On this page, I provide a series of useful tips and information for choosing where to sleep in Porto Ercole. Obviously, there is no single best accommodation for everyone: depending on the characteristics of your trip, you need to figure out which are the best accommodations with the best offers for your travel dates.
Summary of the guide to choosing accommodation in Porto Ercole:
Like all the pages on this site, the advice I provide on this page is the result of my thirty years of personal experience on the spot: I know Porto Ercole very well and have been there many times.
the factors that determine the choice
As mentioned at the very beginning, which accommodation to choose depends on a series of variable factors and elements that depend on both your needs and interests, and the characteristics of your trip.
And even before analysing these factors, I strongly advise you to reflect on an important point:
are you really sure that staying in Porto Ercole is the best option for you? Or rather: that Porto Ercole is actually the best place to stay during your trip or holiday.
If you don’t know how or simply can’t park your car, it might not be a good choice, just as Porto Ercole is not a good choice in August: too crowded, mobility very limited by the LTZs, sky-high prices, and too many stressed people around. All factors that do not help at all to enjoy the holiday.
See also the following paragraphs and my recommendations.
parking and LTZ
Before jumping in to search for and perhaps book accommodation, I strongly advise you to consider and plan all aspects of the holiday well, especially those related to mobility. Basically: the only recommended means of transport for visiting Porto Ercole and Argentario is a car, whether your own or a rental, but BEFORE booking your accommodation you must carefully consider where to park the car. If you are going to one of the three luxury hotels, parking is not a problem, if you rent one of the very expensive luxury villas, parking is not a problem, but in all other cases, you must face the issue and choose your accommodation also thinking about how and where you will park the car. And if you go in the summer you must also consider the LTZs that limit access to the town and the port.
Once you have considered the “car factor”, you need to consider personal factors:
personal factors
Which accommodation to choose essentially depends on:
- how much you are willing to spend
(Porto Ercole is certainly not a cheap destination)
- what time of year you want to go
(I repeat: avoid late July and the first half of August)
- how many people are in your party
(solo, couple, family, group)
- what type of accommodation you prefer
(hotel vs apartment/villa)
- any particular needs or desires
- what type of trip/holiday you want
(relaxing, romantic, cultural, beach, etc.)
- any other stops on your journey
(in some cases, it’s better not to sleep in Porto Ercole)
And this is just a short list of the main variables.
By combining everything, it is easy to understand that the best accommodation essentially depends on how much you are willing to spend and what type of holiday you want to have, and the variability of possible choices is considerably wide depending on personal factors.
However, there are some basic tips that would be better to follow:
my recommendations
I have already mentioned the main piece of advice, but I will repeat it again because it is really important:
Too crowded, difficult to park, access blocked by LTZs, you won’t enjoy your holiday.
Obviously, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t go to Porto Ercole in the summer at all and that you can only go in January and February: of course not. Just avoid the summer peak. Already at the beginning of September or the beginning of June the situation is much calmer and the weather is very pleasant: less sweltering heat. In absolute terms, to enjoy a beautiful summer holiday by the sea, in my opinion, the best month is June: the days are longer and the temperature is pleasant without being excessive.
Unless you are going in the low season
And accommodation “with parking space” means a hotel room or an apartment that guarantees you a private (not public) parking space reserved for you, which others cannot occupy. You need to check this aspect very carefully and ask the owner for confirmation. Do not trust the simple checkmark on “parking” in the search filters on booking.com and similar sites: many of the results that come up then report things like “Public parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is not possible) and costs €5 per day.”, and this text is NOT good enough. Of course, there are public car parks, but they are few and in high season they are always full. So on the site you will use to book accommodation, you must verify that it says “Private parking is possible”, which may be for a fee or included in the price.
Accommodations that include private parking are very few, and in high season (summer) they must be booked well in advance, accepting to pay much more than an already high average price because Porto Ercole is a prestigious tourist destination.
To avoid wasting hours searching only to end up choosing accommodation based solely on photos and online reviews that may not reflect your needs, I suggest you contact me for personalised advice:
As I said, I know Porto Ercole very well: all my advice is based on my direct personal experience of the last 30 years. If you tell me what kind of trip you want to organise, I am sure I can give you good advice.
