Seven city break hotels in the thick of the action
Where to stay when you want the good stuff on your doorstep
07/01/2026
Words: Hannah Hopkins
Make every moment of your city break count by staying close to the places that matter – the galleries, landmark sights, incredible restaurants and hidden gems that only locals whisper about. These hotels, whether in the humming heart of a city or a perfectly placed neighbourhood nearby, put culture, cuisine and style within easy reach, so you can spend less time commuting and more time exploring.
Waterfront infinity pool at The Peninsula Istanbul (also opening image); Tarabel Lisbon is filled with antique furniture
1. The Peninsula Istanbul
Istanbul is a city that rewards wanderers, and The Peninsula Istanbul puts you in the middle of its most magnetic pocket. Set on the Karaköy waterfront, the hotel is housed in a magnificent series of restored Ottoman-era buildings, seamlessly blending historic grandeur with sharp, contemporary design. Arrival feels frictionless: a VIP transfer sweeps you in from Istanbul airport and the House Car team stands ready to deliver you for free to the city’s icons, including the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque or the winding lanes of Sultanahmet. Outside, the city buzzes with bazaars, neighbourhood cafés and waterfront promenades. Inside, the interiors offer a calm retreat, defined by gleaming marble, soft light and suites meticulously designed for complete quiet and restoration.
Dining here is an event, whether you’re enjoying breakfast right on the Bosphorus promenade or indulging in the legendary weekend brunch – an extravagant spread known for its sheer scale (the baklava stand is reason enough to book). Evenings revolve around the rooftop restaurant, mixing Turkish and Asian flavours against a glistening backdrop that includes the three bridges connecting Europe and Asia. For a pause from the sensory buzz, the spa offers an impeccably executed Turkish hammam, while the show-stopping outdoor pool provides vast water views.
High Life says… Skip the crowded ferries and arrange a private Bosphorus tour directly from the hotel dock, then explore the haunting, atmospheric Basilica Cistern, just a short drive away.
2. Tarabel Lisbon
Entering Tarabel Lisbon in the elegant, elevated Lapa neighbourhood feels like being handed the keys to a beautifully kept private home. This restored 19th-century mansion holds just nine suites designed by interior decorator Rose Fournier. Each is breezy with natural light, layered with curated antiques and dotted with playful, personal touches that makes it utterly one-off. Days begin quietly with breakfast, served with sweeping views of the River Tagus, either in the hotel’s lounge-cum-living room, private garden or beside the heated outdoor pool, jacaranda branches swaying overhead. When hunger strikes, the restaurant serves contemporary Portuguese-Mediterranean dishes such as lime-cured scallops, line-caught seabass and a gloriously molten chocolate moelleux, paired with thoughtful wine selections.
Though tucked away from the busiest districts, Tarabel makes exploring the very best of Lisbon effortless. Jardim da Estrela, Time Out Market, the hip Barrio Alto area full of restaurants, and the riverfront are all within a ten to 30-minute walk. And the airport is only 20 minutes by car, so you can kick off the sightseeing as swiftly as can be. Plus, in the immediate area surrounding the hotel are leafy residential streets and climb viewpoints you won’t find in the guidebooks, as well as the city’s creative quarters, such as 8 Marvila – home to the Ah Amália Living Experience, an immersive exhibition celebrating traditional Portuguese fado music. After hectic days of ticking off tourist hotspots and tackling Lisbon’s many hills, Tarabel is a haven that feels worlds away from the city’s thrum.
High Life says… Take a moment to appreciate the antiques in your suite. Each piece has been individually sourced to make your stay feel less like a hotel and more like the home of a friend with very, very good taste.
Bulgari London is near Harrods and Hyde Park
3. Bulgari London
For a London stay that blends cultural heavyweights with couture-level shopping, Bulgari in Knightsbridge delivers from the moment you arrive. Step outside and you’re seconds from the V&A, Harrods and Sloane Street. Step inside and you’re wrapped in muted Italian luxury with a touch of cinematic glamour. The rooms, particularly the Junior Suites, offer generous space for post-gallery decompressing, while the spa is a destination in its own right. Its 25m colonnaded pool glows like a film set and the Celestial Black Diamond Non-Surgical Lift Facial by 111Skin (yes, it uses diamond powder) is an absolute must for returning home with skin that’s impossibly luminous.
Foodies will love being a hop, skip and jump away from some of the capital’s top tables, including Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay and Zuma, but the Bulgari’s own Italian spot, Sette, is also worth booking (the cacio e pepe raviolo is divine) for a memorable dinner. Meanwhile the Clefs d’Or concierge can arrange private tours, last-minute tickets or even secure hard-to-get dinner reservations at Knightsbridge hotspots. This bespoke service ensures seamless experiences in the capital, whether you’re hopping between exhibitions or designer boutiques.
