Europe remains a leading force in luxury hospitality, with 21 properties included in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 ranking. Although Rosewood Hong Kong retained the overall title, Italy, France, the United Kingdom and several other European destinations secured prominent places on the international list.
The results offer a snapshot of the hotels attracting the strongest recognition from industry professionals, travel specialists and experienced guests. Lake Como’s Passalacqua was the highest-ranked European property, finishing fifth worldwide.
Rosewood Hong Kong retains the global title
Rosewood Hong Kong was named the world’s best hotel for the second consecutive year. The 65-storey property overlooking Victoria Harbour has 413 rooms and suites, alongside 11 restaurants and bars.
The hotel was also recognised for its wellness facilities, including the multi-level Asaya spa and a 25-metre infinity pool. It previously ranked third in 2024 before taking the top position in 2025.
Asia recorded 18 hotels on the 2026 list, placing it behind Europe but close to the continent’s total. North America had six entries, while South America and Africa each had two, and Oceania had one.
Passalacqua leads Europe’s hotel ranking
Passalacqua on Lake Como was Europe’s highest-placed hotel, ranking fifth overall. The 18th-century property has 24 rooms and also received the Best Boutique Hotel Award for the third year in succession.
It was the second year in a row that Passalacqua led the European entries, although its global position fell by one place compared with 2025. The hotel had previously topped the overall ranking in 2023.
Four Seasons Firenze in Florence was the next highest European hotel, ranking 12th worldwide. The results underline Italy’s continued prominence in luxury travel, particularly among historic properties and smaller destination hotels.
Italy’s six entries
Italy shared the highest country total with France, with six hotels included in the 50-property ranking:
- Passalacqua, Lake Como — fifth
- Four Seasons Firenze, Florence — 12th
- Casa Maria Luigia, Modena — 18th
- Bulgari Roma — 32nd
- Portrait Milano — 39th
- San Domenico Palace, Taormina — 50th
Casa Maria Luigia was the highest new entry anywhere on the list. San Domenico Palace, meanwhile, is widely recognised as a filming location for the second season of The White Lotus.
France records six hotels
France also placed six properties in the ranking, including four in Paris:
- Hôtel de Crillon, Paris — 14th
- Le Bristol, Paris — 19th
- Cheval Blanc Paris — 20th
- Hôtel du Couvent, Nice — 38th
- Plaza Athénée, Paris — 41st
- Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc — 44th
Hôtel du Couvent in Nice received the Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award in addition to its position in the global ranking.
London and other European destinations feature strongly
The United Kingdom contributed four hotels, with three located in London. Claridge’s was the highest-ranked British entry at 13th, followed by Raffles London at The OWO in 28th and The Connaught in 49th. Estelle Manor in Witney, which ranked 43rd, was the only UK entry outside the capital.
The remaining European hotels represented a broad range of destinations:
- Four Seasons Astir Palace, Greece — 27th
- The Peninsula Istanbul, Türkiye — 31st
- Badrutt’s Palace, Switzerland — 36th
- Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Monaco — 40th
- Hotel Sacher Vienna, Austria — 42nd
The spread of entries shows that recognition was not limited to Europe’s largest capitals. Lakeside resorts, historic villas, coastal properties and hotels in smaller cities all appeared in the final ranking.
The top 20 hotels worldwide
The first 20 places in the 2026 ranking were:
- Rosewood Hong Kong
- Capella Bangkok, Thailand
- Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Thailand
- Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
- Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy
- Rosewood São Paulo, Brazil
- Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing, China
- Upper House Hong Kong
- Chablé Yucatán, Mexico
- Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand
- Aman Tokyo, Japan
- Four Seasons Firenze, Florence, Italy
- Claridge’s, London, UK
- Hôtel de Crillon, Paris, France
- Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Dubai
- Capella Sydney, Australia
- Raffles Singapore
- Casa Maria Luigia, Modena, Italy
- Le Bristol, Paris, France
- Cheval Blanc Paris, France
How The 50 Best Hotels ranking is decided
The ranking is based on votes from an academy of 800 people across 13 geographic regions. The voting panel includes hoteliers, travel journalists, hotel educators, business travellers and experienced hotel guests.
Each academy member selects seven hotels they have stayed in during the previous three years and ranks them in order of preference. Members may vote for hotels anywhere in the world, regardless of where they are based.
Voting is anonymous, apart from the regional academy chairs, and the results are independently adjudicated by Deloitte. The system is therefore based on recent first-hand experiences rather than hotel submissions alone.
What the 2026 results mean for European travel
The strong European showing reinforces the region’s importance in the global luxury hotel market. Italy and France together accounted for 12 of Europe’s 21 entries, while London also maintained a strong presence.
For travellers, the list highlights the variety of experiences available across the continent, from intimate Lake Como properties to grand Parisian hotels and major urban destinations. It also suggests that boutique scale, design, food and wellness remain important elements in how leading hotels are judged.
The ranking is not an official classification system and does not measure every hotel in Europe. It is a curated assessment based on the academy’s recent stays and preferences. Nevertheless, its global profile can influence travel planning and contribute to the visibility of the hotels and destinations included.
Conclusion
Europe’s 21 entries in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 confirm the continent’s continued influence in luxury hospitality. Passalacqua led the regional field in fifth place, while Italy and France each produced six entries. Rosewood Hong Kong took the overall title, but the European results demonstrate that the continent remains central to the global hotel conversation.
