The 16 Best Hotels in Lecce

I love Lecce. It was one of those places I had to visit on my last trip to Italy. I had never gone down to the south before, and we actually had family there. So they gave us some tips on finding the best hotels in Lecce to stay at. Because we did not want to just stay anywhere. We wanted to find something unique, given the history that Lecce has. So hopefully you will be able to find some accommodation here, and I will go into detail on the research that we did.

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Here are our top recommendations for the best hotels in Lecce Italy.

Why Visit Lecce

Lecce is still a little bit more unknown compared to other Italian destinations. Everyone goes to Rome, everyone goes to Venice, and not many people know about Lecce and Puglia. It has got so much history to it, a lot of baroque architecture, and the locals actually call it the Florence of the South.

Some of the things I loved the most were probably the food. Obviously, I had to go see my family, but when I was not doing that I was going to a lot of the trattorias around. The area is renowned for its seafood, and I had some of the freshest seafood I have ever tasted in Italy.

The locals are really nice as well, and everyone is quite friendly in Lecce. And the main city is a good base for checking out the beaches around, or heading over to the Trulli. I have got a picture below of that.

How we select the best hotels in Lecce

So how did we actually select the best hotels in Lecce? Well, we took a look at the actual areas. As I said, we have family there, so they told us about the areas, but they also told us about some of the hotels in Lecce.

What we found is that a lot of the best options are actually old palaces and convents that have now been renovated into hotels. So there is a lot of architecture, a lot of baroque architecture. We also had a look at locations. You have the main city of Lecce, but that also extends out as well.

So we looked at how far places were from the beaches and from the actual town itself. And then we looked at reviews around the services, the amenities, the staff, and all sorts of rooms.

Where to stay in Lecce

Lecce is a beautiful city in the Puglia region of southern Italy, known for its baroque architecture and lively atmosphere. Here are some of the most popular areas to stay in Lecce.

Centro Storico (Historic Center)

First of all, you have got the Centro Storico, which is the historic centre of Lecce. This is where you are going to find a lot of iconic buildings, and you can be close to the Piazza del Duomo, the Roman Amphitheater, and the Basilica di Santa Croce.

Staying here is great for getting to all the restaurants and the shops. You will find most of the luxury hotels in Lecce around here. And when we stayed here, you would think it would be busy, but Lecce is actually quite small. You walk a few hundred metres and it is really quiet. So you can still stay in the historic centre but be in a quieter spot a little further away.

Porta Napoli

Then you have the area of Porta Napoli, just north of the centre. This is quite a lively neighbourhood. You get a lot of residential areas, but also quite a lot of bars, cafes, and shops around there. And here you are going to get a whole range of some of the best hotels in Lecce, including cheaper options, but also the more upscale ones.

Best for those seeking a lively nightlife scene while maintaining easy access to historic attractions.

San Biagio

Then you have got the San Biagio area on the southeast of town. I think this is more traditional. You get a lot of nightlife around here, a lot of restaurants, and things are a little bit cheaper. You also get all the typical Apulian food, which was great.

Best for more local food and the boutique shops

Porta Rudiae

To the southwest, you have Porta Rudiae. This is a smaller area with a lot of narrow streets and smaller piazzas. It is a lot more residential, so you will find most of the boutique hotels in Lecce within this area. Do not forget, both of these Porta areas are very close to the city centre, so you can walk in about 5 to 10 minutes.

Best for visitors who prefer a quieter, more authentic local atmosphere away from tourist crowds.

Mazzini district

And then you have the Mazzini district to the east of the Centro Storico. This is more of a residential area where a lot of people live. You will see the public gardens around here, all the supermarkets, the banks, and also a lot of the restaurants and clothing stores. I went here quite a lot, actually. I think I should have stayed here. It was a lot more relaxing than the actual centre itself, and I ended up going to quite a few restaurants around here.

Best for first-time visitors who want maximum convenience for shopping, dining, and sightseeing all within walking distance.

How to get to Lecce

From Brindisi to Lecce

In terms of how to get to Lecce, if you are coming from Brindisi, Brindisi airport is your closest option. It takes about 40 minutes to drive from Brindisi Airport to Lecce, or you can get a regional train that takes about 25 to 30 minutes.

Bari to Lecce

If you are at Bari airport and want to go to Lecce, it takes about 1 hour 45 minutes by car, or you can take the train to Lecce in about 2 hours, which is a little bit more relaxing.

Rome to Lecce

If you are coming from Rome, it is actually quite far. We did this, and it took about 5.5 hours from Rome to Lecce, or it is a 6 hour drive. During that part of our trip, we ended up taking the train because we thought we could just relax on it.

From Sicily to Lecce

If you are travelling from Sicily to Lecce, it is a little bit more difficult. You can either drive, which takes about 5.5 hours, or you have to get to Messina and jump on a special train. There will be a few more changes if you are taking the train, and from Messina to Lecce it takes around 7 hours.