If, on the other hand, you want to decide for yourself, I suggest you consider a simple indicator to understand which hotels in Porto Ercole are most popular with the public: look at the screenshots of prices on booking.com that I report below for all the reviewed hotels, in particular, look at those that are fully booked in summer and those that are half empty even in the first weeks of August. Consider that these screenshots were all saved on the morning of Monday 4th August, a date when summer bookings have been made for months and when all accommodations in Argentario should be fully booked until the first half of September. If they haven’t sold all their rooms, the quality/price ratio is not good: potential customers have judged that those establishments have asked for prices that are too high for the perceived quality offered. These are simple considerations, but I find them very interesting. I hope you will appreciate them too.
staying in Porto Ercole or elsewhere?
Usually, those who decide to come to Argentario and stay for a few nights always face the problem: where is it best to stay? In Porto Ercole? Or in Porto Santo Stefano or in other more isolated areas of Argentario? Or in Orbetello? Or even in the nearby villages on the mainland?
Given that I have no particular interest in promoting Porto Ercole over other towns (the domain is called porto-ercole.it, but I’m not working for the tourist office, you can sleep wherever you want as far as I’m concerned), below I offer some considerations based on my personal knowledge of the area.
Starting with the key consideration:
And secondarily on the travel period (in particular on the specific dates and offers available at the time of booking).
Obviously: the best places and accommodations are the most expensive.
That said, some useful considerations and advice:
- Porto Ercole is certainly the most beautiful town.
Without a doubt: where else can you find a small town with such a scenic natural cove surrounded by 4 perfectly restored historic fortresses?!
Being much smaller than Porto Santo Stefano also gives it a pleasant, more intimate and personal dimension.
On the other hand, there is the obvious problem of parking and the summer LTZs.
And the costs: being the most beautiful place, it is also the most expensive.
- Porto Santo Stefano I do not recommend.
Sure, it has a beautiful waterfront and is a nice seaside town, much nicer than many other towns scattered along the Italian coast. But it doesn’t compare with the very nearby Porto Ercole, which is objectively much better.
And even though Porto Santo Stefano is much larger than Porto Ercole, it’s not any less crowded: in summer it is equally crowded (in fact, it has always seemed more crowded to me than Porto Ercole) and there are also problems with parking and LTZs there.
It costs on average less than Porto Ercole, but on closer inspection, the difference is not so significant as to make you prefer it. At least in most cases: if you are lucky enough to find a great deal in a well-located hotel with parking, that’s another matter, but in high season those offers do not exist.
- Even Orbetello in my opinion is not worth it.
Orbetello is beautiful seen from above, but when you’re there in the summer there are mosquitoes (it is surrounded by a large lagoon), there is still chaos, and since in recent years it has been gaining a reputation as a “hip” location (at least in certain circles) the prices are not low. No, I would never go to sleep there for a holiday in Argentario.
- Hotels and accommodations scattered around Argentario can be a good solution.
But there are obviously many “it depends”: whether or not they are the best choice for you depends on the period, the available offers, your needs, etc.
Consider that the only true luxury hotel (Il Pellicano) is isolated in the coves outside Porto Ercole, and another excellent hotel that I often recommend is also in an isolated position on the coast.
So Argentario outside the main towns could be a good choice, but it depends on many factors.
- The towns in the hinterland cost much less.
And the reason is obvious: they are not the Argentario. Some are very beautiful (for example Capalbio), but the beautiful ones are still expensive.
And the really cheap solutions always have a reason why they cost so little: always check the location carefully on maps, if they are a few tens of metres from the railway there is a reason they cost little.
Or some areas are simply grim.
Of course, if the budget is tight, there is no doubt that the hinterland is the only way to then enjoy Argentario by day, but you have to factor in various inconveniences, and on the days of maximum summer crowding, horrendous queues leaving Feniglia towards Orbetello.
- Then there are the campsites on the coast north of Argentario.
