Grand Hotel Villa Balbi

Hotels
8.8 (1126 reviews)
Viale Rimembranza 1 , Sestri Levante , it

Children allowed

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly and efficient staff
Good location
Cons:
Concerns about cleanliness
Need for room refurbishments

Categories

Cleanliness
8.05
Concerns were raised regarding the cleanliness, including dust in corners and hair in the shower, indicating a need for better maintenance.
Service
9.55
Staff received praise for being friendly and efficient throughout the stay.
Location
9.55
The hotel is well-placed for access to nearby beaches, restaurants, and transport links.
Room Quality
7.55
Rooms were spacious but showed signs of age, needing renovations and better upkeep.
Amenities
8.55
Adequate amenities were available, but a reduction in offerings like complimentary items was noted.
Value for Money
9.05
Room rates seemed high for the quality experienced, but the location adds some value.
Food and Beverage
9.05
Breakfast was satisfactory but uninspiring, suggesting room for improvement.
Overall Experience
9.05
Overall experience was positive with notable strengths in location and service, despite some cleanliness issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-05 22:58

Property Description

Lush Garden Oasis
Immerse yourself in the beauty of a historic villa nestled in a lush garden with Mediterranean vegetation and an inviting outdoor swimming pool. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Gulf of Tigullio from the seaside of Sestri Levante.

Elegant Accommodations
Experience the charm of wooden furniture and classic décor in the elegantly styled rooms at Villa Balbi. Choose from rooms overlooking the garden, historic centre, or the mesmerizing sea, all equipped with free Wi-Fi for your convenience.

Culinary Delights and Historic Charm
Indulge in regional delicacies, seafood specialties, and delectable homemade desserts at Il Parco restaurant. The hotel's public spaces boast antique furnishings, marble accents, and elegant chandeliers, all set within a 17th-century villa with a rich aristocratic history.

Book your stay at Grand Hotel Villa Balbi and create unforgettable memories in the heart of Sestri Levante.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: GOA

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs EUR 15 per day.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 13 years old to 17 years old stay for € 60 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for free when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.8
Based on 1126 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.05
Service: 9.55
Location: 9.55
Room Quality: 7.55
Amenities: 8.55
Value for Money: 9.05
Food and Beverage: 9.05
Overall Experience: 9.05
C
Cristina family_with_children it
7
Rilassante
Pros:

Elegante

Cons:

La camera non era pulitissima
Non c è stata alcuna convenzione con la spiaggia, stesso prezzo che al pubblico

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
C
Christin couple ch
10
Wunderbare Ferien an einem aussergewöhnlichen Ort.
Pros:

Wunderbare antike Villa, wir hatten ein riesiges Zimmer mit Aussicht zum Meer. Ein wunderschöner Park mit alten Bäumen, Swimmingpool und bequemen Liegestühlen. Das Frühstück war sehr reichhaltig, man konnte von 7-11 Uhr frühstücken.

Cons:

Nichts

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
G
Giovanni couple it
10
2026-01-19 via Nuitee
C
carol extended_group ca
8
2026-01-19 via Nuitee
T
Thomas couple au
10
Pros:

Fantastic hotel and super friendly staff. The view from the apartment overlooking the riviera was stunning. Amenities were great including the buffet breakfast. We stayed here in September and there were minimal tourists, perfect time to visit!

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
E
Ettore couple ch
9
Perfect location with the beach nearby.
Pros:

This hotel has a perfect location in the city center with lots of restaurants around and the beach across the road. The beach is with additional charge, as well as the parking. The room is of a good size, shower is comfortable. The room was very clean and the staff is very kind and helpful.

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
P
Patricia extended_group ch
6
Pros:

Lage

Cons:

Sehr ringhörig. Kleine Dusche, wenig Ablagefläche Bad und Zimmer.

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
G
Gerhard couple at
9
2026-01-15 via Nuitee
J
Jean-Pierre et stéphanie family_with_children fr
10
Séjour sympa en famille
Pros:

Deco sympa

Cons:

L emplacement est top

2025-11-07 via Nuitee
U
UMBERTO couple it
10
2025-11-01 via Nuitee
H
Hanna-Kajsa extended_group se
9
En fantastisk vistelse!!
Pros:

Grandiosa lokaler, överdådig inredning, historisk lyx! Piccolo, fantastisk personal, underbar trädgård att äta frukost i, och egen solstolsuthyrning på stranden tvärs över vägen.

Cons:

Lite hårda sängar för en skandinav, men annars fanns absolut inget att klaga på!

2025-11-01 via Nuitee
J
Jürg couple ch
8
Pros:

Schönes Doppelzimmer, schöner Innenhof, perfektes, grosszügiges Doppelzimmer. Dies war gepaart mit freundlichem, zuvorkommendem Personal. Aber leider für mich trotzdem keine perfekte Erfahrung wegen der Umparkiererei meines Wagens (Parkkosten pro Tag 10.-) Es wäre für mich weniger riskant gewesen, öffentlich zu parkieren. (siehe negative Punkte.

