu backed by the Remarkables range, New Zealand
59
Stays

Boutique or grand: choosing where to stay in Queenstown

In Queenstown the real choice is not boutique versus grand but lake versus mountain and buzz versus silence — a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to where to sleep, what it costs, and when to come.

New Zealand · 11 min
60Stays

Singapore's most iconic stays: from Raffles to Marina Bay Sands

Five landmark hotels that double as destinations — colonial verandas, a rooftop infinity pool 200 metres up, and a former General Post Office reborn.

Singapore · 3 min

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