Lounge on the beaches of Barcelona, party all night in Ibiza, sample fine wines in Rioja country and relax among the beautiful people in Madrid – the vibrant nation of Spain has a lot to offer, not the least of which is a stunning range of stylish design hotels. These 15 accommodations represent some of the most modern and visually engaging hotels in Spain’s most sought-after destinations, from low-budget hostels to ultra-exclusive celebrity hangouts.

Barcelo Raval, Barcelona

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A four-star luxury hotel with affordable rates, the Barcelo Raval is most notable for its stunning transformation in 2009, which re-launched it as one of Barcelona’s most stylish places to stay. It’s flashy, it’s feminine, it’s full of eye-popping details like massive groups of dangling cylindrical lights in the lobby (an homage to the building’s distinctive elliptical shape). Bright, colorful and thoroughly modern, the Barcelo Raval is located in the city’s once-gritty, now increasingly trendy Barrio Chino district.

Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel, Ibiza Island

(images via: ushuaiabeachotel.com)

Venture off the mainland onto Ibiza Island and it’s almost as if you’re in a whole different country – a country where the raison d’etre is glittery all-night parties and lounging on some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful beaches. While you’re there you might want to check out the brand-spanking-new Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel, an exclusive adults-only party hotel located on the white sands of Playa d’en Bossa beach opposite one of the island’s most famous clubs, Space. This glamorous 236-room hotel has three restaurants, plenty of VIP perks, DJs spinning night and day, aromatherapy menus in the guest rooms and even swim-up rooms located along a man-made ‘river’ that meanders through the gardens.

Hotel Vincci Soho, Madrid

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A quiet 4-star hotel in the center of the historic district of Madrid, Hotel Vincci Soho is a contemporary design hotel located just steps from the Art Triangle museums. The hotel is comprised of five buildings, all cultural heritage sites, renovated and combined into an open interior space with plenty of balconies and terraces offering stunning views of the city.

Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego

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Designed by world-famous architect Frank Gehry, the Hotel Marques de Riscal can be found in Spain’s countryside in the heart of Rioja wine country, about two hours from Bilbao. This ultra-exclusive luxury boutique hotel has just 14 guest rooms and is, at least in terms of cost per square foot, one of the most expensive hotels ever built. Gehry’s billowing titanium roof contrasts beautifully with the more traditional architecture of the winery. The Marques de Riscal estate is one of Spain’s oldest and most esteemed producers of Rioja wine; even if you can’t stay here, a trip to the winery would be worth the effort.

Hotel Omm, Barcelona

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The Hotel Omm offers trendy décor and world-class Catalan cuisine in Barcelona’s Paseo de Gracia district, with individually designed guest rooms, a playful modern facade and lots of sunlight. It’s modern in a way that’s cozy and accessible, full of neutral tones and clean, straight lines. Just down the street from two of Antonio Gaudi’s most famous Barcelona buildings, La Pedrera and Casa Battlo, Hotel Omm has a rooftop terrace with a pool and a bar, perfect for gazing out at the iconic architecture of the area.

Hotel Viura, Villabuena de Álava

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A stark standout among the more traditional architecture of surrounding villages, Hotel Viura is bold and whimsical, with a Rioja country location that’s super-convenient for wine-loving travelers. With 13 standard rooms, 13 deluxe rooms, 7 suites and restaurant focusing on fresh, natural foods, Hotel Viura emphasizes low-key, luxurious relaxation.

Hotel Puerta America, Madrid

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Hotel Puerta America, a new design hotel in Madrid, is already renowned for its artsy interiors: “You know that the Hotel Puerta America in Madrid is something special before you even walk in the door. The exterior is encased in brightly colored cladding printed with the poem ‘Freedom’ by Paul Ellard. But that’s nothing compared to the showcase of international design talent found inside. Each of the 12 floors of this new boutique hotel was designed by one of the world’s most sought-after architects including Zaha Hadid, David Chipperfield, Normal Foster and Jean Nouvel.