Cons:

Die Parkinglösung war für mich ein Problem. Ich musste die Autoschlüssel an der Reception abgeben, da sie manchmal die Wagen umparken müssten. Leider ging ich darauf ein und fand den Wagen promt am kommenden Morgen hinten im Garten auf einem seitlichen Spazierweg parkiert. Da an der Reception nur ein Mann war und der Starkregen eine kurze Pause machte, entschloss ich mich den Wagen selbst zum Hoteleingang zu holen, leider war der Weg sehr schmal und die 90 Grad Kurve mit grossen Pflanzenkübel "gesichert". Dies hat mir eine beschädigte linke Hecktüre/Kotflügel/und Leichtmetallfelge hinten beschert. Das vergünstigt gebuchte Doppelzimmer wurde dadurch zur superteuren Erfahrung, die ich nicht mehr erleben möchte. Für mich ein no go für ein Hotel dieser Klasse.

2025-10-26 via Nuitee
W
Willjack Couples Edinburgh, Scotland
6
Faded grandeur
Pros:

The hotel is very attractive from the outside, the gardens, the pool and the immediate reception areas. However, once you are past these areas the hotel is showing its age and really needs a complete refurbishment. Breakfast was okay, but nothing to inspire the start of the day. Our room was large and reasonably bright but suffered from the dated decor and fittings of the rest of the hotel.

2025-10-23 via Tripadvisor
M
Marlie08 Couples Roermond, Limburg Province
6
Junior Suite Elite
Pros:

The air conditioning didn't work, making the room very warm. Unpleasant odor in the bathroom. We were given another room, but the air conditioning wasn't much better. The plaster was peeling. The suites needs a makeover. Furthermore, it is a nice villa with a good location and parking space.

2025-10-21 via Tripadvisor
J
Judie42 Couples Chester, Cheshire, England
10
An elegant hotel
Pros:

A wonderful historic hotel located opposite a beach in Sestri Levante and perfectly placed for shops and restaurants and the train station only 10 minutes walk away. We upgraded our room to an Elegance room on the 6th floor and the view was amazing. It meant our room was bigger than others in our tour group which we appreciated.
Lots of choice at breakfast and staff very efficient and friendly.

2025-10-21 via Tripadvisor
M
Moitm solo_traveller ch
8
Pros:

Perfekte Lage, alles zu Fuss erreichbar (die beiden Strände, Bahnhof, Restaurants) / Freundliches Personal / Grosszügige Räume mit Charme und Geschichte / Park ums Haus und Hotel-Bar mit Aussensitzplätzen inkl. Meersicht

Cons:

Schade, dass beim Personal gespart und das Haus nicht besser gepflegt wird. Das Zimmer scheint seit längerem nur rudimentär geputzt zu werden (Staub in Ecken, fremde Haare in Dusche, Seifenablage verklebt). Die Infrastruktur ist in die Jahre gekommen und bräuchte dringend kleinere Instandsetzungen. Offenbar wurde vieles, was nicht zwingend nötig ist, gestrichen: Kein Wasser / Gläser auf Zimmer bei Ankunft, keine Gästemappe mit Infos, kein Teekocher, keine kostenlosen Pool-/Strandtücher, kein Wäscheservice, kein Roomservice etc.

2025-10-15 via Nuitee
D
de pedri solo_traveller it
10
Pros:

Villa Balbi : che dire di più

2025-10-15 via Nuitee
N
N317UPwilliamb Couples
8
Grand but missing its heart
Pros:

A lovely grand old building in the right location with good facilities and friendly and helpful staff. We stayed here for 10 days but barely used the hotel's bar or dining room apart from breakfast. We did occasionally venture down to the dining room in the evening but on each of our visits there were no diners to be seen despite it being open with all the tables laid and ready. Admittedly this was the second half of September and the season had past its peak, but even so it was very strange! The menu seemed OK with prices similar to other restaurants in town. The cocktail bar was a similar experience with only a handful of guests right through the evening. With plenty of places to eat in town we, like most of the other guests, ventured out to find somewhere with a bit of atmosphere and interest.
Like many hotels that occupy grand old buildings it was clear to see that maintenance and upkeep were a constant challenge. Our room was right up on the top floor with only one tiny, old fashioned lift that no more than two can comfortably occupy at a time. The room itself was adequate but needed a few updates here and there.
I think the biggest problem was that that the place needed a more active management to get out and talk to the guests. All the staff did there jobs well but it felt more like a Travel Lodge than a warm and welcoming traditional Italian 4 star.

2025-10-14 via Tripadvisor
H
Harald couple ch
10
2025-10-13 via Nuitee
P
Peter couple ch
10
2025-10-12 via Nuitee