Since starting my luxury agency, consulting hotels and VIP clients, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing amazing 5 star luxury hotels in Europe. After recently winning the Luxury Travel Blog Award, I felt inspired to share my own personal selection of the best hotels I stayed at in 2025.
There are more and more discussions online about what luxury really means and what luxury hotels should offer. From my experience, there is still plenty of true luxury to be found. To help you choose your next destination, I’ve put together a roundup of the top luxury hotels in Europe. Enjoy!
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Rosewood Vienna – best ambience and rooftop dining
Set in a beautifully restored 19th-century building on Petersplatz, right in the heart of the city, Rosewood Vienna is surrounded by Vienna’s most luxurious shops and restaurants. Opened in 2022, it’s one of the newest hotels I’ve stayed in. And you can certainly see it in every detail of its stunning design. The owner is a big fan of art and it shows. Artwork adorns almost every wall. I absolutely loved it.
From the moment you arrive, the staff greets you with warm smiles and genuine eagerness to help. Nothing feels like a problem; everything is taken care of seamlessly.
My favourite part of Rosewood Vienna, however, was the rooftop bar and dining area. From breakfast to lunch, dinner, and evening drinks, I found myself spending most of my time up there. The view is breathtaking and the food and drinks outstanding. Extra bonus points go to the manager, who personally came out every morning to greet the guests. It was a thoughtful touch that I haven’t experienced anywhere else. Thank you for taking the time to say hi!
It was very easy to add this Hotel to my list of the top Luxury Hotels in Europe.
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Le Meurice Paris – best service and location
From the Dorchester Collection comes Le Meurice in Paris. Located only a few hundred meters from the Louvre, Le Meurice certainly is one of the top luxury hotels in Europe and in Paris. One simply has to experience it. With newly renovated rooms and suites, it embodies true elegance and luxury. And of course, it is also home to Alain Ducasse’s gastronomic restaurant, awarded two Michelin stars. Absolutely delicious!
From the pianist playing beautiful music in the bar to the most delicious burger I’ve ever eaten, every detail of my stay at Le Meurice was incredible. It wasn’t just the perfect location. The impeccable service and genuinely friendly staff made my stay here certainly more special. It was the perfect hotel to celebrate my cousin’s 50th birthday (read more here). I truly felt like a VIP here.
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Four Seasons Budapest – best breakfast and view
Another unforgettable stay was at the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest. Originally built by Thomas Gresham for his mistress, it is locally known as the ‘palace of hearts’. After an extensive renovation 20 years ago, it holds the title of Hungary’s only Forbes Five-Star hotel.
From the moment you enter the iconic wrought iron peacock gates, pass through the lobby adorned with more than two million mosaic tiles, you feel transported into another world. Each room and suite at Gresham Palace tells its own elegant story, refined and timeless, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering some of the most breathtaking views in Budapest.
My favourite part, besides the amazing service and perfect room, was the breakfast. I could sit there all morning, enjoying the most delicious French pastries and drinking mimosas. It was certainly memorable. From my balcony, looking out across the Danube River, the Chain Bridge, and the Buda Hills, it felt like gazing at a living postcard. Or an AI image. So it definitely gets my vote for the best location and view.
I was especially lucky to be there during the National Day celebrations, where I enjoyed the most spectacular fireworks right from the hotel. Staying here is worth every penny! Especially with such a view! (Read my blog post here.)
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Ritz-Carlton Vienna – best Suite
The Ritz-Carlton Vienna definitely gets my vote for the best suite, the Symphony Suite. Fully renovated and one of a kind at the hotel, I had the absolute pleasure of staying there. Inspired by Mozart, the attention to detail in the design is incredible. And yet it feels so different from the rest of the hotel’s rooms and vibe, which seems a little bit more outdated in comparison to the suite.
Nevertheless, and mainly due to the Suite, Ritz Carlton Vienna makes it into my list of the top luxury hotels in Europe. You won’t regret the experience!
Personally, I settled into the suite and didn’t leave, except, of course, to go out for dinner. Invited by the head chef Thomas himself, I can honestly say it was the best steak I’ve had in a long time. The hotel definitely also gets my vote for its restaurant DSTRIKT. It is widely regarded as the best steakhouse in Vienna. And in my opinion, a spot you absolutely should not miss.
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Hotel du Palais – best glitz and glamour
This might just be the best hotel on the list of top luxury hotels in Europe. Staying at the Hotel du Palais in Biarritz was an incredible experience. Known as the glamorous hotel in France, I was lucky enough to enjoy the property and even celebrate my birthday here. Originally build by Napoleon III for his Empress Eugénie, it has been a hotel since the early 1900s. Even Coco Chanel spent her holidays here! As soon as you drive through the well secured, large iron gate, you are immersed in the magic of the Hotel du Palais.
The weather, unfortunately, wasn’t great during my stay, but that only meant I had more time to enjoy the hotel’s facilities. From the indoor pool to the Guerlain Spa and the cosy Napoleon III bar, it’s easy to be embraced by the timeless glitz and glamour this hotel represents. This definitely, without a doubt, belongs to the top Luxury Hotels in Europe.
And thank you team for spoiling me on my Birthday! A more detailed blog about Biarritz is coming soon!
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Top Luxury Hotels in Europe summary
So, from the Rosewood Vienna Hotel to the Four Seasons, this is just a short summary of the luxury hotels in Europe. Of course, there are others that could easily make the list, like the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, where I celebrated my birthday last year (read about it here). And who knows how many more hotels will join the list as my travels continue?
Not to mention all the little boutique hotels I’ve stayed in this year. I will write a summary about the small luxury hotels in Europe very soon. So stay tuned. Thank you, as always, for your support and love!
Rambagh Palace Jaipur 2024
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