Where to Stay in Salerno

SDItalyAmalfi Coast › Salerno Hotels
Updated: November 16, 2023
By Santorini Dave

Our Favorite Hotels in Salerno

• 4-star: Hotel Montestella
• 3-star: Hotel Bruman
• For couples: Casa Santangelo
• For families: Casa Santangelo
• No car: Hotel Bruman

Original frescoes on the walls and ceiling and a terracotta floor in Camera Tre at Casa Santangelo in Salerno

Original frescoes on the walls and ceilings of Casa Santangelo, the best hotel in Salerno.

Best Places to Stay in Salerno

  • Salerno sits in the geographic center of Positano, Pompeii, and Paestum (an ancient Greek city in Italy), making it an amazing home base for exploring the Amalfi Coast and wider Campania region. Endowed with a train station, ferry port, cruise ship terminal, and numerous bus stops, Salerno makes getting around to regional highlights is a breeze.
  • Salerno has a wealth of attractions to make it a worthwhile destination on its own. Its 11th-century duomo (cathedral) houses the remains of Matthew the Apostle in an opulent crypt. Nearby, find vibrant street art in the Rione delle Fornelle neighborhood, the vine-covered Medieval Aqueduct, and Provincial Archaeological Museum. Arechi Castle (6th century Byzantine) looms from the hills above. Although much of the castle is in ruins, the defensive walls are intact and free to visit (a museum and restaurant are also inside the castle). The seaside Lungomare Trieste is a picturesque, palm-lined promenade the runs for two kilometers from Piazza della Libertà to the ferry port at Piazza della Concordia. Head southeast past the train station and ferry port to find a string of sand-and-pebble beaches with beach clubs in the Torrione and Pastena neighborhoods.
  • Salerno has three main areas: Centro Storico (historic center, the oldest part of the city), Centro Nuovo (the newer part of the city center from the 19th century), and the more contemporary areas in the Zona Orientale (eastern zone, mostly built after WWII and spreading east to the Arechi neighborhood, including Torrione, Pastena, and densely packed Mariconda, among others). Centro Storico and Centro Nuovo are of the most interest to travelers, with the exceptions of the eastern beaches. The west side of town, Centro Storico is the most obviously charming area and home to almost all of the city’s attractions: the duomo, the castle, and at the border with Centro Nuovo, the Aqueduct. A portion of Centro Storico called Plaium Montis rises abruptly in elevation and is accessible by a public elevator. You’ll find the botanical gardens here, a few B&Bs, and the city’s best views. Our favorite hotel in Centro Storico is Casa Santangelo. Just a short walk eastward, Centro Nuovo is not as postcard pretty as the historic center but is more convenient for traveling the region. This is where to find the train station and ferries to the Amalfi Coast. There are several excellent restaurants here and some shopping along the main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The best hotel in Centro Nuovo is Hotel Montestella

The 6 Best Hotels in Salerno

1. Casa Santangelo – Midrange

Elaborate frescoed walls and ceilings in Camera Quattro at Casa Santangelo in Centro Storico in Salerno
+39 349 741 3834
Boutique hotel set in a lovingly restored 19th-century palazzo of a Neapolitan marquis. The palazzo features original frescoes on the walls and ceilings, beautifully preserved hand-painted wallpaper, and terracotta floors. All rooms have private balconies; some have rain showers. The largest has two bedrooms and two showers. Breakfast is complimentary and served daily to the rooms or to the shared dining room. There is no restaurant onsite, but guests have access to a communal kitchen. Excellent location in Centro Storico near restaurants, shops, the Lungomare, and just 300 meters from the beach.

2. Hotel Montestella – Midrange

Outside the modern Hotel Montestella with two palm trees flanking a busy walking street in Centro Nuovo in Salerno
+39 089 225 122
Modern hotel located just steps from numerous shops and restaurants with free breakfast daily and a 24-hour front desk. Well-appointed guestrooms feature desks, refrigerators, tea/coffee makers, and private bathrooms; one room type has a private terrace. Excellent location on the main shopping street of Centro Nuovo, about a 2-minute walk to Centro Storico. The Salerno train station is only 600 meters away.

3. Hotel Bruman – Midrange

Outside the modern Hotel Bruman around sunset in Centro Nuovo in Salerno
+39 089 578 1042
The best-located hotel for exploring. Hotel Bruman in Centro Nuovo is attached to the Salerno train station with routes to Vietri sul Mare, Rome, and Naples, or Paestum and sits a mere 200 meters to the ferry port with routes to the main towns of the Amalfi Coast. Rooms here are simple, clean, and colorful with walk-in showers and minibars; the largest sleeps up to three guests. Daily buffet breakfast is included in the rate.

4. Les Lumières – Midrange

Inside a deluxe double room in earth tones with a jungle fauna mural at Les Lumieres in Centro Nuovo in Salerno
+39 089 289 9740
Family-run bed and breakfast with two rooms and two junior suites on the main street of Centro Nuovo. Contemporary rooms feature earth tones and garden murals on the walls. All have walk-in showers; some have a separate jetted bath. A basic Italian breakfast is served daily at the bakery next door. Convenient location in Centro Nuovo near dining, shopping, the Lungomare, and train station.

5. Ave Gratia Plena – Budget

+39 089 234 776
Clean, basic accommodations with free breakfast, 24-hour reception, a self-service laundry room, a bar (open seasonally), and off-site parking available for a fee. Guestrooms feature private bathrooms. Beautifully situated among numerous restaurants, bars, and attractions in Centro Storico, including the duomo and Santa Teresa Beach (not for swimming).

6. Il Granaio dei Casabella (Paestum) – Midrange

+39 082 872 1014
Located in Paestum, about an hour from Salerno via train or bus. Converted farm estate offering spacious guestrooms, complimentary breakfast, and free on-site parking just an 8-minute walk (600 meters) from the Archaeological Park of Paestum, the ruins of an ancient Greek city. The property grounds include a lush garden and a comfortable living room with a fireplace, and several restaurants are within walking distance.

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.