December 18, 2025, 4:23 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
For 32 years now, the editorial team of the renowned travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller has been compiling the “Gold List,” featuring the best hotels and resorts worldwide. The awarded establishments may have just opened or been around for centuries–what matters is that they have left a remarkable impression on tourism experts. TRAVELBOOK presents the selection for Europe.
In the spring, TRAVELBOOK reported on the “Hot List” by Condé Nast Traveller, which highlights the best recently (re)opened hotels in Europe. The newly released compilation is much more timeless, and inclusion in the Gold List does not follow fixed criteria. These are accommodations that editors rave about years after their stay, according to the publication. Sometimes it’s due to outstanding service that makes guests feel “like a Hollywood star,” other times it’s the extraordinary architecture or the excellent food in the hotel restaurant that makes you want to return. And sometimes it’s all of these together. For 2026, the following hotels are the best in Europe, including the United Kingdom.
Akelarre – San Sebastián, Spain
High above the slopes of Monte Igueldo in San Sebastián lies the Akelarre restaurant, which has been one of Spain’s most iconic addresses for decades and has long been awarded three Michelin stars, according to Condé Nast Traveller. In 2017, the namesake five-star boutique hotel was opened at the same location, expanding the culinary heritage. The hotel features 22 modern-minimalist rooms with terraces overlooking the Bay of Biscay and is fully designed to “harmoniously blend with the surroundings,” as Akelarre writes on Instagram.
The now two restaurants, a spacious spa area, and a clear philosophy shape the concept: Luxury here arises from tranquility, landscape, and precision–supported by a strong connection to the region and its culture.
Price: from 456 euros per night
Badrutt’s Palace Hotel – St. Moritz, Switzerland
Condé Nast Traveller describes Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, which will celebrate its 130th anniversary in 2026, as a legend of Alpine hospitality. Praised are not only “the most beautiful hotel lobby” and the glamorous guests who stay here, but also the highest standards in service and location–right in the center of St. Moritz. Since the addition of the new Serlas Wing, which is connected underground to the historic main building, the five-star hotel is considered a fixture among the best hotels in Europe.
Price: from 920 euros per night
Beaverbrook – England, UK
“A trip into the often-praised English countryside doesn’t get more beautiful than at Beaverbrook,” writes Condé Nast Traveller about the stately estate in the southern English county of Surrey. The rooms are designed in classic country style, complemented by modern chic. The hotel is expanded by a so-called “Village,” accessible from the main house by golf cart and described by the British daily “The Independent” as “a quiet oasis designed especially for parents and small children.” The culinary offerings are also praised: in the renowned The Dining Room, which serves Japanese cuisine, as well as the Summer Dining Experience, where dinner takes place in a hot air balloon.
Price: from 556 euros per night
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Grand Hôtel Stockholm – Stockholm, Sweden
This classic luxury hotel is the only Nordic establishment on the Gold List by Condé Nast Traveller. It opened in 1894 and is considered the “Grande Dame” of Swedish hospitality. As the editors explain, history and modernity meet here in style–from the iconic Ingrid Bergman Suite with views of the royal palace to the outstanding gastronomy. The hotel’s cuisine alone seems to be a delicious reason to visit, with one of the restaurants awarded a Michelin star. Additionally, a stay here is relatively affordable compared to some of the other best hotels in Europe.
Price: from 285 euros per night
Claridge’s – London, United Kingdom
London’s Claridge’s (see large photo above) also deserves special mention. It is among those Gold List establishments whose names are already familiar to many. However, legendary status alone does not justify being named one of the best hotels in Europe. What matters is that Claridge’s remains imbued with the spirit of the Roaring Twenties while staying vibrant. It stands for impeccable service, suites of the highest luxury, and exquisite gastronomy, renowned worldwide for its afternoon tea. It is an all-around extraordinary experience, one you might tell your grandchildren about–as is the case with some of the Gold List’s chosen ones, writes Condé Nast Traveller. However, it comes at a price.
Price: from 1,092 euros per night
The Best Hotels in Europe and the UK as a List (Alphabetical Order)
- Akelarre – San Sebastián, Spain
- Badrutt’s Palace Hotel – St. Moritz, Switzerland
- Beaverbrook – Surrey, United Kingdom
- Castelfalfi – Tuscany, Italy
- Claridge’s – London, United Kingdom
- Coworth Park (The Dorchester Collection) – Ascot, United Kingdom
- Forestis – Dolomites, Italy
- Four Seasons Astir Palace – Athens, Greece
- Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria – Sorrento, Italy
- Grand Hotel Son Net – Mallorca, Spain
- Grand Hôtel Stockholm – Stockholm, Sweden
- Hotel Il Pellicano – Monte Argentario (Tuscany), Italy
- Il Salviatino – Florence / Fiesole, Italy
- Lily of the Valley – Côte d’Azur, France
- Maçakizi – Bodrum, Turkey
- Passalacqua – Lake Como, Italy
- Six Senses Douro Valley – Douro, Portugal