Ascending from one floor to the next, one encounters jarring shifts in color and mood, shifting from Chipperfield’s toned-down monochromatic luxury to faceted stainless steel to Italian opulence. Marc Newsom’s sixth floor is practically vampiric with its red lacquer, white marble and black furniture while Ron Arad takes the seventh floor to a futuristic, almost space-like place with curved white Corian. Interactivity, Japanese minimalism, industrial cement and zebra-striped formica walls are just a few of the other themes included in the eclectic mix.”

Casa Camper, Barcelona

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Camper makes cool and quirky shoes, but what do they know about hotels? Plenty, as it turns out. Casa Camper, the company’s new affordably priced hotel and restaurant, is hip and eco-friendly, with few unnecessary frills but lots of thoughtful details that make life easier for travelers. A 25-room hotel in Barcelona’s El Raval neighborhood, Casa Camper uses solar power to heat the hotel’s water and serves up “healthy fast food” in the form of flavored rice balls, which you eat sitting on a giant set of concrete stairs facing out through a wall of windows. El Raval, a traditionally poor area of historic Barcelona, is a bit off the beaten path, but, says owner Miguel Fluxá, “We wanted to show guests another part of Barcelona that is not so obvious.”

Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao

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Literally standing in the shadow of the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Bilbao, the Gran Hotel Domine basically had no choice but to be stunningly stylish. Ultramodern yet seemingly effortlessly sophisticated, this luxury 5-star hotel has 145 modern guest rooms and a rooftop terrace with amazing views of the museum and the city of Bilbao. Its polished stone exterior and slanted glass windows provide a hint at the somewhat quirky stylings of the interior including a massive tower of stones that reaches from the lobby floor to a glass atrium roof.

Rooms Deluxe Hostel, Valencia

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Spain – as the rest of the world – is full of uninspired hostels that provide little more than a roof over a budget traveler’s head. The Rooms Deluxe Hostel in Valencia is not one of those places. This ‘designer’ hostel still offers up dirt-cheap bunks and private rooms but does so in style with 28 themed rooms designed by local artists. It’s got free wi-fi and – a bonus in the world of hostels – air conditioning. Best of all, it’s located right across from the City of Arts and Sciences, halfway between the historic district of Valencia and the beach.

Hotel Room Mate Oscar, Madrid

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Who says good design is only for the beautiful people? The Hotel Room Mate Oscar in Madrid is well within the average traveler’s budget, but doesn’t skimp on bold and dramatic choices in interior décor. Its 75 individually decorated rooms are fun, bright and unexpected, often veering into “wow, this is wild” territory. The breakfast room is so snazzy it might as well be a nightclub, and the hotel also has a popular rooftop pool.

Hotel W, Barcelona

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You can’t miss the sail-shaped Hotel W at the Port of Barcelona, a soaring 26-story structure that sits perpendicular to the dock to give virtually all 473 guest rooms picturesque views of the city and the sea. With a rooftop bar, lots of outdoor terraces and an infinity pool right on the Mediterranean, the W is an unparalleled way to experience seaside Barcelona. It’s a 25-minute stroll from Las Ramblas, making it a better choice for the seasoned Barcelona traveler or those who want to stay on the beach rather than attraction-obsessed first-time visitors.

Hospes, Madrid

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Peace and relaxation are the main themes at Hospes Madrid, a 41-room 5-star luxury hotel adjacent to the Parque Del Retiro, a large park in the city center. A serene color palette of white, beige and gray accented with soft shades of purple, mauve and coral enhance the soothing effect throughout the standard and deluxe rooms, the junior suites and the seductive Grand Suite. Guests can enjoy a tapas bar, a restaurant specializing in natural and healthy foods, a ‘Chill Out Patio’ and an indoor pool.