Car vs Train

In terms of car versus train, we did a bit of both. I would say if you are travelling around the Puglia region, you probably want to take a car. You can go see some of the hilltop towns and I stopped off quite a few times. But as we were leaving, we ended up taking the train up to Rome. I have a post on airports closest to Puglia if that helps you plan.

Best Time to Visit Lecce

Spring (April-May)

Spring is awesome. Temperatures are around 19 to 24 degrees, and it is a little bit quieter, so you do not have to deal with all the tourists. You can still get sunny days and go to the beach on some of them.

Summer (June-August)

Then you have June to August. Temperatures go up to about 31 degrees, and it is the perfect time to go out to all the restaurants in Lecce. The beach is going to be absolutely packed, though. We went to one beach where the town felt so empty, and nothing was open, but when you headed down to the beach, it was packed.

Fall (September-October)

September to October is actually pretty good. You are still getting about 27 degrees, October drops down to about 22, and the prices start to drop as the crowds thin out. It is actually a really good time to go.

Winter (November-March)

And then you have winter. You are not going to get many tourists here, so it is kind of good in that sense, but you are going to miss out on all the ocean. Everything will be off-peak when it comes to hotels in Lecce Italy, though, so you can really just relax if you are visiting in winter. You might even get a bit of snow.

Luxury hotels in Lecce Italy

A lot of these hotels, you can really feel the baroque architecture in. Many of them are old palaces. When we were looking at them, we were looking for big beds, good service, and maybe some amenities. So here are my top picks for the best luxury hotels in Lecce Italy.

Patria Palace Hotel Lecce

This is one of the best luxury hotels in Lecce. It is a 5-star property that was actually founded as a noble residence in an 18th-century palace. What I loved about it were the rooms. Huge rooms. You have got the vaulted ceilings, really nice beds, and an open-plan bathroom. And this is right in the historic centre.

The staff are really friendly and can help organise a lot of things, like bike rentals or car rentals. They have parking for your car that they can organise. And what I loved was their rooftop terrace bar, where you could see the whole city of Lecce. So great to go for an aperitivo and watch the sunset. One of the best hotels in Lecce, full stop.

Find out more information and check the prices for Patria Palace Hotel Lecce.

Palazzo Sant'Anna Lecce

Next up is Palazzo Sant'Anna Lecce, and this is right next to the Porta Rudiae area. So still a few minutes to the city, but in a quieter area. And this is one of my favourites, and the pictures can show you why. Real history, baroque architecture and decor in the rooms. You are not going to get a better experience than that in this hotel.

Apart from that, they also have heated floors in this historic terrace palace. They also have a small pool area with an awesome spa experience, where you can book in Swedish massages, foot massages, and lymphatic drainage. One of the best hotels in Lecce, and it was actually recently renovated in 2023.

Find out more information and check the prices for Palazzo Sant'Anna Lecce.

Masseria Francescani

Next up is Masseria Francescani, and this is actually outside of the city, so you will need to drive here. But it is very close to the ocean. What I like about it is that it is a luxury hotel that was once a fortified farmhouse in 1633, so it has a lot of history and a lot of original architecture.

In terms of the rooms, they are all renovated, starting at doubles and going out to presidential suites. They only have nine rooms, so something very unique when it comes to where to stay in Lecce.

They also have a really nice pool where you can relax during the summer. And it is about a 6 minute drive from Torre Chianca Beach, which is a white sandy beach with blue water. So definitely more of a summer stay.

Find out more information and check the prices for Masseria Francescani.

Top Boutique Hotels in Lecce

I actually found quite a lot of boutique hotels in Lecce. Old ancient palaces with not many rooms. But what I loved about them is the detail, the architecture, and also the service from the staff. They know the area very, very well.

La Fiermontina | Luxury Home

One of the best hotels just north of the city is La Fiermontina. It has just 19 rooms and includes free luxury suites. It is near the Porta Napoli area, so it is a little bit more relaxed. You will find a few restaurants around, and it is just an amazing hotel to unwind in.

They have a pool under the shade of an olive tree, and they also do yoga in the garden. Their sister property is where they host all their spa services and massages, which you can get access to. And they recently put in a brand new private gym. On top of that, if you bring a car, they have free parking, which makes it super useful.

Find out more information and check the prices for La Fiermontina | Luxury Home.

Pollicastro Boutique Hotel

Another interesting boutique hotel in Lecce is the Pollicastro Boutique Hotel. This is a 16th-century palace that once went into disrepair and had an extensive renovation. And just look at it now, and that is just a picture of one of the rooms. So unique, this boutique hotel.

If you have a look at the pictures, check out the octagonal suites. That is one of my favourites. A little bit more expensive, but go for it. On top of the building, they also have a rooftop garden where you can relax and get views of the city. In terms of the location, it is right in the historic centre.