Apart from being a completely different type of accommodation and holiday, it must be said that campsites were cheap once: now the costs have increased enough (when you really count all the costs of staying in a campsite) that in my opinion they are not as convenient as they used to be.
An in-depth article on campsites is coming soon.
I repeat again: I have no personal interest in promoting Porto Ercole over other towns. But objectively it is by far the most beautiful place, without any doubt. Whether to sleep there or not depends on the available offers and how much you are willing to spend.
If you are undecided, you can contact me for personalised advice: see the link at the bottom of the page.
the best luxury hotels
It may seem strange, but in the small town of Porto Ercole, from a certain point of view, there is no “best true luxury hotel”, despite the uniqueness of the place and despite having been a coveted destination for high-level summer tourism in the 70s and 80s.
At the moment in Porto Ercole, there are 3 5-star hotels (but 5 stars do not automatically qualify a hotel in the category of true luxury) and they all have different characteristics: the best is undoubtedly Il Pellicano, which however is located a few km outside the town; the one in the best position to experience Porto Ercole is La Roqqa; then the cheapest is the A Point Resort.
Il Pellicano
Hotel Il Pellicano is a 5-star hotel of true luxury with an international reputation: founded in 1965, it became over the years a fine retreat for the international jet-set and also for several European royal families. It is located in a discreetly isolated position on the southern cliffs of Argentario, a few km from Porto Ercole.
A video describes it better than words:
I had the opportunity to visit it a few years ago and was really struck by the beauty and elegance of the place: it was clear that the entire structure was elegant and refined, without excess, without any vulgar ostentation, because the clients who come here do not need it. You can clearly see that this is a true luxury hotel, in every detail.
Obviously also in the catering: the “Ristorante Il Pellicano” has been among the Michelin-starred restaurants for years and among the best restaurants recommended by Gambero Rosso, and also the bar and the more informal Pelligrill restaurant are of an excellent standard.
You saw the soberly elegant style of the rooms in the video. What remains etched in memory, however, is the view from the terraces:
In high season, prices for a double room start from around €4000 per night, which can become €5000 or more on the most requested dates in August, and then drop to less than €1000 in the low season. I remember well that a few years ago the prices were significantly lower, such that they could even be considered by a middle-class couple who wanted to treat themselves to a memorable little holiday in September to celebrate a special anniversary. Now this is a true luxury establishment for those who have no budget concerns whatsoever.
This is the screenshot of prices and availability for August and September:
(screenshot taken on 4/8/2025)
I recommend you check prices and offers for the dates of your interest on Michelin Guide Hotels or on booking.com, both excellent sites for booking luxury hotels (between the two, however, for this property I recommend booking through the Michelin Guide).
From some recent tests, I have seen that booking Il Pellicano on Hotels.com is quite difficult: there is almost never availability (so the hotel does not grant rooms to the Expedia platform and prefers to be bookable only through the two previous links).
The reviews are all more than excellent. In addition to the previous links, you can also find interesting reviews on Tripadvisor (see also the review of the Il Pellicano restaurant).
Il Pellicano is undoubtedly the best luxury hotel in Argentario, but you must keep in mind that it is outside the town of Porto Ercole, about 5 km away (map).
La Roqqa
The new 5* hotel La Roqqa is defined by many guides as a “new and vibrant 5-star boutique hotel” and is described more or less as a true “territory regeneration project” based on a philosophy of “new simplicity”, with a contemporary, essential design rich in colour, creating a harmonious dialogue between custom-made artisan furniture and iconic pieces of Italian design from the ’60s and ’70s. I wouldn’t describe it like that, but from these descriptions, the difference with Il Pellicano is already clear.
I have not yet visited its interiors, but from the outside and the photos I have a first impression, which allows me to say with certainty that its greatest strength is its location: a stone’s throw from the old town, but just outside the LTZ, with a spectacular view of the port and Forte Filippo.
The rooftop terrace is the real highlight of the property:
And for the rooms too, the real highlight is the view from the balcony:
This is a simpler room, also with a view:
BEWARE! The rooms at the back not only have no view but face a rock wall a few metres away: on booking.com, for example, these rooms are described as overlooking the “stone garden” of Monte Argentario. Check carefully when booking: usually these are the cheapest rooms and absurdly the difference with the sea view rooms is really minimal, so if you want to book in this hotel I strongly recommend spending that little bit more and getting a sea view room or suite.
