Where to stay in Abruzzo, among parks, mountains and coast

Where to stay in Abruzzo, area by area

Abruzzo is a region of mountains and parks that reaches down to the sea, and it pays to choose your base according to what you want to do. Here you will find twelve places in three areas: L'Aquila and the Marsica, the Upper Sangro and the National Park, and the hills and the Adriatic coast.

L'Aquila and the Marsica

A base among mountains, hill villages and L'Aquila, good for walking and for those travelling by car.

• Locanda Corte Dé Guasconi, in Antrosano. A quiet country house with a garden, a panoramic terrace and an in-house restaurant, with a few rooms that have balconies and mountain views. For those looking for tranquillity, good food and a base for the Fucino area, not for luxury seekers.
• Appartamento Al Castello, in Avezzano. An apartment with a bedroom, living room and fitted kitchen, a few steps from the castle. Suits couples or anyone travelling with a dog who wants to be self-sufficient, but it has few reviews and none of the services of a hotel.
• B&B A Casa di Nonna, in Massa D'Albe. Spacious rooms, a private terrace, a garden and free parking. With its high Google rating it is ideal for those walking the Cammino dei Briganti or looking for silence, less so for anyone wanting nightlife.
• Casale Mammarella, in Sant'Elia. A holiday home on the edge of L'Aquila, with an apartment, a well-kept garden, a panoramic terrace, a fitted kitchen and private parking. It is outside the historic centre but close to everything, so it suits families, groups of friends and anyone travelling by car.

Roccaraso, Castel di Sangro and the National Park

The ski-lift area in winter and the walking trails the rest of the year.

• Antica Neviera House, in Castel di Sangro. A bed and breakfast in the centre, a short drive from the Roccaraso and Rivisondoli ski lifts. It can serve as a base for skiing and cycling, but recent reviews are mixed, so it is worth checking the details before booking.
• Residenza Dei Maestri, in Roccaraso. Apartments and rooms in the centre, a couple of minutes from shops and restaurants and handy for the slopes. Works well for families and friends in winter and for anyone who likes to cook, less so for those after brand-new furniture or total silence.
• Bed & Breakfast "De Contra", in Villetta Barrea. A historic palazzo in the heart of the National Park, with balcony rooms, a shared lounge and a terrace with a view. I recommend it to anyone who loves walking and watching nature, and who likes to be made welcome by genuine hosts.

Hills, and the coasts of Teramo and Chieti

Here villages alternate with vineyards and hills, and the sea is never far.

• Il Castello di Atessa, in Atessa. A B&B in a restored castle, at the highest point of the old town, with a panoramic terrace for breakfast. For couples and groups who want atmosphere and a view, less so for anyone arriving with a large car.
• B&B Villa Algi, in Corropoli. A villa with a pool and garden in the hills, a few minutes' drive from the sea, with rooms that have terraces and a generous breakfast. I would choose it for couples, friends and families who want quiet but also the coast and villages nearby.
• Casale delle Arti, in Mosciano Sant'Angelo. A holiday home with an osteria among hills and vineyards, with double and quadruple rooms, a buffet breakfast and a large garden. For couples and groups who want good food and calm.
• Terrazza sul mare B&B, in Piana Grande. Air-conditioned rooms with sea views, a private bathroom and a panoramic terrace, in the province of Teramo. A simple base for those travelling by car or bike; few reviews, but all excellent.
• Follow Me B&B, in San Salvo. A small B&B with a garden, a pool and air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom, in a quiet area close to the sea and the motorway. For couples and those travelling by car looking for calm.

What kind of accommodation you find in Abruzzo

B&Bs dominate, often in historic palazzi or village houses, and holiday homes and apartments with kitchens are also common. It is not a region of big hotels on this list, but of small places with hosts who are on hand.

In the mountains apartments make sense in winter and for groups, because you can cook and share the shopping. In the villages a B&B in an old palazzo gives more atmosphere. In the hills, holiday homes with a garden or pool are the right choice for summer.

Which to choose depending on your trip

For walking and seeking silence, I would go for the mountains; for a week at the seaside, the hills near the coast; for a weekend of atmosphere, a castle or an old palazzo. The table puts my ideas in order.

What to look for in reviews before booking

Ratings here are almost all high, but they do not tell the whole story. For Antica Neviera House recent opinions are mixed, so it is worth asking for confirmation before booking. Terrazza sul mare B&B and Appartamento Al Castello have few reviews, all of them good.

I always look at what guests keep repeating, more than the number of stars. When the host, the quiet or the cleanliness come up again and again, that is usually a good sign.

When to visit Abruzzo and how to get around

In winter people come for the snow at Roccaraso and nearby, in spring and autumn for the trails and villages, and in summer for the sea and the mountain cool. It is a region that changes its face with the seasons.

Getting around almost always means a car, because the villages are spread out and mountain roads take time. Always ask where to park, especially in the historic centres of the mountain towns and if you are arriving in a large car.