Find out more information and check the prices for Pollicastro Boutique Hotel.

Torre del Parco

Next up is the Torre del Parco. This is a 4-star place, just east of the old town. And this place was actually built in 1419 in a convent, so a little bit interesting. They have a rooftop terrace, and this hotel also has spa services and a bar on site.

In terms of the rooms, it is a convent, so they do not have loads of rooms, but there are 9 luxury rooms. I personally like the deluxe double with the hot tub. Also, with these baroque convents, they tend to be a little bit colder.

That is what I noticed when staying at some of these places in Lecce, which is actually good during the summer. We only had to put the air con on a couple of times.

Find out more information and check the prices for Torre del Parco.

Palazzo De Noha

If you are looking for something a little bit more modern, you have got Palazzo de Noha. This came from a 15th-century noble palace and has been renovated by the owners, Paola and Giorgio. Every room is unique, with different artworks, Italian design pieces, and some custom marble fixtures.

What I love about Palazzo de Noha is its rooftop terrace, which has an infinity pool and also a private solarium where you can have a drink with the views. In terms of the location, it is right in the old town, very close to the Roman Amphitheatre.

Find out more information and prices for Palazzo De Noha.

The best hotels in Lecce with the family

Now I am going to get on to some of the best hotels in Lecce if you are travelling with a family. When I was looking for these, I was looking for little things like do they have a pool, do they have spa services so you can relax, do they have babysitting, and do they have parking or access to parking if you are driving around Puglia.

Risorgimento Resort

I will start off with the Risorgimento Resort, and this is in the old town, with a perfect location close to most of the historical sights and the restaurants. It was built in an 18th-century family home and is a 5-star property. They have lots of rooms, from deluxe to triples to suites. It is traditional but modern, and you still get that essence of the 18th century coming through.

In terms of the family, they have cribs, rollaway beds, and even babysitting services. And if you want to go to the beach, they actually have an affiliation with a beach club that overlooks Salento, and you can get a private transfer with them. And then if you want, they have a spa where you can get massages, hot stone massages, and even body wraps.

Find out more information and check the prices for Risorgimento Resort.

Hilton Garden Inn Lecce

Next up, if you are with the family, this is just north of the city near the Santa Rosa area, so it is a lot more family-oriented. This is the Hilton Garden Inn, and it is a 4-star hotel in Lecce. What I loved about it is it came with an outdoor pool with sun beds. It has good views of Lecce. I really like the rooftop terrace and the restaurant bar.

In terms of family services, they have a large selection of family rooms and twin bedrooms, and they also have babysitting services. The rooms are classic and come with everything you need.

Find out more information and check the prices for Hilton Garden Inn Lecce.

Chiostro dei Domenicani

I have been wanting to write about this one for a while. This is the Chiostro dei Domenicani, just south of the city, so you will have to walk into town. But it is something really unique. It used to be a monastery from the 15th century. They have a chapel, frescos, and it is a fully renovated monastery.

For the family, they have an outdoor pool with lounges, a kids' pool, laundry services, and a really good breakfast. The rooms are very well renovated. You do not get as much of the baroque architecture feel in these, but they are very premium. You can see that in the pictures.

Find out more information and check the prices for Chiostro dei Domenicani.

Cheap hotels in Lecce

Now I am going to get on to some of the budget hotels in Lecce. The city is quite affordable. But if you are staying for a night or a couple of nights, maybe you do not want to stay at one of the 5 star hotels in Lecce. When I was looking for these, I was looking at whether they had all the basic amenities, their own toilet, whether they were in a quiet area, and whether they had air conditioning for the summer.

Le Club Boutique Hotel

I will start off with one of the best hotels in Lecce for value, and that is Le Club Boutique Hotel. This is just west of the old town in a palace from the 13th century.

The prices are good, and they only have 13 rooms ranging from singles to executive rooms. They have air con, Wi-Fi, and also smart features, which is pretty good for this hotel.

For amenities, they have a rooftop where you can get good views of the bell tower. They also have a bar to go for a cocktail. So a very well-rounded hotel in Lecce.

Find out more information and check the prices for Le Club Boutique Hotel.

Suite Hotel Santa Chiara

Another hotel in the city centre is the Suite Hotel Santa Chiara, and this is a 4-star hotel about 100 metres away from the cathedral. The rooms are quite traditional, and I like the mosaics on the floor. It is very comfortable, and they give you everything, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.

They also have a roof garden with 360-degree views of the town and a rooftop bar. So everything you need. Pop down for dinner at one of the other restaurants around the area.

Find out more information and check the prices for Suite Hotel Santa Chiara.

8Piuhotel

Now, I have talked about baroque quite a lot, and that is really what you go to Lecce for. But if you are looking for a more modern hotel on the cheaper side, there is 8Piuhotel.