But before spending all this money for a stay at the hotel La Roqqa I strongly advise you to check the photos of all the rooms carefully and assess whether that style really meets your concept of a “luxury hotel”. Note for example the bedside table next to the bed in the previous photo: does it look luxurious to you? It is certainly a matter of personal taste, but I, for example, don’t like it at all. Certainly not at those prices.
It is also interesting to note how the presentation video that runs in the upper part of the official website laroqqa.com is mainly based on the beauty of the place and the undeniable charm of the hotel’s panoramic terraces, while the interior of the rooms is shown very quickly only at the end:
From the video, the rooms look much better than in the photos. But you can look at the photos calmly and notice the details.
When I asked some Artificial Intelligences to summarise travellers’ opinions as they appeared in the average reviews on the internet, I got answers like this: the design is described as “superb”, “coherent” and “very elegant”, with great attention to detail that creates a unique atmosphere.
I repeat: it’s a matter of personal taste, and you have to like the style, and you have to find the (perceived) quality/price ratio good.
It is interesting to see that not only at the beginning of August is there still availability on booking.com for the whole month, but even in the first half of August, a period of very high season and maximum crowding in Porto Ercole, when it should have been fully booked for months, the prices are even discounted by about 50% compared to the average of €1300-1400/night for a double room with breakfast:
N.B. Those are the prices for the rooms without a sea view, but prices discounted by 50% at a time when all the other few hotels in the town have been fully booked for a long time, in my opinion, says a lot about how the average traveller judges the quality/price ratio of this hotel.
However, I invite you to check for yourself the reviews and prices on the main hotel booking sites:
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I repeat: the location and the view are unbeatable if you want a good hotel in a central position in Porto Ercole. But then you have to evaluate if you like the rooms and if you find the quality/price ratio acceptable.
A Point Porto Ercole Resort & Spa
A Point Porto Ercole Resort & Spa is the third 5-star hotel in the town: compared to the other two, it has much lower prices essentially due to its rather unfortunate location (it is on the main road at the entrance to the town) and probably because in this case too, the style of the rooms does not meet that of most potential travellers.
The only presentation video on the official YouTube channel of A Point Porto Ercole Resort & Spa quickly shows only the exterior of the hotel without ever showing the interior of the rooms:
Beautiful aerial shots of the area, but why don’t you show me the interiors?
These are the photos of the rooms from booking.com:
For my taste, they are a bit too dark, and I don’t like that blue neon light. But it’s a matter of personal taste.
The rooftop pool, on the other hand, is beautiful:
But on closer inspection, there are few sunbeds available considering the total number of rooms.
The breakfast area on the terrace is also nice (see photo).
As mentioned before, however, the prices are much lower than the other 5-star hotels in Porto Ercole: around €290/night for a double in mid-season, which becomes €400-500/night in August even last minute:
The fact that this hotel also has last-minute availability for almost all of August says a lot about the satisfaction and the average evaluation of its quality/price ratio as perceived by potential customers.
I invite you to read the reviews and see prices and offers on your travel dates on:
Before booking, carefully consider the location: it is true that it takes 15 minutes on foot to get to the town (map), but as you can also see from the previous video, the hotel is located on the edge of the town in the middle of nowhere. It is more convenient for going to the port of Cala Galera than to the town of Porto Ercole. However, on the other hand, it has the convenience of parking and being outside the LTZ of Porto Ercole, and this could be a great advantage in some periods, also considering the other positive aspects of the hotel (pool, breakfast, price).
the best central hotels
In Porto Ercole there are only two truly central hotels:
Bi Hotel
The Bi Hotel is a 3-star hotel whose two unbeatable strengths in my opinion are its very central location on the seafront and its excellent quality/price ratio.