Hotel Arts Barcelona

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Tower above virtually everything else in Barcelona when you stay at Hotel Arts, located right on Barceloneta Beach in one of the 44-story Vila Olímpica towers. The Hotel Arts, managed by the Ritz-Carlton Company, has 438 guest rooms including 32 ‘club’ rooms, 44 executive suites and 28 luxury apartments; club-level guests get exclusive access to a private lounge. Outside the busiest parts of the city center, Hotel Arts is a quiet way to experience a very vibrant and active city.

Hospes Palacio de los Patos, Granada

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A 19th-century palace in one of Spain’s most stunning historic cities has been given new life as a chic modern hotel, the Hospes Palacio de los Patos. Once a Roman stronghold, the city of Granada is best known for its Moorish influences and retains a romantic and utterly unique sense of self that has been translated into all 42 rooms of the hotel. Muted tones of gold, silver and champagne echo the colors of the city outside and somehow manage to tie together the history of the building and its contemporary décor.

When you tour Italy, there’s no shortage of charming Tuscan villas, historic hotels decked out in ornate finery and of course your standard run-of-the-mill chains. But what if you want something… different? Whether off the beaten path or smack in the center of the most sought-after districts, these 15 design hotels, art hotels, boutique hotels and ski resorts represent some of the most stylish, modern, eye-catching and unusual lodgings in the nation.

Masseria Cimino, Savelletri di Fasano

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An 18th century farmhouse in the Puglia region, steps from the sea, is a Mediterranean dream with a bright, welcoming restored interior. The subtle décor has a modern edge without losing the charm of its rustic origins, including springs of rosemary and olive leaves and lots of candles. The boutique guest house has 12 rooms and one spacious suite, ranging from €110 (about $155) to €590 (about $835).

Million Donkey Hotel, Prata Sannita

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Where else can you sleep in a caged bed cantilevered from the side of a medieval building? The Million Donkey Hotel, in the small town of Prata Sannita  near Naples, is one-of-a-kind. Conceived as a sort of art experiment by Viennese design collective feld72, the dilapidated structure was transformed with the help of 40 local volunteers in an attempt to infuse new life into an area that has been all but abandoned by the younger generations in favor of modern cities.

Hotel The Gray, Milan

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A five-star luxury hotel in Italy’s most modern city, Hotel The Gray is packed with interesting design details like floating stairs in each of its 21 individually designed guest rooms. Located in Centralissimo just down the street from the Duomo, the hotel treads the line between hip and refined, inserting selective pops of color into a relaxing gray-and-beige backdrop. Rates range between €300 (about $424) to €500 (about $707).

Byblos Art Hotel, Verona

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In the heart of the Valpolicella region, the Byblos Art Hotel offers a stunning fusion of traditional and modern design, with its classic 15th century Italian villa exterior and brightly decorated interior. In fact, the hotel doubles as a museum of contemporary art with works from Frank Lloyd Wright, Anish Kapoor and Beatriz Millar. The hotel, which has its own spa, restaurant and poolside bar, offers complimentary transport to the town of Verona.

Atelier Sul Mare, Messina

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Between Messina and Palermo on the coast of Sicily is Atelier sul Mare, another hotel/contemporary art gallery in a three-story Mediterranean-style building with plenty of terraces and large windows overlooking the sea.  Twenty rooms have been individually designed by international artists, and there are an additional twenty standard rooms available. Much of the décor is influenced by the landscape in a modern and unexpected fashion – like an all black-and-red room reminiscent of lava and volcanic rock.

Ripa Hotel, Rome

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When in Rome, you can stay at any number of classical-style hotels – or you can go against the grain and choose the Ripa Hotel, where modern minimalism trumps ornate embellishment. The boutique hotel, located in the Travestere district, has 180 rooms and its own soundproofed discoteque.

Grand Hotel Savoia, Genova

(images via: asiarooms.com, the luxury)

The Grand Hotel Savoia is a 5-star hotel in the historical district of Genova, a city perched on the harbor in Italy’s stunning coastal Cinque Terre region in close proximity to winter ski resorts. The hotel is comfy and well-appointed, but there’s one thing that really stands out: the Barbie Suite. Done up in pink and white, this room, designed in partnership with Mattel, looks like a Barbie dollhouse in human-sized proportions complete with a giant portrait of Barbie herself over the adult-length twin-sized bed.

