Yearning for a European coastal getaway? With every photo we see of a celeb stepping off a gondola, the craving increases tenfold. Let this year’s crop of movies, from Paolo Sorrentino’s drama La Grazia to Jim Jarmusch’s Paris and Dublin-set Father Mother Sister Brother, inspire your wanderings while the days are long and fall seems like it’ll never arrive. Just like in Venice, with its beloved winding canals, what better way to wile out the last warm days than beside a body of water? From Alpine lakes in Switzerland to the Mediterranean bliss of the French Riviera to ancient Portuguese rivers, dive into these six Western European luxury destinations.
Violino d’Oro, Venice, Italy
In a city as storied as Venice, how do you make sure you’re doing it right? This sumptuous home away from home is complete with private terraces to watch the Furlane-clad gondaliers and shimmering lights of the Piazza San Marco. In a city full of ancient villas, the Violinio d’Oro blends the design sensibilities of an aristocratic art collector with the instincts of an antiques lover, scouring the street markets for gold. From Rubelli brocades to mid-century Poledri chandeliers to brushed bronze Pipistrello lamps, the hotel is an ode to heritage Italian craftsmanship. While there, skip the crowds at the Piazza San Marco and instead, pop into the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, with its stunning array of 20th-century art and sculpture garden, or enjoy the breathtaking façade of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco.
Parco San Marco Lifestyle Beach Resort, Cima, Italy
The mountains surrounding Lake Lugano, nestled between Switzerland and Northern Italy, have long been a haven for artists and writers—Herman Hesse moved there in 1919 and penned many of his most famous novels on its idyllic shores. These days, you’ll find a smattering of small galleries and the newly opened MASI: The Art Museum of Italian Switzerland, a remarkably contemporary building and collection hidden within an alpine town escape founded by the Romans in the first-century. Located directly on the too-blue-to-be-true water, the Parco San Marco is a doorway to everything the lake has to offer, from hiking to boating or even relaxing on the resort’s private beach. Explore the vineyards in the surrounding hills or take a day trip to the town of Lugano where Swiss and Italian cultures collide.
Hôtel Du Couvent, Nice, France
Somewhere between Monaco and Cannes, Hôtel Du Couvent was once, as its name suggests, a 17th-century convent, abandoned since the 1980s. Lovingly restored, the overgrown brambles became lush terraced gardens of oranges, poppies, and herbs for teas and tinctures. Overlooking the Mediterranean, the crumbling convent walls became cozy, warmly toned rooms and verandas. In a nod to the ancient Romans, the hotel contains underground baths complete with a tepidarium, a caldarium, and a cold plunge frigidarium. Fresh eggs and produce come daily from the hotel’s nearby farm. The Old Town Nice environs are a Côte d’Azur dream—if you can bring yourself to leave the hotel, that is.
Viceroy at Ombria Algarve, Loulé, Portugal
For those looking to get out of the city, it’s hard to beat the emerald hills of the Algarve. Picturesque orange groves, fig trees, and cobblestone streets lead straight to the Viceroy at Ombra Algarve, a vibrant resort blending modern design with village life. For active types, a sprawling 18-hole golf course is a hop from the hotel, while the seashore is waiting just 30 minutes away by car. Romp through the surrounding forests in search of crystal clear rivers and waterfalls or sample wines from the region. The hotel’s cozinha serves an array of mouth-watering Portuguese favorites like octopus with red peppers and coriander, sticky rice with cockles and monkfish, and chicken piri piri with tomato salad.
Hotel Continentale, Florence, Italy
White: the color evokes lightness, peace, and the ease of linens blowing on a clothesline. It’s the dominant hue of Palazzo Pitti’s Sala Bianca, which hosted a bevy of mid-century designers, including Schuberth and Fabiani, and, in turn, inspired the design of Florence’s Hotel Continentale. Located right on the Piazza Santo Stefano with stunning waterfront views of the Arno River and the Ponte Vecchio, the Continentale is a portrait of a Florence of the past—the Florence of Salvatore Ferragamo and Irene Galitzine. On top of fashion and finery, find a world class restaurant—Michelin-starred, in fact. Borgo San Jacopo serves a tasting menu elevating Tuscan cucina povera with ultra-fresh, ultra-seasonal fare like cotto e crudo di verdure and maialino da latte.
Ventozelo Hotel and Quinta, Ervedosa do Douro, Portugal
A wine and food lover’s paradise, the Ventozelo Hotel and Quinta may be a farm, but it’s far from rustic. Situated on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotel, farm, and vineyard is a plunge into the sensations, sights, and history of the Douro Valley. The village of Ventolezo has been around since the 13th century, and the hotel, one of the largest in the valley with views of cavernous canyons and the shimmering river, has been there for nearly 500 years. The rooms, with nods to the region’s rich shipping history, boast wood-burning ovens, shaded verandas, and private pools. The real star is, of course, the food. Vegetables like beets, asparagus, and nettles are plucked right from the ground then roasted, pickled, and pureed to perfection, with the requisite bacalhau, octopus, and cod rounding the menu out. Owned by Granvinho, the world’s largest exporter of port wine, the wine selection is also vast.
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