To be honest, I prefer the rooms of the Bi Hotel to those of the two previous hotels:
The room prices vary a lot depending on the period, but the fact that at the beginning of August there is no more availability until September indicates that travellers find the quality/price ratio fair and convenient for a high-level destination like Porto Ercole:
See reviews, prices and offers on your dates of interest on:
N.B. In my opinion, the only negative factor to consider is that the main entrance of the Bi Hotel is inside the port LTZ, so you cannot drive directly to the hotel when the LTZ is active. You can stop just before the entrance gate at the beginning of Via Fosso delle buche and walk the few metres to the hotel entrance at the intersection with Lungomare Andrea Doria, but usually there is no space to leave the car in a regular spot at the entrance gate. See also my page on parking in Porto Ercole.
The direct competitor of the Bi Hotel is La Conchiglia:
La Conchiglia
La Conchiglia is also a small 3-star hotel in the heart of Porto Ercole, a few metres from the Bi Hotel, which has the same strengths as the previous one: super central location and excellent quality/price ratio.
And considering the location carefully, despite being only a few metres away from the Bi Hotel, that of La Conchiglia is even better for those arriving by car: La Conchiglia is located outside the port LTZ, and has the parking of Piazza Roma in front of it.
The rooms at La Conchiglia are small but in my opinion very nice:
In this case too, I clearly prefer them to the rooms of La Roqqa and A Point Resort, especially considering the average prices: about €120-130/night for a double room in mid-season or non-peak summer periods.
To find a place in August you need to book at the beginning of the year:
The fact that it is almost fully booked in August and September says a lot about tourists’ preferences for hotels in Porto Ercole.
I honestly prefer to have a simple, clean room and spend the rest of the money on eating well.
Both Bi Hotel and La Conchiglia are, in my opinion, excellent choices for having a good, clean room in a central location in Porto Ercole. The only thing you need to pay attention to and plan well in advance is where to park your car.
The alternatives to these two hotels are apartments and villas for rent.
the best villas for rent
In the surroundings of Porto Ercole, there are several villas for rent, which can be a good solution for both large families and larger groups. They have the advantage of usually having a parking space (if they don’t, discard them) and being in quiet and isolated positions, often with a sea view. However, the very fact of being in a quieter and more secluded position is at the same time also a factor that in some cases could be a problem: if you want to go to the village, how do you do it?
Moreover, it is very difficult to be sure in the wide offer available: some villas are really beautiful and well-kept, others are managed in a less than impeccable way and cleanliness sometimes leaves something to be desired.
Furthermore, many of these rental villas are only bookable through local real estate agencies, and from personal experience, I can tell you that not all local agents are among the best professionals in the sector. Here too, much depends on luck.
Therefore, I recommend that you preferably book through booking.com by selecting the filter on the right column to view the listings for villas for rent:
If you also select “holiday homes” a varied offer with proposals of various types comes out, but villas are a different category.
In my opinion, you will find the best offers on booking.
If you don’t need a villa or a whole house, you can consider an apartment or a B&B:
the best apartments and B&Bs
There are several apartments and B&Bs in Porto Ercole, and as with villas, the best solution is to search and book them through booking.com, this time selecting the “apartments” and “guesthouses” filters:
I also strongly recommend selecting the “parking” filter.
But be careful:
Because even by selecting the parking filter, many apartments or rooms come up that don’t actually have parking.
And besides parking, as always, you must also carefully check the features of the accommodation and the reviews.
Or you can contact me for personalised advice:
personalised advice
Since choosing a good accommodation in Porto Ercole is not easy, I advise you to contact me to receive personalised advice: explain to me what period you want to go, what the characteristics of your trip are, how much you want to spend, and I will reply with personalised recommendations. My advice is free: if you are satisfied, I only ask you to book using the links I will send you by email (only secure sites like booking.com), in this way I will receive commissions on your booking (which will not affect the price you pay in any way) that will repay my service. In any case, there is no obligation on your part.
More details on my personalised travel advice page:
See also the main page of my guide to discovering Porto Ercole:
I am an engineer passionate about travel, history, culture, and technology. I publish a series of websites on various topics: religion, travel, conscious buying advice, dangers of Artificial Intelligence, and reflections on the future of human society. Explore all my websites.