Strata Hotel, Sesto

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Architecture fans headed to the Italian Dolomites for winter sports should check out the Strata Hotel in Sesto (Sexten). The shape of the hotel, which is outfitted in a linear wooden facade made of local larch wood, was determined by local planning restrictions which make it seem like part of the hilly landscape, blending in quite well from afar. The guestrooms at the Strata are divided into family suites with living and dining areas and separate sleeping areas for children.

Una Hotel Vittoria, Florence

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Modern, but not minimalist? The Una Vittoria in Florence is contemporary luxe, giving a nod to Florence heritage with huge Italian Renaissance paintings mounted to the guest room doors in the hallways,  but the visuals here are shaken up with glossy black wall tiles, lots of curving surfaces and two blood-red spiraling benches in the lobby. Located in a quiet residential area across the Arno, the Una Hotel Vittoria is a bit off the beaten path with rooms starting under $100 a night.

I-Suite Hotel, Rimini

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For an unusual experience in the Romagna region, try the i-Suite Hotel in Rimini, a design hotel with dreamy futuristic details that engage the senses. Says interior designer Simone Micheli, “I aim at making man the main focus of the attention by stirring up his senses by means of shapes, images, colours, lights, materials and by creating a scenario hovering among transcendence and immanence, concreteness and abstraction, dream and reality”.

Arezzo Park Hotel, Arezzo

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Yes, the Arezzo Park Hotel was also designed by Simone Micheli, if you couldn’t tell by all of those very distinctive female body parts. The architect took this hotel in an even more surreal direction with a black-and-white palette accentuated with blue lighting. This design hotel has 120 guest rooms starting at about $265 per night, and is located 10 minutes from the city center.d

Abali Gran Sultanato Bed & Breakfast, Palermo

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Wild and colorful, the Abali Gran Sultanato almost seems like a cartoon come to life – an exotic cartoon that brings Arabian visuals to Sicily. Sounds strange, but the Grand Sultanato is nothing if not vibrant, and rooms are a steal at €30 to €90 per person.

Exedra Hotel, Milan

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Stay in a sleek five-star design hotel in the middle of Milan’s fashion district at the Exedra, housed in a former bank. Its luxurious spa, perfect for escaping the heat in Italy’s notoriously sticky summertime, includes a sauna, a Turkish bath and a bubbly futuristic underground swimming pool. The hotel has 146 casually elegant standard rooms and 18 themed suites ranging from ‘junior’ to ‘presidential’, with all décor made by Italian designers. With three restaurants and a series of public conference rooms, the hotel aims not to be just for travelers but to serve as a meeting place for the design-savvy residents of Milan.

Ca Maria Adele, Venice

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Directly facing the stunning Santa Maria della Salute church on the edge of a Dorsoduro canal, Ca Maria Adele is a glamorous way to experience the unforgettable city of Venice. Housed in a 16th century palazzo, this boutique hotel puts a modern spin on the old-world elegance of its historic setting. Each of the 14 rooms has been individually designed to reflect the city’s history. The location in a quiet arts district will make you feel like a local, and the bustling city center is just a gondola ride away.

Vigilius Mountain Resort, Vigiljoch

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Northeast of Venice in the Italian Alps, there’s a region where the cultures of Italy and Switzerland collide, where you’ll hear not just Italian but French, German and a local language called Ladin. In these mountains, only after a long walk or a ride in a cable car, you can access a gem of modern architecture: the Vigilius Mountain Resort. Designed by Matteo Thun, Vigilius revels in its stunning secluded location, nearly becoming part of the landscape itself with its grass-covered roof. The resort has two restaurants, a library, a lounge and a spa as well as 35 standard rooms and 6 suites.