High Life says… Start your day with a quick walk across the street to the V&A before the public rush. This hotel makes the city’s best cultural experiences feel effortless.
Courtyard Deluxe room at The Guesthouse Vienna; WE ARE EDN restaurant at the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
4. The Guesthouse Vienna
Vienna does elegance with ease, and The Guesthouse captures that charm without sliding into formality. Hidden just behind the State Opera and steps from the Albertina Museum, the hotel places you in the city’s cultural epicentre, ideal for days spent browsing exhibitions, wandering cobbled streets or drifting between coffee houses. The rooms are bright, calm and generously sized, equipped with sumptuously squishy beds, Bang & Olufsen tech, cosmetics from natural beauty brand March, and a complimentary minibar stocked with some of Austria’s standout wines and beers.
Downstairs, the Brasserie and Bakery draws an enthusiastic local crowd for its pastries and light-filled interiors. From here, St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Graben and the surrounding boutiques are all an unhurried walk away. The Guesthouse strikes a balance between home-like warmth and polished contemporary design, making it a sleek base for travellers who want Vienna’s cultural highlights at arm’s reach but a restful, stylish retreat to return to.
High Life says… After a day browsing the Albertina, walk through the back alleyways to the Graben and reward yourself with a traditional Sachertorte chocolate cake from a kaffeehaus.
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5. DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
When your Amsterdam break is set to be fast-paced and fun-packed, proximity becomes everything, and this DoubleTree delivers it in spades. From here, the city unfolds on foot: Dam Square, the Royal Palace, canal-ring wanderings and bike-friendly lanes are all just a short stroll away. Rooms are modern, quiet and cleverly designed, giving you comfort without unnecessary frills – perfect for travellers who prefer to spend their energy exploring rather than navigating logistics.
Cap off an evening of sightseeing at the hotel’s top-floor bar, LuminAir. With its panoramic views of the city’s canals, harbour, and gabled rooftops, plus cocktails created by world-class mixologists, it’s not your typical hotel bar (in fact, it won the award for Best Hotel Bar of 2025 in the recent HBMEO Best Hotel Bar Awards). Order a classic Dutch spirit such as Jenever to sip while you watch the historic grachten (canals) glow after dark.
High Life says… Rent a bike directly from the hotel and you’re instantly connected to the city’s famous Museum Quarter and historic Jordaan district.
The main pool at Four Seasons Resort Marrakech
6. Four Seasons Resort Marrakech
Marrakech is a sensory thrill: cinnamon-spiced air, saturated colours, the call to prayer echoing across rooftops – and Four Seasons provides the calm counterbalance that makes the city even more intoxicating. Set between the Medina and Ville Nouvelle, this low-rise resort blends Moorish arches, palm-lined paths and shaded courtyards with contemporary ease. Rooms and suites are expansive, many with private plunge pools and terraces designed for long, lazy afternoons. Plus, the soporific spa offers steam-filled hammams, fragrant scrubs and massages that unravel every knot earned during sightseeing.
This is a place to toggle easily between the electric energy of the souks and the serenity of poolside rosé. Dining combines authentic Moroccan flavours with Mediterranean flair across stunning gardens and open-air courtyards (the views of the Atlas Mountains are a stunner, too). Service is famously warm and intuitive, the kind that anticipates your next move without crowding your space, and the range of excursions, from a whirlwind Medina tour to hot-air balloon rides over the Jbilets Desert, mean that you’ll maximise every second of your stay.
High Life says… Go straight to the pool bar for some Moroccan thé à la menthe. It is the perfect, essential balm after a day in the souks.
7. Columbus Hotel Monte Carlo – Curio Collection by Hilton
For a slower, more serene slice of Monte Carlo, Columbus offers Riviera glamour without the whirlwind. Set in elegant Fontvieille, this chic spot overlooks the marina and the Princess Grace Rose Garden, giving you Mediterranean blues and bursts of colour the moment you step on to your balcony. Rooms are bright and airy, many with sea-view terraces, and the heated outdoor pool looks as if it’s been lifted straight from a Slim Aarons photograph: think crisp lines, shimmering water and a sense of unhurried luxury.
You’re still within easy walking distance of the Prince’s Palace and Casino Square, but the atmosphere here is more residential, letting you dip in and out of the action. Days can swing between harbour strolls, rose-garden wandering, poolside lounging and exploring Monte Carlo’s calmer coastal corners. The hotel also carries a subtle thread of F1 heritage, a detail that motorsport fans will spot and appreciate, adding a touch of insider glamour to your stay.
High Life says… Choose a marina-facing room so that you can watch the yachts at sunset. It’s an experience that feels unmistakably Monaco.