This is a 4-star hotel just west of the city, so you will have to walk in, but it is in a quiet area. They have amenities like a gym, a restaurant, and the rooms are very modern. Comfortable bed, new bathrooms, and they have free parking.

Find out more information and check the prices for 8Piuhotel.

The best hotels in Lecce city centre

Now I am going to get onto the best hotels in the Lecce city centre. I talked about some of them being in the old town, but these are really all ones right in the centre, close to all the action. Here, I was looking at locations specifically. I would probably say parking is the only tricky bit in this area, but here are my recommendations.

Grand Hotel di Lecce

You have got the Grand Hotel de Lecce, and this is a 4 star hotel south of the city centre. It is art nouveau new building, so you will see a lot of stained glass and crystal chandeliers. The rooms are very spacious and very clean, and they have a safe and air conditioning. They can also organise parking if you have a car.

The breakfast is also known for being really good. During the winter, they have a breakfast room with a fireplace, and in the summer, they have a garden. So, one of the best hotels in Lecce city centre.

Check out the prices and availability for The Grand Hotel Lecce.

Grand Hotel Tiziano

Going back to a more contemporary feel, there is the Grand Hotel Tiziano just north of the city centre. They have a wellness centre where you can book a lot of treatments. They also have their restaurant, which serves Lecce cuisine and has vaulted ceilings, which is quite cool.

The rooms are quite modern but very, very spacious, so you can really relax in this hotel. And they have free parking, which is pretty good. On top of that, they also have an affiliation with beach clubs, so you can get a discount at some of the beach clubs if you want to head out there.

Check out the prices & availability.

Mercure Hotel President Lecce

And then another hotel is the Mercure Hotel President Lecce. This is on the east of town, so a little bit quieter. It has recently been refurbished and is a 4-star hotel in Lecce. They have 150 rooms, so you will be able to find something there. In terms of perspective, it is about 300 metres away from Piazza Mazzini.

From here they have their own restaurant and a bar. And if you are with the family, they also have babysitting services and cribs.

Check out the prices for the Mercure Hotel President Lecce.

A map of the best hotels in Lecce

I have also made a map of the best hotels in Lecce, just so you can see the areas where they are.

5 Star Hotels in Lecce Italy

I also just wanted to quickly talk about some of the 5 star hotels in Lecce. When it comes to 5 star hotels in Lecce, there are actually not that many compared to some of the larger selling destinations. It is quite a small city, Lecce, well the main city itself. So I have put them in by reviews so you can get a feel for it. You have got La Fiermontina, the Patria Palace Hotel, Risorgimento Resort & Palazzo Sant'Anna Lecce.

I think my favourite would be the Palazzo Sant'Anna Lecce. Just look at the room in the pictures.

When it comes to 5 star hotels in Lecce, there are relatively few compared to larger Italian destinations. The select properties that do exist, offer exceptional experiences that complement the city's historic atmosphere and baroque architecture. Here they are:

So I hope you enjoyed my blog on the best hotels in Lecce. If you have been to Lecce and stayed anywhere else that you really loved, feel free to send some photos and drop a comment in the box below. I love to share them with my readers.

The best hotels in Lecce FAQ's

Hotels in Lecce old town

The old town, or Centro Storico, has some of the most unique places to stay in the whole city. The Patria Palace Hotel sits right in the historic centre and is a brilliant choice if you want to be close to all the main sights. Palazzo Castro Boutique Hotel is also right there, as is Palazzo de Noha which is very close to the Roman Amphitheatre. These all put you within walking distance of the Piazza del Duomo and the best restaurants.

Best hotels in Lecce for couples

For couples, you really get that special feel at the Patria Palace Hotel with those huge rooms and the rooftop terrace. Palazzo Sant'Anna Lecce is also up there for me. In summer, Masseria Francescani near the ocean is a great shout. And I really like La Fiermontina when travelling as a couple. It is relaxed, quiet, and the pool under the olive tree is just something else.

Lecce hotels with a pool

If a pool is important to you, there are some great options. Palazzo Sant'Anna Lecce has a small pool area with a spa. La Fiermontina has a pool under the shade of an olive tree. Palazzo de Noha has an infinity pool on the rooftop. The Hilton Garden Inn has an outdoor pool with sun beds. And if you are with the family, the Chiostro dei Domenicani has an outdoor pool with a kids pool as well.

Lecce hotels with parking

Parking in the city centre can be tricky, so it is worth factoring in. The Patria Palace Hotel Lecce can organise parking for you. Masseria Francescani has parking, given that it is outside the city. La Fiermontina has free parking. Palazzo Castro Boutique Hotel has valet parking. The Grand Hotel de Lecce can also organise parking. And the Grand Hotel Tiziano has free parking. Just double-check the free parking details for each, as things can change since I last wrote this.

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